Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zambia Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (ZIDIS) aimed at strengthening professional capacity in law enforcement.
The MoU provides a strategic framework for leveraging the respective expertise of ZIDIS in diplomacy and international relations and the DEC’s technical and operational proficiency in law enforcement.
The partnership will focus on strengthening professional capacity through joint training, specialized research, knowledge exchange and high-level executive education.
Under the partnership, ZIDIS will provide specialized capacity-building programmes covering areas such as international relations and diplomacy, state and public protocol, etiquette, negotiation tactics, consular affairs and conflict management.
According to a statement issued by the two institutions, the collaboration will equip law enforcement practitioners with the diplomatic knowledge and competencies required to effectively engage with international counterparts, diplomatic missions, regional and international organizations and other strategic partners.
“The partnership comes at a time when organized crime is becoming increasingly complex, sophisticated and transnational,” they said.
“The illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals, alongside money laundering and other forms of organized crime increasingly transcend national borders, thereby requiring robust investigative and enforcement capabilities, effective international cooperation, negotiation and diplomatic engagement.”
The two institutions said the partnership will equally provide opportunities for Diplomats and Students trained by ZIDIS to benefit from the DEC’s technical and operational expertise through guest lectures, expert seminars and knowledge-sharing initiatives focusing on anti-money laundering strategies, narcotics control and the practical impact of security threats on diplomacy.
“The collaboration is expected to strengthen institutional linkages, enhance professional capacity and promote policy-relevant solutions to domestic and transnational organized crime, ultimately contributing to a safer, more secure and prosperous Zambia,” they added.
