|
|
POLITICS-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Regional Parliament Essential for Integration
By Rosemary Nalisa
WINDHOEK, June 2 (IPS) - 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 currently underway in the Namibian
capital - Windhoek.
The Speaker of Lesotho's parliament who is also the Chairwoman of the
SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ntlhoi Motsamai, told delegates that the creation
of a regional legislature would increase the pace of development in Southern
Africa, 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. SADC is one of the few regions in
Africa that does not have a regional parliament," she observed.
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."
SADC currently comprises 14 states. The group's Parliamentary 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 Wednesday (Jun. 2) around the
city of Bukavu, where government forces are said to be clashing with the
troops of a former rebel leader - Laurent Nkunda. Nkunda has apparently
denied the claims.
Another important issue that is under discussion in Windhoek is a
regional commitment to have women occupy 30 percent of seats in national
parliaments by 2005, a target which most SADC countries are 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 Friday. (END/2004)
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What is RSS?
