Zambian parliamentarians have hailed the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) for providing a platform for regional integration through shared experiences and visions which are vital for Africa’s transformation agenda.
Commenting on this year’s Parliamentary Forum which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, Chavuma Member of Parliament Hon. Victor Lumayi who sits on the SADC PF Standing Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights, noted the importance of the Forum for Parliamentarians as they seek to serve their countries and the SADC region.
The Forum was held under the theme: “Strengthening separation of powers and parliamentary oversight in the SADC region”.
Hon. Lumayi said strengthening the separation of powers and parliamentary oversight in the SADC region and finding common ground on how Africa could work together was important as this would foster regional integration by promoting peace and best practices in the role of parliaments in region.
He said the Regional Policy Dialogue created a platform for Parliamentarians to engage with different stakeholders to promote and improve regional integration in the SADC region.
“At this meeting, we basically discussed how we can increase youth participation in politics from African countries so that they can also add a voice,” Hon. Lumayi said.
Earlier during the opening session, SADC Parliamentary Forum Secretary General Boemo Sekgoma said the Forum provided a timely opportunity for Parliamentarians from SADC to engage with stakeholders, civil society and various cooperating partners on various issues affecting the region and the African continent at large.
Ms. Sekgoma said the Policy Dialogue also provided Parliamentarians an opportunity to engage with stakeholders on how the region could leverage partnership and inter -agency collaboration for maximum legislative and policy impact.
The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum is an inter-parliamentary body composed of 15 parliaments, representing over 3,500 parliamentarians in the SADC region.
Its core mission is to promote inter-Parliamentary cooperation and diplomacy in the region. These member parliaments are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South, Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Issued by
Tamara Nyirenda
First Secretary Press and Public Relations.
Zambia High Commission
South Africa