- Angolan Speaker Carolina Cerqueira urges the creation of a competitive common energy market in SADC to drive industrialisation and renewable energy adoption.
- Cerqueira calls on lawmakers to establish and oversee legal frameworks that support investment, public engagement, and cooperation in renewable energy.
- The SADC Parliamentary Forum’s new strategic plan focuses on strengthening parliaments to ensure the region’s peace, stability, and effective crisis management.
Angolan National Assembly Speaker Carolina Cerqueira urged the creation of a competitive energy market within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to boost industrialisation. At the 55th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Cerqueira emphasised the need for a legal framework promoting renewable energy.
She called on parliamentarians to play a crucial role in the energy transition and environmental protection. Cerqueira stressed the urgency of addressing the region’s underdeveloped renewable energy market and urged immediate strategic intervention.
“We must define and oversee legislative frameworks that promote investment, education, public engagement, and inter-state cooperation in renewable energy,” Cerqueira stated.
She highlighted the importance of parliamentary action for regional stability and sustainable development. Cerqueira noted ongoing challenges such as fragile governance, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure that hinder the region’s progress.
Discussing the Strategic Plan of the SADC Parliamentary Forum for 2024-2028, Cerqueira described it as essential for addressing issues faced in the last five years. The plan aims to enhance the parliament’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
“This strategic plan renews our collective goals and reinforces the role of parliaments in fostering dialogue and managing crises,” she added.
The SADC Parliamentary Forum, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, serves as a platform for dialogue among the 15 member states. It includes over 3,500 parliamentarians from Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The forum aims to address regional issues and promote cooperation among member states. The new strategic plan will focus on institutionalising strong and resilient parliaments that can handle crises and support democracy and the rule of law.
Cerqueira’s remarks highlight the critical need for a competitive energy market in the SADC region. Her call to action aims to mobilise parliamentarians to take decisive steps in fostering a renewable energy market that can drive industrialisation and economic growth in Southern Africa.