Windhoek, Namibia - The Vice President of the SADC PF, Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas, has praised Zambia’s advancements in leadership and national security strategy.

Hon Lucas did this last week during a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Hon. Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti. The courtesy call happened during a roundtable in Lusaka, focusing on security, rule of law, and capacity development.

LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA - The Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ms. Boemo Sekgoma, has commended Zambia for progress towards socio-economic development.

She made the remarks when she delivered introductory remarks at the official opening of the 56th Plenary Assembly of the Forum in Livingstone, Zambia on Monday. The theme for the 56th SADC PF plenary is, “Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Smart, Inclusive and Responsive Parliaments in the SADC Region.”

The Parliament of Zambia is hosting the Plenary, which has drawn delegates from 13 SADC Member States. In her address, Ms Sekgoma highlighted Zambia’s strides across various developmental sectors, underscoring the government’s focus on socio-economic growth and citizen welfare.

10 décembre 2024

 COMMUNIQUÉ DE LA SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRALE DU FORUM PARLEMENTAIRE DE LA SADC À L’OCCASION DE LA JOURNÉE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME 2024

Chers membres, chers parlementaires et partenaires,

C’est avec une profonde estime à votre égard et consciente de l’honneur qui m’est réservé que je publie ce communiqué à l’occasion de la Journée des droits de l’homme 2024, une journée qui est fondamentale eu égard aux initiatives stratégiques du Forum parlementaire de la SADC.

10^th December 2024

 STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE SADC-PF ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2024

 Dear Members, Parliamentarians and Partners,

It is with esteem and honour that I release this Statement on Human Rights Day 2024, a day that is cardinal to the Strategic initiatives of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

The Forum associates itself with the theme espoused by the international community “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” which demonstrates the urgent need for action to implement and enforce human rights. Today, human rights are all often repressed with limitations of freedom and liberty which are not in accordance with human rights principles and practice. Moreover, most SADC Member States have a constitution which enshrines civil and political human rights, and despite their constitutional value, human rights are still being violated on a daily basis.

On 9 December 2024, the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will officially launch the SADC Parliamentary Alliance on Agrifood Systems, Food Security, and Nutrition. The event will take place during the 56th Plenary Assembly of the SADC PF in Livingstone, Zambia.

This historic initiative aims to address the growing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, and unsustainable agrifood systems in Southern Africa. By uniting parliamentarians from across the region, the Alliance seeks to strengthen legislative and policy frameworks that support food security, improve nutrition, and transform agrifood systems to ensure sustainable access to healthy food for all.

The Forum is pleased to release this statement with its Member Parliaments and partners on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2024. In this regard, the Forum fully associates itself with the theme developed by the international community, including the World Health Organisation around the slogan of "Take the rights path: my health! my right!".

Indeed, the Forum adds its voice to the critical need for a rights based approach to address HIV/AIDS policy, in particular to ensure the mainstreaming of legal concepts such as the equality of treatment under the law and non discrimination in view of consolidating the protection of People Living With HIV (PLWH). The rights based approach to HIV/AIDS policy also means that health should be regarded as a fundamental human right, with treatment by the intake of essential medicines such as ARVs being available and affordable to all. Undeniably, HIV treatment forms part of the core content of the right to health and it should progressively be regarded as a justiciable right.

Dear Namibian Citizens,

As you vote during the seventh general election since gaining independence in 1990, I extend my warmest regards on behalf of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF).

These elections mark a pivotal moment in Namibia’s democratic journey and reaffirm the country’s commitment to democracy, good governance, and the rule of law. As the electorate, your active and peaceful participation throughout the election cycle has been the anchor of Namibia’s democratic culture, which continues to inspire the region and beyond.

Today, as we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we stand united in our commitment to end all forms of violence against women and girls in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and beyond. This day marks the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence - a time to not only reflect on the pervasive issue of violence but also to mobilise our collective efforts towards change.

Dear Batswana,

As you vote today to determine the composition of the 13^th Parliament and local councils across the country, I extend my warm wishes on behalf of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF).