Lilongwe, Malawi – Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus from across the Southern African Development Community gathered in Lilongwe, Malawi, on 8 June 2026, calling for enhanced information sharing to combat transnational organised crime and improve security across the region.
The meeting opened with remarks from Dr Mlowoka Noel Kaira, Deputy Inspector General for Operations of the Malawi Police Service, who drew a direct link between security and development, saying that combating transnational organised crime is essential to safeguarding communities and advancing the SADC Vision 2050.
Gerald Chiwanda, Director of the Central Intelligence Department of the Malawi Police Service and Chairperson of the Police Cooperation Sub-Committee, Thanyani Gumede, Senior Police Officer at the SARPCCO SADC Secretariat, and Sello Moerane, Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau in Harare, Zimbabwe, all agreed that prioritising intelligence sharing and leveraging INTERPOL’s global network would allow the region to better protect its citizens, disrupt criminal networks and create conditions for sustainable growth and regional security. 
The meeting of INTERPOL National Central Bureau heads forms part of a series of preparatory engagements ahead of the meeting of Chiefs of Police from SADC member states, scheduled for 11 and 12 June 2026 at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.
