PAP President Charumbira Makes the Case for a Strong SADC Regional Parliament

The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira has called for upgrading the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) into a fully-fledged regional parliament—arguing that stronger parliamentary layers will fortify, not erode, state authority and citizen trust.

Chief Charumbira stated this on Monday at the official opening of the 57th Plenary Assembly of the SADC-PF at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.  

A Parliament to Complement, Not Compete

Acknowledging long-standing hesitation in some SADC capitals—heightened by memories of the defunct SADC Tribunal—Charumbira insisted that a regional parliament “does not give the institution full legislative powers but allows it to develop Model Laws” that benchmark national reforms without imposing legal obligations.

“Far from being an adversary, a regional Parliament is … complementary to Member States,” he declared, noting that the SADC PF’s Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and PAP’s own suite of continental model laws on labour migration, citizenship and gender equality have already proved their value as voluntary standards.

By framing model legislation as a cooperative, demand-driven tool, Charumbira sought to allay fears of sovereignty dilution. He pointed to tangible progress since SADC Heads of State adopted the 2022 Kinshasa amendment to create a SADC Parliament—now signed by 13 of 16 member states—as evidence that governments are warming to the idea when practical benefits are clear.

Charumbira also promised closer technical collaboration: PAP’s Committee on Trade will soon hold consultations in Nairobi on a Model Law on Labour Migration, and future rounds, he suggested, should “ride on SADC networks” so Southern African voices shape continent-wide norms from the outset.

Parliaments as Guardians of Responsiveness

Turning to citizen expectations, Charumbira warned that the health of African democracies hinges less on abstract “democracy indicators” and more on whether institutions listen and react. Research, he said, shows “effective interactions between citizens and governance institutions are more relevant to levels of peacefulness than other indicators such as democracy.”

Legislatures—national, regional and continental—sit at the fulcrum of that relationship. If elected representatives fail to ensure that budgets, programmes and treaties address “the priorities of SADC citizens,” insecurity and instability will fill the void. “We must be responsive, accountable to and capable of engaging with citizens,” Charumbira cautioned, framing regional parliaments as a vital feedback loop between grassroots communities and supranational decision-makers.

Why the Message Matters Now

1.     Completing the SADC Institutional Architecture. Unlike ECOWAS, EALA or CEMAC, SADC still lacks a regional legislature. Charumbira’s appeal places renewed pressure on the three remaining signatories—and on national assemblies that must ratify the treaty—before the next SADC Summit.

2.     Re-anchoring PAP after its 2023-24 turbulence. By showcasing PAP’s model-law pipeline and its willingness to “twin up” committees with the SADC PF, Charumbira signaled that the continental body has moved past last year’s leadership crisis and is ready to serve as a technical resource rather than a political rival.

3.     Navigating the Post-Tribunal Hangover. The 2012 suspension of the SADC Tribunal left many governments wary of regional adjudicatory bodies. By stressing that a parliament’s powers are advisory and harmonizing—distinct from binding judicial authority—Charumbira sought to disentangle the two and restore confidence in supranational oversight.

Reactions from the Floor

Several speakers welcomed Charumbira’s assurances. Madagascar’s Speaker Justin Tokely, chairing his first plenary as SADC-PF President, called the remarks “a blueprint for responsible empowerment.” Zimbabwe’s Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda—praised by Charumbira as one of the “giants” who supported his re-election—urged colleagues to accelerate ratification so that the new SADC Parliament can be inaugurated during Zimbabwe’s chairmanship.

Charumbira closed by invoking PAP’s motto “One Africa, One Voice,” pledging deeper joint committee work and inviting SADC Parliamentarians to PAP’s next plenary. The message to delegates was unmistakable: regional and continental parliaments are strategic allies. Empower them, Charumbira argued, and southern Africa will gain a stronger hand in shaping Africa-wide norms—while giving citizens clearer, closer channels to demand results. Neglect them, and the credibility gap between rulers and ruled could widen at a dangerous cost.

With that charge, the 57^th Plenary Assembly opened under a clear theme: regional and continental parliaments are not competing chess pieces but interlocking gears in Africa’s integration machine. The sooner the SADC PF completes its metamorphosis into a full regional parliament, the sooner citizens will feel the democratic dividends promised in Victoria Falls.