The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, will lead a South African parliamentary delegation to the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum’s (SADC PF) 50th Plenary Assembly Session, which runs from 10 to 12 December 2021.
The theme of the session is “Celebrating a new era of democracy towards consolidating the vibrant voices of SADC parliamentarians”, which highlights the progress made through parliamentary initiatives under the auspices of the forum towards consolidating democracy in the region. The SADC PF prides itself on being the flag-bearer of democratisation and socio-economic development through the harmonisation and synchronisation of laws and policies in the region.
Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula will be attending the SADC PF 50th Plenary Assembly for the first time since her election as Speaker and is expected to attend her swearing-in ceremony on Saturday morning.
The three-day plenary session is hosted by the Parliament of the Kingdom of Lesotho, as it is their turn to host in line with the dictates of the forum’s constitution. Each of the 15 member parliaments has a turn to host on a rotational basis. Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro, is scheduled to address the opening ceremony on Friday morning.
SADC PF is the first inter-parliamentary entity with an organ dedicated to monitoring the domestication of laws and international treaties in the form of the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee, including those governing elections and eliminating child marriage. Much progress has been made towards the development of monitoring tools, such as domestication scorecards, election observation and technical assessment reports.
The overarching objective of the 50th Plenary Assembly is to pay tribute to member parliaments’ long-lasting dedication and commitment. It will also celebrate the adoption of the SADC Model Law on Gender Based Violence and the recent decision by the 41st SADC Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi, in August this year, to approve the transformation of SADC PF into a SADC Parliament.
Other plenary objectives and expected outcomes include the promotion of solidarity and inter-parliamentary cohesion amongst member parliaments, and taking stock of progress on the forum’s initiatives.
For interviews with the leader of the South African delegation, please contact Mr Mlindi Mpindi on e-mail: mmmpindi@parliament.gov.za or 081 761 7329
Enquiries:
Moloto Mothapo
Cell: 082 370 6930
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