ZAMBIA POLICE CHIEF IS NEW SARPCCO CHAIRPERSON
Inspector General of the Zambia Police, Mr. Kakoma Kanganja who is Southern African Regional for Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) incoming Chairperson has called for enhanced coordination and collaboration within SARPCCO and other organisations who share in the mandate and responsibility of fighting transnational and organized crime.
Mr Kanganja said Trafficking in persons and People smuggling was a new face of criminality where human beings were pasted with a price tag. He said criminals were utilizing the technological advancements in perpetration under cover criminal activities where all the transactions were being done in the dark web through cybercrime.
He said this during the 23rd Annual General meeting for SADC / SARPCCO Police Chiefs meeting after receiving a sword of honour at a colorful handover ceremony held in Luanda, Angola recently
“It is in the face of such challenges that I appeal for your continued support in ensuring that together we row the ship in the same direction for it is always said that there is strength in numbers,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of monitoring and evaluation of all collective efforts in training, workshops and simultaneous joint operations as this was vital in assessing the impact of SARPCCO efforts and pointing out areas requiring more attention.
“I once again pledge my commitment to serving you in steering the organisation by attending regional, continental and international fora tapping good practices, sourcing cooperating partners to support our efforts among other initiatives,” he said.
He thanked the outgoing Chairperson and Commissioner General of the Angola National Police, Mr Alfredo Eduardo Manuel Mingas for the excellent execution of his duties during his tenure of office and further thanked the Police Chiefs in the region for remaining resolute to the continued vision of keeping SARPCCO flag high despite the current economic challenges affecting the world at large.
Speaking when he graced the event, Angolan Interior Minister, Angelo De Veigas Tavares said the region was grappling with cross border criminal activities among them trafficking in Human beings, Cyber crime and proliferation of small and light weapons.
He urged all SARPCCO member countries to work together in finding tangible solutions to fight these crimes which had potential to destabilize the security of the region.
And Interpol Secretary General, Dr Jurgen Stock said there was need to tighten policing networks throughout the continent of Africa by enhancing response to transnational crimes.
Dr. Stock said Interpol was ready to assist Interpol National Central Bureaus (NCBs) for individual countries with latest equipment in policing so as to enhance their operations.
He said policing in the region requires steadfast support among member countries and pledged Interpol’s commitment to assisting SARPCCO/SADC member countries in capacity building so as to enhance capabilities in investigations, operations and service delivery at the frontline of policing for tangible results.
“Interpol is committed to supporting all law enforcement agencies in the Southern region and this will be done through provision of modern equipment and training in critical areas of enforcement,” he said.
And outgoing SARPCO Chairperson who is Angola National Police Commissioner General Alfredo Edwardo Manuel Mingas Panda pledged to work closely with the incoming Chairperson in finding strategies and solutions to the problems of crime in the region.
The meeting was attended by seven Police Chiefs from the SADC/SARPCCO region, SADC Director of the Organ, Dr. Jorge Cardoso among many other dignitaries.
Zambia has taken over Chairmanship of SARPCCO for the next one year taking over from Angola.
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