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Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
SADC member states are crafting a strategic action plan to address human trafficking, especially the illegal movement of children across borders in the region.

The plan of action, termed the Southern Africa Strategic Plan of Action to address mixed and irregular migration, has already been drafted.

Experts on migration issues from Sadc member states are meeting in Victoria Falls for the 3rd Ministerial Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (Midsa) conference which seeks to fine tune the draft.

The technocrats will present the draft to ministers responsible for migration tomorrow for adoption.

The conference, which started yesterday under the theme: “Addressing mixed and irregular migration in Southern Africa: The protection of unaccompanied migrant child”, ends tomorrow.

Numerous topics on migration challenges faced by Sadc member states are lined up for discussion to come up with child protection mechanisms.

Ministers will arrive today ahead of the official opening tomorrow.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which organised the conference, has reported a high rate of human trafficking involving minors.

In his key note address yesterday, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi challenged member states to prioritise the safety and interests of children in policy making.

“Our constitutions should be in the best interests of children. We should consider conditions that children are subjected to at home or when they travel,” said Cde Ziyambi.

He said there was a need for a regional approach in ending the trafficking of children as “individual member states can’t go it alone.”

“I’m aware of the vulnerabilities that unaccompanied migrant children in mixed and irregular migration often face. These are risks associated with irregular detention for immigration violation ranging from illegal entry and stay, lack of the right to representation and the general physical, sexual violence, rape and health related challenges they face in the course of their irregular movements. These are topical issues requiring in-depth analysis and synthesis during this conference,” added the deputy minister.

He said harmonising the operating procedures in deportations and repatriation was key to ensuring the protection of children.

A Unicef representative said one of the major challenges in the region was lack of aggregated data on child trafficking hence the need for the action plan to trace and analyse what is happening to children.