PM calls for collective action in combating digitally coordinated cross-border crime

DAR ES SALAAM: PRIME Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has said that regional and international cooperation is essential in combating evolving cross-border crime.

The Prime Minister made the statement during the official opening of the 11th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the East Africa Association of Prosecutors held in Dar es Salaam, stressing the growing complexity of organised crime driven by digital technologies.

Held under the theme “Use of Technology in Combating Wildlife Crime and Transnational Organised Crime,” the three-day conference brought together prosecutors and legal experts from across the region and beyond.

Elaborating on his point, the Premier stated that many modern crimes are planned, financed and coordinated digitally, requiring strong technological systems and collective action to effectively counter them.

“As organised crime transcends borders, law enforcement and criminal justice systems cannot effectively address it without robust international cooperation, particularly in areas such as mutual legal assistance and extradition,” he said.

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Additionally, he noted that wildlife crime and other forms of transnational organised crime are increasingly facilitated through digital platforms, making them harder to detect and faster to execute across jurisdictions.

The Prime Minister emphasised that technology must be fully utilised as a key tool in tackling such crimes both within East Africa and globally while warning that illegal wildlife trade and organised crime pose serious threats to national economies and security, contributing to loss of resources and undermining stability.

Speaking on Tanzania’s efforts, Dr Nchemba said the government has continued to strengthen its legal frameworks to enhance international cooperation, including the use of digital evidence, communication surveillance and modern investigative techniques.

He added that bureaucratic procedures have been streamlined to enable timely execution of mutual legal assistance requests through relevant authorities and urged member states to use the EAAP platform to deepen regional collaboration and information sharing.

“In a world where crime knows no borders, our response must be collective, strategic and united,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Zainabu Katimba, said the Prime Minister’s participation reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening regional and global cooperation in addressing crime.

EAAP President, Renson Ingonga, also underscored the importance of collaboration and technology in tackling fast-evolving criminal networks, noting that the conference provides a platform to build professional networks and enhance trust among justice institutions.

The international gathering has convened Directors of Public Prosecutions, Attorneys General, law enforcement leaders and stakeholders from regional and global organisations to strengthen cooperation and criminal justice systems in addressing transnational crime.

EAAP brings together member states including Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Sudan, Zambia and Uganda.