Items filtered by date: Friday, 24 November 2017

EZULWINI, SWAZILAND - All the 14 member Parliaments of the SADC Parliamentary Forum are represented at the 39^th Plenary Assembly Session of the regional body which officially got underway on Wednesday here.

This is the second time that the Plenary Assembly Session is being held in the Kingdom of Swaziland, the first being in 2004.

Mr Sheuneni Kurasha, the Programme Manager: Democracy & Governance as well as Parliamentary Business Focal Person at SADC PF said the fact that all member states are being represented demonstrates the value they place not just in SADC PF but also in SADC regional integration agenda.

He said the Plenary had begun flawlessly.

"The sub-committees of the Executive Committee met on Monday, including the Parliamentary Business Sub-Committee which considered the parliamentary business for the 39^th Plenary Assembly. This was followed by a meeting of the Executive Committee which met on Tuesday and among other things, approved the business for the Plenary Assembly Session," Kurasha said.

In welcome remarks to the delegates who include Speakers of National Parliaments and Members of Parliament, the Speaker in the House of Assembly of Swaziland, Hon Themba Msibi said his country had benefitted immensely from being part of the deliberative body.

"Swaziland has always been a full member of the Forum and has benefitted in many ways including from many workshops for Members of Parliament and we cannot be more grateful," the Speaker said.

The chairperson of the Regional Women's Parliamentary Forum Hon Francisca Domingos Tomas from Mozambique hailed Swaziland for fighting discrimination of women. She said Swaziland afforded equal opportunities to all her citizens including women, some of who now occupy very senior positions in different spheres. Hon Domingos held out the example of the long serving President of the Senate of Swaziland, who is a woman.

The Secretary General of the SADC PF, Dr Esau Chiviya said the theme for the Plenary Assembly Session provided and opportunity for National Parliaments of the SADC Region to "take stock of the human rights situation in the SADC Region in general in general and the rights of women in particular."

He added: "Parliaments will examine their own centrality the centrality of human rights in law making and at the same time explore strategies for meaningful collaboration."

His Majesty King Mswati III, who was represented by the Acting Prime Minister, Senator Paul Dlamini, officially opened the Plenary Assembly Session whose theme is strengthening the Role of Parliament in Protecting and Realisation of Human Rights in Southern Africa, on Wednesday.

The King took the opportunity to explain the country's democratic system - Monarchical Democracy - which he said had been misunderstood in some quarters.

"Monarchical Democracy is defined as the marriage between the monarchy and the ballot box. The ballot box is the will of the people who vote for an individual, who will provide advice and counsel to the King and country in a manner that ensures transparency and accountability. It is a combination of power with empowerment. It means that the Monarch of Eswatini guarantees the shared power of the people," the King said.

He added: "To those who proclaim that democracy is the answer to all nations and their development, we present ourselves as a testimony to a new democratic ideology that works… the Kingdom of Eswatini's position is that it believes in democracy as an idea but not as an ideal because things that are ideal to you may not be ideal to other people."

Kurasha said among the main highlights of this Plenary Assembly Session is the expected adoption of the Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Those Already in Marriage in Southern Africa.

The law, which was developed in response to the decision by the 35^th Plenary Assembly Session held in Mauritius in June 2014, will be a historic milestone by Parliamentarians from the Region in the quest to end the scourge of child marriages bedevilling many countries in the Region.

Other issues to be considered include committee reports by various SADC PF standing committees as well as motions by various Members of Parliament. They include: a motion on the Need for SADC PF to Develop a Model Law on Elections to Facilitate the Domestication of SADC Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections by Member States (mover: Hon. Maneesh Gobin, MP, Mauritius); motion on the Prevalence of the Dual Epidemic of Tuberculosis (TB) and Diabetes around the World (mover: Hon. Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam, MP, South Africa); motion on Combating Hunger and Poverty in Southern Africa (mover: Hon Paulo Angola); motion on the Need for Integrated Energy Infrastructure and Security as a Means for Regional Development with Specific Attention to the Inga Dam Project (mover: Hon. Stevens Mokgalapa, MP, South Africa); and motion on the Importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) In the Development of the SADC Region (mover: Hon. Siphosezwe Masango, MP, South Africa).

Other motions include : motion on the Negative Impact of Poor Service Delivery on Women as People Responsible for Care Work at the Household (mover: Hon. Masefele Morutoa, MP, South Africa); motion on The Need For SADC Member States Expedite The Signing And Implementation Of The Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement Aimed At Creating An Enlarged Market Extending From Cape To Cairo (mover: Dr Samson Mukanduri, MP, Zimbabwe).

Approximately 190 delegates including observers from other regional and international organisations that SADC PF collaborates with are attending the Plenary Assembly Session which ends on Sunday.

