The Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Tlohang Sekhamane, has called on Parliament to develop practical solutions to address unemployment, describing it as the most pressing issue facing the people who elected Members of Parliament (MPs).
He made the remarks during the ongoing 17th Southern African Development Community Organization of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) Conference and the 21st Annual General Meeting held at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre. The gathering is being held under the theme “Strengthening Oversight for Sustainable Development: Enhancing Parliamentary Engagement in Public Financial Management.”
Mr. Sekhamane said citizens expect their elected representatives to protect and promote their welfare. He pointed out that despite Africa’s vast natural resources, the continent remains the lowest in terms of development indicators. He noted that many African nations continue to face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, poor service delivery, widespread poverty, and high unemployment.
He further mentioned that these conditions have contributed to rising social problems, including gender-based violence, rape, murder, and other criminal activities. Mr. Sekhamane urged delegates to use the conference to examine how Parliament, SADCOPAC, and Public Accounts Committees (PACs) can play stronger roles in addressing corruption, maladministration, and impunity, which he described as major contributors to the continent’s economic struggles.
The 21st Annual General Meeting of SADCOPAC is scheduled to take place today, bringing together 149 delegates from Burundi, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Ghana, Kenya, Eswatini, Botswana, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.
SADCOPAC, launched in October 2003 in South Africa, aims to strengthen the capacity and expertise of member states to perform oversight functions effectively. The organization promotes accountability, transparency, and good governance by enhancing the performance of Public Accounts Committees across the SADC region.
Mr. Sekhamane emphasized that strong parliamentary oversight and sound financial management are essential to ensure sustainable development and to meet the expectations of citizens for accountable governance.
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