Parliamentarians from eleven countries in the Southern African
Development Community (Sadc) have expressed concern at the lack of
progress in establishing a regional parliament.
This came during a meeting of the Sadc Parliamentary Forum in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, yesterday.
Forum chairwoman and the Speaker of Lesotho's parliament, Ntlhoi Motsamai, told delegates the creation of a regional legislature would increase the pace of development in the region, and improve community participation in social and economic issues.
"The parliament will involve communities in its activities, thus broadening civic society participation. Without a parliament at the regional level, our region risks being left behind," she said.
"Sadc is one of the few regions in Africa that does not have a regional parliament."
Motsamai's South African counterpart, Baleka Mbete, agreed.
"The parliament will be in the position to carry out the mandates of the people and further project Sadc as an area where things happen," Mbete said.
The Sadc comprises 14 states. The forum was established in 1996 as an institution open to legislators from all member countries.
At present, 12 parliaments are represented in the forum, which seeks to help southern Africa overcome a legacy of human rights abuse and lack of democracy.
The idea of a regional legislature was first proposed last year during a meeting in the southern Zambian town of Livingstone.
It came under further discussion at a gathering in the South African port city of Cape Town, while discussions held in Lesotho's capital, Maseru, in December 2003 resulted in a document stipulating the need for a Sadc parliament.
Speakers at this week's meeting said a regional parliament would streamline Southern Africa's participation in the Pan-African Parliament, inaugurated in the Ethiopian capital - Addis Ababa - in March this year.
It was also felt that a regional parliament would help national lawmakers speed up the adoption of Sadc protocols - which currently take up to four years to be ratified by certain states.
Namibian President Sam Nujoma told the gathering that his country, which currently hosts the Sadc secretariat, was also prepared to host the parliament.
"A regional parliament is important to regional development and integration, just as national parliaments are important to national development, good governance and democracy," said Nujoma.
The head of state commended the forum for the role it had played in observing elections in Southern Africa, but expressed disappointment at what he termed a failure to condemn conflicts on the continent.
"Why are you so quiet on important issues? People continue to be killed and displaced in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the lawmakers are not saying anything. It is indeed a shame," he said.
Nujoma described the conflict in the Congo as the result of "imperialist" aggression that was motivated by a desire to lay hold of the country's enormous mineral wealth.
Although the civil war in the DRC was officially brought to an end a year ago with the creation of a transitional government, eastern parts of the country are still experiencing violence.
The latest round of fighting was reported yesterday in Bukavu, where government forces are said to be clashing with the troops of a former rebel leader Laurent Nkunda.
Nkunda has denied the claims.
Another important issue that was under discussion in Windhoek was a regional commitment to have women occupy 30% of seats in national parliaments by 2005, a target which most Sadc countries were unlikely to meet if present trends continue unchecked.
Delegates have called on Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique - all of which are holding elections towards the end of this year - to include more women on their party lists, so as to meet the required target.
Speaking at the opening of the talks, Motsamai noted that Sadc would not manage to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015 without ensuring that women gained equality.
The five-day gathering of the Sadc Parliamentary Forum - also its 16th plenary assembly - ends tomorrow. - Sapa-IPS
This came during a meeting of the Sadc Parliamentary Forum in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, yesterday.
Forum chairwoman and the Speaker of Lesotho's parliament, Ntlhoi Motsamai, told delegates the creation of a regional legislature would increase the pace of development in the region, and improve community participation in social and economic issues.
"The parliament will involve communities in its activities, thus broadening civic society participation. Without a parliament at the regional level, our region risks being left behind," she said.
"Sadc is one of the few regions in Africa that does not have a regional parliament."
Motsamai's South African counterpart, Baleka Mbete, agreed.
"The parliament will be in the position to carry out the mandates of the people and further project Sadc as an area where things happen," Mbete said.
The Sadc comprises 14 states. The forum was established in 1996 as an institution open to legislators from all member countries.
At present, 12 parliaments are represented in the forum, which seeks to help southern Africa overcome a legacy of human rights abuse and lack of democracy.
The idea of a regional legislature was first proposed last year during a meeting in the southern Zambian town of Livingstone.
It came under further discussion at a gathering in the South African port city of Cape Town, while discussions held in Lesotho's capital, Maseru, in December 2003 resulted in a document stipulating the need for a Sadc parliament.
Speakers at this week's meeting said a regional parliament would streamline Southern Africa's participation in the Pan-African Parliament, inaugurated in the Ethiopian capital - Addis Ababa - in March this year.
It was also felt that a regional parliament would help national lawmakers speed up the adoption of Sadc protocols - which currently take up to four years to be ratified by certain states.
Namibian President Sam Nujoma told the gathering that his country, which currently hosts the Sadc secretariat, was also prepared to host the parliament.
"A regional parliament is important to regional development and integration, just as national parliaments are important to national development, good governance and democracy," said Nujoma.
The head of state commended the forum for the role it had played in observing elections in Southern Africa, but expressed disappointment at what he termed a failure to condemn conflicts on the continent.
"Why are you so quiet on important issues? People continue to be killed and displaced in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the lawmakers are not saying anything. It is indeed a shame," he said.
Nujoma described the conflict in the Congo as the result of "imperialist" aggression that was motivated by a desire to lay hold of the country's enormous mineral wealth.
Although the civil war in the DRC was officially brought to an end a year ago with the creation of a transitional government, eastern parts of the country are still experiencing violence.
The latest round of fighting was reported yesterday in Bukavu, where government forces are said to be clashing with the troops of a former rebel leader Laurent Nkunda.
Nkunda has denied the claims.
Another important issue that was under discussion in Windhoek was a regional commitment to have women occupy 30% of seats in national parliaments by 2005, a target which most Sadc countries were unlikely to meet if present trends continue unchecked.
Delegates have called on Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique - all of which are holding elections towards the end of this year - to include more women on their party lists, so as to meet the required target.
Speaking at the opening of the talks, Motsamai noted that Sadc would not manage to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015 without ensuring that women gained equality.
The five-day gathering of the Sadc Parliamentary Forum - also its 16th plenary assembly - ends tomorrow. - Sapa-IPS
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