32 Senior Police Officers Graduate from SARPCCO Centre of Excellence in Zimbabwe
The Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) Centre of Excellence celebrated a landmark graduation ceremony on 5 December 2025, awarding the Diploma in Strategic Management to 32 senior police officers from nine SADC Member States.
The diploma was issued by the University of Zimbabwe, with which the Centre is formally affiliated.
The graduates hailed from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, highlighting the region’s commitment to professionalising policing and enhancing cross-border cooperation.
The ceremony attracted high-level dignitaries and guests, reflecting the strategic importance of the Centre in the SADC region’s peace and security framework. Among those present were Inspector General Richard C.C. Luhanga, Chairperson of SARPCCO and Inspector General of the Malawi Police; Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba of the Zimbabwe Republic Police; Mr Ted Barbe, National Commissioner of the Seychelles Police Force and Dean of SARPCCO; Professor Kula Ishmael Theletsane, Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs; Mr Sello Moerane, Head of INTERPOL Regional Bureau, Harare; and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Artwell Mamvuto, representing the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe.
Chief Superintendent Ndadakunashe Shava, Interim Principal of the Centre, also attended. Their presence underscored the Centre’s role in enhancing regional policing standards and combatting transnational organised crime.
In his remarks, Inspector General Luhanga congratulated the graduands on their resilience and dedication, stressing that building a cadre of well-trained senior police leaders is vital for addressing evolving security threats in the SADC region.
He urged Member States to invest in the Centre’s growth and to support the expansion of its academic offerings, including specialised short courses targeting emerging challenges such as cybercrime, drug trafficking, terrorism, and human trafficking.
Inspector General Luhanga further thanked the University of Zimbabwe for its partnership, academic oversight, and commitment to quality assurance, which ensure that the diploma meets both regional and international standards.
Established in 2025 by the SADC Chiefs of Police/SARPCCO, the SARPCCO Centre of Excellence provides standardised, high-quality training programmes tailored to the needs of regional police agencies. Its mandate includes strengthening cross-border law enforcement, promoting professionalism, and equipping officers with the skills needed to tackle transnational crime.
Since its inception, the Centre has successfully hosted multiple graduations, including intakes in 2006, 2016, and 2020, each marking steady progress in regional law enforcement training. The 2025 graduation reaffirms SARPCCO’s commitment to fostering peace, security, and stability across Southern Africa.
As the newly qualified officers return to their respective countries, they carry enhanced strategic leadership skills and a shared determination to reinforce cooperation in combating transnational organised crime.
The event illustrates the power of collaboration between Member States, regional institutions, academia, and international policing organisations in building a safer, more resilient Southern Africa.
