Luanda - The SADC Parliamentary Forum (FP-SADC) launched its Strategic Plan for the period 2024-2028 in Luanda Monday, which prioritizes inclusive democracy, human rights, climate justice and socio-economic prosperity for southern Africa.
The President of the Angolan Parliament, Carolina Cerqueira (host), and the President of the FP-SADC, Roger Macienne, cut the ribbon for the launch of the roadmap, which aims to consolidate democracy for the citizens of the SADC countries.
The Strategic Plan was presented by the Secretary General of the FP-SADC, Boemo Sekgoma, at the 54th Plenary Assembly of the Regional Parliamentary Body, which is being held under the theme "The role of parliaments in promoting renewable energy policies in the SADC region and creating a single regional energy market".
On the occasion, Boemo Sekgoma pointed out that in the Strategic Plan, the FP-SADC promulgated its vision of being the proponent of an inclusive democracy that favours human rights, climate justice and socio-economic prosperity for Southern Africa.
He hoped that the roadmap would be able to efficiently address all the areas listed, to promote a healthy environment at the level of SADC national parliaments and strengthen their model laws.
The SADC-PF Strategic Plan aims to achieve a 40% improvement in parliamentary effectiveness and performance through sustainable capacity development programmes for parliamentarians, national parliaments and their staff.
It aims to increase MP satisfaction levels to 75% through capacity development and advocacy support programmes tailored to their needs and priorities by 2028.
The Strategic Plan also aims to achieve a 20 per cent improvement in operational efficiency and transparency through better planning, financial management and governance, as measured by key performance indicators and audit reports by 2028.
It is also part of the Roadmap's objectives to successfully implement parliamentary initiatives that contribute to tackling climate change and promoting respect for the environment, resulting in a measurable reduction in carbon emissions of at least 30 per cent compared to the reference year by 2028.
Increasing staff participation to 80% through professional development programmes, a favourable working environment and career growth opportunities within the Secretariat by 2028 is also included in the strategic objectives of the SADC-PF roadmap.
It also aims to guarantee sustainable financial resources, as determined by the members for the functioning of the SADC PF until 2028.
Meanwhile, the chair of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Roger Macienne, noted that they are faced with a roadmap "of where we want to go and how to get there, in other words, it's a document that we're going to work with and live with and by."
According to him, this plan went through a long and arduous process before it was implemented.
For his part, the Speaker of the Zimbabwean Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, expressed the need to raise funds to finance the Strategic Plan, in order to fully meet its objectives.
The official opening of the 55th Plenary Assembly of the FP-SADC will take place on Tuesday with speeches by the president of this regional body, Roger Macienne,
the president of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, and a senior executive.
SADC is a regional community made up of 16 member states, namely Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The organisation's mission is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient production systems, deeper cooperation and integration, good governance and lasting peace and security, so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international relations and the world economy.
DC/VIC/DAN/DOJ