Venue: Royal Swazi Sun

Date: Thursday 2 June 2016 (15:00-17:00Hrs)

WELCOME REMARKS BY HON. JOSEPH NJOBVUYALEMA, VICE PRESIDENT, SADC-PF

- Hon. Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the SADC Parliaments,

-Hon. Leaders of Delegations,

-Hon. Members of Parliament from the various SADC Parliaments,

-Hon. Ministers here present,

- Ms. Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UN Women Representative for South Africa Multi-Country Office,

- SADC-PF Secretary General, Dr Esau Chiviya

- Invited Observers and Resource Persons,

-Staff from the SADC National Parliaments,

-SADC PF Secretariat Staff,

-Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to extend to you all a very warm welcome on behalf of the Southern Africa Development Community - Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) and to say how grateful we are to UN Women and the SADC-PF Secretariat for convening this SADC-PF Sign up event to UN Women's HeForShe Solidarity Campaign for gender equality.

Let me begin by pointing out that one of SADC-PF's Gender Program strategic objective is to assist the National Parliaments within the SADC Region to implement and domesticate the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and various other United Nations Conventions and Resolutions that seek to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

At SADC-PF, we recognize that beyond the intrinsic value of gender equality and women's empowerment, investing in women's rights and gender equality is critical to our socio-economic advancement, political stability and development. In this regard, we at SADC-PF work with our National Parliaments and the SADC-PF Gender Programme to sharpen parliamentarians' gender analysis and planning skills with the aim of promoting sustainable development and eradicating feminized poverty in the Region.

Honorable Members, ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me briefly to introduce the SADC-PF Gender Program of which the Regional Women's Parliamentary Caucus and Gender Equality, Women's Advancement and Youth Development are component parts. The Gender Program, established in 1997, is one of SADC-PF's longest standing programs. The original mandate, which remains today, is to work with and support Members of Parliament in order to eradicate gender inequalities in the SADC Region thereby realizing the SADC Gender and Development Declaration of 1997.

Through the RWPC, the Program has successfully lobbied various SADC Member States to sign the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. It has also lobbied for equal and equitable representation of women in political, administrative and decision-making positions: this is known as the 50:50 Gender Parity Goal of the SADC Gender Protocol.

Within the SADC Region, as SADC-PF, we continue to promote accountability to the Maputo protocol of the African Union and we are leveraging on the AU declaration for 2016 as the year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of women.

Honorable Members,

The recently approved Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 5 on "Achieving gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls", and the other gender-related targets, have opened up new opportunities to re-connect, re-commit, and mobilize political will and public support for women's economic empowerment. The SDGs give us an opportune space and time to influence the governance processes so that gender equality is integrated meaningfully in our policies and their implementation. We need to leverage on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to change the game for gender equality, women's empowerment and women's rights. At SADC level with support from UN Women, we are finalizing the review of the SADC-PF protocol in line with the SDGs.

We will also be working with our governments to promote accountability to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW60) Resolution on HIV, Women and Girls.

Let me congratulate UN Women for this great initiative aimed at bringing boys and men to the center of the global fight for women's rights and gender equality. The HeForShe movement challenges us to take action at both the institutional and personal level.

In concluding, Honorable members of parliaments, Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to these sign up event and look forward to fruitful deliberations on how we can move this initiative in our countries.

Thank You, Merci, Obrigado, Siyabonga, obrigato

Staff Writer

HARARE, ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe's Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday (12 November, 2016) officially launched the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting those Already in Marriage, paving the way for the domestication of this groundbreaking law by SADC Member States.

Speaking to approximately Members of Parliament from 13 SADC Member States who included Speakers of National Parliaments, the Vice President, who also officially opened the 40^th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC PF in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, described the day on which the Model Law was launched as a great day in the history of the SADC Region.

"Today will go down in the annals of history as the day that our Members of Parliament set aside political and other differences to resoundingly say NO to child marriage by delivering a Model Law that will no doubt provide guidance to all our Member States as they develop or refine their own national laws to eradicate child marriage," he said to thunderous applause.

Describing child marriage as an "embarrassing scourge", Mnangagwa, who is also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, noted that it had taken SADC PF and its partners nearly two years to develop the Model Law with so much commonality that it could easily be adopted or adapted as Member States reform, develop legal instruments and policies to eradicate child marriage.

"It has been a long journey marked by widespread consultations involving many stakeholders including legal drafters, our own MPs, civil society organisations and even our judges who enriched the Model Law," he said before outlining six detailed steps taken to develop the Model Law before the 39 ^th SADC PF Plenary Assembly Session which took place in Ezulwini, Swaziland on the 3rd of June, 2016, unanimously adopted it.

A lawyer, the Vice President said Model Law provides evidence-based guidance on how the SADC Region can address child marriage, especially in the face of inadequate or sometimes conflicting related legal instruments.

"Based on the latest evidence, the Model Law will no doubt be a valuable sounding board to countries as they reform, develop or revitalize their laws related to child marriage and its impact."

Noting that child marriage was a global problem, he urged SADC Member States to unite against the phenomenon lest they fail to benefit from the demographic dividend.

He said Zimbabwe, like other SADC Member States opposed child marriage, with the country's President Robert Mugabe determined to keep all children in school.

Mnangagwa said the Model Law would be distributed to Parliaments and other interested stakeholders in the SADC countries, especially relevant Government Ministries and Departments.

