Harare, (New Ziana) -Zimbabwe has made significant strides in modernising its migration management systems to ensure secure borders while facilitating legitimate movement, a senior official has said.
Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Raphael Faranisi said this at the launch of the inaugural Zimbabwe–UK Migration Week in Harare on Monday.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on migration governance, border security and the fight against human trafficking.
The week-long initiative brings together government officials, law enforcement agencies, development partners and migration experts to promote safe, orderly and regular migration while enhancing efforts to combat irregular migration, human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.
“We launched our migration policy, and it is now operational. We have also launched an online border management system which is ICT-driven at all our major entry points; it enables us to share information in real time with other border agencies internationally,” he said.
Faranisi said migration, when effectively managed, presents immense opportunities for economic growth, skills development and investment, adding that Zimbabwe remains committed to protecting migrants’ rights while strengthening cooperation with international partners.
“Migration is a reality of our interconnected world and, when properly managed, it presents immense opportunities for economic growth, skills development, investment and cultural exchange. Our responsibility is to ensure that people migrate through safe, orderly and regular channels while protecting them from exploitation, trafficking and other forms of abuse,” he said.
He noted that the Zimbabwean Diaspora, particularly in the UK, continues to play a vital role in national development through remittances, skills transfer and investment, making effective migration governance increasingly important.
Acting British ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Jo Abbot said the partnership provides an opportunity for both countries to share expertise in preventing human trafficking and protecting vulnerable migrants.
“We are helping to share information about how to stop human trafficking. On Thursday it is World Day Against Human Trafficking, so this is an opportunity to bring together the expertise of the UK and Zimbabwe frontline officials to really understand vulnerable people,” she said.
UK Border Force National Safeguarding Lead Amanda Read said collaboration between the two countries would strengthen the identification of trafficking victims and dismantle criminal networks.
“We are working at the border points to identify people who might be vulnerable and also the chance to target exploiters. We build up a network of specialist officers at the border,” she said.
Faranisi said no country can effectively address migration challenges in isolation, stressing that the Migration Week offers a platform to deepen collaboration on border management, law enforcement cooperation and migration policies that uphold human dignity.
The launch comes ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, observed globally to raise awareness of human trafficking and encourage stronger national frameworks to prevent the crime and protect victims.
The Zimbabwe–UK Migration Week is expected to feature discussions on migration governance, labour mobility, border security, diaspora engagement, modern slavery and international cooperation, reflecting the growing partnership between Harare and London in promoting safe migration while tackling cross-border crime.
New Ziana
