12 Sep 2018

Botswana and Namibia have signed extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters treaties.

Speaking at the ceremony in Gaborone on Monday, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Mr Shaw Kgathi said the signing of the instruments was a welcome development for both countries and were important tools for law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime.

In addition, they would complement the existing regional SADC protocols, he said.

Minister Kgathi explained that Extradition Treaty provided the framework for granting extradition of fugitives; while the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters facilitated the exchange and cooperation in criminal matters including investigations, prosecutions and the exchange of information and documents.

This would make it easy to trace, restrain, forfeit or confiscate assets and proceeds of crime, he said.

Mr Kgathi said through the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) on Defence and Security, the two countries had collaborated peacefully and effectively in fighting cross border crime.

He said at the 2016 JPC on Defence and Security meeting between Botswana and Namibia, it was agreed that due to the escalation of crime at both national and transnational levels, there was need for an Extradition Treaty as well as a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

He said it was critical that the two neighbours continued their cooperation and collaboration to ensure the success of their crime fighting initiatives as they would ultimately contribute to the peace and security of the region.

Mr Kgathi noted that Namibia had graciously allowed Botswana the use of the dry port in Walvis Bay.

The two countries, he said, were committed to ensuring the security of goods in their respective countries ments concluded between Botswana and Namibia included the signing of the Boundary Treaty; the One Stop Boarder facility and joint anti-poaching operations.

For his part, Minister of Justice of Namibia, Mr Sakeus Shanghala said as long time partners with similar cultural backgrounds and unshaken friendship, the signing of the treaties would go a long way in ensuring the rule of law prevailed between the two brotherly neighbours.

Minister Shanghala said the instruments would ensure that trouble makers were brought to justice without fail.

The instruments, he said, came at the right time when crime such as human trafficking and other heinous acts were on the rise.

He therefore said the treaties should be implemented whenever the need arose so that their desired objectives could be realised. ENDs