The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum (PF) executive committee (Exco) has endorsed the progress reports regarding the execution of various programmes, such as economic integration and the ratification of the SADC PF protocol by national Parliaments in the region.

Over the weekend, National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula took part in the PF in Mahe, in the Seychelles, where the need to accelerate integration and development in the region was addressed. 

The PF Exco stressed the importance of all member Parliaments prioritising continental unity in addressing developmental challenges on the continent.

Reports on the readiness for the fifty-third SADC PF Plenary Assembly Session, scheduled to take place in Dar Es Salaam, in Tanzania, from July 2 to 8, were evaluated.

Further, the Exco affirmed a range of proposals including the founding of a learning institute using an under-utilised SADC PF facility in Namibia, and calls for a united front from African Parliaments to ensure that the continent puts forward a single candidate for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Presidency.

The IPU Assembly is scheduled to take place this October in Angola.

South Africa has championed the candidature of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania and chairperson of the Africa Geo-Political Group Dr Tulia Ackson.

“All the countries agree that, if we are to win some of the debates, we need to have our own to represent us. We believe that the IPU needs a young and vibrant person with new ideas to take the IPU forward and ensure that transformation takes place where necessary,” said Mapisa-Nqakula.

The need for the region and continent to be better organised and coordinated was stressed at the meeting. Following the conflicts in Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Exco called for a focus on the serious challenges affecting the continent.