SADC Parliamentary Forum Executive Committee Meeting Convened In Seychelles

The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) convened in the Seychelles for its Executive Committee (EXCO) Meeting at the Eden Bleu Hotel on 27th and 28th May 2023. The EXCO Meeting provides the SADC PF Member countries with a common platform for regional collaboration.

 

 

The Executive Committee Meeting was officially opened by Honorable Roger Mancienne, President of the SADC PF and Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles.  Hon. Mancienne emphasized the importance of working in conformity with the Forum's strategic goals and objectives, which he said served as the SADC Region's benchmark for sound democracy and socioeconomic development. The inauguration ceremony on the 27th May was attended by the President of the Republic of Seychelles H.E. Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, the Vice President of SADC PF and Member of Parliament from the Republic of Mauritius Hon. Joanne Sabrina Tour, the Speakers of SADC PF Member Parliaments, and other SADC-PF Executive Members. Seychelles was represented by Hon. Mancienne and Hon. Regina Esparon.

 

 

Speaking to the Members of the EXCO, President Ramkalawan gave an account of his own history and interactions with the SADC PF and his contributions to the Forum's work. President Ramkalawan also thanked the Members of the Forum for their noble work, devotion, and perseverance, particularly their ongoing efforts to turn the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament. It should be noted that President Ramkalawan was an active member of the SADC PF while he was a Member of the National Assembly, and his dedication to the Forum has been maintained.

 

 

Over the course of the two days of debate, the EXCO Meeting generated some encouraging outcomes and charted the way for the successful implementation of regional initiatives and programs, through the consideration of reports such as the President’s Report, the Treasurer’s Report, the Risk Management Report, and the Report from the 146th IPU Assembly and related meetings. Also considered was the Proposal on SADC PF: “Creating a World Class International Learning Centre and Library”, by Hon. Darren Bergman from the Parliament of South Africa. During the meeting, updates were given on the preparations for the 53rd SADC PF Plenary Assembly Session to be hosted by the Parliament of Tanzania, by the Hon. Speaker of Tanzania Dr. Tulia Ackson, which is set to be held later this year from the 2nd to the 8th of July 2023.

 

 

It is worth noting that for this Executive Committee Meeting, Seychelles saw the participation of all the fifteen-Member countries of SADC PF namely, Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Seychelles.