The International Organization for Migration in Zambia under the auspices of the United Network for Migration while working in close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the Migration Week which ran from 14 to 18 February 2022. This was a run-up to the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), which is scheduled to be convened from Tuesday, 17 May 2022 to Friday, 20 May 2022, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, preceded by a one-day stakeholder consultation on 16 May.

There were three main activities in commemoration of the Migration Week which were following: the Launch of the Migration Week on 16 February 2022; a Television live phone in program on 17 February 2022; and a live phone in Radio program on 18 February 2022.

The official launch of the Migration Week was supported by IOM and hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dickson Matembo, who indicated that “Government of Republic of Zambia remains committed to the implementation of specific actions towards the realization of the Global Compact on Migration”.

According to the IOM Zambia Chief of Mission, Ms. Nomagugu Ncube, “the Migration Week commemorations will shine a spotlight on migration and will serve to strength our collective resolve to manage migration for the benefit of all and ensuring that no one, including migrants, is left behind in the development discourse”.

The event was attended by a total of 45 (19 males and 26 females). Other Senior Government Officials in attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ms. Beatrice C. Darko; the Deputy Director General Immigration HR, Dr Japhet Lishomwa; and the Deputy Director Human Resource Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ms. Butala Nsofwa.

The representatives from UNICEF, UNODC and ILO were also in attendance as part of the UN Network on Migration and as a UN system in Zambia to give solidarity to the commemoration of the Migration Week. 

The launch was covered by the various local media houses both electronic and print media namely Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation; Muvi TV; Vocanic News; Loyola TV; Zambia Daily Mail; Times of Zambia; and News Diggers.