SADC Member States urged to domesticate Model Law on Elections

Ahead of its 52nd Plenary Assembly being held this week in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) held virtual public hearings for all its standing committees from the 21st to the 28th November 2022.

The purpose of the public hearings was for the Standing Committees to discuss with SADC citizens, issues of regional interest and concern and thereby consolidate democracy by taking Parliament to the people.

The Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights that is chaired by Honourable Doughty Ndiweni of Zimbabwe had a plateful discussing thematic issues that cut across socio-economic human rights.

These included the right to education and housing; the role of citizens in the organisation of election processes; freedom to access information about government affairs for accountability purposes and the strength of anti-corruption agencies in Member States.

But before the hearing could start in earnest, the DGHR committee considered the minutes of its meeting of the 13th October 2021 that was held virtually and adopted the record as a correct reflection of the proceedings.

The Botswana Guardian sampled some of the resolutions that were adopted and these are:

Resolution by the 48th Plenary Assembly on Enhancing the Role of Parliament in Curbing Corruption and Strengthening Accountability.

It was reported that implementation was in progress with the theme for the Committee meeting during 51st Plenary Committee Session being on the same subject matter.

The objective was to help strengthen the capacity of Members, facilitate knowledge sharing towards the adoption of resolutions for more parliamentary action to foster democratic accountability, openness and curb corruption.

In addition, with funding from GIZ and Austrian Development Agency (ADA), a consultant had been engaged to develop Regional Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments in Curbing Corruption and Strengthening Accountability.

The tool, which would provide normative standards and serve as a knowledge tool for MPs, would be validated by the Committee at its next meeting. And this was the position adopted at the virtual meeting of November 25th.

Resolution by the Committee on Enhancing the role of Parliament in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on 7th December 2020:

According to the Minutes, the Committee was briefed that the implementation of the resolution was ongoing and, with funding from GIZ and ADA, a consultant had been engaged to develop a Regional Tool for Parliaments in promoting and protecting human rights.

The tool would be validated by the Committee at its next meeting. In addition, a handbook on best practices in parliamentary responses in promoting and protecting human rights during crises and disasters would be developed with funding from Sweden.

SADC PF Programme Manager, Democracy and Governance and Parliamentary Business Focal Person Mr Sheuneni Kurasha reported at the November 25th meeting that work was ongoing.

Resolution by the 48th Plenary Assembly on taking measures to promote women’s political participation in the SADC region:

It was reported that significant progress had been made in implementing the resolution with a region-wide study on the challenges that women face in running for political positions being commissioned.

The study findings would help SADC PF to gain deeper understanding of the challenges and assist the Forum and national Parliaments in identifying possible strategies to address the challenges.

The study was being undertaken with funding from GIZ and ADA. Meanwhile, gender equality would continue to be entrenched as part of the SADC PF’s election observation methodology in order to ensure the promotion of inclusive electoral processes and outcomes in the region.

Resolution by the Plenary Assembly on Promoting the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections in Member States:

In addition to the pre-election technical assessment mission that was deployed virtually for the 2020 Zambia general elections from 22nd to 31st March 2021, a national workshop to promote the domestication of the Model

Law on Elections would be held in Lesotho, jointly with the Parliament of Lesotho from 18th to 19th May 2022.

The meeting would bring together Parliament and other electoral stakeholders such as Chairpersons of relevant parliamentary Committees of Lesotho, political parties, Independent Electoral Commission, CSOs, Media, and the leadership of the DGHR Committee.

It was also reported that more domestication meetings would be held in Member States based on the SADC Elections Calendar and subject to availability of funds.

Resolution by the 50th Plenary Assembly on the Development of the Model Law on the Role of Parliament in Promoting and Protecting Constitutionalism and Rule of Law:

It was reported that the implementation process was ongoing with the engagement of a consultant to undertake a baseline study on mechanisms and practices for separation of powers and checks and balances in SADC national Parliaments as part of the background work for the development of the Model Law.

The baseline study was funded by Sweden. Meanwhile the Secretariat would mobilise resources for the drafting and adoption of the Model Law.

Resolution by the 50th Plenary Assembly on the Development of the Model Law on Small Arms and Light Weapons:

It was reported that consultations were ongoing with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Disarmament and Arms Control for technical support to the development of the Model Law. A formalised collaboration framework with ICRC was under consideration.

Establishment of the DGHR Technical Working Group

The Committee was informed that a Technical Working Group (TWG), comprising experts from various regional and international organisations that the Forum collaborated with, had been established in line with approved institutional policy framework.

The TWG would serve as a reference group and think tank to the Programme on various thematic issues relating to democracy, governance and human rights in line with the mandate of the Committee.

After this part of the programme was dispensed with, the public hearings began in earnest, and according to the DGHR Committee Chairperson, Hon. Ndiweni, the deliberations and recommendations arising therefrom would be passed on to the 52nd plenary session.