HARARE, ZIMBABWE, 29TH NOVEMBER, 2018 - Inspector General of Zambia Police, Mr. Kakoma Kanganja who is also Chairperson for Southern African Region Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) today officiated at a graduation ceremony of 27 Law Enforcement Officers drawn from SARPCCO Member Countries held at the Center of Excellence in Zimbabwe, Harare.

In his speech, Mr. Kanganja observed that Cooperation among SARPCCO member countries in fighting cross border crime was significant as individual Countries cannot achieve durable peace and tranquility unless peace is secured in the entire trouble spot countries world over. He said SARPCCO remains an active player in international policing under the banner SARPCCO-SADC.

He added that it was gratifying to note that the organization has continued to enjoy mutual and multilateral cooperation particularly in the investigation of cross border crimes, capacity building and human resource development.

“We have collectively embraced the philosophy that ‘your own house will never be safe when your neighbor’s house is on fire.’ We therefore applaud SARPCCO for uniting us in this virtuous and principled fight against crime,” he said.

He further said that SARPCCO Centre of Excellence institute was a beacon of hope for the realization of the SADC vision of a peaceful Southern Africa that will promote sustainable development and that knowledge acquired by the participants during the developmental exercise had transformed them into better and more professional deliverers of a dynamic and unique policing service to the people.

Mr. Kanganja has urged the graduates to strive to make a difference in the regional policing landscape and further urged them to nurture the network of professional interaction for the sustenance of international Police cooperation.

He explained that the Diploma program offered by the SARPCCO Centre of Excellence was designed to capacitate Police Officers in middle management positions with robust skills and knowledge which is fundamental in effective policing and also to inculcate a common policing culture in the Southern African region.

Calling on graduands to remain ambassadors of change and development towards creating crime free societies in the region and beyond, the Inspector General said that enhancing cooperation among member states should remain at the epicenter of the collective efforts by all member states.

And Head of Interpol Regional Bureau, Mr. Mubita Nawa said the complexity of crime exacerbated by the ever improving technological advancement, where the world has become a global village, calls for enhanced and high level international cooperation.

He said this is in line with SADC’s objective of achieving sustainable development through social-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among the member states.

“Being the first regional Police Organization in Africa, SARPCCO has firmly established itself and stands as a benchmark of regional and institutional police cooperation in Africa,” he said.

Mr. Nawa added that the idea of the SARPCCO center of excellence is seen as a necessary tool in responding to the challenges associated with continuous changes in the policing landscape.

And Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Mapfumo said it was gratifying to note that over the years more and more police officers have continued to sharpen their knowledge and skills especially at tertiary level.

“To that end, it is our profound desire that the SARPCCO Centre of Excellence remains an institution of choice for human capital development, and in extending the frontiers of contemporary policing in the region and beyond.

Other dignitaries present at the event are SADC Representative, Mr. Jorge Cardoso, Commissioner General of the Zimbabwean Republic Police, Cde Tandabantu Godwin Matanga and representatives from SARPCCO member states.

All the participants graduated with a Diploma from the SARPCCO Center of Excellence, an institution affiliated to the University of Zimbabwe.  

SARPCCO came into existence following a meeting of the Council of Police Chiefs at Mananga Training and Conference Centre in the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland now Eswatini in 1994 and subsequent Annual General Meeting of the Police Chiefs in 1995 at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Among the objectives of SARPCCO, which has a membership of 16 states, is fostering sustainable peace and security in the region.

The SARPCCO Centre of Excellence was officially opened on 21st May, 2015 and offers courses in International Policing, Transnational Organized crime, Leadership and Management of Police organisations.

STATEMENT ISSUED BY

ESTHER MWAATA KATONGO

ZAMBIA POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

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