Minister Kembo Mohadi
Adelaide Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
STATE Security Minister Kembo Mohadi has called for urgent strategies to address cross border crimes which he said strain the African economy.
Speaking at the official opening of the 30th Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security in Victoria Falls on Thursday, Minister Mohadi said border jumping, human trafficking, terrorism and poaching are regional threats with adverse impact on the countries’ economies and should be addressed immediately.
He called on delegates attending the meeting to continue to hold meetings regularly to review security between the two countries.
“We should commit ourselves to finding strategies to fight against human trafficking, smuggling of precious minerals, poaching, irregular migration, smuggling of drugs, theft of motor vehicles, cattle rustling and other forms of cross-border crimes,” said Minister Mohadi.
He said the strategies are critical in fighting crimes which adversely affect the countries’ economies.
Speaking at the same occasion, Botswana Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Shaw Kgathi said there was a need to find a lasting solution to cross-border crimes.
“At regional level we have many challenges for which we share common perspectives and for which we need to develop quick, permanent and common strategies to deal with them. The challenges are in particular cross- border crimes, poaching, human trafficking and terrorism which on their own pose high risks to our economies and human security,” Minister Kgathi said.
The delegates expressed concern at the killing of game using deadly and cruel methods such as cyanide poisoning which also affects the ecosystem.
With regard to defence, the commission observed the need for coordinated patrols along the common border as well as establishment of effective communication links.