SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA HON.

OMAR RAMADHAN MAPURI AT THE OPENING

OF EAPCCO EXTRA ORDINARY MEETING HELD

IN ARUSHA ON 19^TH DECEMBER, 2003

Chairman of EAPCCO and Inspector General of Tanzania Police Omar Iddi Mahita

Police Chiefs from EAPCCO Member States

Distinguished Representative of General Secretariat at ICPO Interpol

Invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

First and foremost, I like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania to welcome you to Tanzania, and Arusha in particular. I hope you will enjoy the hospitality of our people and all facilities at your disposal.

I also wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the organizers of this extra ordinary meeting for inviting me to officiate the opening ceremony today. I thank you very much.

Mr. Chairman,

When I took up my post to head the Ministry of Home Affairs about ten months ago, I was briefed by my predecessor on this organization in terms of its objectives, how it is connected with the Ministry of Home Affairs and what Ministers, as political commissars can do to sustain its activities. I was also informed of the excellent working relationship between this organization and respective Ministers responsible for police matters within EAPCCO member states. I take this opportunity to assure you that on my part I will do all that I can to make this organization sustainable.

Mr. Chairman,

I have noted with satisfaction that co-operation takes a central stage in your organization. Given the complexity of the problem of cross boarder crimes facing our countries, it is not possible to find solutions to many problems and challenges single handedly. As you have rightly pointed out in your speech, this cooperation is necessary to enable our countries to combat cross border crimes which no one country can manage alone. To be able to do so, EAPCCO member states have to put in place a legal machinery that will ensure a criminal who commits an offence in one country does not feel safe to flee to another country, settle there and hence escape the arm of law.

Mr. Chairman

Modernisation of our Police Forces is a must to make them dependable organs. Modernization may also imply taking through legislative and policy reviews so that all legislations relevant to the Police Forces in our respective countries are updated so as to be in line with the needs of our modern times. I therefore call upon all member states to harmonise their various legislations as a means to sustain and make strong our co-operation. Otherwise the whole idea of co-operation will be meaningless.

Mr. Chairman,

In order for this organization to execute its functions successfully, it is of paramount importance to have the head of the Sub Regional Bureau in Nairobi, an officer with the requisite knowledge of police matters coupled with experience in policing so as to take this organization to even greater heights. As you will nominate the person to head the Sub Regional Bureau in this meeting, you surely cannot afford to nominate a person who lacks those qualities and who above all, does not have the interest of this organization at heart. If you do so, that may be the beginning of the end of this organization. It is therefore my appeal to all of you to exercise your discretion very wisely. It is in our best interest to have a head of Sub Regional Bureau who can deliver the expected goods.

Mr. Chairman,

Lastly I like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the outgoing head of the Sub Regional Bureau in Nairobi, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Kimundi of Kenya for his exemplary service to this organization. Without his dedicated services to this organization, it would probably have not been what it is. I really appreciate the valuable contribution he made to this organization. I also believe that he was able to satisfactorily execute the duties of this office due to your support. I hope you will extend the same support to the new head of the Sub Regional Bureau in Nairobi, you are shortly going to nominate.

Mr. Chairman,

As you may recall, when you met in Zanzibar, you made some resolutions which are supposed to be signed by all member countries. I take this opportunity to thank all countries that have signed the resolutions. I also wish to ask any country that have not signed the resolution to do it quickly in order for those agreed upon resolutions to be implemented.

Mr. Chairman,

I wish all of you very fruitful deliberations and I look forward to an action oriented outcome of your meeting with the sole purpose, I believe, of building a better world for us. I also wish you a safe journey back home and a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and Gentlemen, with these few remarks I now have the honour and pleasure to declare your meeting officially opened.

Thank you for your kind attention.