MEASURING MONEY LAUNDERING IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

The successful prosecution of money laundering-related cases in Southern Africa is by no means rich. No single country can report more than ten such prosecutions. Yet there is acknowledgement all round that economic crime, especially in its organised form, is of significant magnitude in key areas that are logically and empirically associated with money laundering. Law enforcement agencies, some of which have been established in the last 12 months, are under pressure to give value for money both in terms of reducing the incidence of money laundering and of combating underlying criminal activities from which proceeds are derived. This article discusses dealings with the proceeds of market-based economic crimes encountered in Southern African countries and looks at how authorities have responded to these crimes.     

BEYOND DECLARATIONS OF INTENT

This essay explores the obligations arising from the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, signed in Palermo, Italy at the end of 2000. It also discusses the initiatives required to prepare the legal system and related infrastructure of Zimbabwe for its implementation. Zimbabwe joined more than 120 other countries in signing the Palermo convention, but has not yet ratified it. The ratification would enshrine the latest initiatives to develop effective strategies against transnational organised crime. The Palermo convention makes demands on the laws and institutions of states parties which could enhance their capacity to confront organised crime. Ratification signifies competence to implement the prescribed obligations, which can only occur after introducing suitable domestic laws, and adopting the necessary administrative mechanisms. The required reforms are bound to have certain policy and legislative implications for Zimbabwe. Regional initiatives complementary to the Palermo convention are expected to catalyse positive changes in Zimbabwe's response mechanisms.     

THE NEW SANDF RANK INSIGNIA

The SANDF has missed a critical opportunity to enhancing a unified corporate identity with the introduction of their new rank insignia. Cultural and organisational symbols reflect and create corporate identity. Military uniforms are important symbols in expressing affiliation and loyalty. Rank insignia are important indicators of further sub-group identity. The SANDF was formed out of the integration of various armed forces in 1994. The newly formed SANDF recognised the need for new symbols to reflect their new identity—a break with the past—and to enhance their unified identity. New rank insignia were introduced in 2002, with different symbols for the different services. The author argues that this will create greater service-bound identity, and encourage less unity in the corporate identity of the SANDF.