The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Zimbabwe yesterday hosted the Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa, Mr. Celestin Franz, during a visit that underscored the agency’s ongoing commitment to promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration in the country.
Mr. Franz, who leads IOM operations across the East and Horn of Africa region, met with staff at the IOM Zimbabwe Country Office in Harare, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration, reviewing progress, and exploring opportunities to enhance the organisation’s humanitarian and development impact.
According to IOM Zimbabwe, the visit provided an important platform for staff engagement and reflection on the organisation’s shared mission and priorities. Mr. Franz commended the team for their dedication to supporting migrants, returnees, and host communities, particularly in contexts affected by climate change, economic pressures, and displacement.
“IOM Zimbabwe continues to play a critical role in advancing migration governance and ensuring that migration is managed in a way that benefits both migrants and the communities they live in.
This visit reaffirms our collective commitment to building safer and more resilient migration systems across the region,” Mr Franz added
Country Chief of Mission for IOM Zimbabwe, Mr. Mario Lito Malanca, expressed gratitude for the visit, noting that it came at a time when the organisation is scaling up efforts to support the Government of Zimbabwe in addressing migration challenges and harnessing migration for development.
“We appreciate the Regional Director’s leadership and guidance as we continue to strengthen partnerships and implement programmes that align with national and regional priorities,” Mr. Malanca said.
The discussions covered a wide range of thematic areas, including labour migration, diaspora engagement, migrant protection, border management, and responses to climate-induced mobility.
Staff members also shared field experiences from ongoing projects across different provinces, highlighting the importance of community-based approaches in promoting resilience and inclusion.
The visit comes as IOM continues to work closely with the Government of Zimbabwe and development partners under the United Nations Migration Network to advance the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Officials said the engagement with Mr. Franz reinforced IOM’s long-standing commitment to ensuring that migration contributes positively to Zimbabwe’s sustainable development goals.
