adminHerald Reporter
AFRICAN governments should co-operate and share information on security matters to fight organised crime and drug trafficking, a security expert has said.Institute of Security Studies researcher Ms Ottilia Maunganidze told participants at a consultative conference on drug trafficking in Harare that African governments needed to work together to develop effective strategies to combat drug-related crimes on the continent.
“Combating organised crime cannot be done in isolation,” she said.
“Not only will states need to engage in greater co-operation and information sharing, but a more holistic strategy is required. Policies should be consistent and complementary, that means government departments that deal with illicit drugs should be on the same page to encourage clear responses.”
Ms Maunganidze said African states should also move away from a perspective of crime control to addressing the conditions that enable organised crime to flourish.
This, she said, should include policies that enhance education and promote a reinvestment in urban areas where crime is rampant.
“There is need for institutional strengthening, particularly in the justice system and to prioritise the protection of vulnerable and marginalised groups and the need to end the perceived impunity for transnational organised crime and trafficking is critical for a successful response,” she said.
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