Bill Watch 46/2019
SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam
17th to 18th August
22 August 2019
multi-year response plans to tackle the recurrent droughts and food insecurity to
boost agricultural production.
Climate Change and Cyclone Idai
The Summit noted the devastating effects of tropical cyclones in Comoros,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, expressed its
sympathy, and commended all Member States and International Cooperating
Partners for the humanitarian support rendered to the affected Member
States. The Summit also directed the SADC Secretariat to expedite the putting
into operation of the SADC Disaster Preparedness and Response Mechanism as
part of the regional measures to respond to effects of climate change.
On Justice Issues
Roadmap to SADC Parliament to be Developed
The Summit directed the SADC Secretariat in collaboration with the Parliamentary
Forum Secretariat to develop the model that the proposed SADC Parliament
would assume, in terms of mandate, powers and functions; and to develop a
Roadmap towards the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a
SADC Parliament
SADC Tribunal
The Summit noted the withdrawal of South Africa's signature from the 2014
Protocol on the Tribunal of the Southern African Development Community. The
South African government withdrew South Africa’s signature in compliance with
an order to do so issued by the South African Constitutional Court. The 2014
Protocol’s objective was to limit the jurisdiction of the SADC Tribunal to
determining disputes between member States, thereby withdrawing jurisdiction
previously enjoyed to hear cases brought by individual citizens of member States.
Gender Balance
The Summit noted the good progress towards representation of women in
politics and economic decision making and urged Member States to translate laws
and policies into concrete actions, such as legislative quotas on women’s
representation in politics and the application of Article 5 of the SADC Protocol on
Gender and Development on Special Measures.
Protocol on Inter-State Transfer of Sentenced Offenders
The Summit approved this Protocol. Its objective is to allow for the transfer of
sentenced offenders to serve their sentences in their home countries. It is the
product of several years’ work by the Corrections/Prisons Sub-Committee of the
Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
SADC Governance and Member Country Issues
Roadmap to SADC Parliament to be Developed
The Summit directed the SADC Secretariat in collaboration with the Parliamentary
Forum Secretariat to develop the model that the proposed SADC Parliament
would assume, in terms of mandate, powers and functions; and to develop a