The Sunday Mail
Zvamaida Murwira in ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday met International Organisation for Migration (IOM) director-general Mr Antonio Vitorino, whose organisation pledged to support Zimbabweans in South Africa to return home.
He also undertook to assist professionals to exploit their skills upon their return.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ongoing 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit.
In an interview soon after their meeting, Mr Vitorino said:
“I was explaining to the President that the Zimbabwean Government can count on the full support of IOM to deal with the challenges confronting us, particularly the issue of protecting migrants, guaranteeing those returning home.
“We will ensure that they have the necessary incentives to reintegrate in the Zimbabwean society and that the Zimbabwean diaspora can contribute to the development of the country.”
IOM, Mr Vitorino said, will work with Government to provide returnees with the necessary training.
“We have critical issues like providing them with the necessary tools for them to be more productive and reintegrate with society. Also, the movement of people in the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region is one of the aspects we have considered,” he said.
A sub-committee of an inter-ministerial committee is in South Africa mapping and profiling training needs and other related issues that could be provided to returnees.
A portal, where Zimbabweans in South Africa can log in and provide details and what assistance they require, has already been established.
“The subcommittee will establish how many Zimbabweans are in South Africa who are coming back, what skills they hold so that they could possibly be deployed in the economy for the good of the country, and what training they might require. It will be a full package and Government will work closely with IOM to achieve that objective,” said an official who attended yesterday’s meeting.
Government has since allowed Zimbabweans returning home from South Africa to bring all their belongings, including one vehicle, duty-free.
