Honorable Anne-Marie Mbilambangu.
The scourge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) mostly affects women and the girl child in southern Africa, with its multi-dimensional effects negatively also impacting on the lives of men and boys in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Globally, one in two women have experienced GBV at some point in their lives, while in South Africa, reports indicated that someone was raped every 25 seconds.
It is on the back of such empirical evidence that the Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (RWPC) of the SADC Parliamentary Forum tabled a motion during the 44th Plenary Assembly Session of the Forum in 2018 to develop a regional Model Law on Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The 44th Plenary Assembly unanimously adopted the motion in an attempt to remove threats to peace, security and the accomplishment of different developmental objectives.
Following the adoption of the motion, the SADC PF launched stakeholder consultations on 18 August 2021 targeting different players in the public and private sectors. They included human rights commissioners, traditional leaders, GBV survivors and different United Nations agencies, to name a few.
Speaking at the launch, the Chairperson of the RWPC, Honorable Anne-Marie Mbilambangu explained that the Model Law should be a tool used by SADC Member States to prevent and eradicate all forms of GBV.
She said that the RWPC would do everything “to improve social and economic conditions for women, because we think that they are the most affected by all forms of GBV.”
Caroline Peters.
She added: “Our objective is to do it in such a way that everyone – in particular women within the region – regardless of colour or belief, have the possibility to accomplish their full potential without any hiccups or interference by GBV.”
South African Community Advocate Caroline Peters narrated her harrowing ordeal as a GBV survivor during the consultative meeting and bemoaned the fact that ever since she experienced GBV, very little had changed in terms of statistics.
“I am a survivor of brutal gang rape and my friend was murdered at the age of 16. When this happened to me, I didn’t realise this would be the
Media urged to raise awareness on impact of GBV in SADC
05 Ago. 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary ForumSeasoned journalist, gender practitioner and human rights activist Ms Pamela Dube from Botswana has called on media practitioners in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to raise awareness on the impact of Gender-Based Violence in the SADC Region.
Dube was speaking during a virtual consultative session to familiarise the media on the SADC Model Law on Gender-Based Violence, convened by the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) on 6 August 2021.
She said the media had a strategic and important potential to contribute to the prevention and elimination of GBV in the SADC region. “I wish to call on you to raise awareness on the impact of GBV in the SADC Region. Raise awareness on the role of the Model Law on GBV in the prevention of GBV and raise awareness on the stakeholder consultation process,” she said.
She challenged the media practitioners to support the implementation process. She compared the stigma suffered by GBV survivors to what families of those affected by AIDS had experienced in the past.
“At the highest point of HIV and AIDS, there was a lot of denial around our communities until we started seeing people coming forward. Once we saw the face and people could identify with the problem, stigma could be dealt with. We are faced with the same scourge right now which is at the homes, the offices and on the streets. Until we step to the plate and be able to give face to this and be able to speak to the heart of the problem, very little can be achieved,” Dube warned.
In addition, she urged the media workers to seriously ponder the role they wished to play toward GBV eradication and pointed out that while laws could be made, it was important for media practitioners and citizens to understand them.
“Laws can be made, our leadership can rise to the occasion, but if we are not in the forefront of giving information and disseminating, then very little, if anything will be achieved,” she said.
According to Dube, the SADC region faces different challenges in relation to GBV. High on that list are inadequate national laws, inadequate national frameworks and inadequate gender-disaggregated statistics, as well as outdated laws.
“It is against this background and in response to calls from various stakeholders to meet the goal of eliminating GBV by 2030, that the SADC PF commissioned the development of a Model Law on GBV that will be used to address, prevent and combat all forms of GBV,” she explained.
She underscored that GBV impedes efforts to achieve national, regional, continental and global development goals. GBV not only has terrible effects on survivors, but it also impacts negatively on society at large with serious socio- economic consequences.
“It raises enormous public health problems which are often overlooked. Survivors and victims of GBV are at high risk of severe and long-lasting health problems such as death from injuries or suicide, poor mental health, chronic pain, deafness, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and or AIDS,” she said.
While 13 SADC countries had laws on domestic violence and 14 on sexual assault, there was still evidence of GBV being most commonly perpetrated by “husbands or intimate partners” at global and regional levels. Moreover, Dube pointed out that COVID-19 had exacerbated the situation.
Speaking during the same event, Zimbabwean journalist Joseph Munda concurred with Dube and said: “It (GBV) is a key issue that has been going on and increasing with COVID-19 and there are a lot of dynamics around it.”
He, however, lamented challenges that journalists face and called for more information around good practices and some of the laws implemented by other SADC Member States. Munda felt that if information around effective laws was shared, it would make brainstorming for possible solutions to end GBVeasier.
“These are some of the key challenges that we have. Most of us are now working virtually and getting information can prove difficult at times. As a region, the information sharing itself and the learning process is very important for us journalists to be able to gather and disseminate information,” he noted.
Munda also stressed the lack of support structures to be able to get stories done, specifically due to a limitation of resources, which in turn shifts attention toward political and other stories.
