1 / 17

SADC-PF 17 TH PLENARY SESSION UPDATE

SADC-PF 17 TH PLENARY SESSION UPDATE. Presented jointly by Dudu Lenzie & Matthew Parks. Theme of the Session. “ A review of the role of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in promoting democratic elections ”. SA Parliament’s Delegation. Hon. Speaker Ms. B. Mbete (Head of Delegation)

taryn
Télécharger la présentation

SADC-PF 17 TH PLENARY SESSION UPDATE

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. SADC-PF 17TH PLENARY SESSION UPDATE Presented jointly by Dudu Lenzie & Matthew Parks

  2. Theme of the Session • “A review of the role of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in promoting democratic elections”

  3. SA Parliament’s Delegation • Hon. Speaker Ms. B. Mbete (Head of Delegation) • Hon Ms F. Hajaig • Hon Ms N. Ntwanambi • Hon Mr. W. J. Seremane • Hon Mr. D. J. Sithole

  4. Addresses at the Opening Session • His Excellency BW Mkapa (Tanzania) • Her Excellency Amb.G Mongella (PAP) • Hon. Speaker P Msekwa (Tanzania) • Hon. Speaker N Motsamai (Lesotho- Chairperson of SADC PF) • Hon. Speaker MP Tjitendero (Namibia)

  5. Key Issues Raised during Opening Session • Centrality of democratic Elections in enhancing good governance, accountability, transparency, etc. • The important role of SADC-PF in promoting democratic elections in SADC. • The importance of REC’s parliamentary Fora as anchors for PAP. • The need for continued dialogue btwn regional parliamentary fora and PAP to promote info sharing. • The continued need for the prompt establishment of the SADC Parliament (2007).

  6. Key Issues during Opening Session • Need to continue lobbying Heads of State and Foreign Ministers to support the SADC Parliament • Acceleration of the attainment of 30% women rep. in positions of power. & the general implementation of the SADC gender declaration.

  7. Thematic Session topic 1 • A comparative review of the SADC-PF, SADC and AU elections docs- Dr khabele Matlosa (EISA). • Careful reading of the docs reveals no fundamental differences. • SADC-PF’s doc is more comprehensive and elaborates on election observation. • SADC doc is heavy on election principles and weak on election management.

  8. Comparison btwn the SADC-PF & SADC Election Documents

  9. Differences btw SADC-PF Election Doc & SA Electoral Laws

  10. Thematic Session Topic 2 • The Importance of Constitutional and Electoral Reforms in strengthening Democratic elections in SADC- Dr Neo Simutanyi- Univ. of Zambia • Absent/incomplete Constitutional or Electoral Reform may be the course of poor elections quality • There’s need to have national consensus by involving political parties & civil society in introducing such reform • Change of mindset crucial

  11. Thematic Session Topic 3 • Enhancing Gender Representation through the electoral Processes- Prof. Ruth Meena. • Women participation is impacted on by • Political party support • Political will of state organs • The strength of women’s movements • The general disadvantages women face, politically, socially, culturally and economically

  12. Policy Session • SADC Parliament • The 15th Plenary Assembly (Lesotho-2003) adopted the case for a SADC Parliament & other Docs produced by a Task Team of Clerks/Secretaries . • The Docs were submitted to the SADC Council of Ministers. • Council recommended that the Summit consider the Proposed SADC Parliament. • Summit welcomed the idea but rejected the urgency in the establishment. • SADC-PF EX-COM agreed on the importance of a SADC Parliament, and agreed to continue to work on the goal with more realistic time-frame.

  13. Policy Session (Cont…) • Other matters from Committee Reports • Secondment of Staff from Nat. Parls • Lifting of visa requirements • Public education on constitutional & other rights • SADC-PF to ensure the development of common policy positions for effective PAP • Linking political parties’ consts to Gender Declaration

  14. Policy Session (Cont…) • Involvement of political parties in fight against HIV/AIDS • Addressing the looming crisis of HIV/AIDS orphans • Developing a common position on GMO’s

  15. Challenges • Greater cooperation btw SADC & SADC-PF observer missions • Ensuring that recommendations of election observer mission reports are implemented • Harmonisation of Election Documents • Establishment of a SADC Parliament • Establishment of a mechanism to evaluate implementation and progress of SADC programmes • Placing Gender equality & Fight against HIV/AIDS at centre of all dev. Agendas in SADC

  16. Coming out of the 18th Plenary Session • Feedback & mandate mechanism at Nat. Parls. • Interrogation of the Election Norms & Standards/Principles • Delegates to consult on strategic areas to be included in the 2006-2010 SADC-PF strat-plan • Nat Parls should play a role in facilitating the ratification of SADC Protocols • Costing of the Establishment of the SADC Parl. • DRC admitted as the 13th member of SAD-PF

  17. Comments and Questions

More Related