The 31st Annual General Meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee/Southern African Regional Police Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) held in Lilongwe, Republic of Malawi from 11-12 June 2026 successfully concluded with a strong call for a united, coordinated and steadfast action to prevent and combat transnational organised crimes.
Opening the meeting, the Minister of Homeland Security of the Republic of Malawi, Hon. Peter Mukhito underscored that security remains the foundation of socio-economic development, highlighting that without security there cannot be any long-term investment, economic growth and lasting peace in the SADC region.
He cited drug trafficking, cybercrime, trafficking in persons, financial crime, wildlife crime and terrorism as examples of transnational organised crimes that know no borders, emphasising that criminal networks now cooperate across countries and continents with speed and sophistication, making isolated national responses inadequate.
“Our response must, therefore, be more united, coordinated and determined. No nation can confront these challenges alone,” he added.
The Minister reminded Chiefs of Police that SADC citizens expect safety, justice, and tangible results. “They want to live in peace, work in security, and build a better future for their families, and this is our responsibility,” he said.
Chairperson of the SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee/ SARPCCO, Mr. Richard Chakupaleza Chikoko Luhanga, Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service stressed the importance of strengthening regional policing, enhancing coordination and intelligence sharing, underscoring that, ‘no nation alone can stem the rising tide of transnational organised crime’.
“Our charge as Police Chiefs in the SADC region, therefore, is to strengthen regional policing, enhance coordination and intelligence sharing, as well as safeguard the peace, security, and stability of the SADC region,” he said.
The SADC Director of Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, Professor Kula Ishmael Theletsane, highlighted the need for proactive and collaborative efforts to protect citizens.
“There are hundreds of our people who, in one way or another, have fallen victim to the effects of criminal activities. Through our proactive and collaborative efforts, we are more than capable of protecting the would-be victims of these transnational organised crimes,” said Professor Kula.
On his part, the INTERPOL Secretary General His Excellency, Mr. Valdecy URQUIZA, stressed that the converging threats such as trade for synthetic drugs and illicit pharmaceuticals, wildlife trade, illicit mining, human trafficking, fraud and cyber-enabled crime, are amplifying broader security risks for SADC Member States.
He urged the SADC Chiefs of Police to adopt locally informed, regionally coordinated, and globally connected responses to disrupt the networks profiting from region’s vulnerabilities, adding that this kind of response is grounded on the model that INTERPOL exists to support.
Among key critical regional police cooperation issues, the Chiefs of Police,
Expressed gratitude for the partnership and support of INTERPOL in responding to transnational organised crimes and committed to strengthening collaboration with INTERPOL through the SADC-INTERPOL Cooperation Agreement.
Approved the Standard Operating Procedures on repatriation of stolen motor vehicles which recognises the need for SADC Member States to assist each other in the investigation and prosecutions in respect of stolen vehicles.
Approved the Operational Plan to combat Stock Theft in the SADC Region aimed at reducing stock theft across SADC Member States by strengthening regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, Stakeholder engagement, and harmonized legislation and urged Member States to harmonise national laws against stock theft and stock movement control guidelines to ensure that there is harmonised and consistent approach to fighting stock theft in the SADC region.
Urged Member States and domesticate regional, continental, and international strategic instruments and protocols on combating cybercrime and ensuring cybersecurity, such as the SADC Model Laws on Computer and Cybercrime and Data Protection, United Nations Conventions on Cybercrime; and enhance participation in Joint Operations to prevent and combat cybercrime.
Urged Member States to engage the private sector, including multilateral Development Banks for technical assistance and capacity building to fight financial crimes and to assist in the recovery of assets from financial crimes.
Urged Member States to enhance implementation of activities aimed at combating Intellectual property crimes.
Called for the strengthening of the SARPCCO Women’s Network to mainstream gender issues in police operations in the SADC region.
The 32nd Annual General Meeting of SARPCCO will be hosted by the Kingdom of Eswatini as the Incoming Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The Incoming SARPCCO Chairperson and National Commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police Service, Mr. Vusi Manoma Masango reiterated Eswatini's commitment to fighting transnational organised crime through collaborative and co-operative efforts with other SARPCCO Member States.
