The meeting of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), kicked off in Johannesburg, South Africa, today with a focus on reviewing the impact of the EXCO over the past two years and preparing for the 56th Plenary Assembly Session of the Forum to be hosted by the National Assembly of Zambia from 8th to 15th December 2024.
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Advocate J.F.N Mudenda, who arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday, Friday 23rd November 2024, joins other regional Speakers, among them, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles and President of the SADC PF, Hon. Roger Mancienne, the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Hon. Angela Thokozile Didiza, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Rt. Hon. Nelly Mutti, and, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, Hon. Professor Peter Katjavivi, in attending the two-day Executive Committee Meeting.
The SADC PF EXCO meets at least twice a year in accordance with Article 12 (7) of the SADC PF Constitution. The EXCO is responsible for the management of the affairs of the Forum, giving direction to the Secretariat and ensuring that the decisions of the Plenary Assembly are implemented timeously.
The term of the current EXCO comes to an end in December 2024 when the 56th SADC PF Plenary Assembly meets in Zambia. Pursuant to this, the meeting seeks to earnestly self-introspect in reviewing the impact of the outgoing EXCO over the past two years in fulfilling its mandate as espoused in Article 12 (9) of the SADC PF Constitution.
In that regard, the President of the SADC PF, Hon. Speaker Roger Mancienne delivered his Valedictory Report, highlighting the progress made and the challenges encountered during the outgoing EXCO’s two-year tenure. Key among the EXCO’s achievements was the significant progress made in pursuit of the Transformation of the SADC PF into a SADC Regional Parliament.
Hon. Speaker Mancienne noted that in the aftermath of the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from the 17th-18th August 2024, the requisite majority of 12 Member States was obtained with regards to the signature of the Agreement to Amend the SADC Treaty to Establish the SADC Parliament as an organ of SADC.
He commended Hon. Speaker Adv. Mudenda for ably leading the Strategic Lobbying Team “which left no stone unturned to ensure that all stakeholders were properly engaged over the last 14 years, including the SADC Heads of States and Government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Speakers as well as administrative staff.”
The President of the SADC PF expressed confidence that the SADC Parliament would soon become a living reality owing to the temperament and tenacity of the Strategic Lobbying Team under Hon. Speaker Mudenda’s leadership.
The two-day workshop, which concludes tomorrow, is also expected to assess the progress made by the National Assembly of Zambia in preparing for the hosting of the 56th Plenary Assembly of the Forum which will be held in Livingstone, Zambia, from 8th to 15th December 2024, under the theme, “Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Smart, Inclusive and Responsive Parliaments in the SADC Region.”