Basadi Tamplin raised issues of strengthening cyber-security due to multiple instances that have seen a correlation between GBV and cyber-crimes. “Everyone has access to the internet and we all use internet to 24/7. There are alarming rates of
TEMA: "Rumo à Eficiência, Sustentabilidade e Auto-Suficiência Energética na Região da SADC"
CIRCULAR COM INFORMAÇÕES DE CARÁCTER GERAL
1. Introdução
O objectivo das informações contidas neste documento é o de estas servirem de guia aos Delegados à Sessão da 51.a Assembleia Plenária do Fórum Parlamentar da SADC a ter lugar presencialmente em Lilongwe, no Malawi, de 7 de 16 de Julho [D1] de 2022.
O Parlamento do Malawi regozija-se em servir de anfitrião a esta Reunião e deseja a todos os Delegados calorosas boas vindas ao Malawi.
2. Local e Formato das Reuniões
A Sessão da 51.a Assembleia Plenária tem lugar, presencialmente, no Centro Internacional de Convenções Bingu (BICC) na zona central citadina de Lilongwe, a capital do Malawi, situando-se de automóvel a cerca de trinta (30) minutos do Aeroporto Internacional Kamuzu. Para aqueles Delegados que se não possam deslocar a Lilongwe é preparada uma plataforma Zoom para poderem participar na Sessão por via virtual.
3. Programa
i. 7 de Julho - Chegada do Secretariado do FP da SADC
ii. 8 de Julho - Reunião do Secretariado do FP da SADC e do Secretariado do Parlamento Anfitrião
iii. 9 de Julho - Chegada do Presidente do FP da SADC
iv. 10 de Julho - Chegada de todos os outros Delegados
v. 11 de Julho - Cerimónia Oficial de Abertura (parte da manhã) e Simpósio da Plenária (parte da tarde)
vi. 12 a 14 de Julho - Sessão da Assembleia Plenária
vii. 15 de Julho - Excursões
viii. 16 de Julho - Partida de regresso de todos os Delegados
4. Documentação
Toda a documentação necessária para a realização da Sessão será circulada por via electrónica, através de um portal a ser activado para o efeito. Não haverá pois cópias impressas distribuídas in loco nas reuniões. Informamos os Delegados, desta forma, que devem trazer consigo os seus próprios laptops para terem acesso a toda a documentação circulada electronicamente.
5. Imigração
Cada um dos Delegados deve encontrar-se na posse de um passaporte válido. Aconselhamos aqueles que necessitem de um visto de entrada no Malawi a fazerem todas as necessárias diligências para poderem ingressar em território do Malawi. Os Delegados provenientes da maioria dos Estados Membros da SADC podem obter vistos de entrada à sua chegada ao aeroporto.
6. Recepção à Chegada
À sua chegada ao Aeroporto Internacional Kamuzu os Delegados serão recebidos por Funcionários Protocolares do Secretariado Anfitrião que lhes prestarão assistência e os acompanharão aos respectivos hotéis.
Os Parlamentos são aconselhados a submeterem à apreciação do Parlamento do Malawi os itinerários de viagem dos seus respectivos Delegados, o mais tardar até 20 de Junho de 2022, assim como a enviarem as respectivas cópias ao Fórum Parlamentar da SADC.
7. Inscrição
A inscrição dos Delegados será feita à sua chegada ao Balcão de Informações situado no local da Reunião. Para que esse processo seja célere solicita-se que os Delegados forneçam antecipadamente pormenores das informações necessárias, incluindo fotografias de formato passaporte.
8. Preparativos de Transportes
Ao Parlamento do Malawi caberá a responsabilidade dos preparativos de transportes locais para todos os Delegados, à sua chegada, à sua partida de regresso, assim como do e para o local da Reunião e hotéis recomendados - que figuram na lista do parágrafo 12 desta Circular Informativa.
Quaisquer preparativos relativos a transportes à margem daqueles previstos no Programa da Reunião serão considerados privados; os seus custos caberão à responsabilidade de Delegados que de tais serviços se sirvam.
9. Preparativos relativos à Segurança
Através das suas agências de segurança o Governo do Malawi prestará segurança a todos os Delegados na base da prática internacional e durante a duração da Reunião.
No acto de inscrição serão distribuídos distintivos a todos os Delegados que participem na Reunião. Esses distintivos devem ser exibidos pelos Delegados na sua indumentária durante a duração do evento para efeitos de segurança, facilitação de identificação, e acesso ao local da Reunião.
10. Serviços de carácter clínico
No recinto do local em que se realiza a Sessão e durante a sua duração serão prestados serviços de carácter clínico para enfermidades de menor gravidade. Aquelas mais graves que requeiram atenções mais cuidadas serão referidas ao Hospital Estatal mais próximo. Aos Delegados que por escolha própria prefiram um Hospital privado caberá a responsabilidade das despesas médicas inerentes a tais serviços. Os Delegados são assim aconselhados a fazerem um Seguro de Saúde.
