Zambia, Botswana Ink Security Pacts For Organized Crime Crackdown

Zambia and Botswana have signed agreements to boost bilateral security cooperation, with a focus on countering organized crime.

An extradition treaty, mutual legal assistance agreement, and a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation and military training were signed during meetings of the Zambia-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) this week.

Zambia's Defense Minister Ambrose Lufuma and his counterpart Thomas Mmusi expressed particular concern over the escalation of organized crime in the two countries and the wider Southern Africa region, according to a statement issued on Saturday.

Human and drug trafficking, poaching, irregular migration, terrorism and vandalism were identified as the major transnational and organized crimes affecting the two countries, it added.

Both sides recognized "transnational and organized crime as a threat to socioeconomic development and security."

The JPC also commended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for trying to ensure political stability, peace and security in the region, while lauding the SADC Mission in Mozambique for its anti-terror efforts in the troubled Cabo Delgado province.​​​​​​​ -