Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba joined 188 police chiefs from Africa who gathered for the recent International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) conference in Cape Town, South Africa, which was aimed at strengthening partnerships to address regional crime threats.
Cooperation, innovation and strengthening partnerships to combat the evolving threats posed by transnational organised crime were the focus of the recently held INTERPOL’s African Regional Conference.
The three-day meeting brought together senior police leaders from 56 countries to provide a unified and coordinated approach to tackling the region’s most pressing security challenges.
In his address, South Africa’s Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, said the conference convened at a critical juncture.
“Transnational organised crime remains one of the most serious threats to peace, stability, and development across Africa and beyond.
“The task before us is daunting, but it is also inspiring. Our collective resolve, our shared expertise, and our commitment to cooperation give us reason to be hopeful.
“On behalf of South Africa, I wish to reaffirm our commitment to the values and objectives of INTERPOL and to the spirit of African and international solidarity,” he said.
South African Police Service National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, said the police leaders were bound by the need to confront challenges of transnational crimes.
“We gather today not merely as representatives of our respective countries, but as partners bound by a shared responsibility, to confront the complex and evolving challenges of transnational crime that undermine peace, prosperity and the rule of law across our beloved continent. Transnational crime knows no borders and our response cannot be confined by borders either,” said General Masemola.
INTERPOL president, Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, said they were determined to find solutions to crime.
“The theme of this conference ‘, Leveraging cooperation, innovation, and partnerships to fight transnational organised crime,’ reflects the urgent challenges we face, but more importantly, it signals our shared determination to find solutions together.
“The African Regional Conference is a testament to the enduring spirit of partnership that defines INTERPOL’s work on the continent.”
Valdecy Urquiza, the Secretary General of INTERPOL, said the platform was critical to share expertise.
“The African Regional Conference is a critical platform for law enforcement to share expertise, best practices and resources in the fight against transnational organised crime.
“By listening to what the region needs and working closely with our members, we are making sure INTERPOL does more than just bring people together – we’re helping to make a bigger impact on Africa’s safety and security.”
Chaired by INTERPOL’s vice president for Africa Mohammed Dkhissi, the conference addressed a range of regional criminal activity, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling, environmental security, and cattle theft, which can be used to generate terrorism financing.
