SADC Chiefs of Police Unite to Tackle Transnational Organised Crime
Chiefs of Police from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have pledged a unified front against transnational organised crime at the 29th Annual General Meeting of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) held from 13th to 14th June 2024.
The meeting underscored the critical need for robust collaboration, idea exchange, and strategic development to address the region’s diverse security challenges.
The Honourable Mr Jack Jacob Mwiimbu, Zambia’s Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, emphasised the importance of a formidable collective force against crime, stressing that the interconnected nature of today’s world requires regional cooperation to combat threats such as terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and cybercrime.
SADC’s Director of Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Affairs, Professor Kula Ishmael Theletsane, commended member states for their commitment to regional security initiatives.
He highlighted the role of INTERPOL in supporting these efforts and noted the region’s success in restoring peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
INTERPOL’s Head of the Regional Bureau in Harare, Mr Sello Moerane, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting SADC, praising the region’s proactive approach to finding African-focused solutions to security threats.
The Chiefs of Police also discussed the importance of implementing SADC protocols and aligning laws with regional and international standards to combat unlawful activities.
The meeting called for expedited implementation of the SADC Integrated Strategy to prevent and combat transnational organised crime, urging the establishment of National Organised Crime Task Forces and a Regional Integrated Border Management Strategy.
The event concluded with Mr Graphel Musamba, Inspector General of the Zambia Police Service, presenting the Sword of Honour to his successor, Mr Camillus M. Wambura of Tanzania, who will assume the Chairpersonship of SARPCCO in August 2024.
Comrade Tandabantu Godwin Matanga, Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, was appointed as the Dean of the SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee/SARPCCO.
