SADC MPs Forum

(Daily News)--The 24th Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) continued on Sunday with the launching of the region’s HVI/AIDS model law.

The model legislation, according to an official with Tanzania Parliament’s office, Mr Ernest Zulu, seeks to help countries with no laws to check the alarming spread of the deadly disease, have a basis to start working on their own legislations.

Tanzania has drafted HIV/AIDS Bill that has been endorsed by the National Assembly and is waiting to be assented by the president to become a law. The Assembly began last Wednesday with members of various regional committees meeting to deliberate on various issues.

They include the Steering Committee, Finance Sub Committee, Human Resources Sub-Committee, Legal Sub Committee, Executive Committee and Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. Others, according to a programme of the event are HIV/AIDS Committee, the Inter Parliamentary Co-operation and Capacity Development Committee and the PLC Advisory Board.

On Saturday, the over 100 delegates from the 14 SADC countries attending the forum visited the Ngorongoro Crater, Manyara and Arusha National Parks and the Arusha Cultural Heritage. Sunday, Trade, Development and
Integration Committee as well as that of Democratisation, Governance and Gender Equality were scheduled to meet alongside finalisation of standing committee reports.

The meeting is expected to be officially opened today by President Jakaya Kikwete, after which the forum will dwell on this year’s Theme on: The Role of Parliamentarians in addressing challenges and crises to sustainable development facing the SADC Region, notably food shortages, electoral disputes, energy crisis, xenophobia, climate change and drought.

On Wednesday, the forum will continue with a deliberative session on the theme while on Thursday there will be a Plenary Assembly alongside policy session, adoption of communiqué and election of new executive committee. The current chairperson of the Forum is Botswana Speaker, Patrick Balopi. Tanzania delegation to the meeting includes the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Samuel Sitta, his deputy Ms Anne Makinda and Chairperson Jenista Mhagama.

Others are Mr Wilbrod Slaa, Eng Stella Manyanya, Mr Khalifa S. Khalifa, Mr Job Ndugai, Mr Kilontsi Mporogomyi, Mr Omar Kwaang’, Ms Suzan Lyimo, Mr Zitto Kabwe, Mr Lucas Siyame, Mr Festus Limbu, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, Ms Pindi Chana, Ms Fatma Fereji and Ms Eliatha Switi. The meeting ends on Thursday evening.

<< Back to main