By Moses Magadza

Johannesburg, South Africa – Botswana opposition leader and economist Hon. Dumelang Saleshando has been elected unopposed as Chairperson of the Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (TIFI) Standing Committee of the SADC Parliamentary Forum for the next two years.

The election took place on Friday at the close of the Joint Session of Standing Committees of the regional parliamentary body held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Accepting the position, Hon Saleshando who took over from Hon. Ruth Mendez of Angola, described the election as a profound honour and pledged to use his experience to strengthen parliamentary advocacy for regional economic transformation, industrialisation and the domestication of SADC protocols and model laws.

“I am deeply honoured to be elected as Chairperson of the esteemed Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment Standing Committee, a Committee I have had the privilege to serve with diligence and commitment for the past three terms,” he said.

Hon Saleshando, who is the Leader of Opposition in Botswana’s National Assembly and President of the Botswana Congress Party, said despite his extensive political experience, he had initially been reluctant to stand for the position because he wished to allow others an opportunity to serve.

The Maun North legislator said his political journey had been shaped by “early exposure, consistent engagement, and sustained commitment to public service and democratic governance.”

By training an economist and political scientist, Hon Saleshando said he had consistently championed progressive policy alternatives in Botswana, including proposals on VAT relief, housing affordability, labour protections, public procurement integrity and freedom of information legislation.

Drawing from his experience within the Committee, he said the SADC Parliamentary Forum had a critical role to play in accelerating the implementation of regional frameworks.

“The challenge before us remains accelerating ratification, domestication, and practical enforcement by Member States,” he said.

He pledged to prioritise advocacy, collaboration and engagement aimed at addressing what he described as the slow pace of implementation of SADC protocols and model laws across the region.

Hon Saleshando further stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing regional integration and economic cooperation.

“Our committee must therefore position itself not merely as a deliberative body, but as a catalyst for economic transformation and regional integration,” he said.

The Botswana parliamentarian also called for greater youth involvement in the work of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, saying he hoped to influence the institution to “engage more and more young people across the region.”

Using his home constituency of Maun North (situated near the Okavango Delta) as an example, Hon Saleshando highlighted tourism and natural resources as powerful tools for economic development if managed inclusively and sustainably.

“I firmly believe that tourism can become one of the strongest drivers of economic growth and regional integration within Southern Africa,” he said.

He emphasised that communities living in resource-rich areas should directly benefit from tourism revenues and natural-resource wealth and stressed the importance of social-impact initiatives targeting underserved populations.

On industrialisation and trade, Hon Saleshando called for a fundamental rethink of Africa’s economic model. He argued that Southern Africa could no longer afford to remain primarily exporters of raw commodities while importing finished goods at high cost.

“We must deliberately invest in beneficiation, local manufacturing, industrial value chains, and regional production capacity,” he said.

According to him, such measures were essential for creating sustainable jobs, retaining wealth within African economies and achieving genuine economic independence.

He also stressed that economic transformation must benefit ordinary citizens, particularly youth, women and marginalised communities.

“Trade should not only be measured by macroeconomic statistics, but also by its ability to uplift communities, reduce inequality, and create opportunities for those historically excluded from economic participation,” he said.

Hon Saleshando called for collective effort and regional cooperation to ensure the Committee delivers impactful results.

“There remains a strong appreciation that meaningful progress can only be achieved through collective effort,” he said and expressed confidence in the support of fellow parliamentarians and the Secretariat.

The TIFI Standing Committee is one of the key committees of the SADC Parliamentary Forum and focuses on regional trade, finance, industrialisation, investment and economic integration within the SADC region.

-Moses Magadza is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC Parliamentary Forum.