Proceeds of any criminal activity will be forfeited to the State, says Eswatini Prime Minister

Eswatini Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini says proceeds of criminal activity will be traced and forfeited to the state. 

He was speaking at the first meeting of the Asset Recovery Committee which has been established following the passing of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2018. The meeting also witnessed the signing of the Dar es Salaam Declaration on Strengthening Asset Forfeiture for Development, which was approved at the Annual General Meeting of the assets Recovery Inter-agency Network (ARINS) in June 2019 in Tanzania.

“As a country we cannot afford to lose any cent through crime and corruption if we are to fulfill our goal of economic transformation and development,” said Prime Minister. He added that the passing of POCA marked a new era in the fight against corruption and organized crime in Eswatini 

POCA cuts across the spectrum on asset forfeiture and enables the country to comply with international instruments such as(the United Nations Drug Control Conventions, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (the TOC Convention) and UN United Nations Convention against Corruption.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Assets Recovery Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA) and other partners for their assistance in ensuring that “this mandate of fighting organized crime and corruption is fulfilled.”

MS Zhuldyz Akisheva, UNODC Regional Representative in Southern Africa, recalled a report by the former president of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki where it wasestimated that USD 50 Billion a year is lost by the continent in illicit financial flows, 40% of which is estimated to be the proceeds of crime. “One can immediately see the devastating effect of illicit financial flows and money laundering on the continent,” she said, adding that it is for these reasons that the discussion on the problem of illicit financial flows is being brought up to the UN General Assembly. She also referred to the recent Communique approved by SADC member states, which highlighted the need to address transnational organisedcrime as impediment to economic development in the Region. 

She thanked Eswatini’s contribution towards the development of ARINSA. Eswatini has been a member of ARINSA since 2009. “I want to thank the Eswatini for the support which it has applied to the development of ARINSA as an original member of the network. The sixteen member countries of ARINSA cover a very significant part of Africa,” she observed.

United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh noted that the work of the Asset Recovery Committee would increase the combined efforts to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. She stated that Goal 16, which is about promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies, countries have committed to “significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime by 2030.”