The Fourth Vice President of the Pan
African Parliament (PAP), Hon. Chief
Fortune CHARUMBIRA has called on Southern African Development Community
(SADC) Parliamentary Forum to facilitate the mitigation of the climate
challenges in the Southern African region.
Hon. Charumbira made the call while addressing
the 45th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum whose
pre-meetings started on 15 July 2019 in the capital Maputo. The session was
officially opened by the President of the Republic of Mocambique, H.E Filipe Jacinto NYUSI on 21 July,
2019.
SADC Parliamentary Forum is a regional inter-parliamentary body composed of
Members of Parliament from SADC Member State national parliaments, to
facilitate strategic partnerships within the SADC region, promote information
sharing, initiate and implement projects that enhance regional integration as
well as to promote effective and professional parliamentary practice.
According to a press statement by Ntsiuoa Castalia SEKETE, Senior Media
and Communications Officer at the Pan African Parliament, the event was held at
the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre under the theme
"Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation; the Role of Parliaments
towards implementing the Paris Declaration and the Katowice Roadmap," the
Plenary is scheduled to end on 25 July, 2019.
Hon. Charumbira elaborated on the
Continental Parliament's representational mandate and urged SADC
Parliamentarians to reflect on whether they are doing enough. The
Vice-President called on Legislators to put more effort and take more
responsibility in ensuring that Governments have and understand all instruments
meant to transform the region.
"This is key and will also pave way for a lot more developments. Most
importantly, it will facilitate the mitigation of the climate challenges. The
SADC Parliamentary Forum transformation into a fully-fledged regional
parliament is a good development and it is important to bear in mind the crucial
requirements such as funding," said Chief Charumbira.
In his address, President Nyusi
called for a minute of silence in honor of the victims of the recent cyclones.
He underscored that the choice of theme related to climate change was timely
and had real meaning to the people of Mocambique who recently lost lives,
livelihoods and property to cyclones Kenneth and Idai, that also caused havoc
in Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The President appreciated rescue efforts and post assistance that continues to
date by the SADC countries adding that "Climate change entails a whole set
of attitudes and responses/efforts. It is not enough to discover weather
patterns and climate change, but we are compelled to be proactive. I therefore
implore this Plenary to also reflect on how legal instruments could ensure
protection of natural resources and reserves in our region."
On the other hand, the President said the anticipated graduation of SADC-PF
into a fully-fledged regional Parliament would be a token of the aspirations of
the people of the region. The Summit of heads of state has recommitted to
integration "We cannot afford to continue to be an island. The regional
integration process is consolidating our region and we must play our
part," the President said.
The opening ceremony was attended by Parliamentarian delegates from the SADC
member states, observer institutions and stakeholders such as the Pan-African
Parliament and the Southern African Development Community; Development Partners
that include GIZ as well as the Civil Society.
A symposium on the theme "Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation: the
role of Parliaments towards implementing the Paris Declaration and the Katowice
Roadmap," set the tone for the week-long agenda of the Plenary, with
countries directly bearing the brunt of climate change in the region as well as
the survivors of the recent cyclones sharing their experiences.
Dr. Augusta MAITA, Director of the
Disaster Management Authority of Mocambique reported that the two cyclones had
affected 1,8 million people and destroyed 300 000 houses among others.
Newly elected Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi Hon. Catherine Gotani HARA put before the Plenary that the
impact of the cyclones on Women was both psychological and social. Urging
Parliamentarians to lobby for increased budgets to meet the challenges
presented by climate change, she also testified that some women have had to
compromise themselves while at their lowest point of need.
"The challenge is not just about displacement and infrastructure. Urgent
action is required. Some women living with HIV had their documentation and
medication washed away and had to skip treatment for a few weeks due to poor
health systems records," she emphasized.
On the other hand, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appealed
for ratification of the Environment Protocol. Ms. Sibongile MAVIMELA, Senior Programme Officer said to date, only
three countries; the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Republic of Namibia and the
Republic of South Africa have ratified the protocol.
"I would like to plead with countries to work towards ratification of this
protocol. It will assist us to enforce recognition of the climate sector in our
countries. Its ratification will also facilitate the funding/budget required by
countries in the region to be able to mitigate climate change. We may not be
able to harness the benefits of the newly ratified Continental Free-Trade Area
if only trade and infrastructure take precedence over climate change, which on
the other hand negatively affects every sector," she stated.
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