By Moses Magadza in Johannesburg, South Africa

The Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee (RPMLOC) is meeting today 22 May 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa under the theme: “Enhancing the Role of the RPMLOC in Monitoring the Domestication of SADC Model Laws and Implementation of Related Policies and Laws through Structured Reporting Frameworks and Mechanisms: A Look at the Domestication of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.’’

Malawi Member of Parliament Hon. Ishmael Ndaila Onani, is Chairperson of the RPMLOC. The meeting is in preparation for the 55^th Plenary Assembly that will take place from 1 to 7 July 2024 in Angola.

Ms Thoko Gumedze, a staff member at the Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini serves the Committee as Secretary.

In an interview, she said the SADC PF Secretariat in its Roadmap for 2024 recognized that Parliaments have a major role to play to ensure that there is consistent oversight on the implementation of resolutions and recommendations aimed at addressing the impacts of Climate Change.

The 54th Plenary Assembly of the SADC PF adopted several resolutions and recommendation to enhance Disaster Risk Reduction in the SADC Region.

“Considering of the domestication of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) by the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee (RPMLOC) from a parliamentary perspective under this theme is opportune for members of the SADC PF.

“This is so in the era of occurrences and devastations that are a direct or indirect impact of climate change, and which require SADC Member States to have in place strategies for reducing disaster risks and losses, guided by the Sendai Framework,” Ms Gumedze said.

The framework provides for priorities for action by Member States to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks, namely: understanding disaster risk; strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk; investing in disaster reduction for resilience and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

The RPMLOC which is made up of Chairpersons of the SADC PF Standing Committees (whose mandate cuts across several political, economic and social themes) is tasked with monitoring the domestication of SADC Model Laws and the implementation of related laws and policies including priorities set by the Sendai Framework which has been subscribed to by most SADC Member States.

The meeting seeks to achieve the following objectives:

(i)   Provide an overview of the mandate of the RPMLOC and SADC PF Standing Committees in monitoring the domestication of the Sendai framework and the obligations contained in the Paris Agreement (2015).

(ii)  Provide a framework and mechanism for the RPMLOC for Monitoring the domestication of and implementation of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, including consideration for a Scorecard.

(iii) Provide a strategy to enable the SADC PF Standing Committees and Parliamentarians to factor in, an effective reporting framework and mechanism on the Domestication and Implementation of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction in their respective Committees and Parliaments, in view of promoting resilience to fully implement the SDGs.

(iv) Update the Committee Members on collaboration and technical assistance by development Partners.

(v)  Identify further collaboration initiatives to assist in carrying out the Mandate of the Committee.

(vi)Formulate strategies and recommendations to strengthen the Committee’s oversight role in Monitoring and assessing the process of Domestication of the SADC Model Laws and implementing the related policies and laws, through structured and effective Reporting Frameworks and Mechanisms, thereby ensuring the realization of the overall mandate of the RPMLOC for the benefit of the SADC region.

To facilitate in-depth deliberations, the Committee has engaged knowledgeable resource persons.

Members of the media and other interested parties can register follow proceedings through zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkcu6trTkqH9bOSNxK6ILkPGE6vYqGSKtt