11. Orientações de Prevenção relativas à COVID-19
11.1 Importa notar que a partir do dia 1 de Junho de 2022 passaram a vigorar no Malawi as seguintes Orientações de Prevenção à COVID-19:
a. À sua chegada todos os Delegados que tenham recebido vacinações por inteiro terão de mostrar às autoridades um certificado válido de vacinação completa contra a COVID-19, no ponto de entrada no Malawi;
b. Os Delegados que não tenham sido vacinados por inteiro e não possuam certificado válido de vacinação contra a COVID-19 electronicamene verificável terão de apresentar um teste PCR negativo de validade até 72 horas, à sua chegada ao Malawi, e
c. Para Delegados de regresso aos seus respectivos países os requisitos de Certificado de Vacinação por inteiro ou de Teste PCR negativo dependerão das normas em vigor nos países do seu destino.
11.2 Importa também notar aos Delegados participantes que, ao levar-se em linha de conta a própria Resolução da 50.a Assembleia Plenária do FP da SADC, na eventualidade de qualquer Delegado que participe em actividades do Fórum surgir com teste positivo relativamente à COVID-19 as despesas inerentes à sua quarentena terão de ficar a cargo do seu respectivo Parlamento.
11.3 Durante os trabalhos das Reuniões, eis as medidas preventivas relativamente à COVID-19, a serem rigorosamente cumpridas:
i. Tomada de temperatura de Delegados com frequência;
ii. Utilização permanente de máscaras cobrindo as narinas e a boca, da parte dos Delegados à Sessão;
iii. Disposição dos seus assentos a manter uma distância social de 1,5 metros;
iv. Lavagem frequente das mãos com sabão ou produto sanitário para o mesmo fim, e
v. Qualquer Delegado/a que denote sintomas de COVID-19 terá de ficar isolado/a e de informar o Secretariado.
12. Alojamento em Hotéis
A cada um dos Delegados caberá a responsabilidade do pagamento das suas despesas de alojamento. Infra fica inserida uma lista dos hotéis que recomendamos. Aos Delegados caberá a responsabilidade da reserva directa com quaisquer desses hotéis, citando para o efeito: "Parlamento do Malawi" ("The Malawi Parliament") Os Delegados são aconselhados a finalizarem o pagmento dessas reservas antes do seu regresso aos países de origem.
Lista de Hotéis Recomendados
No. | Nome do Hotel/Lodge
| Tipo de Quarto | Preço em $ (USD) Quarto e Pequeno Almoço (Bed & Breakfast) | Distância do Hotel ao BICC | Pormenores de Contacto |
1 | Hotel President Walmont - (BICC) | Clássico Real (Classic King) | 145 | 0 Kms | Telemóvel:+265 993915550/+265 997645000 Tel: +265 1789888 |
2 | Hotel Sunbird Capital | Superior De Luxo (Deluxe) De Luxo Executivo (Executive Deluxe) | 125 135 166 | 1,0 Km (3 minutos, a pé) | +265888965877 +2651773388 |
3 | Hotel Golden Peacock ('Pavão Dourado') | De Luxo (Deluxe) | 77 | 1,5 kms (a 5 minutos, de automóvel) | +265991431030 |
4 | PalácioWamkulu (Wamkulu Palace) | De Luxo (Deluxe single) quarto individual | 90 | 2,1 kms (a 4 minutos, de automóvel) | Telemóvel: +265994620860 Tel: +2651776764/762/776 |
5 | Jardins Ufulu (Ufulu Gardens) | De Luxo individual Deluxe (single) | 100 (Preço para Sextas e Sábados = 70 USD) | 4,5 kms (8 minutos, de automóvel) | Tel:+2651794060/079 Telemóvel:_265888994/ +265996945277 |
13. Excursões
A circulação do programa de excursões será feita junto dos Delegados durante o curso dos trabalhos da Reunião.
14. Moeda Local
Durante a semana, bem como ao fim-de-semana, estarão abertos serviços de câmbios para a troca de moedas estrangeiras. A maior parte de dinheiros em moeda internacionalmente reconhecida, assim como em travellers cheques, pode ser trocada em Bancos Comerciais, hotéis e aeroportos internacionais.
O câmbio da moeda local (Malawi Kwacha/MK), a partir de Abril de 2022, é o seguinte:
1 $ (US Dollar) = MK 1.020
1 £ (Pound) = MK 1.400
1 € (Euro) = MK 861,62
1 R (Rand) = MK 51,22
15. Cartões de Crédito
Cartões de Crédito que são reconhecidos em Bancos, em todos os hotéis e restaurantes do Malawi: American Express, Master Card e Visa Card.
16. Horas de Expediente (Empresas e Comércio)
Na sua generalidade, eis as horas de expediente de escritórios e empresas: 7h30 às 17h00, de segunda a sexta-feira. Para estabelecimentos comerciais, a maior parte abre as portas das 8h00 às 17h00, de segunda a sexta-feira, e das 8h30 às 14h00 aos sábados.
