Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of Parliament, arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, to participate in the Executive Committee meeting of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) on June 15 and 16, 2024.
This meeting is a precursor to the 55th Plenary Assembly Session scheduled to be held in Luanda, Angola, from July 1 to 7, 2024.The Executive Committee convenes in line with Article 12 of the SADC PF Constitution, which mandates the committee to manage the Forum’s affairs, direct the Secretariat, and ensure the implementation of Plenary Assembly decisions. The committee includes presiding officers, representatives from member parliaments, and the Chairperson of the Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus as an ex-officio member.Key agenda items for the meeting included the approval of minutes from the previous session, review of sub-committee reports, and development of strategic initiatives.
Notable contributions were made by Hon. Speaker Roger Mancienne, President of SADC PF, and Senator Isaac Magagula, who presented the Treasurer’s report. Recommendations from this session will be further discussed and adopted at the upcoming Plenary Assembly to ensure effective governance and regional integration.
During the meeting, Speaker Mudenda presented the Report of the Virtual Legal Sub-Committee Meeting held on June 12, 2024. His recommendations are anticipated to significantly influence the Forum’s legal and constitutional discourse, bolstering governance and adherence to the rule of law.
Additionally, Speaker Mudenda, as Chairperson of the Strategic Lobby Team, underscored his commitment to transforming SADC PF into a Regional Parliament and driving the creation of model laws.
Speaker Mudenda’s efforts have led to nine member parliaments endorsing the agreement to amend the SADC Treaty, with two SADC member countries receiving government approval to sign the transformation agreement. Consultations are ongoing with the remaining four countries. This progress marks a significant step towards establishing the SADC Regional Parliament, advancing regional integration.
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