Moses Magadza in Gaborone
GABORONE, Botswana – The President of the Republic of Botswana, Advocate Duma Boko (SC), has signed the Agreement amending the SADC Treaty to formally transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) into a Regional Parliament.
The signing took place on Wednesday in Gaborone, Botswana.
In a stirring address filled with humility, reflection and appreciation, President Boko highlighted the role the SADC PF has played in strengthening democratic governance, lawmaking, and regional integration.
“This is an epic moment,” President Boko said, “but no credit is due to me. I played my part alongside others who did, and who had played their part long before me.”
President Boko emphasised that the decision for Botswana to sign had never been in doubt, even amidst electoral distractions.
“There never was any doubt that we would at any point sign,” President Boko said. “All I am going to do is just append my signature as the representative of the Republic and express by so signing the view that was held by others before me.”
The signing signals Botswana’s formal endorsement of the transformation of the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament – a significant step toward enhancing the institutional framework of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The transformation is expected to boost legislative coherence and promote inclusive regional governance.
President Boko commended the Forum’s longstanding work in developing model laws and described the Forum’s role as both vital and underappreciated.
Mr Elias Magosi, former Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia Prof Peter Katjavivi,
SA Speaker Hon Thoko Didiza, the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Boko (SC), the Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe, Honourable Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, the
Speaker of Botswana Hon. Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse, SADC PF MP Hon Pedro Sebastião
from Angola and SADC PF SG Ms Boemo Sekgoma pose for a souvenir photo after the signing.
Photos: Bright Khumanego, Parliament of Botswana
“The SADC PF has to this day been crafting and sharing model laws on various subjects,” President Boko said, citing the Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriages and Protecting Children Already in Marriage which was developed with support of Sweden and other partners, and the Model Law on Elections as examples. He explained that national parliaments often lack the resources and expertise to draft legislation with the necessary depth.
“SADC PF has borne the bulk of the responsibility of seeking expert intervention, conducting extensive research, mapping out challenges, and crafting appropriate solutions,” President Boko noted.
With the transformation, the President said, SADC PF’s contributions would be more formally entrenched.
“They must now enjoy some clout and do their work fortified by the knowledge and understanding that we take them seriously. We have assigned them this role formally and they therefore will inform and influence legislative improvements in each of our countries,” President Boko asserted.
Speaking with passion and candour, President Boko also acknowledged the collective leadership that paved the way for the signing and made a point to distance the achievement from personal credit.
“Let us give credit to the country rather than any personalities around these matters and acknowledge that this moment was crafted way back. It was inevitable. It was always going to happen,” President Boko stated.
In a speech peppered with anecdotes from his time in the SADC PF, the Havard-trained lawyer recognised several regional leaders, including the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda and Chairperson of the SADC PF Transformation Lobbying Team, and the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Hon Thoko Didiza. He reflected warmly on his days as Chairperson of the Forum’s Legal Affairs Committee and reminisced about his own “respectful disrespect” as a young, enthusiastic parliamentarian.
He also paid tribute to Prof. Peter Katjavivi of Namibia and Hon Patrick Matibini of Zambia, with whom he shared what he described as “many battles,” as well as former Speaker of Botswana, Phandu Tombola Chaka Skelemani.
In a telling anecdote, Boko recounted how political considerations sometimes override sound legal advice: “This illustrates the fact that sometimes leaders receive the best advice, but they elect to take a different route on political considerations.”
The President also acknowledged the Vice President of the SADC PF, Hon Sylvia Lucas, who led the SADC PF delegation and the Secretary General, Ms Boemo Sekgoma.
He said by signing the Agreement, he reaffirmed Botswana’s unwavering support for the Forum and the broader SADC transformation agenda.
“I do so with pride, I do so with joy, I do so with humility, appreciating the efforts of those that trod the path before I came and saying we honour them today.”
He expressed optimism that Mauritius would soon sign the Agreement, thus bringing all SADC PF member states on board as the region moves closer to setting up its own regional parliament.
Several leaders hailed Botswana’s signing as a decisive step toward a more integrated, people-centred SADC.
Botswana’s Minister for State President, Hon. Moeti Ceaser Mohwasa, called the signing “a historic step” that shows alignment between Botswana’s national vision and SADC’s regional agenda.
“This aligns very well with the vision of the new Government of Botswana to catapult the country into a developed, industrialised economy whilst ensuring that the human rights of our citizens are central to all we undertake,” Minister Mohwasa said.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Botswana, Hon. Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse, described the moment as one of “joy, pride and honour.” He added that the signing reflected the fruits of three decades of commitment to regional democratic ideals.
“This milestone was achieved through persistent dedication to promoting democracy and good governance in the region,” he said and highlighted Botswana’s early support, including the 2010 parliamentary motion backing the establishment of a SADC Parliament.
Speaker Keorapetse also acknowledged several lobbying efforts, including a pivotal meeting with President Boko in August 2024, which finally paved the way for the signing.
Adv. Mudenda called the signing “a huge leap forward.”
“Botswana is the seat of the SADC Secretariat, and its endorsement gives renewed confidence and impetus to the transformation agenda,” he said.
He praised President Boko’s long-standing contribution to the legal groundwork of the transformation and said the signing represented “the harvesting of fruits planted in the trenches of the legal sub-committee.”
With Madagascar having signed earlier in the week, only Mauritius remains outside the list of signatories. Adv. Mudenda urged continued country-to-country lobbying to secure unanimous support. He also noted that the Protocol to establish the SADC Parliament now awaits swift ratification by at least 11 Member States to become operational.
“We are on the cusp of history,” Adv. Mudenda stated.
He added, “With solidarity and shared commitment, the SADC Parliament will soon stand as a beacon of democratic inclusivity and accountability for our region.”
The Secretary General of SADC PF, Ms Boemo Sekgoma, welcomed Botswana’s recent signature as a critical milestone in the Forum’s transformation journey.
Ms Sekgoma expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Botswana for its unwavering support. “The SADC-PF expresses its gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Botswana for supporting the transformation of the Forum into a Regional Parliament,” she said.
She said the signing signifies a strong show of commitment from both Botswana’s Executive and Parliament.
“It demonstrated the general support of both Parliament and the Executive for the transformation, thus reflecting the commitment of Botswana to deepening regional inter-parliamentary cooperation,” Ms Sekgoma noted.
More from Africa News 24
Seismic change in Botswana as party that ruled for 58 years loses power
She stated that the establishment of a Regional Parliament would enhance synergy among SADC’s organs, saying, “We look forward to a SADC which is ultimately endowed with a regional Parliament with the ability to make responsive Model legislation… in particular public health, gender equality, the rule of law and good governance.”
Ms Sekgoma reassured that the envisioned Parliament would uphold the principle of separation of powers, stating, “Whilst it seeks to draw closer linkages with Executive organs of SADC, it will maintain its independence as a parliamentary body.”
She expressed confidence in Botswana’s continued support: “We continue to count on the Republic of Botswana to shoulder the Forum in view of finalising the draft Protocol on the SADC Parliament.”
Ms Sekgoma added, “We think the signature by Botswana has brought us closer to our goal to have robust inter-parliamentary cooperation and diplomacy in the SADC region.”
SADC Executive Secretary Mr Elias Magosi attended the signing ceremony and pledged SADC’s commitment to supporting the transformation of the SADC PF into a regional parliament.
- Moses Magadza is the Media and Communication Manager at the SADC PF.
