Online Reporter
Moses Magadza
A PANEL of parliamentary leaders, global trade experts and regional economic specialists will headline an upcoming UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)-SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) collaboration.
Manager of the Standing Committee on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (TIFI) programme of the SADC PF Ms Masenate Molapo said the collaboration opens on Wednesday under the theme “Strengthening the Role of Parliaments in Advancing Regional Trade Integration through the AfCFTA”.
Ms Ruth Mendez of Angola will chair the session, while Ms Boemo Sekgoma, the SADC PF secretary-general, will set the tone for the collaboration.
SADC PF brings together 15 member parliaments.
Ms Sekgoma’s work has been central to advancing democracy, human rights and regional integration through model laws in areas such as HIV and AIDS, child marriage, gender-based violence and public financial management. She has championed parliamentary oversight aligned with SADC Vision 2050 and Africa Agenda 2063.
Director (Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes) at UNCTAD of Ghana Mr Paul Akiwumi will deliver opening remarks on behalf of UNCTAD.
Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is expected to deliver high-level political remarks linking trade policy to inclusive economic transformation and parliamentary action.
Further, UNECA (UN Economic Commission for Africa) Economic Affairs Officer Mr Simon Mevel will provide the keynote on global and regional trade trends.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s event, Ms Sekgoma warned that the expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has worsened economic vulnerabilities across Southern Africa.
Recent economic shocks, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic, she said, have led to “severe contractions across the region’s economies and a significant rise in public debt”.
Despite these challenges, Ms Sekgoma said SADC PF will continue championing sustainable and inclusive economic recovery through parliamentary collaboration.
“The SADC Parliamentary Forum remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting sustainable She highlighted SADC PF’s unique role in bridging the gap between policy and practice.
“In this way, the Forum strengthens the vital linkages between parliament, policy and practice, ensuring that regional integration efforts are inclusive, evidence-based, impactful and bring value to the most vulnerable,” she said.
Ms Sekgoma’s remarks come as the region grapples with the fallout from AGOA’s expiry, with renewed calls for African parliaments to harness the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA to drive regional industrialisation and inclusive growth.
The upcoming collaboration marks a milestone in strengthening the role of parliaments in steering trade reforms that support industrialisation, job creation and sustainable growth in Southern Africa.
The collaboration will link research, policy dialogue and parliamentary action to support AfCFTA implementation across SADC member states.
