SADC parliament gets nod

PARLIAMENTARIANS from SADC member countries have agreed to a proposal that the SADC Parliamentary Forum be transformed into a fully-fledged SADC Parliament.

This was announced by National Assembly Speaker Dr Mose Tjitendero at the 16th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, which started in the capital on Monday. Tjitendero said the decision was made at the 14th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in Livingston, Zambia, last year.Another SADC PF meeting held in Cape Town later that year supported the idea.The Cape Town gathering was followed by the 15th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in Maseru in December last year, which approved a document outlining the case for the establishment of the SADC Parliament, among other SADC institutions, in the context of the African Union.He said SADC needed a regional parliament to cater for regional matters.Tjitendero said such a parliament would also upgrade and internalise the values of democracy, while encouraging the participation of ordinary citizens in the overall interactive politicking and socialisation of the region.”In the process, the values of political peace and leadership accountability will boost regional economic unity,” he added.The proposal for the establishment of the SADC Parliament will be presented at the next SADC SummitTjitendero said the decision was made at the 14th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in Livingston, Zambia, last year.Another SADC PF meeting held in Cape Town later that year supported the idea.The Cape Town gathering was followed by the 15th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in Maseru in December last year, which approved a document outlining the case for the establishment of the SADC Parliament, among other SADC institutions, in the context of the African Union.He said SADC needed a regional parliament to cater for regional matters.Tjitendero said such a parliament would also upgrade and internalise the values of democracy, while encouraging the participation of ordinary citizens in the overall interactive politicking and socialisation of the region.”In the process, the values of political peace and leadership accountability will boost regional economic unity,” he added.The proposal for the establishment of the SADC Parliament will be presented at the next SADC Summit