LUSAKA AGREEMENT TASK FORCE, AFRICA TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVE & UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON UNITE TO COMBAT WILDLIFE AND FOREST CRIMES IN EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA

The Lead Instructor and Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Africa Transformational Initiative, Mr Rod Khattabi speaks in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. With him is the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Dunstan Luka Kitandula (centre) and the Director for Lusaka Agreement Task Force, Mr Edward Phiri (left).

The Director for Lusaka Agreement Task Force, Mr Edward Phiri speaks in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. With him is the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Dunstan Luka Kitandula (centre) and the Lead Instructor and Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Africa Transformational Initiative, Mr Rod Khattabi (right).

Dar es Salaam: In a major step forward in the fight against wildlife and forest crimes, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), Africa Transformational Initiative (ATI), and the University of Washington’s Center for Environmental Forensic Science have teamed up to host a crucial five-day training workshop.

The five-day workshop, which ends tomorrow (Friday, March 28, 2025) at the Giraffe Beach Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has brought together 28 law enforcement officers from Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia.

The event, titled “Strengthening Law Enforcement Capacity in Investigative Techniques and Port Security to Combat Transnational Organized Crime,” addresses the growing threats of illegal activities such as wildlife trafficking and illegal logging in Africa. These illicit activities, estimated to generate between $7 billion and $23 billion annually, have devastating consequences for Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

With wildlife trafficking decimating iconic species and illegal logging contributing to climate change and ecosystem degradation, the collaboration comes at a critical time. These crimes not only harm the environment but destabilize local economies and communities across the region.

The workshop aims to tackle key challenges facing law enforcement, including limited cross-border collaboration, outdated technologies, and gaps in specialized training. The initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation among national and international partners to improve arrests, prosecutions, and ultimately curtail wildlife and forest crimes. The specialized training will include wildlife crime detection, trafficking interdiction, forest protection laws, and forensic techniques such as DNA analysis to enhance wildlife crime investigations.

Gracing the workshop on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Dunstan Luka Kitandula, emphasized Tanzania's commitment to wildlife conservation and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in combating wildlife crimes.

He noted the country's ongoing legal reforms and efforts to engage local communities in conservation efforts, underscoring the need for enhanced law enforcement capacity to combat increasingly sophisticated wildlife crimes.

Mr Kitandula further pointed out that Tanzania's success in wildlife conservation has been bolstered by international partnerships and strengthened legal frameworks, including amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act. These reforms have imposed severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to 30 years for wildlife trafficking and poaching.

The Director of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, Mr Edward Phiri, highlighted the importance of the workshop in building law enforcement capabilities. He emphasized that the program not only promotes cross-border cooperation but also equips officers with advanced tools and knowledge necessary to address the evolving threats posed by wildlife and forest crimes. “By providing law enforcement officers with cutting-edge training and resources, we are ensuring a more coordinated, dynamic, and effective response,” Phiri said.

The Lead Instructor and Chairman of the Board of Advisors for ATI, Mr Rod Khattabi, also spoke on the significance of the initiative. He noted that the program will play a pivotal role in safeguarding Africa’s biodiversity by enhancing law enforcement skills and fostering cross-border collaboration. “This initiative is a transformative step towards securing the sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources,” Khattabi said.

The workshop is part of a broader effort to dismantle wildlife and forest crime syndicates exploiting weak governance structures in Africa. By providing specialized training in forensic investigations and intelligence sharing, the initiative aims to disrupt illicit financial flows and criminal networks.

Mr Kitandula also acknowledged the country’s efforts to combat poaching at the local level. Tanzania, he said, has strengthened its commitment to wildlife conservation through initiatives such as Community Wildlife Management Areas (CWMAs) and eco-tourism incentives, which have significantly reduced poaching. Advanced technology, including satellite monitoring and SMART patrols, has further enhanced surveillance and response capabilities. These efforts have led to a remarkable increase in Tanzania’s elephant population, from 43,000 in 2014 to over 60,000 today.

The initiative is made possible through the support of the VRANOS Family Foundation and Ellington Management Group, whose contributions were essential to the success of the workshop.