[Blog] Zambia at a Crossroads: Turning Migration Policy into Reality

Lusaka, Zambia — For decades, Zambia has stood at a unique crossroads. Bordering nine countries, it is a nation of origin, transit, and destination all at once. From the copper miners who built the nation to the refugees who have found sanctuary within its borders, migration is woven into the country’s social and economic fabric.

Recently, a multi-stakeholder technical dialogue convened in Lusaka to take stock of Zambia’s progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The message from the three-day meeting was clear: Zambia has the policies and the will, but a significant "implementation deficit" prevents it from fully harnessing the power of human mobility for development.

The Foundation: A Strong Policy Framework

Zambia is not starting from zero. Since its last report to the UN in 2020, the country has built robust legal and policy architecture. The presentation by the African Union IOM Migration Youth Ambassador, Mr. Walter Kasempa, highlighted key milestones, including the National Migration Policy (2022), the Diaspora Policy, and the Refugees Act (2017).

Crucially, Zambia is bound by regional agreements like the COMESA and SADC Free Movement Protocols, which align closely with the GCM’s objectives. This has positioned the country not as a nation with a "migration problem," but as a nation with a "human mobility opportunity."

However, as the meeting's discussions revealed, a policy on paper is not the same as change on the ground.

The Challenge: The "Implementation Deficit"

The core challenge identified by stakeholders can be boiled down to four systemic weaknesses:

1. The Data Gap: You cannot manage what you cannot measure. Migration governance in Zambia is hampered by fragmented data. The census happens only once a decade, and coordination between different government agencies that collect migration data is weak. For example, while we know roughly how many people arrive, there is little tracking of departures or return migration, making proactive policymaking nearly impossible.

2. Siloed Institutions: Policies often exist in isolation. There is weak coordination between the ministries of Labour, Home Affairs, and Community Development. This leads to fragmented services for vulnerable migrants and disjointed implementation of national plans.

3. Economic Drivers of Vulnerability: Migration is often a coping strategy for poverty, youth unemployment, and climate shocks (like the droughts in Southern Province). While social protection exists, it is not yet "migration-sensitive," leaving many migrant workers in the informal economy without access to decent work or legal protections.

4. Legal and Protection Gaps: Even when laws exist, implementation is inconsistent. The routine use of immigration detention persists, with few alternatives. There are also limited formal mechanisms for ethical recruitment of migrant workers or for allowing the diaspora to easily invest in the country’s future.

From Commitment to Action: Strategic Recommendations

To move from policy to practice, the dialogue in Lusaka produced a set of actionable recommendations designed to bridge the implementation gap:

• Build an Integrated Data System: Zambia needs a single, secure platform where all migration-related data (work permits, border management, surveys) can be shared. Integrating migration questions into existing annual surveys would also help track trends in real-time, rather than waiting for the next census.

• Make Development Work for Migrants: The high investment threshold (currently $150,000) that excludes most Zambians in the diaspora from investing at home should be reviewed. By lowering barriers and creating diaspora bonds, Zambia can turn the estimated 278,000 Zambians abroad into powerful engines for development.

• Shift from Detention to Rights-Based Management: The ongoing revision of immigration law is a prime opportunity to mandate that detention is a measure of last resort. Investing in community-based alternatives, such as case management and reporting requirements, would protect the rights of vulnerable migrants, including families and children.

• Formalize Labour Migration: With a large youth population and high unemployment, Zambia needs to expedite the regulation of private recruitment agencies to prevent exploitation. Proactively negotiating bilateral labour agreements with key destination countries would guarantee ethical recruitment and decent working conditions for Zambians working abroad.

The Role of UNECA: A Strategic Partner

Throughout this process, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has proven to be a critical partner. As Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of the Socio-economic Development Division, noted in her opening remarks, for Africa, migration is a powerful development tool driven by traders, students, and remittances, not a crisis to be managed.

UNECA’s role in Zambia is to act as a high-level policy advisor. Through its joint project with the African Union Commission on "International Migration in Africa: Shaping a Positive Narrative," ECA is helping Zambia reframe migration as an economic opportunity linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They provide the technical analysis and evidence base needed to turn policy into reality, helping to build the consensus required for lasting change.

Looking Ahead

As Zambia prepares its second voluntary GCM report for 2026, the country has a critical opportunity to showcase its leadership. The path forward requires moving beyond isolated projects to a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach.

By bridging the data gap, strengthening legal protections, and viewing migration as an opportunity rather than a burden, Zambia can transform its "implementation deficit" into a success story, proving that well-managed migration is not just a global compact commitment, but a national development imperative.

 

About the author

Gideon Rutaremwa is the Population Affairs Officer in Social Policy Section, Socio-economic Development Division

March 2026