17. Temperatura Ambiente
Entre os meses de Maio e Agosto dá-se a Invernia no Malawi, estação do ano que de uma forma geral é fria e sêca. Durante o período da Sessão são previstas temperaturas da ordem dos 11,1 a 20,5 graus centígrados.
18. Idioma oficial
O idioma oficial no Malawi é o Inglês.
19. Electricidade
O fornecimento de energia eléctrica no Malawi é feito através de 220 - 230V, 50-60Hz; as fichas são de pinos quadrados.
20. Fuso Horário
A Hora do Malawi é adiantada em duas (2) horas relativamente ao TMG
21. Serviços de Emergência (Números de Telefone):
- Serviços Hospitalares: 118
- Aeroporto Internacional: +265 1 700 899
- Aeroporto VIP: +265 1 700 256
25. Pessoas de Contacto
(A) Secretariado do FP da SADC
Yapoka N Mungandi
Telemóvel: +264 81 3048395
(B) Parlamento do Malawi
i. Coordenador: Senhor Joseph Manzi
Telemóvel: +265 999 800 831
ii. Coordenadora Assistente: Senhora Siphiwe Komwa
Telemóvel: +265 999 145 392
iii. Alojamento: Senhora Maggie Chinsinga
Telemóvel): +265 991 567 326
iv. Transportes: Senhora Portia Sibande
Telemóvel: +265 882 716 093
v. Serviço Protocolar: Senhora Gloria Dzidekha
Telemóvel: +265 888 891 424
Caros colegas/parceiros, É com enorme prazer que endereço a presente Mensagem aos distintos Parlamentos e Parceiros do Fórum, por ocasião do Dia Internacional do Parlamentarismo, a ser celebrado neste dia 30 de Junho de 2022.
Neste dia enobrecedor, o Fórum celebra o parlamentarismo em todas as suas manifestações, inclusive através dos parlamentos nacionais, regionais ou locais da África Austral. Há o reconhecimento de que o parlamentarismo é, a todos os níveis, a personificação de uma democracia funcional, fundamentada no Estado de direito e no respeito pelos direitos humanos. Um parlamento eleito por via de eleições regulares, livres e justas é o garante de poderes moderadores consentâneo com a noção sacrossanta de separação de poderes. O Fórum Parlamentar da SADC reconhece ainda que o parlamentarismo é uma forma eficaz de diálogo público e presta assim homenagem aos esforços graciosos empreendidos pelos seus parceiros em todo o mundo, tais como a União Interparlamentar, que se centraram no tema crucial de diálogo público para a celebração do parlamentarismo em 2022.
Embora o mundo esteja a recuperar a pouco e pouco da pandemia e continue a enfrentar outros desafios de índole sanitária e económica, os Parlamentos continuam a assumir o papel dominante na acção de reformas. Na qualidade de instituição edificadora da paz, os Parlamentos constituem o fórum adequado para a resolução de conflitos por meio de iniciativas representativas, de fiscalização e legislativas lideradas com o beneplácito do povo. O dinamismo e a pró-actividade parlamentares podem, portanto, dar um valiosíssimo contributo para garantir a neutralização de conflitos e soluções duradouras para a paz pela via da liderança e do diálogo. De igual modo, o diálogo público coerente continua a ser o ingrediente necessário para uma democracia participativa.
Nestes termos, o Fórum continua comprometido com a concretização do Objectivo de Desenvolvimento Sustentável 16 relativo a instituições responsáveis, eficazes e inclusivas para a paz, um desiderato que reitera o compromisso de reforço da capacidade dos Parlamentos, tal como consagra a Carta Africana sobre Democracia, Eleições e Governação. Enquanto a África conduz o seu processo rumo a uma paz duradoura, o Fórum continuará a apoiar os Parlamentos a alcançar este nobre objectivo.
Viva os Parlamentos! Cordiais saudações,
Boemo M. Sekgoma
Secretária-Geral do Fórum Parlamentar da SADC
30 de Junho de 2022
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL DURING STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS FOR THE SADC MODEL LAW ON PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS (CSOS)
10 Mar. 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary Forum- Gamal Ibrahim - Chief of Economic Governance and Public Finance Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
- Distinguished Prosecutors from SADC Member States Who are involved in Prosecution of Financial Crimes and Related Offences;
- Mr Daniel Greenberg, Legal Drafter for the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management;
- Members of the Technical Working Group on the Model Law on Public Financial Management;
- Ms Caroline Kwamboka, Trustee and Founding Director of African Renaissance; and Member of the Technical Working Group on the PFM Model Law;
- SADC Citizens following proceedings on various social media platforms;
- Members of the Media;
- Staff of National Parliaments and SADC Parliamentary Forum
- Distinguished
- Introduction
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
It is indeed a great privilege and honor for me to address a distinguished gathering of fearless advocates, comrades, experts and practitioners working in the area of Public Financial Management. I welcome you today to this consultative meeting on the Model Law on Public Financial Management (PFM) hosted under the auspices of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.
