By Moses Magadza

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia and Head of the Namibian Delegation to the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, Honourable Prof. Peter H. Katjavivi, has expressed satisfaction on progress towards the transformation of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) into a SADC Regional Parliament.

Hon Katjavivi expressed his joy on progress made towards setting up the long-awaited SADC Parliament when he delivered a short valedictory speech on October 12, 2024, at the SADC Group Parliamentary Meeting on the sidelines of 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

As host Speaker of the SADC PF Headquarters in Windhoek, Namibia, Hon. Katjavivi has worked closely with the SADC PF for nearly 10 years and saw it make significant progress since its establishment in 1997 in Malawi.

“Since then, we have grown from strength to strength,” he said and attributed the SADC PF’s growth to the commitment and collaborative spirit of SADC member states.

Twelve SADC Member States have since signed the Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty to recognise the envisioned SADC Parliament as one of the SADC Institutions. The twelve countries thus constitute three quarters (12) of the Member States required to sign the Agreement which entered into force on 11 July 2024.

Efforts to encourage SADC Member States that have not signed the Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty to do so are underway and Hon. Katjavivi said the progress made towards the SADC Parliament represents “an achievement that all of us need to be proud of.”

He reiterated the role that unity and cooperation among the SADC member states play in addressing regional challenges. He exhorted the delegates to prioritise the aspirations of the people they serve.

“Let their needs and aspirations guide our decisions and initiatives,” Hon Katjavivi said when he received a Certificate of Recognition from Hon Roger Mancienne, President of the SADC PF, for his significant contributions to both the SADC PF and the IPU.

The 149th IPU Assembly was Hon. Katjavivi’s last participation as Speaker and Head of the Namibia delegation. Although he said he would formally bid farewell to the SADC PF family at the forthcoming 56th Plenary Assembly Session scheduled for Livingstone, Zambia from 8 to 15 December, he expressed gratitude for bonds forged over the years.

“It has been a privilege to learn from each other and to contribute to our collective efforts,” he stated and thanked the delegates for their friendship and collaboration.

 “Let’s always remember the impact of our efforts on the lives of the people we serve,” he concluded.

• Moses Magadza is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC PF