"It also needs to be presented to the SADC Secretariat for consideration to be transformed into a SADC Protocol on Child Marriage."

He urged SADC PF to hold workshops with key stakeholders in SADC Member States to popularize the Model Law and work with the media in this regard.

"Our Member States need to take a hard look at child-related marriage laws they have in their countries and pass relevant laws. More importantly, Members of Parliament can and must use their oversight role to ensure that National budgets support implementation of laws and policies in their countries to eradicate child marriage and support those already in marriage."

Speaking at the same launch, SADC PF Deputy President, Malawi lawmaker Joseph Njobvuyalema said the new Model Law might encourage SADC Member States to be accountable in the execution of policies, the enactment of laws and in coming up with strategic plans and measures aimed at eradicating child marriage, protecting children already in marriage and ensuring SRHRs of young persons.

"We are convinced that the creation of a robust and uniform legal framework relating to child marriage is key to addressing child marriage and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights," he said.

Njobvuyalema said regional and international treaties require countries to set the minimum age of marriage at 18, register all marriages and take effective action, including legislation, to eradicate child marriage.

"I call upon all MPs in our region to do all within their power to move towards implementing laws and policies that are relevant to our national settings to eradicate child marriage. This Model Law obliges Member States to provide in national legislation for intervention programmes to support child brides or wives and their families."

Among other things the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting those already in Marriage promotes earlier and more frequent use of family planning; HIV and AIDS and maternal health services; educational and economic opportunities to help break the cycle of inequality, illiteracy, illness and poverty that frequently perpetuate child marriage.

It provides, also, for comprehensive sexuality education and provides for collection of data on the number and status of children already in marriage, including the child's education, access to resources, health care, education, information and entertainment and the socio-economic status of the family.

Staff Writer

The Executive Director of the Prison Care and Counselling Association

(PRISCCA) in Zambia, Dr Godfrey Malembeka, has warned that HIV epidemics in the world's prisons can fuel epidemics in mainstream communities unless steps are taken to safeguard the health of prisoners.

Dr Malembeka sounded the warning while addressing a Consultative Capacity Development Session for Zambian Civil Society Organisations working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, HIV and AIDS. The session sought to map out a strategy for engaging the Parliament of Zambia.

Noting that the African continent was the hardest hit by the global HIV and AIDS epidemic, Dr Malembeka bemoaned the fact that prison settings in Sub-Saharan Africa had received "surprisingly little" attention in terms of national and international funding to respond to the epidemic.

PRISCCA represents thousands of serving and ex-prisoners in Zambia. Dr Malembeka is an ex-prisoner, having spent four years in jail. Thereafter he spent 16 years working closely with the Government of Zambia on efforts to rehabilitate ex-prisoners. He therefore, boasts of a wealth of experience in issues that affect prisoners or when they leave detention.

He said PRISCCA submits related reports to the Parliament of Zambia twice a year. The organisation also uses Parliament Radio to discuss issues that affect prisoners. It takes MPs out for a retreat every year to further debate those issues. Additionally, PRISCCA takes MPs on visits to some of the country's correctional facilities so that the lawmakers witness first-hand the challenges in those settings.

He said the SADC Region alone had approximately 650 000 incarcerated people, 19 000 of those in Zambia.

Stressing that good prison health was equal to good public health, Dr Malembeka warned that unless steps were taken to keep prisoners healthy, the health of people outside prisoners would be in jeopardy.

"HIV in prison is both a public health and a human rights issue. It is also a legal issue and there are myths and stigma, surrounding incarceration," he said.

He cited overcrowding and poor physical conditions in most prisons as major challenges in HIV prevention.

With prison populations being predominantly male, Dr Malembeka said male-to-male sexual activities were frequent.

"There are three types of sexual activities in prisons. The first is consensual, where a few people have agreed to live like that because some are there for life or serving more than 30 years."

The second type was rape, which was fuelled by prisoners that preyed on juveniles or the weak.

"The third type is circumstantial sex. Sometimes because of overcrowding, male prisoners end up naked and squeezed close together in such a way that some 'dreams' can come," he explained.

He called for research to determine the levels of sexual activities in prisons, saying much of it was not reported and therefore not documented.

"Potential links for transmitting HIV from prisons into the general population are high due to stigma, marriage break ups and lack of partner notification."

Dr Malembeka said lack of knowledge and education among prisoners about the risks of contracting and transmitting HIV coupled with the absence of protective means and proper medical care, increased prisoners' risks to HIV infection.

Women prisoners

"Most of our sisters who are incarcerated are divorced in advance because (few people) are ready to wait for their spouses."

He said over half a million women and girls were being held in penal institutions worldwide.

"Women are especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation and may trade or be forced to trade sex for food, goods or drugs with other prisoners or staff," he said.

Turning to factors that contribute to HIV in prisons and that MPs could examine, Dr Malembeka cited weaknesses of the criminal justice system, overcrowding, poor food and nutrition as well as lack of health care and lack of follow up on released prisoners.

Others included poor adherence to ART treatment, lack of prevention commodities such as condoms the mixing of pre-trial detainees, juveniles and convicted people.