Tinaye Agere
Nyore Madzianike
TEN countries, including Zimbabwe, are gathered in Harare for the Geiger Working Group meeting for Southern Africa where issues of security in relation to nuclear and radioactive materials are being discussed.
The three-day meeting is being coordinated by Interpol Regional Bureau led by Mr Sello Moerane.
Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are participating.
The meeting is running under the theme “Detection of Radiological Threats”.
Officiating at the opening ceremony, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe reiterated the need for collective efforts to contain nuclear threats in the region and the world at large.
“It is not a secret that nuclear and radioactive materials pose a threat to the safety and security of member states and their citizens if there is no capacity to detect, investigate and respond to illicit activities involving them,” he said.
“This event therefore becomes cardinal, as it marks a strategic and collaborative intervention to ensure that as member states in Southern Africa, we are able to enhance the safety and security of our citizens.”
Minister Kazembe said enforcement agencies needed to be equipped with knowledge and tools to effectively address complexities involving illicit trafficking of radioactive materials.
“In Zimbabwe, we wish this trajectory to transcend government, and also include non-state actors under the rubric of peace and security,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu