‎Harare, (New Ziana) – Ministers and senior government officials from the 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries will from Friday to Monday, hold a conference in the resort town of Victoria Falls aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration governance and policy development.
In a statement, the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) said the 2025 Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA), will bring together representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, the government of Zimbabwe, and various civil society organizations under the theme: ‎”Promoting Regional Integration Through Sustaining Safe, Regular, and Orderly Migration in the Southern African Region.”
‎”Ministers, Senior Government Officials from across the sixteen (16) Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and civil society, will meet in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from 24-27 October 2025, to strengthen cooperation on migration governance and policy development across Southern Africa, under the auspices of the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA),” it said.
‎For over 25 years, MIDSA has served as a vital platform for regional engagement, helping SADC countries align migration policies, promote integration, and drive socio-economic development for more than 400 million citizens across Southern Africa.
‎This year the dialogue will address a range of pressing migration issues, including climate-induced mobility, children on the move, youth migration, alternatives to detention, mutual recognition of skills, and data-driven migration policy solutions.
‎As the outgoing SADC chair, Zimbabwe will host the event in partnership with IOM and UNICEF.
The country has been recognized as a Global Compact on Migration (GCM) Champion, having developed comprehensive migration policies that seek to harness the benefits of migration while minimizing its challenges.
‎Zimbabwean Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe underscored the importance of cooperation, saying regional integration is best promoted through people integration.
“Our collective resolve should be anchored on ensuring the integration of member states in the SADC bloc if the vision to promote safe, regular and orderly migration is to be realized,” he said.
‎IOM regional director for East, Horn and Southern Africa, Frantz Celestin, emphasized the role of migration as a driver of development.
‎”By working closely with the International Organization for Migration, SADC Member States can transform migration into a catalyst for regional integration and sustainable development. Together, we can ensure that migration within Southern Africa is safe, orderly, and beneficial for all,” he said.
‎UNICEF regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli, highlighted the need to prioritize child protection in migration policies.
‎”Children on the move across Southern Africa are among the most vulnerable, facing risks of violence, exploitation, and detention. By supporting SADC Member States, we are working to ensure that every child, regardless of their status, is protected, included, and empowered,” she said.
‎From 24–26 October, technical sessions will engage diverse stakeholders in identifying key migration challenges and developing evidence-based recommendations.
‎A Ministerial session on 27 October will see SADC Ministers from key sectors—including Home Affairs, Labour, Education, and Environment—endorse the outcomes and reaffirm regional commitments to safe and orderly migration.
‎The outcomes of MIDSA 2025 will feed into preparations for the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), a global platform assessing progress toward the GCM objectives.
‎At the close of the meeting, participating Ministers are expected to adopt a joint communiqué outlining priority actions to enhance migration governance, strengthen cross-border collaboration, and promote inclusive, rights-based migration policies across Southern Africa.
‎As regional leaders gather in Victoria Falls, MIDSA 2025 stands poised to chart a stronger, more cooperative path toward managing migration as a cornerstone of sustainable regional integration and human development.
New Ziana
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