EALA wants SADC forum to transform into regional parliament 

DEVELOPMENT

RWANDA- The East African Legislative Assembly EALA is rooting for its Southern African counterpart, the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), to speedily transform itself into a regional Parliament so that it may effectively address the needs of its constituents.

Delivering a goodwill message from the EALA Speaker at the 43rd Plenary of the SADC-PF, which commenced yesterday morning in Luanda, Angola, EALA Member, Fatuma Ibrahim Ali rooted for the SADC-PF transformation into a Legislative Assembly, saying it was good for the SADC region and for Africa.

"Evidently, Africa needs strong institutions at this point in time and in the future to steer her to the much-cherished unity and prosperity of a united continent. EALA would like to fully associate itself with the SADC-PF towards looking into all aspects relating to the establishment of a regional Parliament", Fatuma Ali said.

"We believe that together, we can transform Regional Economic Communities (RECs) into one United African bloc in the near future for the common good of all people of Africa. Our co-operation should, therefore, be seen as building blocks from which we can draw vital lessons", the legislator added.

Ali further hailed the recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Kigali, Rwanda, saying it would go the extra mile in boosting intra-African trade and in enhancing the region's industrial content.

"Essentially, the Continent must as a necessity, remove all Non-Tariff Barriers on goods and related to services, to smoothen the mega-regional trade agreement, promote development and spur industrialization", Hon Fatuma said.

The 43rd Plenary Session of SADC-PF, runs through from June 20th until July 1st, 2018 under the theme: Deepening SADC Economic Integration through Industrialisation - the Role of Parliament.

 In attendance at the Plenary is Mathias Kasamba, EALA Member and Chair of the Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources Committee as well as thevassembly's Senior Public Relations Officer, Bobi Odiko.

Addressing the participants, the President of the Republic of Angola, João Manuel Goncalves Lourenço reiterated his country's commitment to the ideals of regional integration in the Southern African region. 

He termed good governance, pace, security and competitiveness as key goals and attributes the SADC region should and must pursue.   The President maintained the necessity of economic prosperity of the 14 Member State bloc and rallied on all countries to seek self-introspection. President Lourenco, himself a former Member of SADC-PF said his country had pioneered the establishment of SADC in 1992 and underscored the support of the Summit of Heads of State of SADC.

Helio de Jesus Pina Sanches, the representative of the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), said the continent was looking forward to a time when there is total free movement of persons. Sanches commended the efforts realized by SADC-PF so far as transforming itself in to a regional Parliament is concerned.

The SADC-PF is hoping to transform itself in to a regional Parliament with legislative powers as anticipated under Article 8 of its Constitution.   At the moment, SADC-PF is an Advisory caucus of Parliamentarians who are constituted from the 14 Member States.   EALA is currently the only regional Assembly in the African continent with legislative powers.