(TALKZIMBABWE) SADC: Charting the road map for transformation

SADC: Charting the road map for transformation
Bhekizulu Sibanda - Opinion
Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:57:00 +0000

THE just ended Sadc Parliamentary Forum saw the regional body stepping up efforts to have the Assembly transformed into a Parliamentary body with Legislative authority to effectively address regional issues.

The envisaged arrangement is modeled along the Pan African Parliament that meets twice a year in Midrand South Africa to deliberate on continental issues, and with the Zimbabwean born new-fangled Secretary General, Dr Esau Chiviya, at the helm, its successful transformation to a legislative body is given.

Chiviya is prioritizing transforming the forum into a legislative body and his participation in the structuring of the Pan Africa Parliament into a legislative assembly is expected to add value in this regard.

To his credit, Chiviya has senior management work experience spanning more than 20 years in various institutions. He has served as the regional Director of the World Bank funded Municipal Development Program for Eastern and Southern Africa and as Team Leader and chief Technical Advisor on Decentralization and local governance for UNDP between 2002 and 2008 in Malawi, Zambia, Angola and South Africa.

His experience at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London as a Project Officer and as a principal consultant responsible for drafting Norms and standards for elections in Sadc will undeniably be harnessed and channeled towards the transformation project.

His academic credentials are unquestionable as he holds a PhD in Political Science/Public Administration from Indian University, Bloomington, and USA. He also holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration and an MSc in Economics.

Chiviya alludes to the fact that the forum has over the past ten years performed a central role efficiently enhancing parliamentary participation in regional co-operation and integration in Sadc.

The same forum has been advocating for equitable representation and participation of women especially in politics and decision-making position, which has enhanced the contributions of parliamentarians in the development and implementation of effective policies.

Whilst acknowledging the milestones attained through the Sadc Parliamentary Forum, it is important to systematically take the process of integration to a qualitatively higher level.

The principal role of the Sadc parliament would be to oversee the work of Sadc institutions in the same way the European parliament oversees the work of European institutions and the EU commission without prejudice to the work of National Parliaments such as the German Bundestag for instance.

There is no formal mechanism currently in place at regional level for an oversight and monitoring role for legislatures in the work and programmes of Sadc institutions, current opportunities do not as yet exist for popular participations of the people of Southern Africa in the work of SADC through their directly elected parliamentary representatives.

The parliament would be empowered to enact regional laws as determined by the summit.

Such powers would be without prejudice to the sovereign roles of national parliament on national legislation. These would be issues related to environment management of cross border natural resources, transport, trade gender equality and democratic elections.

The parliament is expected to provide an organic link between Sadc and the ordinary citizens of SADC through their elected representatives. Parliament will act as a vehicle that promotes the political, economic and social development of the region guided by a common agenda and strengthened by broad participation.

Already other regions of the continent such as East and West Africa already have regional parliaments and for lack of one, Sadc region is depriving itself formalized opportunities for consultations and interaction. East African Community has one, so does Central Africa in CEMAC.

Indeed there will be challenges that will need to be addressed, in establishing a functioning Sadc Parliament. The issues of financial resources cannot be overlooked, given that PAP still has to be sustained.

However nothing seems insurmountable for Dr Chiviya who is prepared to move mountains to make this a reality. In less than six months since he took office, his team has paid several courtesy call missions to Heads of State and Government to explain and lobby the case for a Sadc Parliament.

These courtesy calls have already paid off as the President of Zimbabwe, Cde Robert Mugabe has already thrown his weight behind the proposal and so has the South Africa President, Jacob Zuma.

The courtesy calls were all part of the Forum’s efforts to build regional consensus on the need for a Sadc Parliament. Initially there were differences of opinion on the need for such a parliament for the region but eventually a consensus has been reached Africa Union has underscored the need for strengthening of regional Blocs, and the Pan African Parliament believes the existence of Sadc Parliament will play a complimentary and mutually reinforcing role in regional Economic Communities.