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30 June 2025 – In a strong and timely statement marking the International Day of Parliamentarism, the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), Ms. Boemo Mmandu Sekgoma, has called on Member Parliaments across Southern Africa to champion diplomacy, inclusion, and sustainable peace, warning that rising armed conflicts worldwide threaten global stability and divert vital resources away from development.
“At a time when lasting peace for the world appears to be a surreal objective, it is quintessential for parliaments to rally towards peace-building and the exploration of diplomatic means to protracted conflict resolution,” the Secretary-General said.
Acknowledging that armed interventions—including the use of ballistic missiles, drones, and fighter jets—have caused extensive civilian damage and heightened global tensions, the Forum’s leadership stressed that the international order built on the peaceful settlement of disputes has become fragile.
The Secretary-General urged MPs across the SADC region to recognize their critical role in “war policing,” ensuring that their states and institutions stay on a path that promotes peace through conciliatory measures.
“Parliament, as a democratic institution, is ideally positioned to demonstrate neutrality, be gender-responsive, and legislate or exercise oversight in view of promoting peace,” the statement read.
The SADC-PF also sounded the alarm on state protectionism, arms races, and increased investments in weaponry, which are draining resources away from essential public services like health care, education, and climate action.
“Conflicts between countries have escalated and investments in ammunitions and weaponry divert funds from the pool of resources available for human-centric services such as health care. This undercuts efforts to enable Universal Health Coverage under SDG 3—a coveted aspiration for most SADC citizens,” the Secretary-General warned.
Inclusivity at the Heart of Peacebuilding
The Forum underscored that sustainable solutions to conflict must be inclusive and holistic. It called for greater involvement of women and youth in parliamentary processes, aligning itself with the 2025 IPU theme: “Achieving Gender Equality, Action by Action.”
“Moreover, it is also crucial to include women and youth representatives to contribute to the parliamentary movement bearing in mind that peaceful cooperation and diplomacy, spearheaded by mandated representatives, can go a long way to promote ceasefires and mediate for the pacific settlement of disputes,” the Secretary-General said.
Shee further highlighted the unique role of women MPs as effective emissaries of peace, capable of helping to resolve even the most complex and long-standing conflicts.
A Call to Action for Member Parliaments
The statement called on parliamentarians—both men and women—to fully embrace their representative mandate, work to de-escalate intra-state and inter-state tensions, and ensure that budgets prioritize development goals over military spending.
“The time is nigh for MPs, both men, and women, to garner their representative mandate and dismount the prospect of war between nations, de-escalate intra-state conflicts, and ensure that budgets are prioritized to address the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the Secretary-General urged.
Concluding the statement, the SADC Parliamentary Forum offered its full support to the IPU’s 2025 theme, reaffirming its commitment to gender equality and peaceful dispute resolution.
“With these words, we wish to cheer for Parliaments in the SADC region and beyond on this International Day of Parliamentarism, and call for collective action that truly leaves no one behind.”
As Southern Africa grapples with economic challenges, climate change, and social inequality, the call by the SADC-PF for inclusive, gender-responsive, and diplomacy-focused parliamentary action resonates powerfully—and urgently.
