The Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Southern Africa (ARINSA) convened its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) from December 4-6 in Kasane, Botswana, under the theme “Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Effective Asset Recovery.” This was held on the sidelines of the Southern Africa Heads of Prosecution (SAHOP) Forum first ever in person inaugural meeting! This highly anticipated gathering was co-hosted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Celebrating 15 years of impactful contributions to combating illicit financial flows and promoting justice, the event brought together representatives from 17 member countries in the southern African region. Since its inception in 2009, ARINSA has grown from just two dedicated asset forfeiture units to 16 specialised offices across the region in 2024.
This growth was a focal point of the AGM, which spotlighted ARINSA’s significant achievements. Among the cases highlighted were Botswana’s recovery of assets from the National Petroleum Fund scandal and South Africa’s successful freezing of assets linked to state capture.
During the official opening of the meetings, Zambia’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC, in his opening remarks, emphasised the fact that the return of stolen assets is not merely a legal obligation but a moral imperative. He stressed that it was a critical tool for change, a symbol of justice, and a beacon of hope for our communities and future generations. He urged the Heads of prosecutions services and asset recovery experts to renew their sense of dedication to the shared goals of justice, transparency, and sustainable development.
The AGM featured sessions led by international experts addressing critical topics such as anti-money laundering strategies, financial investigations, and cross-border cooperation. Zambia was prominently represented by Ms. Margaret Kapambwe, Head of the Asset Forfeiture Department at National Prosecution Authority and Zambia’s focal point to ARINSA. She shared the stage with esteemed figures in the region’s justice system, including Advocate Shamila Batohi, South Africa’s National Director of Public Prosecutions, and Advocate Martha Imalwa, Namibia’s Prosecutor General.
Zambia earned recognition for its exemplary leadership in asset recovery, particularly for its development of the 2024 Criminal Assets Recovery Inter-agency Bureau Bill and its consistent success in recovering stolen assets.
The Award of Excellence was also presented to the Zambian delegation for its unrelenting commitment to investigating money laundering cases and recovering illicit assets. The award was proudly received by Mr. Gilbert Phiri, Zambia’s Director of Public Prosecutions; Ms. Margaret Kapambwe; and Mr. Mukelebai Kwaleyela, Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit at the Drug Enforcement Commission. Zambia also had the honor of assuming the ARINSA’s presidency and will be at the helm of ARINSA’s leadership for two years from 2025.
The Southern African Heads of Prosecution (SAHOP) Forum was represented by 16 member states namely Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
At the close of the summit, the Directors of Public Prosecutions signed the Kasane Declaration and adopted SAHOP Forum Terms of Reference in which they declared their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and upholding Human Rights. They further resolved to strengthen Mutual Legal Assistance by ensuring that these are quickly processed and agreed to enhance knowledge exchange and to build capacity among prosecutors in the region.
The meeting endorsed Zambia’s DPP, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri (SC) as the first President of the Southern Africa Heads of Prosecution (SAHOP) Forum, and Ms. Makumba Gwendolyn Kashishi, Principal State Advocate, who is the Focal Point for SAHOP to run the Secretariat.
The countries resolved and pledged to support Zambia’s leadership in the development of best practices for prosecution in the region.