Zimbabwe Council of Churches has committed itself to a three pilar approach to combat irregular migration among the youth in Zimbabwe which are provision of basic services, access to accurate information and economic empowerment, Reverend Wilfred Dimingu, ZCC General Secretary, has said during the launch of a restore hope mission to arrest youth migration, an event attended by government officials, civic society organization and church leaders in Gwanda on 30 January 2025.
There is rampant and irregular migration among Zimbabwean youth who are facing a number of push factors resulting in them vulnerable to abuse and other social factors,
“Zimbabwe has witnessed growing trend of irregular migration, particularly among our youth, who feel compelled to leave due to economic hardships, natural disasters, and social instability.” he said.
Reverend Dimingu further highlighted the worst results of such migration which include exploitation, abuse, separation of families and breaking of family bond and in worst case scenario is loss of life.
“As the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, we have listened to these painful stories and recognized our moral responsibility to act. Migration is not inherently negative when undertaken safely, regularly, and with dignity, it can be beneficial.
“However, when driven by desperation, it often leads to dangerous and inhumane experiences. This project is our response, a proactive intervention to address the root causes of migration while equipping our youths with opportunities that allow them to thrive within their communities.” he said.
He emphasized that the success of this initiative hinges on a comprehensive approach that integrates education, community engagement and economic empowerment.
In response to this initiative, Dr Michael Dube, ZCC southern region chairperson reiterated that ZCC has take a crucial step to protect the youth and the communities.
“Through launching this initiative today, we set in motion a critical intervention that will strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerabilities among our youth, particularly in border communities where migration pressures re most intense,” he said.
The government welcomed this noble initiative and pledged its support so as to harness the loss of skilled and talented youth depleting the human capital, which is a minus to our country and families.