As you may be aware, the Forum is accustomed to holding widespread consultations for its Model Laws under development in view of ensuring that the Model Laws are responsive to the current needs and demands of the SADC citizenry.
The Consultation today takes, place after a series of successful consultations have occurred with SADC Line Ministries, Auditors General, AML/CFT agencies, revenue authorities, police representatives and prosecutors, to cite but a few. However, it was also necessary to engage with private stakeholders which are essentially Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that are not publicly funded and hence have their own perspective on the state of the PFM framework of SADC Member States.
At this juncture, I wish to thank you for finding the time to attend today. The Forum has always held Civil Society Organisations in high regard, and furthermore valued their immense knowledge base, as well as their abundant contributions to State processes. In fact, many of you today already form part of the Forum's Partnership Framework, and we equally invite all CSOs today to collaborate with the Forum beyond the ambit of this august meeting.
- Why engage Civil Society Organisations?
I wish to underscore that the ongoing engagement with Civil Society Organisations is necessary since you are in touch with grassroot realities and constantly evaluate national and regional policy on good governance and PFM. You relentlessly work to promote good governance and thus ensure that PFM is kept under the radar.
The Forum also recognises that you are smart players in the realm of PFM and denounce corruption, fraud and bribery on a routinely basis. You follow up on Governmental measures and actions which affect PFM. Your celerity in uncovering PFM issues which are relevant to the public is also well known. In this regard, you are known to be guardians of truth and justice. Moreover, you engage with the press and ensure that PFM is constantly kept under scrutiny of the media. You are also enablers of parliamentary democracy since you interact with Parliamentarians and feed them information for parliamentary questions, for debates in the House, or for public hearings and campaigns. The PFM landscape is thus incomplete without your diligent work and input. Your contributions as CSOs to furnish reports for country evaluations relating to democracy and governance indices for Africa are notable contributions which have ensured that the information garnered is balanced, and show the progress made as well as challenges in an unbiased and fair manner.
I would also like to salute the commendable work performed by CSOs who are involved in sensitisation campaigns on PFM. Some CSOs have conducted tremendously effective work in ensuring that communities in Africa understand the budgeting process,the basics of corruption, and the PFM processes of the State, a knowledge which would otherwise remain completely unknown and far from reach for the layman. It is trite that sensitisation campaigns on aspects of PFM which pertain to the bribery of public officials and fraud are of paramount importance if we are one day to rid the region of such malpractices that are abhorrent to good governance.
- Expectations from the audience today
Today, we expect that as prominent CSOs of the region, you engage openly and frankly with the legal drafter and Rapporteurs on the provisions of the PFM Model law which are of interest to you. For instance, you may consider Part V on parliamentary control which provides for avenues and possibilities for MPs to engage with a number of stakeholders during Committee sittings, including CSOs. In addition, you may wish to consider the Offences section under Part 11 which deal with particular PFM offences such as maladministration and financial irregularities and discuss their appropriateness. In addition, you will equally be interested in Part IV which deal with the Appropriation of funds by Government through the budgeting process.
Section 60 relating to the SDG Budget statement and section 61 on the International Commitment statement will also assist you in holding the Government accountable on commitments taken and treaties ratified. Indeed, for the first time, the Budget document will need to be explicit about how budget lines are assisting to implement concretely the SDGs and other international commitments such as those in gender related treaties and covenants.
- Way forward and domestication
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
In terms of the way forward, I wish to mention that CSOs will be directly involved in the domestication process of the SADC Model Law on PFM since CSOs as private stakeholders will be entrusted with the crucial role of providing shadow reports to the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee (RPMLOC), which is the dedicated Forum organ to monitor domestication.
In this respect, CSOs may be called upon to work together with other stakeholders such as prosecutors, AML/CFT agencies to provide shadow reports on the observance of PFM provisions contained in the Model Law. For CSOs who are interfacing for the first time with the Forum, you are kindly requested to share your coordinates and your country of origin within SADC so that we may get in touch with domestication initiatives when same are operationalised through the Oversight Committee.
- Conclusion
Without doubt, PFM issues in Southern Africa will not be resolved in a fortnight. Consistent sensitisation and advocacy will be required by CSOs to make the SADC region become a financial hub that is effervescent with robust PFM systems in each Member State.
CSOs will surely concur that without a strong PFM framework, the prospect of good governance remains dismal. Absence of good governance will in turn lead to corruption, fraud and abusive practices. There is thus a need to elevate PFM as a stepping stone with the aim to attain a true and functioning democracy where citizens live in freedom and reap the resources of the State with fairness and merit. We have no doubt that CSOs will assist the Forum in that noble and promising endeavour for a better and more equitable Southern Africa.
On this note, I wish you a pleasant session.
