Johannesburg - The Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO), which is celebrating is its 20th anniversary, has vowed to tap into new approaches and strategies to fight transnational crimes that are on the increase in the region.
Since its birth, SARPCCO National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega, who is also the current chair of the organisation – said it has been the symbol of a simple, yet powerful message by its members to criminals in Africa.
She said they share a common good - security.
“We share the threats brought against it. And we will act together to respond to them,” Phiyega said on Thursday.
SARPCCO was established in 1995 for police forces to combine resources and expertise in fighting transnational crime. Since then SARPCCO has been able to develop a comprehensive approach in terms of regional policing through the cooperative engagement of member countries such as joint cross-border operations, joint training, harmonisation of legislation, and the sharing of good practices.
Among the successes that the organisation has under its belt is Operation Giboa – which fights against counterfeit and illegal medical products, a crime that according to the organisation has devastating consequences.
Others include the integrated support services of hosting major events like the 2010 Fifa World Cup which was hosted in South Africa as well as Operation Basadi which was a women led operation against gender based and domestic violence.
However, the region is still battling with other new and sophisticated crimes. These include cyber-crime, rhino pouching, targeted motor vehicle thefts, drug cultivation and trafficking, firearms-trafficking, diamond-smuggling, human trafficking, wanted criminals and illegal immigrants.
The organisation, according to the Dean of SARPCCO Police Chiefs and Zimbabwean Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, also remains entrapped in financial constraints.
“These have led to the non-fruition of many of our operations and other key activities paramount in the fight against transnational crime.”
Looking forward, Phiyega said the organisation needs attract more women to the police organisations across the continent.
“We are already seeing that across the continent women are leaving their mark depicting that they just as capable as men if not better.”
The organisation, according to the police commissioner, should be to foster relations beyond the SADC region.
“Crime knows no border so it will make sense to start looking at how we can work with organisations such as the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation.”
Africa, she said, must be policed holistically, taking into consideration the threats of terrorism that the country now faces globally.
“Our joint bilateral, simultaneous operations, which have been carried out over the years, remain relevant and will be exemplary to the world. This will play a pivotal role in stabilising Africa. We are one. We are Africa. We are SARPCCO.”
General Chihuri’s view was that the organisation also needs to look into capacity building as the cutting edge in all its activities.
“SARPCCO is fully aware that the scourge of transnational crime can only be arrested fully if countries cooperate and have standardised practices,” said Chihuri.
To this end, the region has crafted a trainer programme, as well as the command and leadership course for both the senior and junior female police officers from member states.
The 20th meeting was attended by the member countries’ ministers, police chiefs, INTERPOL general secretariat and regional bureau and Southern African Development Community representatives.
The event saw deserving members of the police from the SARPCCO member countries awarded for their contribution towards achieving the set goals of the organisation.
In a prepared speech that was delivered on his behalf, South African Police Minister Nathi Nleko said the SARPCCO’s existence was a testimony of the assertion that African problems are indeed impossible to solve if tackled by Africans themselves.
“United we stand. Divided we fall. That is why it is important that we engage our respective governments to seriously consider the funding demands for SARPCCO.”
The Minister also called on the public to assist law enforcement agencies in rooting out criminal elements in communities.
SARPCCO has 15 member countries namely Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. – SAnews.gov.za
