Police chiefs urged to tackle SADC crime root causes

Pini Bothoko | Monday March 2, 2026 06:00

Speaking during the official opening of the consultative meeting of SADC police chiefs in Kasane on Wednesday, Member of Parliament (MP) for Chobe, Simasiku Mapulanga, challenged delegates to reflect on the broader implications of their mandate, reminding them that they carry the responsibility of safeguarding a region with a population exceeding 300 million people.

“You are here carrying the weight of over 300 million people,” Mapulanga said, referring to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc. The meeting brought together police chiefs from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to deliberate on strengthening regional cooperation against cross-border crime.

Mapulanga started by acknowledging the complexity of policing in a region where crime, in some respects, sustains law enforcement roles.“One of your objectives is to make peace in this region and ensure security. But, if there is no theft, you will lose your job,” he remarked, drawing a mixture of reflection and unease from the audience. He quickly added that the paradox highlights the delicate balance between maintaining security and addressing the structural issues that give rise to crime.

He emphasised that SADC is richly endowed with natural resources, estimated to be worth over $29 trillion, yet continues to grapple with poverty, unemployment and inequality. “This is what you are guarding. This is what you are protecting. The question remains, why do we have crime?” he asked.

Mapulanga argued that governance failures lie at the heart of the problem, questioning whether governments are effectively converting resource wealth into tangible benefits for citizens.

“Are we delivering? Are our schools producing meaningful outcomes? Why do we still have hunger in a region so rich in resources?” he said.

He further noted that SADC is believed to hold over 20 % of the world’s mineral wealth, yet socio-economic transformation remains uneven. According to him, this disconnect continues to fuel criminal activities, including poaching, stock theft and drug trafficking. Mapulanga stressed that crime prevention cannot rely solely on policing, but must also involve communities. “Security is not just the visibility of a police officer. It is the community itself that must take part in fighting crime,” he said.

He pointed to persistent cross-border criminal activities, including the movement of stolen livestock and goods across national boundaries, as evidence of gaps in coordination and enforcement. “We see cattle stolen in Botswana being found in Namibia or even Angola. Goods are taken from here and recovered as far as Victoria Falls. This shows that crime is organised and knows no boundaries,” he said. Mapulanga also raised concerns about weaknesses in information sharing, despite the existence of international policing bodies such as INTERPOL.

“Why is our information leaking? There are people in offices not doing their jobs, creating loopholes for those who want to plunder our resources,” he said.

To address the challenges, he called for accelerated digitisation of border management systems, arguing that manual searches are no longer effective against sophisticated criminal networks.

“We cannot continue to search vehicles manually. We cannot detect drugs manually. We need high-surveillance systems at our borders,” he pleaded, citing the Ngoma border post and Ngwasha veterinary control gate as critical points requiring technological upgrades. Beyond enforcement, Mapulanga emphasised the importance of addressing unemployment and education gaps.

“We are throwing young people into the streets. When they fail at the senior secondary level, where do they go?” he askedrhetorically, linking rising crime levels to poverty, underemployment and lack of opportunities, warning that vulnerable individuals are easily recruited into criminal networks.

“People who are hungry and unemployed are more likely to be lured into crime. Even poachers are often victims of poverty and lack of education,” he said.

He also highlighted concerns about low wages, suggesting that dissatisfaction amongst workers, including law enforcement officers, could indirectly contribute to rising crime.

“We need to start paying our people better and investing in our education system so it produces better outcomes,” he added.

Mapulanga further called for the harmonisation of laws across SADC countries, arguing that disparities in legal frameworks allow criminals to evade justice.

“We are too independent in our laws. Some offenders walk free because of weak penalties. We need to standardise our laws so that anyone caught anywhere can be prosecuted effectively,” he said.

He proposed harsher penalties for crimes such as poaching, suggesting life sentences as a deterrent. “If penalties remain lenient, offenders will continue to exploit the system,” he warned.

In her welcome remarks, Botswana Police Commissioner Dinah Marathe said the meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to implement resolutions from the Second Bi-National Commission between Botswana and Namibia held in Windhoek in October 2025. She noted that the inclusion of South Africa in the discussions was crucial, given its strategic influence on regional security dynamics.

Marathe highlighted the growing complexity of transnational crime, listing offences such as drug trafficking, stock theft, motor vehicle theft, human trafficking, wildlife poaching, cybercrime, financial crimes and illegal mining.

“These crimes are organised, well-resourced and networked across borders. They undermine our economies, threaten livelihoods and erode public trust,” she said.

She warned that rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, are increasingly being exploited by criminals, posing new challenges for law enforcement agencies.

“Policing cyberspace is becoming a major challenge. Criminals are using technology to plan and execute their activities, and we must adopt more practical and cooperative approaches to counter them,” she said.

Marathe emphasised the need for strengthened intelligence sharing, joint operations and robust anti-money laundering frameworks. She also pointed out structural challenges such as porous borders, limited resources, and differences in legal and investigative frameworks across countries as other challenges.

“These gaps complicate joint operations and prosecution, allowing criminal syndicates to exploit our weaknesses,” she said.

The commissioner underscored the importance of the consultative meeting as a platform for frank discussions, knowledge sharing and strategic alignment. “This meeting provides an opportunity to review our strategies, identify gaps and enhance cooperation mechanisms,” she said.

She reaffirmed the Botswana Police Service’s commitment to regional collaboration, noting that trust and sustained dialogue are essential in combating transnational crime. “Our collective leadership and resolve are key to safeguarding our societies, our economies and our natural resources,” she said.

Marathe urged participants to engage openly and constructively, with a focus on producing actionable outcomes that will strengthen the region’s response to organised crime.

As deliberations continue, both speakers stressed that lasting solutions will require a holistic approach, one that integrates law enforcement efforts with socio-economic development, governance reforms and community involvement.

The meeting is expected to produce recommendations aimed at enhancing coordination, improving border security, harmonising legal frameworks and addressing the root causes of crime across the SADC region.