11 May 2008
Luanda — Angolan Home minister, Roberto Leal Monteiro "Ngongo", Saturday in Luanda, appealed to Southern Africa's polices chiefs to outline effective mechanisms to fight crime for the stability of the region.
The official was speaking at the opening of the third meeting of the Southern Africa Regional Polices Chiefs Council Organisation (Sarpcco), analysing issues concerning the organisation.
According to the minister, fighting crime is a crucial factor to secure peace, security and stability.
For this reason, he said a "multilateral approach, regardless of each member state's individual ones, should stand as a compulsory pattern in this kind of events."
He said that prevention of crime means the establishment of effective mechanisms of coordination and permanent exchange of information and constitutes a very important condition to success.
According to the Angola Interior minister, with peace and security, it is possible to build prosperous countries in permanent progress.
He said that the event's working agenda includes matters whose resolution will contribute to increase the level of security in the region and determine economic and social development of the Southern Africa countries.
The official spoke of the need for the police staff to be given a continuous training, in order to provide them with the skill to deal with the challenges facing the SADC police forces.
On the other hand, Roberto Leal Monteiro "Ngongo" spoke of the need for harmonised procedures concerning the observance and respect for the citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms.
"We think it is useful to introduce notions of code of conduct and respect for human rights, for a closer proximity between our polices and the citizens, thus contributing to the increment of the prestige of our countries," he stated.
He considered that Southern Africa region is the most stable, strongest and with more progress in the African continent.
According to the official, this has been attained thanks to the contribution and solidarity extended by various regional police organisations, through joint actions.
Concerning the legislative elections in Angola, set for September this year, the Interior minister said he was convinced that they will go in a peaceful environment the country is currently enjoying.
The event ending on Sunday is analysing the memorandum of understanding on the creation of the stand-by brigade of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
It is also discussing the pace in the implementation of the SADC polices chiefs decisions, the harmonisation of the regional organisation's road maps and the gender equity in the police forces in the region.
Another matter deserving attention from the delegates has to do with the situation on the adhesion and or ratification of the protocols on security and public order, as well as the training programme for support to peace.
SARPCCO was founded on August 5, 1995, by eleven member countries of the Southern Africa Development Community. They are Angola, South Africa, Botswana, Mauritius, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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