‘SILENCING OF GUNS’ TALK IN PM, SARPCCO CHIEF MEET

MBABANE – Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) Lt. General Joseph Shimweelao Shikongo met with the PM yesterday, where they discussed, among other issues, the silencing of the guns.

Lt. General Shikongo is also the Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force. He is currently in the country to evaluate and monitor the country’s performance with regard to the implementation of agreed The Internationa Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and SARPCCO resolutions and decisions. Deputy Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said Lt General Shikongo met the Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Dlamini, at Cabinet Offices yesterday.

Agreement

“Among other things discussed was the Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and other Related Materials taken in August 2020, which SADC member States were encouraged to sign and the upcoming national elections.” Lt. General Shikongo reported that only five SADC member States had since signed the Agreement Amending the Protocol, with Namibia currently in the process of signing.  He also encouraged the Kingdom of Eswatini to continue observing the Africa Amnesty Month in September each year, “which has been declared as a month in which individuals and groups who surrender their illegally owned weapons/arms will not be subjected to disclosure, humiliation, arrest, or prosecution in sync with the Africa Amnesty Month and Article (b) of the SADC Protocol.”

Mdluli said also discussed was the implementation of the Integrated Strategy to prevent and combat transnational organised crimes in the Southern African Development  Community (SADC) region as well as its implementation plan.“Lt. General Shikongo applauded Eswatini for doing well in meeting INTERPOL standards, noting that there was room for improvement though. The PM, on the other hand, welcomed the SARPCCO chairperson to the Kingdom of Eswatini. He also appreciated the role played by SARPCCO in the coordination of cross-border issues within the police service. He further reiterated the importance of ‘silencing the guns’ as per calls by the SADC Summit. The prime minister assured the visiting SARPCCO chairperson of a safe and secure stay in the country and noted how emaSwati were recognising the role played by police officers in the country.

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