SADC PF vice-president highlights role of parliament in national security oversight |15 February 2025

  UNITED: Delegates pose for a souvenir photo with SADC PF Vice President Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas (8th from left) – Photo: Contributed

The Vice-President of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Hon. Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas, has reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary oversight of the security sector as a critical element of fostering peace, security, and development in the region.

The South African lawmaker made these remarks during a four-day National Security Strategy Implementation and Rule of Law roundtable hosted by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) from February 4 to 7, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia.

The roundtable brought together approximately 40 participants, including senior officials from Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania and Malawi, as well as representatives from international partners such as AFRICOM, the African Union, and the SADC PF.

Discussions focused on sharing best practices and innovative approaches to enhance national security strategies through effective civilian oversight and adherence to the rule of law.

In her address, Hon. Lucas underscored the importance of partnerships and capacity building in bridging the gap between legislative bodies and the security sector.

She said deliberations during the roundtable had been been insightful in unpacking the relationship between Parliament and the security sector.

“This dovetails with our commitments to democracy, human rights, and governance that promote the parliamentary role of prudent oversight which ensures accountability and transparency,” she said.

The vice-president also highlighted the SADC PF’s strategic partnership with the ACSS. She stated that the collaboration provided an opportunity to strengthen parliamentarians’ understanding of their constitutional mandate in the security sector.

“We are fully committed to capacitating our members to understand and appreciate their role in the oversight of the security sector, but also their constitutional mandate to ensure that the sector is appropriately resourced and supported for optimum performance of its functions,” Hon. Lucas said.

The roundtable featured tailored exchanges designed to address challenges in aligning national security strategies with sectoral objectives, with a focus on fostering healthy civil-military relations.

Discussions also explored how oversight mechanisms could enhance resource management processes to meet national security goals effectively.

Hon. Lucas reiterated the link between peace, security, and economic development, noting that the SADC PF views the security sector as a foundational pillar for regional stability.

“Peace and security are prerequisites to development. We at the Forum are very keen and eagerly look forward to continued collaboration with ACSS on issues relating to peace and security,” she stated.

Hon. Lucas called for more opportunities for dialogue between parliamentarians and security agencies.

She said improved collaboration and mutual understanding can advance national security goals.

By Moses Magadza

Media and communications manager at the SADC PF