By Conrad Mwanawashe
SADC non-state actors say the engagement mechanism approved by the SADC heads of state will create a formal way in which civil society could engage with the regional body.
Non-state Actors from the 16 countries within the bloc, who met in Harare on the sidelines of the 44th Ordinary Summit of the SADC, believe that they can be part of the solution to the challenges facing the region and that the engagement mechanism shows the desire by the SADC leadership to include citizens in regional processes, especially in issues relating to regional integration.
“There has been greater realisation and acknowledgement by the SADC leadership that there is a need to involve women, youth, people with disabilities, and other key groups in the regional integration.
“Because we believe that regional integration has to start with the people. You would agree with me that there are some challenges between our people, including xenophobic attacks and many other social ills that affect us as a people.
“This is the first step in many to come, is the process that will ensure that we can talk together as people of SADC. We can work together as people of SADC,” said Monametsi Sokwe, Executive Director of the Southern African Council of Non-Governmental Organisations, a representative body of non-state actors or umbrella organisations within the SADC countries.
The NSAs met to conduct capacity building and engagement on the engagement mechanism,
to develop terms of reference and to define who will be part of which structure.
For a long time, SADC has been seen to be a preserve of the head of states, the ministers and a few government officials.
However, in 2022, the SADC heads of state approved a mechanism to ensure that there is greater involvement of the people in the structures and the processes of SADC. That approval was followed by another approval of now the accreditation guidelines in March 2024 on how the NGOs can now be facilitated within the SADC processes.
“I think having this mechanism where civil society, ordinary citizens, are able to engage their government, we can influence some of the decisions that our political players are making. This mechanism will actually be addressing some of the issues around peace and security, because peace and security that is rooted in the grassroots participation is more effective,” said Leah Mitaba, Vice President of the Southern African Council of NGOs (SAF-CNGO).
“As a council, we are actually excited to be in this space with the SADC Secretariat. We’re looking at our draft guidelines, the draft constitution and at how this mechanism is going to work.
“It’s important to note that as a region we’ve made some progressive protocols and declarations, for instance, the gender protocols and youth inclusion, but I think we still have gaps in implementation. Our hope is that with the involvement of non-state actors, maybe will see an acceleration in achieving some of the gender-related goals, the women, youth, and persons with disability inclusion,” said Mitaba.
The process of engagement with NSAs will continue until 2025.
“This move by SADC is a huge milestone. Yes, there are still gaps that we need to address, but I think the fact that they’ve opened the door a bit and we’re stepping in, for me, is something that the region, actually the citizens should celebrate,” said Mitaba.
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