George Sanzila
WINDHOEK, Namibia – A trust that was registered in May 2024 to mobilise additional resources to support the work of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, held its first meeting on 29 November 2024, with trustees gathered at the National Assembly of Namibia to lay the groundwork for its operations and strategic objectives.
The Trust’s first meeting saw the election of Prof Katjavivi as its chairperson and Hon Aia-Eza Nacilia Gomes da Silva Troso – a former deputy minister of finance – from Angola as deputy chairperson. The meeting also appointed Namibian lawyer, Kauna Angula, the trust practitioner, and BDO Namibia as the external auditors.
Three additional trustees – Hon Pedro Sebastiao of Angola, Mr Brian Katjaerua from Namibia and Mr Lionel Mathews also from Namibia – were appointed, expanding the established board to include a diverse range of perspectives and expertise.
Prof Peter Katjavivi hosted the meeting. He hailed the establishment of the SADC Parliamentary Forum and its Successors Trust as “a significant milestone” and expressed hope that philanthropists, donors and well wishers who support democracy across the globe would support the Trust.
Professor Katjavivi expressed delight over the successful meeting and indicated that they have all their hands on deck for the Trust to kick start its operations in earnest.
“This is an important milestone in the process of strengthening the work of the SADC Parliamentary Forum,” he stated, adding, “The Trust will help us mobilise resources to enhance activities of Parliaments at regional level, as the region prepares to set up a SADC parliament.”
The Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the Chairperson of the Legal Sub-committee of the SADC PF Executive Committee of the Forum, Honourable Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda is among those who believed in the significance of the Trust and championed its establishment in Windhoek.
He said the aim was to create “a special purpose vehicle to raise additional funds necessary for the operations of the SADC PF” as it advances toward its transformation into a regional parliament.
“We need to leverage this Trust for fundraising, especially as we implement projects related to model lawmaking and climate action change,” he noted in an interview.
Honourable Sebastiao, of Angola, underscored the importance of the Trust to respond efficiently and transparently to address its set objectives the SADC PF’s needs.
Honourable Leon Tumba Mukendi from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said the first board meeting of the SADC Parliamentary Forum and its Successors Trust was a step forward in enhancing regional collaboration and governance for the benefit of citizens across Southern Africa.
“This is proof that things are moving,” he said.
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Trust Practitioner Ms. Angula added, “We are excited to work closely with the SADC PF to achieve the Trust’s strategic objectives, ensuring that all trustees understand their mandate.”
The first meeting of Trustees and completion of the Trust’s formation comes at a time when the SADC PF is hopeful that in August 2025, the Protocol on the SADC Parliament will be approved by the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
By creating this independent Trust, the region is working towards innovative avenues to secure funding for the SADC Parliament, to support the implementation capacity of SADC’s regional integration agenda.
Furthermore, the benefits of the Trust are to positively impact on the lives of SADC citizens, through processes particularly towards domestication of SADC Protocols, Treaties and Conventions. The Trust will operate in parallel and will not interfere with the traditional resource mobilisation initiatives of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.
George Sanzila works for the National Assembly in the Division: Research, Information, Publications and Editorial Services.
