Luanda - Zambia has become the 11th member state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to sign the agreement amending the organization's treaty for the transformation of the Parliamentary Forum into a Regional Parliament.
Signed Tuesday at Angola’s National Assembly by the Speaker of the Zambian Parliament, Nelly Muti, the amendment requires a minimum of 12 signatures to enter into force.
The Agreement amending the SADC Treaty was adopted by the organization's Summit of Heads of State and Government in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on August 17, 2022.
The composition, powers, functions, procedures and other matters governing the SADC Parliament will be set out in a protocol to be negotiated by member states after the Treaty Amending Agreement comes into force.
The chairperson of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Roger Macienne, stressed that, with Zambia joining the group of countries seeking to make the SADC-PF a regional parliament, they are now closer to accomplishing it.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 55th Plenary Assembly of the SADC-PF, Roger Macienne said this milestone represents a significant step towards true regional integration.
"We are now at a stage where we have 11 states that have signed the Agreement, thus amending the treaty for the establishment of the SADC Parliament," he said.
Roger Macienne underscored the need to work hard to get the 16 SADC member states to ratify the respective protocol, having underlined that the 55th Plenary Assembly represents a renewed commitment to the mission of the SADC PF to act as a representative and bridge between governments and peoples at regional level.
He congratulated the National Assembly of Angola for hosting the 55th Plenary Assembly of the SADC-PF and for the facilities available to the delegates.
"It is the Angolan government's testimony to this regional institution and we are very proud to have such a valuable partner," he said.
The year 2024 is being marked by elections in 64 countries around the world, 17 of which are African states.
In the SADC region, seven countries are holding elections. In the Comoros, elections took place in January and recently South Africa and Madagascar organized general and parliamentary elections. Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique follow.
According to The SADC PF chairperson, elections provide an opportunity for democratic and electoral renewal and improve representativeness.
Established in September 1997, the SADC Parliamentary Forum, based in Windhoek, Namibia, provides a platform for dialogue between the parliaments of the 15 member states on issues of regional interest and concern.
It integrates more than 3,500 parliamentarians from Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. DC/SC/AMP
