Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter
Southern Africa will hold its 31st Annual General Meeting of the SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee under the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee this week, focusing on regional actions to prevent and counter cross-border and transnational organised crime.
In a communiqué issued by the SADC Secretariat, the regional bloc said the meeting will take place on Thursday and Friday.
It will also review major regional peace and security concerns, with priority on emerging and transnational organised crime.
Among the areas to be discussed are cybercrime, financial crime, the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, illicit drug trafficking, motor vehicle crime, livestock-related crime, terrorism and other cross-border offences impacting the region.
“The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold the 31st Annual General Meeting of the Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee/Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) in Lilongwe, Republic of Malawi, on June 11-12, 2026 to discuss regional measures to prevent and combat cross-border and transnational organised crimes.
“The meeting will be officially opened by the Minister of Homeland Security of the Republic of Malawi, Honourable Peter Mukhito, as the Guest of Honour and chaired by Mr Richard Chakupaleza Chikoko Luhanga, SARPCCO Chairperson and Inspector-General of the Malawi Police Service,” said SADC.
The meeting will also review activities, programmes and progress in relation to SADC instruments adopted to prevent and combat cross-border and transnational organised crime, including the SADC Integrated Strategy to Prevent and Combat Transnational Organised Crime and its Action Plan, and the SADC Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials.
“The outcomes of the meeting are expected to strengthen regional security and stability, contributing to the stable, peaceful and prosperous SADC region envisioned in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and Vision 2050,” said SADC.
The SARPCCO will be preceded by the Meeting of Heads of INTERPOL National Bureau Centres (NBCs) tomorrow and the Meeting of the SARPCCO Technical Organs on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Established in 1995, SARPCCO brings together Chiefs of Police from SADC Member States to coordinate action on cross-border and transnational crime, subject to domestic laws and international obligations.
Its objectives include promoting cooperation and shared strategies to manage all forms of cross-border crime with regional impact; preparing and circulating timely information on criminal trends to help Member States contain crime; regularly assessing joint crime management approaches to match changing national and regional priorities; ensuring efficient management of criminal records and joint monitoring of cross-border crime, leveraging INTERPOL systems; and recommending reforms to governments on policing matters affecting the SADC region.