Ms Boemo Sekgoma, Secretary General,
SADC Parliamentary Forum 10th March 2022
**
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL DURING STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS FOR THE SADC MODEL LAW ON PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WITH PROSECUTORS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION OF FINANCIAL CRIME AND RELATED OFFENCES
10 Mar. 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary Forum- Introduction
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
It is with singular pleasure that I welcome you, prosecutors of the SADC region, to this consultative meeting on the Model law on Public Financial Management (PFM) hosted under the auspices of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. As you may be aware, the Forum is the parliamentary arm of the SADC institutional framework, and it is bestowed with the crucial mandate to formulate Model Laws that may serve as guiding yardsticks for national Parliaments.
In this respect, you may recall that prosecutors of the SADC region were equally involved in consultative meetings last year in 2021 prior to the adoption of GBV Model law by the 50th Plenary Assembly of the Forum.
Indeed, elaborate consultations are the cornerstone of the methodology of Model law-making espoused by the Forum. Furthermore, the Membership of the Forum considers that engaging in consultations with key stakeholders is a testament to participatory democracy that is pivotal in ensuring that legislative instruments reflect the actual demands and needs of the SADC citizenry.
- Why engage with prosecutors of the SADC region?
Prosecutors of the SADC region have always been considered as eminent stakeholders who are directly involved in the fight against crime. For the purposes of the SADC Model law on PFM, the crimes involved include financial crime, corruption, money laundering, financial misappropriations, to cite but a few. The list goes long and I am sure you will concur that with new technologies such as cryptocurrencies, and other recent developments in the financial sector, the prosecution of financial crime requires the requisite knowledge, skills and competence. No doubt, prosecutors of the SADC region have conducted a tremendous job so far in ensuring the prosecution of financial crime and it is indeed due to your unique expertise that the Forum has deemed it appropriate to engage in consultations with you in view of informing the finalisation process of the Model Law.
At this juncture, I would like to add that we have already consulted with different organisations involved in the State's institutional framework including Line Ministries and departments, AML/CFT agencies, as well as police representatives. The engagement today with prosecutors will thus mark the pinnacle of the consultative meetings held with the Executive concerning the investigation and prosecution of financial crime and related offences.
We firmly believe that Prosecutors are highly relevant to the PFM framework. Prosecutors receive files from the Police and need to make the momentous decision of whether to go ahead with prosecution or not. They evaluate the evidence available and advise the
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who is entrusted with the discretion to prosecute or not prosecute, depending on the tenor of the evidence and the circumstances.
The Office of the DPP also guards against abusive police arrests, detention and investigation, since prosecutors check and verify all collected evidence and take a decision thereon accordingly in all independence and fairness. Prosecutors also appear in bail cases to object to bail of offenders involved in financial crime when there are serious grounds to do so, such as the risk of tampering with evidence or witnesses.
In most SADC Member States, the Office of the DPP is a constitutional function, which means that the position of the DDP is enshrined in the Constitution, and therefore it is entitled to act without the interference of any other person or authority. This also constitutes one of the reasons why we have deemed it appropriate to hold a separate consultative session only for prosecutors so that you may have the leverage to speak among yourselves and engage openly and frankly with the legal drafter.
- Expectations from the audience
Today, as lawyers, you are invited to consider the provisions of the Model Law in their entirety, and as prosecutors your attention is kindly drawn to Part 11 dealing with Offences, Maladministration and Enforcement. In addition, you will find that there is also a separate provision governing Offences under Part 16. You may further wish to advise on penalty and sentencing provisions by benchmarking with offences of similar gravity in your national jurisdictions.
You will further note that the PFM Model Law does not cover all the different forms of financial crimes but only the part that deals with PFM. It was deemed appropriate to consider the wide spectrum of financial crimes and offences relating to AML/CFT in a separate instrument to be developed later since at this stage, it was important to keep the legislative focus on PFM. In addition, you will note that provisions relating to prosecution powers have not been included since it is understood that these will already be covered under your respective Constitutions or prosecution laws. Your comments will thus be welcome from the prosecution perspective on the existing provisions of the Model Law, and on whether in your view these can work in tandem with your existing laws and regulations.
- Way forward
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
I wish to highlight that once the Model Law will be adopted by the Plenary Assembly of the SADC-PF, it will be subject to a progressive domestication process. While we fully recognise that prosecutors are not involved in policy processes concerning PFM, it is expected that prosecutors across SADC will kindly lend their support to push for the domestication of prosecution policy regarding PFM related offences. The rationale is that no PFM framework will stand in a sustainable way unless there are offences that can be enforced as a major deterrent to ensure future compliance.
You will thus be called upon through your national Parliaments to participate in domestication initiatives of the dedicated organ of the SADC-PF, notably the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee (RPMLOC) in view of furnishing reports or shadow reports on prosecution policy. Your ongoing cooperation in that regard will be highly appreciated in view of ensuring that PFM frameworks are domesticated with the appropriate prosecution policy and sentences that can be realistically enforced.
