By BRIAN HATYOKA –

AFRICAN prosecutors have agreed to enhance mutual support to enable them prosecute sophisticated financial and environmental offences effectively.
The prosecutors noted that there was need to exchange information with each other, especially on case studies of successful prosecutions within the African continent.
They noted that successful case studies of prosecutions could encourage other prosecutors to take the same stance.
This is one of the resolutions passed in Livingstone on Wednesday afternoon at the end of the 3rd International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) Conference for the African and Indian Ocean Region.
The conference, which attracted delegates from 21 countries in Africa, was being held under the theme ‘Getting a fair bargain for Africa and the Developing World: The role of the prosecutor in combating corporate finance crime including tax evasion and environmental degradation in the extractive and other significant industries’.
Its intention was to provide a forum for discussion and sharing of experiences in order to identify the role of prosecutors in issues relating to corporate crime and environmental degradation.
They also emphasised the importance of promoting investment and robust domestic taxation base by enhancing strong action against tax abuses.
The prosecutors noted that depriving countries of tax revenue was depriving nations of their much needed resources to grow their economies.
“There is also need for countries to enhance transparency when negotiating contracts between Governments and multinational corporations, especially those in extractive industries to enhance public confidence.
“Such transparency can also avoid negative impacts such as abuses on human rights and the environment,” the recommendations read.
Earlier, a delegate, Akere Muna said illicit financial flows (IFFs) had damaging effects on African countries such as draining resources and tax revenues.
Mr Muna, who is a barrister from London and Transparency International vice-chairperson, said IFFs also stifled growth and socio-economic development.
“Africa loses significant volumes of financial resources, which could have been used to finance critical development projects, due to illicit outflows,” he said.
Another delegate, Mwape Sichilongo said legal frameworks for prosecuting wildlife cases were sometimes more of an enabler of crimes than a deterrent as most penalties were affordable.
Mr Sichilongo, who is the coordinator for the World Wildlife Foundation Southern Africa Regional Community-based Natural Resource Management, said the penalties were minimal even for protected or endangered species.