Tackling regional crimes

POLICE chiefs from across the SADC region met in Windhoek last week to deliberate on the future of their co-operation in cross-border crime fighting.

The chiefs, who came from all 15 SADC member states except Madagascar, discussed the integration of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO) into the SADC structure. It is expected that the integration of SARPCCO into the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDS) will provide the region with better shared intelligence and other resources.While the results and resolutions arrived at after the are yet to be revealed, SADC Secretariat Head Joao Ndlovu told reporters that everyone involved was pleased with the plans to harmonise the activities of the various police chiefs.However, the implementation of the resolutions may also involve legalities, he said, adding that it would be a process rather than an instant occurrence.At the opening of the meeting, Namibia’s Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama urged the Police chiefs to also take time to analyse and study the findings of a SADC assessment mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo.”We need to strategise from a public security perspective on how to assist towards a successful process of elections and (the) post-elections era,” Tsheehama said.Ndlovu said this issue had been raised, but added that SADC was already involved in providing assistance in the DRC – whether in terms of training or in the mobilisation of troops to the area.Earlier this month, the SADC Parliamentary Forum sent a seven-member pre-election assessment delegation to the DRC.It is expected that the integration of SARPCCO into the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDS) will provide the region with better shared intelligence and other resources.While the results and resolutions arrived at after the are yet to be revealed, SADC Secretariat Head Joao Ndlovu told reporters that everyone involved was pleased with the plans to harmonise the activities of the various police chiefs.However, the implementation of the resolutions may also involve legalities, he said, adding that it would be a process rather than an instant occurrence. At the opening of the meeting, Namibia’s Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama urged the Police chiefs to also take time to analyse and study the findings of a SADC assessment mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo.”We need to strategise from a public security perspective on how to assist towards a successful process of elections and (the) post-elections era,” Tsheehama said.Ndlovu said this issue had been raised, but added that SADC was already involved in providing assistance in the DRC – whether in terms of training or in the mobilisation of troops to the area. Earlier this month, the SADC Parliamentary Forum sent a seven-member pre-election assessment delegation to the DRC.