- Conclusion
To conclude, I wish to thank you for attending this august event under the auspices of the SADC-PF. The Forum recognises that democracy depends heavily on the rule of law, which is itself reliant on the respect for law and regulations that is enforced by Offices of the Directors of Public Prosecution across SADC. Prosecuting agencies are catalysts to the respect and observance of the PFM framework, and they are the noble guardians of good governance and accountability. I wish to end by applauding the independent work carried out by prosecuting agencies so far which have made the SADC region a promising land where democracy can dare to make leaping advances, without hindrance or fear of reprisals.
With these hopeful words, I wish you a constructive session in engaging openly and frankly with the legal drafter and other interveners.
Thank you.
Ms B.Sekgoma, Secretary General,
SADC Parliamentary Forum 9TH March 2022
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Prezados Colegas e Parceiros,
Trata-se de indiviso regosijo meu, este, o de fazer noticiar esta declaração aos augustos Parlamentos*-Membros do Fórum Parlamentar da SADC e Parceiros tendo em vista a celebração do Dia Internacional da Mulher neste 8 deMarço de 2022, sob o lema da “Igualdade do Género, hoje, em prol de um amanhã sustentável”.
Neste dia de hoje, por conseguinte, desejo relembrar os esforços envidados pelo Fórum Parlamentar da SADC, ao longo de muito tempo, no sentido da Promoção da Igualdade do Género, da Capacitação da Mulher e dos Direitos à Saúde Sexual e Reprodutiva, vitais para o desenvolvimento socio-económico e integração da Mulher na sociedade, assim como para à Mulher se emprestar voz activa na defesa de medidas relativas a Alterações Climáticas e ao Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Há também a considerar que a Integração do Género, a formulação de Orçamentos sensíveis ao Género, a Lei Modelo sobre a Violência Baseada no Género e o Modelo de Fiscalização Sensível ao Género (GROM) são iniciativas do Fórum fulcrais para a promoção da Igualdade do Género sob uma perspectiva holística que integre a oferta de oportunidades iguais a Homens e Mulheres, a fim de que ambos participem em processos de tomada de decisões-chave respeitantes a respostas às alterações climáticas. Mais ainda, o Fórum tem sido consistente na forma como tem realçado que só se possa chegar a uma resposta eficaz às alterações climáticas num mundo onde Homens e Mulheres usufruam de Direitos Iguais e sejam tratados de igual forma perante a Lei.
O Fórum deseja aproveitar o ensejo desta celebração para salientar a importância da Igualdade do Género na Região da África Austral que ainda fica sujeita à influência de desigualdades de profundas raízes que afectam a Mulher, particularmente quando confrontada pelo patricarcado, pelo chauvinismo masculino e por crenças tradicionais a empurrarem-na para a repressão, inculcando preconceitos contra a Mulher e Jovens do Sexo Feminino. O FP da SADC, em linha com o seu Plano Estratégico (2019-2030), compromete-se a assegurar a Igualdade do Género e a Capacitação da Mulher, conceitos e práticas consistentes com iniciativas parlamentares respeitantes à promoção do Objectivo 5.o sobre o Género, do Desenvolvimento Sustentável, e consistentes com Instrumentos Regionais e Internacionais como o Protocolo de Maputo, todos eles relevantes para a promoção da Mulher. A Capacitação da Mulher trará um efeito directo aos preparativos do Mundo para uma pronta abordagem às Alterações Climáticas e à Redução do Risco de Desastres Naturais.
No contexto da África Austral, é ainda desejo do Fórum prestar especial homenagem às Ilustres Presidentes dos seus Parlamentos*-Membros, cujas funções servem de orgulhoso exemplo das aspirações da Mulher ao desempenho de cargos da mais elevada responsabilidade no seio de organizações situadas no epicentro dos desígnios do Estado, ao demonstrarem que a Mulher pode presidir eficazmente a Parlamentos*, os quais por sua vez respondem a múltiplas questões do foro governamental, como aquelas respeitantes às alterações climáticas. Por muitos anos vindouros assumirá o Fóum o compromisso de continuar a agir para que os seus Parlamentos*-Membros sejam vistos como monumentos simbólicos à Liderança, à Capacitação da Mulher e Medidas sobre Alterações Climáticas.
Desejando-vos um Feliz Dia Internacional da Mulher 2022,
(Senhora) Boemo Sekgoma, Secretária-Geral
STATEMENT FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE SADC-PF ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
08 Mar. 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary ForumDear Colleagues and partners, it is with undivided pleasure that I release this statement to the Forum’s august Member Parliaments and partners in view of celebrating International Women’s Day this 8th March 2022 under the theme of “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
Today, I wish to reminisce the longstanding efforts of the Forum to promote gender equality, women empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health rights, which are vital for women’s socio-economic development and integration in society, as well as for giving them a voice to defend climate action and sustainable development. In addition, gender mainstreaming, gender-based budgeting and the Model Law on GBV, and Gender Responsive Oversight Model (GROM) are pivotal initiatives of the Forum which aim to advance gender equality from a holistic perspective that includes giving both men and women equal chances to participate in key decision-making regarding climate change responses. Furthermore, the Forum has consistently underscored that an effective response to climate change can only exist in a world where men and women have equal rights and are treated equally under the law.
