By Baboloki Semele: Botswana has officially signed the agreement amending the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Treaty to establish the SADC Parliament as one of its institutions. President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko’s signature makes Botswana the thirteenth member state to endorse the amendment, leaving Mauritius as the only country yet to sign.
In his address, President Boko emphasized that this move positions the SADC region to better harmonize its laws and practices. He dispelled any notions of Botswana’s reluctance to sign, asserting that the country has always been committed to regional integration.
President Boko highlighted the pivotal role played by the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) in the legislative process. He noted that lawmaking is complex, requiring data-driven insights and expert advice. Often, national parliaments lack the necessary resources and expertise, and the SADC PF has shouldered the responsibility of seeking expert interventions, conducting extensive research, and mapping out challenges that need to be addressed. “SADC PF has played this role and played it well,” he remarked.
Honourable Dithapelo L. Keorapetse, Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana, expressed pride and joy in reaching this milestone after nearly three decades. He recounted that the journey began in 1997 when Botswana and other SADC member states committed to promoting democracy and good governance by joining the SADC PF. Prior to that, there was no regional mechanism for parliamentarians of SADC member states to debate and convey their citizens’ views on democracy, development, and other pertinent issues.
In Botswana, discussions about establishing the SADC Parliament gained momentum in 2010 during the 10th Parliament, through a motion sponsored by Honourable Edwin Batshu, which was debated and passed. Significant strides were made in 2018 and beyond, with calls for Botswana to sign the agreement, especially given that the SADC Secretariat is based in Gaborone.
According to Speaker Keorapetse, the SADC Parliament came into force in July 2024 after attaining the required threshold of twelve member states. Despite this, other member states felt it was important to be considerate and inclusive, aiming to convince Botswana to sign, given its role and status as one of the founders of the frontline states. He highlighted that transforming the SADC PF into a regional parliament will enhance citizens’ participation in regional affairs and promote member states’ compliance with SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections. Furthermore, he noted that it will boost the representation of women through the SADC Gender and Development Protocol, which calls for 50:50 gender parity in national parliaments by 2030.
Honourable Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Chairman of the Strategic Lobbying Team for transforming the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament and Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, asserted that Botswana’s signature represents a significant leap forward in the transformation process. He emphasized that Botswana’s role as the host of the SADC Secretariat places it at the heart of all SADC operations, and its signature provides renewed confidence and impetus to the Forum’s transformation agenda. “Botswana is a democracy on the rise, and its signature demonstrates that the transformation agenda rides on a pedestal of inclusivity, ensuring that no SADC country is left out in the process,” he said.
With Botswana’s endorsement, only Mauritius remains to sign the agreement, marking a near-unanimous commitment among SADC member states to establish the SADC Parliament.
