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UN migration agency supports COMESA to host Regional Consultative Process for member states

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UN migration agency supports COMESA to host Regional Consultative Process for member states

UN migration agency supports COMESA to host Regional Consultative Process for member states
Photo credit: Ingy Mehanna | UN Migration Agency

IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat last week jointly organized the first Regional Consultative Process (RCP) meeting for COMESA Member States, Migration Dialogue COMESA (MIDCOM).

In an era of unprecedented human mobility, there is global recognition of the need for migration governance as reflected within the framework of the UN General Assembly and the proposed Global Compact on Migration.

COMESA recognizes the great importance of migration in the context of free trade, noting that for regional integration to be fully realized, citizens of its member states must be allowed to move freely to provide and enhance services, tourism, labour and cultural activities, among other aspects of the COMESA integration agenda.

The meeting – Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Mobility through Effective Governance Mechanisms, Data and Dialogue – represents an important step to join other regions with established RCPs in Africa, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA), the Migration Dialogue for West Africa (MIDWA) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which were established to provide a platform for dialogue on migration governance in a comprehensive and effective manner.

The MIDCOM dialogue serves to facilitate information exchange, cooperation among states and ultimately establish a regional and holistic approach for addressing migration. The MIDCOM also provides a forum for Member States to engage in non-binding dialogue.

Speaking at the same event, COMESA Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Kipyego Cheluget emphasized that there is urgent need to encourage more cooperation and less border controls to facilitate free movement of bona fide persons within the COMESA regions. He appealed to COMESA member states to ensure that the RCP is an annual event and called upon the member states to promote the speedy signature and ratification of the Free Movement Protocol. 

“Migration is part and parcel of human development and COMESA will not achieve regional integration without free movement of people. We must therefore generate information to allay fears on migration and promote the positive contribution of migrants so that our people can appreciate that co-existing in our countries is fundamental in what we want to achieve in terms of sustainable development,” said Zambia’s Minister of Home Affair, Hon. Stephen Kampyongo (MP).

“IOM supports over 15 of such RCPs globally including all Regional Dialogues and RCPs in Africa, and COMESA will not be a exception,” added Charles Kwenin, IOM’s Regional Director for Southern Africa. Kwenin further stated that IOM has provided support to 11 COMESA member states to develop Migration Profiles, which serve to provide a comprehensive overview of migratory dynamic and realities and can provide the necessary information to inform evidence based policing. 

The MIDCOM meeting in July 2017 was preceded by the 10th Meeting of the COMESA Chief of Immigration Officers. During the latter meeting, progress was made towards ratification of COMESA’s Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Labour, Services, Right of Establishment and Residence (otherwise known as the Free Movement Protocol).

During this event, a flagship training and awareness-raising programme was held for COMESA member states. It was funded by the IOM Development Fund, for the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The launch of the training, held on 27 July, included provision of awareness-raising materials on COMESA Protocol, and training tools on Free Movement of Persons in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.


Investing in modern technologies will address the fear of free movement

The full integration of the economies of Eastern and Southern Africa will be realized if it is accompanied by the free movement of people in the region.

According to the Minster for Home Affairs of Zambia Hon. Stephen Kampyongo, the fear of migrants was holding back the gains of social and economic integration that come through free movement of people.

Speaking during the Regional Consultative Process (RCP) meeting for COMESA Member States; Migration Dialogue for COMESA Member States (MIDCOM) on Friday July 28, 2017, the Minister said inherent security fears such as transnational crimes can be managed by investing in security institutions based on research and empirical evidence.

“We have in the world today adequate knowledge and technologies to manage migration without undermining our security and safety of migrants,” the Minister said noting that free movement of goods, capital and services have moved far ahead of the free movement of people owing to uncertainty in the minds of ordinary people and in the planning of governments.

He said that countries will overcome their fear of migrants if they learn the dynamics of migration.

“People move to places where they perceive and realize improvements in their lives. Migrants are therefore people determined to work and succeed. Contrary to popular beliefs and opinions, migrants give more to the host communities than they receive.

Noting that migrants take up whatever work they can find unlike members of the host communities, the Minister said they help their host economies expand and grow. Minister Kampyongo urged COMESA countries to put more resources in collecting and analyzing data on migration to counter anti-migration attitude.

The MIDCOM meeting took place at the COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka and was attended by delegates from COMESA Member States, diplomatic corps and development partners. It was organized by COMESA and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In his address, Mr. Charles Kwenin, the IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa said the regional consultative forums have provide platforms for common understanding and policy coherence. They play a vital role in shaping migration management and governance priorities among countries within a regional block and within the regional integration process.

“IOM has provided support to at least eleven COMESA Member States to develop Migration Profiles, which serve to provide a comprehensive overview of the migratory dynamic and realities and can provide the necessary information to inform evidence based policy making,” Mr Kwenin said.

Assistant Secretary General of COMESA Dr Kipyego Cheluget called upon Member States to sign and ratify the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Services, Labour and Right of Establishment.

“Without ratifying the Protocols on Free Movement and implementation of Council Decision, there really is not free movement of people or process to talk about,” Ambassador Cheluget said.

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