Source: Parly programme ends in Malawi – herald
Herald Reporter
The interactive Orientation Programme for the Political Leadership of the 2025-2030 Parliamentary Term of Malawi, hosted by that country’s parliament, ended in Blantyre yesterday.
Officials from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Canada participated.
The programme provided a vital platform for presiding officers, members of parliament and senior parliamentary officials to deliberate on critical issues of parliamentary corporate governance, consensus-building, conflict management, institutional autonomy and global best practices in Parliamentary processes.
Participants benefited from the depth and candour of discussions, which generated a shared resolve to unpack and domesticate the lessons learned both at the national level and across the SADC region, particularly in view of the imminent transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a SADC Regional Parliament.
This process will demand leadership that is conversant with contemporary governance models and institutional reforms on a global scale.
A major highlight of the programme was the final presentation by Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda, on “International perspectives and good practices in the role of a Parliamentary Service Commission”.
Drawing from comparative experiences across Africa, the Commonwealth and beyond, Adv Mudenda said “the independence of Parliament is secured not only in the chamber, but in the strength, autonomy and professionalism of its administrative governance structures.” He added that effective Parliamentary Service Commissions are indispensable in safeguarding legislative autonomy, ensuring budgetary independence and insulating Parliaments from interference.
These principles are central to Malawi’s Parliamentary reforms and the emerging SADC Regional Parliamentary metrics.
Beyond the substantive deliberations, the Orientation Programme reflected the deep interconnectedness of SADC member States and their capacity to convene outside formal statutory meetings in a highly interactive environment.
The absence of binding resolutions enabled candid dialogue, mutual learning and collective ownership of the regional Parliamentary agenda.
The programme left a legacy of a more cohesive and better-equipped corps of Parliamentary leaders, firmly committed to building professional and autonomous Parliaments that are genuinely responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.
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