By Jones Gadama
Police chiefs from across Southern Africa have agreed to deepen collaboration against organized criminal networks as the 31st Annual General Meeting of the SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee got underway in the capital today.
The forum convened senior security officials from SADC countries to assess emerging threats including narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, cyber attacks, and illegal weapons trade. Over the coming days, delegates will work to synchronize operational plans and improve intelligence sharing for 2026 and beyond.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhito emphasized that development and peace depend on public safety. He told delegates that secure borders and coordinated policing are non-negotiable if the region is to attract investment and protect communities.
He urged member states to treat transnational crime as a collective challenge rather than a national one.
SADC’s Director for Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, Professor Kula Ishmael Theletsane, also addressed the gathering.
He lauded the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation for its progress and singled out SARPCCO Chairperson and Malawi Police Service Inspector General Richard Luhanga for steering regional initiatives and fostering cooperation among police services.
The Lilongwe agenda focuses on three key areas: faster exchange of real-time data, alignment of legal frameworks across borders, and stronger capacity building so units can respond quickly to syndicates operating in multiple countries.
The SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee convenes each year to review SARPCCO’s work, set new priorities, and measure results on regional security.
