SALUTATIONS
- Her Excellency Ms Boemo Sekgoma, SADC PF Secretary General;
- Her Excellency Mrs Romana Königsbrun, Austrian Ambassador to South Africa and SADC;
- Hon Darren Bergman, SADC PF Treasurer;
- Chairperson of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Democratisation Governance and Human Rights, Hon. Dought Ndiweni;
- Our Keynote Speaker, Mr Siphosami Malunga, Director of Programmes, Open Society Foundation- Africa;
- Tatenda Mavetera, Vice Chairperson of PAP Youth Caucus and Member of Parliament from Zimbabwe;
- Honourable Members of Parliament from various SADC National Parliaments;
- Former Director for Political Affairs for the African Union Commission, Dr Khabele Matlosa;
- Representatives from partner organisations, including SADC Secretariat, SADC Lawyers Association, International IDEA and Afro-barometer Southern Africa;
- Representatives of Youth Organisations;
- Representatives of Civil Society Organisations;
- Distinguished Participants;
- Ladies and Gentleman
Good morning.
My name is Yapoka Nyirenda Mungandi. I am privileged this morning to deliver opening remarks on behalf of the Secretary General, Ms Boemo Sekgoma, who regrets that she was unable to participate herself, and sends warm greetings.
I am indeed honoured to welcome you all to this amazing city of Johannesburg. Your presence at this dialogue is gratifying for it is testimony of your commitment and service to the SADC regional agenda; you honour the Forum with your numbers and your diversity.
This Regional Policy Dialogue, which is on “Strengthening Separation of Powers & Parliamentary Oversight in the SADC Region: A Leap towards Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance” while hosted by SADC PF, has been made possible with the financial support from the Government of Sweden and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through the GIZ SADC Regional Office.
Honourable Members and Distinguished Participants,
The Regional Policy Dialogue provides a timely opportunity for Parliamentarians from SADC PF’s two Standing Committees, namely, the Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights and the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee, to engage with stakeholders, specifically, civil society, the media, academia, research institutions and various cooperating partners, on this very important and relevant subject matter, whose achievement involves entrenching, within our various jurisdictions, the separation of powers and strengthening of checks and balances for the independent and effective functioning of Parliaments; enhancing the oversight role and monitoring capacity of Parliaments for transparency and democratic accountability; also enhancing the role of Parliament in promoting youth political participation and representation; and advancing human rights; all this in order to accelerate the democratic drive across the SADC region.
This Policy Dialogue also gives Parliamentarians the opportunity to engage with stakeholders on how Parliaments in the region can leverage partnerships and inter-agency collaboration for maximum legislative and policy impact.
Honourable Members and Distinguished Participants,
Lack of accountability by political leaders and public officials often undercuts service delivery and contributes to growing poverty levels, deprivations, and the weakening of capacity and agency of citizens, and affects especially the most vulnerable sections of the population. Lack of Accountability also breeds corruption and promotes a culture of impunity, with far reaching ramifications, including manipulation of policy making for personal gain, abuse of state resources and politicisation of ostensibly independent arms of government such as the judiciary, security sector, anti-corruption commissions and even Parliaments.
Unaccountable governance and the attendant corruption are not only obstacles to development, but they also create negative legacies like nepotism, inequity, illegitimacy, conflict and autocracy. In the words of Robert Zoellick, corruption is a cancer that steals from the poor, eats away at governance and moral fibre and destroys trust.
The absence of democratic accountability often leads to the winner-take-all mentality, which renders the state a prize to be won at all costs. Under such circumstances, competition for political power becomes exclusionary, violent and destabilising.
Honourable Members and Distinguished Participants,
There is a consensus among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers regarding the primacy of strong and responsive accountability institutions such as Parliament, to the achievement of democratic accountability, which is vital for sustainable economic development and political stability.
Indeed, a vibrant democratic accountability architecture requires a strong Parliament. Not only are Parliaments vested with the constitutional mandate to make laws, but they are also responsible for representing citizens, who are rights holders, as well as to oversee the Executive, which is the duty bearer.
The Legislature’s capacity to hold the Executive to account is dependent on a number of factors within Parliament itself and between Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary. Parliaments require genuinely committed politicians, backed by competent and professional staff, to be effective in Plenary and in Committees. Equally important is the ability of Parliament to work alongside functional multiple actors and institutions in a collaborative manner, including media and civil society.
Honourable Members and Distinguished Participants,
In view of the foregoing, SADC Parliamentary Forum prioritises the enhancement of parliamentary interventions to strengthen democratic accountability, the advancement of human rights and the acceleration of the democratic drive across the SADC region. This Regional Policy Dialogue attests to that fact.
I, therefore, challenge all the participants to this Regional Policy Dialogue to robustly contribute throughout the next two days and offer diverse constructive views and policy recommendations.
Honourable Members and Distinguished Participants, I wish you fruitful deliberations.
I thank you.
