Regional anti-poaching collaboration vital – Justice Ndika
DAR ES SALAAM: JUSTICE of the Court of Appeal Dr Gerald Ndika has emphasised the critical role of regional institutional cooperation in the fight against wildlife trafficking, stating that collaborative efforts are essential in eliminating poaching activities in the region.
Speaking at the opening of a regional criminal justice stakeholders’ workshop in Dar es Salaam where he represented Chief Justice Professor Ibrahim Juma, which brought together participants from Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe, Justice Dr Ndika underscored the importance of joint efforts in strengthening legal systems to combat wildlife trafficking.
He remarked that such workshops serve as vital platforms for stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences, particularly in areas such as technological advancements in wildlife protection.
“Workshops like these are essential for stakeholders to share experiences and expertise, especially in the critical areas of control, including the use of technology,” said Justice Dr Ndika.
He went on to highlight the increasing significance of technology in both facilitating and combating wildlife crimes, noting that criminals are also exploiting modern technologies and techniques to perpetrate these offences.
Justice Ndika stressed the need for stakeholders to enhance their use of advanced technologies in order to stay ahead of poachers.
“In today’s world, modern technology plays a pivotal role in both committing and combating crimes. The use of modern technologies in investigating and prosecuting wildlife crimes cannot be overstated,” stated Dr Ndika.
He further explained that technologies such as satellite tracking of endangered species and forensic analysis of seized wildlife products are now being used to strengthen efforts in the fight against wildlife crimes.
Dr Ndika noted that technology has become an essential tool for courts, prosecutors and other stakeholders involved in combating poaching.
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The two-day workshop brought together judicial officials, representatives from judicial service commissions, prosecutors, investigators and non-governmental organisations from the three countries.
The primary goal of the workshop is to discuss and share the knowledge and skills gained from a series of training sessions conducted in Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Dr Ndika also observed that modern organised criminals use sophisticated technologies to facilitate wildlife crimes, often by passing existing control systems and undermining legal frameworks.
He called on law enforcement agencies and government prosecutors to invest in strategies and expertise to ensure the effective disruption of wildlife trafficking networks.
“Law enforcement officials must work diligently to investigate and disrupt trafficking networks, while prosecutors must ensure that cases brought to court are well-prepared,” instructed Justice Dr Ndika.
He emphasised the need for concerted efforts among stakeholders, urging them to work together to dismantle the entire chain of wildlife trafficking.
He further noted that wildlife crimes have far-reaching consequences beyond environmental and ecological damage, highlighting their connections to other serious crimes such as terrorism.
“On the surface, wildlife crimes may seem to threaten species extinction, disrupt ecosystems and endanger biodiversity. However, their consequences are far-reaching and one must not overlook the links between illegal wildlife trade and other serious crimes,” he said.
Justice Dr Ndika praised the Institute of Judicial Administration (IJA) Lushoto for its collaboration with the UK-based PAMS Foundation, which has significantly contributed to the fight against poaching.
Over the past three years, the Tanzanian judiciary, through IJA Lushoto, has organised a series of capacity-building workshops for criminal justice actors, supported by the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) through PAMS Foundation.
Dr Ndika urged the participants of the workshop to actively engage in discussions, share insights and learn from one another to strengthen their collective efforts against wildlife trafficking.
“I encourage all of you to engage fully, share your insights and contribute to the discussion. By the end of this workshop, I believe you will have gained new perspectives, developed new strategies and strengthened our bonds across borders,” said Dr Ndika.
