The inaugural Executive Committee (EXCO) Meeting of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) has officially concluded in Windhoek, Namibia, setting the tone for a new era of institutional reform, financial resilience, and technological innovation across the region. Convened over three days, the high-level meetings brought together regional legislative leaders with a clear mission: to recalibrate the Forum’s strategic agenda and operational direction in line with evolving regional dynamics and global shifts.
As delegates departed the Windhoek Country Club Resort on 30 April 2025, they did so with a renewed commitment to building a more responsive and sustainable parliamentary platform. The EXCO, empowered under Article 12 of the SADC PF Constitution, delivered on its mandate to oversee policy implementation, resource governance, and programmatic alignment with the Forum’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. For many, the gathering marked not just an administrative milestone, but a watershed in the Forum’s long-term evolution into a fully-fledged Regional Parliament.
Zimbabwe, through the active leadership of the Speaker of its Parliament, Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, continued to assert a commanding presence throughout the proceedings. Speaker Advocate Mudenda reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s readiness to host the upcoming 57th Plenary Assembly in Victoria Falls City from 31 May to 7 June 2025, a commitment formally endorsed by the EXCO through the Report of the Parliamentary Business Sub-Committee, presented by Forum Vice President Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas.
With the Victoria Falls Plenary adopting the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities,” the Forum signaled its intent to embrace digital transformation not as a future possibility, but as a present imperative. Zimbabwe’s role as host underscores its continued investment in smart governance and regional thought leadership.
Institutional sustainability also emerged as a central theme. The adoption of Terms of Reference for the Plenary Assembly’s Ad hoc Fundraising Committee was hailed as a timely intervention to secure the Forum’s financial future. Amid global donor fatigue and economic uncertainties, the Fundraising Committee is expected to operationalize new streams of resource mobilization, enabling the Forum to maintain its momentum in promoting democracy, good governance, and the rule of law across the SADC region.
Equally reassuring was the adoption of clean audited financial statements, which validated the Forum’s sound financial practices and adherence to prudent management principles. This fiscal transparency positions the SADC PF as a credible partner in regional integration and a trustworthy institution worthy of expanded support.
In a high-profile diplomatic engagement, the EXCO also paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the Republic of Namibia. The meeting reaffirmed Namibia’s enduring support for regional parliamentary development and highlighted the country’s role as a vital anchor in the SADC community.
Closing the session, SADC PF President, Rt. Hon. Justin Tokely, praised the vibrancy of discussions, the solidarity among delegates, and the strategic clarity that emerged from the deliberations. He commended the Namibian Parliament for its exceptional hospitality and logistical coordination, which provided the ideal environment for meaningful engagement.
As the curtain falls on the inaugural 2025 EXCO meeting, the Forum emerges strengthened — institutionally, financially, and ideologically. With Zimbabwe stepping forward to host a landmark Plenary Assembly and contribute transformative ideas on aid independence, economic value addition, and youth engagement, the SADC PF is poised to deliver a more cohesive, forward-looking regional legislative agenda.
From Windhoek to Victoria Falls, the road ahead is defined not only by policy, but by political will, partnership, and a shared belief in a stronger, integrated Southern Africa.
