By Moses Magadza

Madagascar and Mauritius have signed the Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty to recognise the SADC Parliament as an institution of SADC, bringing to 15 the number of Member States that have endorsed the Agreement.

The drive to establish a fully-fledged Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliament reached a historic milestone on Sunday, 17^th August, with the signing taking place during the closing ceremony of the 45th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, and H.E. Andry Nirina Rajoelina, President of Madagascar, signed the Agreement.

The signing means that all SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) member parliaments are now formally united in support of the transformation agenda, strengthening the foundation for deeper regional integration and parliamentary cooperation.

A delegation of Speakers constituting the SADC PF Lobby Group for the SADC Parliament, led by its Chairperson, Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, witnessed the signing

The group included Hon. Justin Tokely, SADC PF President and Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar; Hon. Carolina Cerqueira, Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola; Hon. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia; Rt. Hon. Nelly B.K. Mutti, SC, MP, FAPRA, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia; and H.E. Boemo Sekgoma, Secretary General of the SADC PF.

Speaking on the significance of the event, Hon. Cerqueira described it as “a gain for all Africans,” and said that the envisaged SADC Parliament would serve as “a regional legislative body that promotes peace, the defence of human rights, regional integration, social justice, democracy, prosperity, and institutional solidarity.”

The signing by Madagascar and Mauritius caps a two-decade-long journey of sustained advocacy, consultations, and negotiations aimed at transforming the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament.

The SADC PF first resolved to pursue transformation in 2004, recognising the need for a stronger parliamentary institution to anchor democratic governance and regional integration.

A renewed push came at the 38th SADC Summit in Windhoek in 2018, where updated transformation papers were tabled.

Between 2019 and 2020, a Joint Task Team of the SADC Secretariat and SADC PF Secretariat was established and began conducting benchmarking exercises with other regional parliaments.

The August 2021 SADC Summit formally approved the transformation concept, conditional on a clear roadmap and financial feasibility.

In August 2022, the Summit approved the Amendment to the SADC Treaty, paving the way for the establishment of the Parliament.

In July 2024, with 12 signatories, the Agreement entered into force, formally establishing the SADC Parliament under Article 9(1) of the Treaty.

In March 2025, Botswana signed, bringing the tally to 13. With Madagascar and Mauritius having signed, all 15 SADC PF Member States are now on board.

SADC PF Secretary General Ms Boemo Sekgoma hailed the “unity” of SADC member states on the Forum’s transformation and said it “clears the path for the next critical stage: finalisation of the Draft Protocol on the SADC Parliament, which will outline its powers, functions, and operational modalities. Signature and ratification of the Protocol by a majority of Member States will be the last step to bring the SADC Parliament to life.”

She said Member States have been called upon to submit their comments to ensure the Protocol is signed and the Parliament formally constituted.

Unlike the SADC Parliamentary Forum, which was established in 1997 as an institution under Article 9(2) of the Treaty, the new SADC Parliament is anchored under Article 9(1) as a full Treaty organ. While it will be consultative and deliberative rather than law-making, it will enjoy enhanced legitimacy and influence.

On the objectives of the SADC Parliament, the SG said, “They include deepening consultation and dialogue on the SADC Common Agenda; promoting citizen engagement and regional integration; advocating for the domestication and implementation of SADC Protocols; developing and promoting Model Laws; and strengthening democracy, rule of law, peace, human rights, and gender equality.

“With the Treaty Amendment now universally endorsed, the focus shifts to consolidating the Protocol and operationalising the SADC Parliament,” Ms Sekgoma stated.

Heads of State at the 45th Summit commended the Lobby Group of Speakers for their “dynamic high-level parliamentary diplomacy,” which has been instrumental in steering the process.

It is expected that a SADC Parliament will deliver a stronger parliamentary voice at the regional level and foster accountability, democracy, and integration across Southern Africa.

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