26 Oct 2022

Botswana and Mozambique have signed two agreements for cooperating on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition.

The agreements were signed by Botswana's Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni and Mozambican counterpart  Ms Helena Kida in Gaborone yesterday.

Minister Shamukuni said the accords were indicative of the two nation’s unwavering stance against injustices.

“The agreements will heighten our bilateral cooperation such that we may extradite fugitives to Botswana to answer for their crimes or alternatively face the wrath of the law in Mozambique for crimes committed in Botswana and vice versa,” said Mr Shamukuni.

He said they also showed the countries’ strong will to deny criminals and criminal networks the opportunity to render justice systems ineffective and inadequate.

Botswana, the minister said, was also aware of the gravity and negative effects that transnational crime posed to any nation’s development agenda.

“We are of the view that should crime cross borders, criminals should be punished, especially in the pursuit of justice for those that have been wronged,” he said.

Minister Shamukuni said the agreement on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters would make it possible for the two states’ law enforcement agencies to share information expediently.

For her part, Ms Kida said the accords would make bilateral cooperation between the two countries more effective in preventing and suppressing crime.

The agreements showed the two countries’ commitment to not being used as shelter for people who committed crimes and fled to avoid accountability, she said.

Minister Kida explained that work on the agreements dated back to 2017 when the two governments undertook to have extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters instruments.

She said apart from the signing, her delegation planned  working visits to institutions integrated in the area of justice.

They included civil registry and notary services, Botswana Police Service forensic laboratory, Legal Aid Botswana and Botswana Prison Service.

Cooperation between Botswana and Mozambique is governed by   a Permanent Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation established in 2005. Ends