In addition, the Forum wishes to seize the opportunity of this celebration to reiterate the importance of gender equality in the Southern African region which is still influenced by the deep-seated inequalities that affect women, especially when faced with patriarchy, male chauvinism or traditional beliefs that promote women repression and inculcate bias towards women and young girls. In line with its Strategic Plan (2019-2023), the SADC-PF is committed to ensuring gender equality and women empowerment through consistent parliamentary initiatives which advance Sustainable Development Goal 5 relating to gender as well as international and regional instruments such as the Maputo Protocol which are relevant to women advancement. The empowerment of women through parliamentary action will have a direct effect in readying the world to promptly address climate change and disaster risk reduction.
In the context of Southern Africa, the Forum also wishes to pay special tribute to Hon Speakers/Presiding Officers of its Member Parliaments who are women as they stand as proud examples that women can aspire to the highest positions of responsibility within organisations that are at the helm of the State. They demonstrate that women can efficiently lead Parliaments which respond to multiple governance issues, including climate change. For the years to come, the Forum pledges to continue to act for Parliaments to be monuments of female leadership, empowerment and climate action.
Happy International Women’s Day 2022 !
Ms B. Sekgoma, Secretary General
Capacity Development Session for SRHR Researchers and Budget Analysis Session Welcome Remarks by the Secretary General (SG), 26th February 2022
26 Fev. 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary ForumDear Colleagues and distinguished participants,
Welcome to this meeting. In my capacity as Secretary General of the SADC-PF, it is with immense pleasure that I welcome you to this regional event under the SRHR Project after nearly 2 years of successive virtual meetings. It is nice to finally see you face to face, and I hope this meeting will herald other physical meetings to take place in 2022 and 2023.
First, I would like to start by emphasising that you should not let your guard down regarding Covid-19 sanitary measures. During these few days, while we will be together, it is crucial that we observe social distancing and hygiene precautions in view of
ensuring that everybody goes back home safe and sound. Remember that we are not safe until everybody is safe.
Getting to topic, I would like to highlight the vital importance of this capacity building exercise under the SRHR Project. As you are aware, this exercise is earmarked to occur every year, especially due to the importance of the budgetary mandate of MPs across SADC. You will recall that the last exercise was held virtually in September 2020 in Year 2 of the Project. It was thus imperative that we meet again in Year 3 to revive the activity and take stock of the SRHR developments relating to your national Budgets. It is also expected that this session will be repeated in Year 4 of the Project to enable the gains with regards to budget analysis to be fully reaped.
Colleagues, it is trite that without the budget, nothing can be achieved. No school or hospital can be built and no SRHR service procured. All promises and commitments made concerning SRHR require funding in one way or the other. The state Budget thus remains the most reliable single source of funds for the State to conduct its SRHR activities including
promoting gender equality, preventing early and unintended pregnancy, helping children to remain in school, to mention but a few areas of intervention.In addition, the implementation of regional and international commitments under treaties, and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) all have budgetary implications. The budgetary mandate of MPs thus forms part of one of the key outcomes under the SRHR Project.
At the same time, this session was quintessential to introduce you to the new democracy component under the SRHR Project. Most of you would have been aware of this welcome development through my Internal Memo issued last January. Yet, the introductory activity was urgently needed as your reporting on Outcomes 8 and 9 under the new amended Project has already started last year. SRHR and Democracy are now intertwined, with robust democracy being a powerful driver to advance SRHR. As Project implementers, it was thus necessary to ensure that you are updated on how to approach the Project in the months to come.
This session is equally to understand how the budget process across SADC can be improved from a governance perspective, and who better than Experts from the Technical Working Group of the Forum to demonstrate this deficit. This would undeniably assist you in your thinking process as you engage MPs regarding your own national budget and propose avenues to improve budget governance.
This aspect is thus befitting to this session in particular as the Forum is as we speak developing the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management which has a dedicated chapter of provisions on Budgeting. It may interest you to know that under the Model Law, the Budget document presented to Parliament would need to have a separate description of budget lines which enable the advancement of the SDGs, UHC, and other international commitments such that monitoring of same becomes a straightforward task. The SADC region must move on from this situation where treaties are ratified without any mechanism for regular accountability with regards to domestication, and the yearly Budget must thus become an instrument for follow up. I am confident that once adopted, you will know how to utilise the Model Law and weave it with the budget initiatives under the SRHR Project.
Finally, I would like to add that this session is also a peer learning one where you will have the opportunity to present about your respective state budgets for the last financial year and demonstrate how has SRHR been promoted or advanced through different budget lines. As you are aware, the final years in every Project are dedicated to peer and cross-learning, and hence from now on we expect SRHR Researchers to be leading at national level as well as at the regional level. In addition, it would be appreciated if you could find time in the margins of this session to sort out your pending reports with Ms Pamela Nyika, the Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant of the Forum.
With these words, I wish you a pleasant session. Thank you
Ms B.Sekgoma, Secretary General,
SADC Parliamentary Forum 26th February 2022
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