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SADC Parliamentary Forum

Website URL: http://www.sadcpf.org

By Moses Magadza

Windhoek, Namibia - The Vice President of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas, has reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary oversight of the security sector as a critical element of fostering peace, security, and development in the region.

VP: The Vice President of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas speaks during a roundtable hosted by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) from February 4 to 7, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia.
VP: The Vice President of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas speaks during a roundtable hosted by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) from February 4 to 7, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia.
The South African lawmaker made these remarks during a four-day National Security Strategy Implementation and Rule of Law roundtable hosted by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) from February 4 to 7, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia.

The roundtable brought together approximately 40 participants, including senior officials from Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, and Malawi, as well as representatives from international partners such as AFRICOM, the African Union, and the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

Discussions focused on sharing best practices and innovative approaches to enhance national security strategies through effective civilian oversight and adherence to the rule of law.

In her address, Hon. Lucas underscored the importance of partnerships and capacity building in bridging the gap between legislative bodies and the security sector.

She said deliberations during the roundtable had been been insightful in unpacking the relationship between Parliament and the security sector," she noted.

“This dovetails with our commitments to democracy, human rights, and governance that promote the parliamentary role of prudent oversight which ensures accountability and transparency,” she said.

The Vice President also highlighted the SADC PF’s strategic partnership with the ACSS. She stated that the collaboration provided an opportunity to strengthen parliamentarians’ understanding of their constitutional mandate in the security sector.

“We are fully committed to capacitating our members to understand and appreciate their role in the oversight of the security sector, but also their constitutional mandate to ensure that the sector is appropriately resourced and supported for optimum performance of its functions,” Hon. Lucas said.

The roundtable featured tailored exchanges designed to address challenges in aligning national security strategies with sectoral objectives, with a focus on fostering healthy civil-military relations.

Discussions also explored how oversight mechanisms could enhance resource management processes to meet national security goals effectively.

Hon. Lucas reiterated the link between peace, security, and economic development, noting that the SADC PF views the security sector as a foundational pillar for regional stability.

“Peace and security are prerequisites to development. We at the Forum are very keen and eagerly look forward to continued collaboration with ACSS on issues relating to peace and security,” she stated.

Hon. Lucas called for more opportunities for dialogue between parliamentarians and security agencies. She said improved collaboration and mutual understanding can advance national security goals.

-Moses Magadza is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC PF.

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By Moses Magadza

 

MOURNING: The President of the SADC PF, Hon. Justin Tokely. Photo: Contributed.
MOURNING: The President of the
SADC PF, Hon. Justin Tokely.

Windhoek, Namibia - The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) has paid tribute to the late Dr. Sam Shafishuna Nujoma, Namibia’s Founding President, for his unwavering commitment to regional integration and democracy.

 

President Nujoma died on February 8 in Windhoek, Namibia. He was 95. In a statement, the President of the SADC PF, Hon. Justin Tokely, extended condolences on behalf of the Forum to the Nujoma family, the Namibian government, and the people of Namibia.

Dr. Nujoma, a towering figure in Namibia’s struggle for independence and a champion of Pan-African unity, was lauded as a visionary leader whose legacy extends far beyond his nation.

Hon. Tokely described him as “a beacon of democracy, regional integration, and unity in the SADC region and beyond,” and said he had played pivotal role in advancing freedom and liberation across Southern Africa.

The SADC PF President said under Dr. Nujoma’s leadership, Namibia played a foundational role in the establishment of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. The historic summit that launched the Forum took place in Windhoek on July 15, 1995, with Namibia generously hosting its headquarters and Secretariat to this day.

Highlighting Dr. Nujoma’s support, Hon. Tokely recalled his inauguration of the SADC Forum House in 2001, describing it as “a testament to his unwavering support for parliamentary institutions as essential pillars of governance and democracy.”

Hon Tokely said Dr. Nujoma’s vision for the Forum went beyond its inception, and recalled that in 1999, he boldly declared the SADC PF as “the nucleus of a future regional parliamentary assembly,” a statement that continues to inspire the Forum’s ongoing mission to foster democratic governance and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

 

FLASHBACK: Founding President of Namibia Dr Sam Nujoma officiates at the inauguration of SADC Parliamentary Forum House in Windhoek, Namibia on March 23, 2001. Looking on are (from left) Former Speaker of Malawi Hon Sam Mpasu, the late Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia Dr Mose Tjitendero, Hon. Hidipo Hamumyela who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs, former SADC Executive Secretary Prego Rhamsamy, and former SADC PF Secretary General Dr Kasuka Mutukwa.

At the 16th Plenary Assembly Session in 2004, Dr Nujoma reiterated Namibia’s readiness to host a fully-fledged SADC Parliament, demonstrating his belief in the transformative power of inter-parliamentary dialogue to promote peace, democracy, and regional development.

 

“Dr. Nujoma’s visionary role was instrumental in the creation and strengthening of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. His lifelong commitment to Pan-African unity and regional integration has shaped the ethos of the Forum and left an indelible mark on the region,” Hon. Tokely, who is also the Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar, said.

