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DNA Usage Under Spotlight
Harare, Nov 27, 2009 (The Herald/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --
Police forensic officers from Southern Africa are in Zimbabwe attending a workshop to promote the use of DNA testing, identification of disaster victims and use of fingerprints in investigations.
Interpol is conducting the four-day workshop.
Addressing participants on Wednesday, Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said: "It is pleasing to note that various experts from regional forensic services units and National Central Bureau staff have managed to attend this meeting to share experiences and focus attention on the improvement and increased utilisation of Interpol specialised technical databases in the fight against transnational organised crime," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said the workshop would enhance capacity of operational units to identify victims in both natural and man-made disasters that had become common phenomena in the region.
He said the disasters were also sadly manifesting in fatal road and rail traffic accidents as well as commercial airplane crashes among other things.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said the workshop would explore essential skills such as regional police capabilities on uplifting, profiling and exchange of fingerprints and DNA read-outs and identification of regional problems involving fingerprint and DNA usage and data exchange with Interpol.
"It is gratifying to note the tremendous successes that Interpol has registered through the co-operation of its 188 member countries, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
"Indeed, Interpol remains at the forefront and even at short notice has been able to mobilise and deploy disaster identification specialists to various major disasters which include the Tsunamis in Asia, Air France Plane crash of the Atlantic Ocean, Yemen Air crash of the Comoros Island, just to mention but a few," he said.
Comm-Gen Chihuri said the Interpol Regional Bureau had tentatively slated in regional workshops on DNA, DVI and fingerprints in its 2010 Action Plan.
He said plans were afoot to produce a concise forensic experts action plan for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup in South Africa in readiness for any possible stadium disaster. Comm-Gen Chihuri said Zimbabwe -- as the host of Interpol regional offices -- was committed to ensuring the success of the organisation's ideals and objectives.
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