His Excellency, the Hon President of the Republic of Malawi, His Excellency Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
His Excellency the President of the SADC-PF, Speaker of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Hon Christophe Mboso N`Kodia Rwanga
Hon Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi, Rt Hon Chatherine Gotani Hara
President of the Pan African Parliament, Hon Chief Charumbira
Speakers of National Parliaments in the SADC Region
Members of the Executive Committee of the SADC Parliamentary Forum
Secretary General, Ms Boemo Sekgoma
Hon Delegates
Distinguished and Honored Guests
Members of the Diplomatic Core
Ladies and Gentlemen
Hon President, we wish to extent our gratitude to the Republic of Malawi for hosting the proceedings of this 51st SADC-PF Plenary Assembly. Since landing at Kamuzu Banda International Airport, the hospitality extended to all us by the staff of Malawi Parliament far exceeded our expectations. For this, we remain indebted to you Mr President, the Parliament of Malawi and the people of this beautiful country, “the warm heart of Africa”!
This event presents the Parliament of South Africa with an opportunity to learn given the fact that our country will host the 52nd SADC-PF Plenary Session. Our officials are here to earn and learn valuable lessons in their interactions with their counterparts from the Parliament of Malawi.
I stand here to deliver a vote of thanks on behalf of the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Hon Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula who could not be able to attend the proceedings of the 51st SADC-PF Plenary Assembly due to other parliamentary demanding activities and circumstances beyond our control.
As we might be aware, the Inter-Parliamentary Union Task Force Team facilitating the processes of mediation in the current global conflict between Russia and Ukraine is underway with its mediation processes of a fact-finding mission, visiting Ukraine and Russia. The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and the Parliament of Namibia are the two countries in the region, which are forming part of the IPU Task Force Team engaged in such processes. We wish them unqualified success in this significant work central to our global politics and by extension, the work of parliamentary diplomacy. This regional representation by Namibia and South Africa reflects the influence and centrality of our role as a region in the geo-political realities of our parliamentary work.
We remain delighted that SADC-PF has entered transformation phase from a parliamentary forum into a regional Parliament. The regional Parliament will continue to play a coordinating role in the work of our Parliaments as the region. This coordinating role must be extended and find expression in the activities of the Pan African Parliament.
To this end, we take this opportunity to congratulate the Southern Africa Regional Caucus for successfully ensuring that the region ascend to the presidency of the Pan African Parliament. Equally, we also wish to acknowledge the presence of the newly elected President of the Pan African Parliament, His Excellency Hon Chief Charumbira on his election as the head of such important Organ of the African Union.
In conclusion, we wish to once again, extend our gratitude to the Republic of Malawi for being such a wonderful host of the 51st Plenary Assembly of our Forum. The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa is ready and looking forward to welcoming you when you attend the 52nd Plenary Assembly in our country.
I thank you.
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