Beyond his contributions to the Forum, Dr. Nujoma’s advocacy for regional solidarity and social justice has been hailed as a benchmark for regional leaders. His belief in unity as a catalyst for development inspired mechanisms such as the SADC PF, which today stands as a pillar of democracy and cooperation within the region.

Hon. Tokely also reflected on Dr. Nujoma’s enduring influence even after his retirement from active politics, describing him as a “revered pillar” of the SADC community and a guiding light for future generations.

 

FROM NAMIBIA TO SADC: Former President Sam Nujoma unveils a plaque of SADC House while former Chief Justice Johan Strydom and the late Speaker of Namibia Dr Mose Tjitendero look on in March 2001.

As the SADC PF joins the world in mourning the loss of this great leader, Hon. Tokely affirmed that Dr. Nujoma’s contributions to regional integration, peace, and democracy would forever be remembered.

 

“May his exemplary legacy continue to inspire unity, democracy, and prosperity throughout the SADC region and beyond,” he said.

*Additional reporting by Ronald Windwaai, ICT Officer at the SADC PF.

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By Moses Magadza

Windhoek, Namibia - The Vice President of the SADC PF, Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas, has praised Zambia’s advancements in leadership and national security strategy.

Hon Lucas did this last week during a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Hon. Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti. The courtesy call happened during a roundtable in Lusaka, focusing on security, rule of law, and capacity development.

By Moses Magadza

WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA – Newly-elected President of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Rt Hon. Speaker Justin Tokely from Madagascar, has laid out a transformative roadmap aimed at addressing pressing socio-economic challenges while strengthening regional democracy.

In his first official communication to SADC PF Member Parliaments, partners and well-wishers since his election in December last year, Hon Tokely - who is also the Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar - shared his vision for 2024-2026, spotlighting socio-economic revival, accountability, legal reform, and health improvements across the region.

LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA - The Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ms. Boemo Sekgoma, has commended Zambia for progress towards socio-economic development.

She made the remarks when she delivered introductory remarks at the official opening of the 56th Plenary Assembly of the Forum in Livingstone, Zambia on Monday. The theme for the 56th SADC PF plenary is, “Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Smart, Inclusive and Responsive Parliaments in the SADC Region.”

The Parliament of Zambia is hosting the Plenary, which has drawn delegates from 13 SADC Member States. In her address, Ms Sekgoma highlighted Zambia’s strides across various developmental sectors, underscoring the government’s focus on socio-economic growth and citizen welfare.

10th December 2024

 STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE SADC-PF ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2024

 Dear Members, Parliamentarians and Partners,

It is with esteem and honour that I release this Statement on Human Rights Day 2024, a day that is cardinal to the Strategic initiatives of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

The Forum associates itself with the theme espoused by the international community “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” which demonstrates the urgent need for action to implement and enforce human rights. Today, human rights are all often repressed with limitations of freedom and liberty which are not in accordance with human rights principles and practice. Moreover, most SADC Member States have a constitution which enshrines civil and political human rights, and despite their constitutional value, human rights are still being violated on a daily basis.

On 9 December 2024, the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will officially launch the SADC Parliamentary Alliance on Agrifood Systems, Food Security, and Nutrition. The event will take place during the 56th Plenary Assembly of the SADC PF in Livingstone, Zambia.

This historic initiative aims to address the growing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, and unsustainable agrifood systems in Southern Africa. By uniting parliamentarians from across the region, the Alliance seeks to strengthen legislative and policy frameworks that support food security, improve nutrition, and transform agrifood systems to ensure sustainable access to healthy food for all.

The Forum is pleased to release this statement with its Member Parliaments and partners on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2024. In this regard, the Forum fully associates itself with the theme developed by the international community, including the World Health Organisation around the slogan of "Take the rights path: my health! my right!".

Indeed, the Forum adds its voice to the critical need for a rights based approach to address HIV/AIDS policy, in particular to ensure the mainstreaming of legal concepts such as the equality of treatment under the law and non discrimination in view of consolidating the protection of People Living With HIV (PLWH). The rights based approach to HIV/AIDS policy also means that health should be regarded as a fundamental human right, with treatment by the intake of essential medicines such as ARVs being available and affordable to all. Undeniably, HIV treatment forms part of the core content of the right to health and it should progressively be regarded as a justiciable right.

Dear Namibian Citizens,

As you vote during the seventh general election since gaining independence in 1990, I extend my warmest regards on behalf of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF).

These elections mark a pivotal moment in Namibia’s democratic journey and reaffirm the country’s commitment to democracy, good governance, and the rule of law. As the electorate, your active and peaceful participation throughout the election cycle has been the anchor of Namibia’s democratic culture, which continues to inspire the region and beyond.

Today, as we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we stand united in our commitment to end all forms of violence against women and girls in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and beyond. This day marks the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence - a time to not only reflect on the pervasive issue of violence but also to mobilise our collective efforts towards change.

About Us

The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) was established in 1997 in accordance with Article 9 (2) of the SADC Treaty as an autonomous institution of SADC It is a regional inter-parliamentary body composed of Thirteen (14) parliaments representing over 3500 parliamentarians in the SADC region. Read More

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