Zambia - The establishment of the COMESA Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration Dialogue was first mooted at the COMESA Meeting of Ministers responsible for immigration held in Lusaka on 16-17 March 2011. 

The meeting recommended the establishment of an RCP  for the COMESA region on migration management that will strengthen inter regional cooperation with other institutions such as the East African Community (EAC) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to harmonize their immigration instruments and policies.

The COMESA 31^st  meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Kampala, Uganda on 19-20 November 2012 endorsed the concept of establishing a COMESA RCP and granted authority to proceed with the launch of the COMESA-RCP.

“RCPs are very effective platforms for interstate cooperation due to their non-binding nature and the fact that decisions are made in informal settings. Since migration issues are inextricably linked with trade and development, the new added focus on migration through the COMESA-RCP is a positive development. IOM remains committed to promoting greater regional and interstate dialogue on migration management in the region," says Bernardo Mariano, IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa.

All COMESA Member States are affected by migration either as source, transit or destination countries. Having harmonious migration management systems and policies in the region will facilitate population mobility with less attendant risks, as well as facilitating much needed trade in the regional bloc. 

For more information, please contact

Andrew Choga
IOM Zambia
Tel: +260 (211) 254 055
Email: achoga@iom.int