The Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) Chairperson, who is also Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, paid a visit to Botswana Police Service (BPS) in Gaborone from the 12th to the 14th February 2023. Lt General Shikongo is on a tour of SADC member countries to monitor and evaluate the Regional Performance and Implementation of SARPCCO resolutions.
Lt. General Shikongo commended the BPS for doing a sterling job in carrying out the implementation of SARPCCO resolutions and compliance with INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau Quality Standards.
He said to show commitment, the BPS has over the years participated in all capacity building and training initiatives aimed at combating cross border and transnational organised crimes.
The Chairperson encouraged SARPCCO member states to enroll their officers with the SARPCCO Center of Excellence in Harare, Zimbabwe to acquire the requisite skills and share ideas on combating transnational organised crimes.
The SARPCCO Chairperson’s visit was to also check for compliance with INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau Quality Standards by member states.
For his part, the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr Phemelo Ramakorwane, said that the two member states share close historical, geographical and cultural similarities which bind them inextricably.
He further said the two Police organisations collaborate through bilateral meetings, joint operations and sharing intelligence. Mr Ramakorwane also said the collaborations contribute significantly towards efforts of fighting against transnational organised crimes along the borders and beyond.
Mr Ramakorwane further informed the chairperson that implementation of the decisions by Police Chiefs is ongoing as BPS has extended the Interpol communication system, know as I-24/7, to all Botswana Police Formations and eight (8) other National Law Enforcement Agencies.
Lt. General Shikongo was accompanied by the Head of the Interpol Regional Bureau in Harare, Mr Sello Moerane, Senior Police Officer SADC/SARPCCO Ms Tanyane Gumede, Regional Specialised Officers and Senior Police Officers from the Namibian Police Force.
