Re : Namibia`s election to the Presidency of the Africa Prosecutors Association A.P.A. for the next two years

The Africa Prosecutors Association held its 5th Annual Prosecutors Association in Maputo Mozambique from the 22 to the 25 of September 2010. The occasion was a huge success with 27 countries  attending.

The event was preceded by a gala dinner hosted by Dr. Paulino the Prosecutor-General of Mozambique. The occasion marked a turning point in the short history of the Association with the signing of a Memorandum of understanding between the Africa Prosecutors Association and the African Union. By all accounts this is an achievement  for the Association as it would ensure that the Association plays an active role in the setting up of the African Criminal Court.

The official opening of the conference was done by the Prime Minister of Mozambique where upon the business of the conference started.

The first day of the conference was devoted to papers being delivered by academics and judges from  various jurisdictions on the continent. Namibia was represented by Prof. Nico Horn of the Law faculty at the university of Namibia, who spoke about the independence of the Prosecutors-General`s office, to decide whether to prosecute or not to prosecute.

On the second day the outgoing executive together with the heads of delegation were invited to a curtsey visit to the President of Mozambique, who expressed his appreciation that Mozambique could host the AGM and wished that the elections that were to be held later that day be a success. The second day of the conference was devoted to harmonising the image of the Prosecution Authorities in Africa by learning the lessons from other jurisdictions and discussing how Prosecutors in Africa can improve the service they render in their respective countries.

At the start of the AGM, members were informed about the imminent signing of a three party agreement between the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa and the Spanish Government in which the Association stands to secure 5 five million euro in the next three years. Members were also informed about the practicalities of the MOU with the African Union. As a result the Association would be eligible to attend meetings of the AU. Namibia as President of the Association would in future be requested to attend these meeting. It would therefore be prudent to inform the ministry in advance about these dynamics as we might be in attendance at the same events but in different capacities.    

The elections were held with Namibia and Angola vying for the position of president of the Association. Namibia was unanimously elected to the position of president of the Association for the next two years.

The rest of the executive of the Association is composed of 4 vice presidents being South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. Angola was elected as the secretary-general.

The three additional members of the Association are Swaziland, Mozambique and Guinea Cornacre.