By JOHN SAKALA
Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja who is Southern African Region for Police Chiefs Cooperation (SARPCCO) Chairperson has called for strengthening of border security.
Mr Kanganja said that there is need to direct resources towards strengthening of border areas which are access points for criminals involved in cross border crime.
The Chairperson who is in South Africa and scheduled to travel to Eswatin is on his routine visits to SARPCCO Member countries to check on progress on the implementation of INTERPOL and SARPCCO resolutions and decisions as well as ironing out impediments to international and regional police corporation in the fight of transnational crimes.
He called for active participation of all SARPCCO member countries in the activities of the regional body.
IG commended South African National Police for playing a pivotal role in implementing decisions made during the Police Chiefs meeting held in Angola in May last year and for seconding three trainers to the SARPCCO Centre of Excellence for facilitation of SARPCCO Strategic Leadership programme.
Mr Kanganja observed that there is need for increased effort in devising strategies aimed at fighting all forms of cross border crimes as individual countries and collectively as member states.
Decisions passed during Police Chiefs meetings include Combating violent crimes, fighting cybercrime in the SADC region, conducting of SARPCCO joint operations, and prevention and combating Trafficking in persons in the SADC region among others.
He wished the South African Police well as they will be policing the forthcoming elections.
In his welcome remarks, Lieutenant General Christopher Mfazi who was representing the South African Police Commissioner General, thanked the SARPCCO Chairperson for accepting the invitation.
Lt Mfazi informed the Chairperson that South Africa was on course in terms of participation in SARPCCO activities as well as in coming up with a new vision and giving a strategic direction.
This is according to a media statement made available by Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo.
