History of SARPCCO

A natural successor to the Frontline Chiefs of Police, the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) was established in 1994. Thirty years on, the organization continues its relentless pursuit against regional and transnational crime. It has firmly established itself as a benchmark for international police cooperation. The following is an overview of the historical perspective of SARPCCO, its relationhsip INTERPOL and its organization (constitution and structure).  

The birth of SARPCCO was a process that started in 1994 and culminated in the opening of the INTERPOL Su-Regional Bureau for Southern Africa in 1997. The following were the key highlights in this process:

  • 19th to 22nd September, 1994 - Managa, Swaziland
    Regional Seminar for Police Executive
    Undertaking to continue the actions of the frontline Chiefs of Police

  • 8th to 20th May, 1995 - Harare, Zimbabwe
    Regional Police Workshop
    Proposal to name the new organization SARPCCO

  • 31st July to 1st August, 1995 - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
    Regional Meeting of Frontline States Chiefs of Police
    Confirmation of the new regional Police Organization as SARPCCO

  • 2nd August, 1995 - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
    Meeting of Government Ministers Responsible for the Police
    1. Adoption of SARPCCO as a Regional Organization
    2. Agreement to establish the INTERPOL Sub-Regional Bureau for Southern Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe
    3. Agreement to let the INTERPOL SRB be the SARPCCO Secretariat

  • 3rd February 1997: Harare, Zimbabwe
    INTERPOL Sub Regional Bureau became operational

  • 1st October 1997: Harare, Zimbabwe
    Agreement in respect of Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in the area of crime combating
    Adoption of the SARPCCO Constitution

  • 2006 Summit Decision,
    SARPCCO was integrated into SADC and the SADC Treaty was amended in 2009 to include
    the Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Public Security, State Security and Police (Article 10A (4).

Chairmanship

2024 - Mr. Graphel MUSAMBA, Inspector General of Police - Zambia Police Service (March 2023 - to-date)
2023 - Mr. Joseph SHIKONGO, Inspector General of Police - Namibia Police Force (2022 - to-date
2022 - Cde. Godwin Tandabantu MATANGA, Commissioner General of Police - Zimbabwe Republic Police

1995 - Namibia, Commissioner ….