Key Points
- Kazembe calls for dignity and human rights for migrants.
- Zimbabwe strengthens migrant protections with legal and policy reforms.
- New tech-driven systems enhance border control and migrant oversight.
Kazembe Kazembe, Zimbabwe’s Home Affairs Minister, has advocated for the adoption of substitute policies that protect the human rights and dignity of migrants, irrespective of their immigration status. Kazembe emphasized the value of holistic and compassionate approaches to migration management while speaking at a session commemorating International Migration Day at the Mana Resort in Harare.
Kazembe calls for dignity and human rights for migrants
The minister stressed that custody should only be used as a last resort for migrants who commit administrative violations, even though he acknowledged that it may occasionally be required.
“Regardless of their migration status, we must investigate and put into effect alternative measures that prioritize the dignity and human rights of all individuals,” Kazembe stated.
According to Newsday, Kazembe pointed out that the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs have made progress in bringing Zimbabwe’s legal framework into compliance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which protects the rights of all citizens and migrants.
Furthermore, detained migrants have the right to fight their custody or any prohibition orders against them under the Zimbabwe Immigration Act (Chapter 4:02).
“Decisions made by the court have at all material times been honored where a detention has been contested,” Kazembe stated. The Taskforce on Criminal Justice, which is led by judges of the High Court, facilitates judicial oversight of migrant detentions in order to stop instances of arbitrary detention.
Vulnerable groups, including children, receive special protection
Kazembe recognized the intricacies of mixed migratory flows, which comprise vulnerable populations like women and children, undocumented migrants, and asylum seekers. In keeping with Zimbabwe’s commitment to the **non-detention of minors, the Ministry of Public Service has played a crucial role in providing refuge for the children of migrants who have been detained.
The Global Compact on Migration (GCM) , a non-binding United Nations accord that has influenced Zimbabwe’s National Migration Policy, was reaffirmed by the minister. The purpose of the strategy is to support sustainable development goals while defending the rights of migrants.
Only senior officials, such as Assistant Regional Immigration Officers or Regional Immigration Officers, have the authority to approve migrant detention, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been established to guarantee that decisions on detention adhere to due process.
Stakeholders gathered to explore international best practices for migration governance during the workshop, which was held in conjunction with International Migration Day. The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, who traveled to Zimbabwe to observe the nation’s efforts to advance the protection of migrant rights, was present.
