Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament Advocate Mudenda in Angola

SPEAKER of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda is in Luanda, Angola for the 55th edition of the Southern African Development Community – Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF).

Advocate Mudenda arrived in Angola last Saturday, where he was welcomed by Zimbabwean Ambassador to Angola, Ambassador Dr Thando Madzvamuse.

The 55th Plenary Assembly Session will be officially opened by the President of SADC PF, Roger Mancienne – Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles – tomorrow.

Advocate Mudenda participated at the launch of the SADC PF Strategic Plan (2024 to 2028).

The new plan emphasizes capacity-building of National Parliaments on emerging themes such as Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Climate Action, Leadership on normative frameworks and fiscal governance of Member Parliaments.

The SADC PF Strategic Plan (2024-2028) has been developed with a forward-looking approach, focusing on strengthening Parliamentary Diplomacy and Democracy, thereby enhancing the legislative capabilities of Member Parliaments.

The Plan outlines key objectives and initiatives designed to address the unique challenges faced by the SADC region and to harness opportunities for growth and development through Parliamentary oversight and robust Budget ecosystem.

Advocate Mudenda emphasized that the strategic plan is a critical milestone in the work of the Forum, serving as a roadmap and compass that provides assured direction towards the consummation of the plan.

He stressed that the strategic plan should be read and become part of the DNA of the Member Parliaments.

“The Executive Committee should always be guided by the plan and ensure its implementation at the national level. Standing Committees must stay aligned to the plan and exercise the greatest degree of thought leadership while imbibing its dictates,” said Advocate Mudenda.

He highlighted that a plan without budgetary support is bound to fail, urging the secretariat to seek donor support in order to augment the SADC PF coffers.

He also observed that any plan that is not regularly evaluated is destined to fail, calling on the Executive Committee to lead in evaluating the Plan annually in order to track the plan’s implementation progress or otherwise, and where need be, take remedial measures to revamp it.

Advocate Mudenda also gave a comprehensive and holistic response to a question on peace and security within SADC by highlighting that there is need for multilateral organisations to actively work towards global peace and security, especially within SADC.

– @petematika