News / National
Zim elected into International Organisation for Migration Council
18 Dec 2011 at 19:20hrs | Views
Zimbabwe has been elected to the general council of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and to the executive committee of the 146-member world body Ministry of Labour and Social Services acting chief labour officer Mr Langton Ngorima said the country was elected to sit in the general council as a rapporteur at the just-ended 100th session of the IOM held in Geneva, Switzerland.
"The election of Zimbabwe into the general council is for two years and it proves that Zimbabwe is extending its influence within the governing structures of the IOM for the benefit of the country," said Mr Ngorima.
He said the election was in recognition of the strides gained by the country in managing the issue of migration.
Zimbabwe's main duties in the general council would include examining and reviewing policies, programmes, annual reports of the director-general and any special reports.
It would also be tasked with revising the organisation's budget.
Mr Ngorima said Zimbabwe stood to benefit from the recent election by getting technical assistance on managing migration issues in the country.
The election comes barely six months after the country was elected into the governing body of the International Labour Organisation for three years as a deputy member representing Southern Africa
Mr Ngorima said the Government had been a beneficiary of IOM programmes, managing to construct centres at Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts to provide assistance to Zimbabweans deported from South Africa and Botswana.
"We are also mooting the idea of establishing a similar centre at Nyamapanda Border Post to assist asylum seekers from North Africa and the Great Lakes Region so that we can temporarily accommodate them before transporting them to Tongogara Refugee Camp," he said.
IOM spokesperson Mrs Folen Murapa said the organisation and Zimbabwe were collaborating to strengthen the country's capacity in dealing with human trafficking.
"IOM is providing financial and technical assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe to strengthen community-based planning and local governance in migration in affected areas," said Mrs Murapa.
"The election of Zimbabwe into the general council is for two years and it proves that Zimbabwe is extending its influence within the governing structures of the IOM for the benefit of the country," said Mr Ngorima.
He said the election was in recognition of the strides gained by the country in managing the issue of migration.
Zimbabwe's main duties in the general council would include examining and reviewing policies, programmes, annual reports of the director-general and any special reports.
It would also be tasked with revising the organisation's budget.
The election comes barely six months after the country was elected into the governing body of the International Labour Organisation for three years as a deputy member representing Southern Africa
Mr Ngorima said the Government had been a beneficiary of IOM programmes, managing to construct centres at Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts to provide assistance to Zimbabweans deported from South Africa and Botswana.
"We are also mooting the idea of establishing a similar centre at Nyamapanda Border Post to assist asylum seekers from North Africa and the Great Lakes Region so that we can temporarily accommodate them before transporting them to Tongogara Refugee Camp," he said.
IOM spokesperson Mrs Folen Murapa said the organisation and Zimbabwe were collaborating to strengthen the country's capacity in dealing with human trafficking.
"IOM is providing financial and technical assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe to strengthen community-based planning and local governance in migration in affected areas," said Mrs Murapa.
Source - Zimpapers
