Regional MPs meet in Harare

Sunday Mail Reporter
The 40th plenary assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) began in Harare on Thursday with legislators from across the region gathered to discuss issues affecting growth in industry, finance, infrastructure, agriculture as well as legislative issues surrounding natural resources, gender equality and child marriages.The plenary session ends next Tuesday and is running under the theme “Statelessness in the SADC Region”. Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda said the session is an opportunity for parliamentarians from various countries to discuss issues affecting the region.

“Motions will be raised by Members of Parliament from across the region in the same the way it is done in our national Parliament. “Some of the major issues that are likely to be discussed include child marriages and industrialisation,” he said.

Sadc PF is a regional parliamentary body representing over 3 500 MPs in the region. The forum aims to support and improve regional integration through parliamentary involvement. It also seeks to promote human rights, gender equality, good governance, economic cooperation, democracy and transparency in the region, peace and stability, among other issues affecting the region.