It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural edition of the SADC PF Heartbeat – The Pulse, the monthly bulletin of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

This Bulletin provides a concise platform to keep Members, partners and stakeholders regularly informed of key developments across the Forum. While the Impact Newsletter continues to provide in-depth analysis and feature stories, the Heartbeat captures the rhythm of engagements, partnerships and initiatives undertaken in pursuit of the Forum’s mandate.

This first issue highlights several strategic engagements undertaken in January 2026 including participation in the African Geopolitical Group Strategy Meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, collaboration with development partners such as Oxfam and the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the launch of the SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project Implementation Agreement with the National Assembly of Botswana.

As we launch this Bulletin, we invite readers to journey with us each month as we share snapshots of the Forum’s work, partnerships and collective efforts to strengthen parliamentary democracy across the SADC region.

H.E. Ms Boemo Sekgoma
Secretary General
SADC Parliamentary Forum