Durban: The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ado de Almeida, on Wednesday took part in the initial day of deliberations at the Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF)’s Executive Committee meeting in Durban, South Africa. The meeting is a significant gathering aimed at addressing key regional issues.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the delegation led by Ado de Almeida includes the coordinator of the National Monitoring Group of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, MP Pedro Sebastio, along with other members from Angola. The discussions within the Executive Committee, which continue until Thursday, focus on a variety of resolutions.
During the opening session, several resolutions were adopted. These include those concerning the institutional transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, the establishment of a Permanent Peace and Security Commission, and the enhancement of parliamentary efforts in fostering economic development in southern Africa.
The Committee also approved three draft resolutions from the Report of the Chairperson of the SADC PF. These include the minutes from the previous meeting, the financial report for the period from April to September 2024, and the Proposed Budget for April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
The group also expressed concerns regarding the increasing dependency on external funding in the region, highlighting potential negative impacts on the financial sustainability of member states.
For the concluding day, discussions are planned on the report from the Forum of Parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-CIRGL), presented by Ado de Almeida in his capacity as chairperson. The agenda will also cover the Report of the SADC Geopolitical Group at the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and a report from the Parliament of Madagascar regarding recent political developments.
This Executive Committee meeting sets the stage for the 58th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, scheduled for November 30 to December 6. The theme for the assembly will be ‘The Impact of Climate Change in the SADC Region and the Role of Parliaments in Mitigation and Adaptation’.