- Prince Lindani calls for establishment of joint parliamentary monitoring mechanisms between African and European parliaments
BY THEMBA ZWANE
EZULWINI – His Royal Highness Prince Lindani has pledged that the Kingdom of Eswatini is ready to play host as a neutral dialogue venue for countries in conflict.
The Prince, who is an appointment Member of Parliament (MP) and representative of the kingdom at the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly made this submission during the first seating of the OACPS-EU 1st Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly held at Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention Centre on May 12, 2026.
The MP, first, urged to be allowed on behalf of all delegations to place on record their deepest gratitude to His Majesty King Mswati III and Her Majesty the Queen Mother for the magnificent gala dinner hosted for for them last night.
Peace Allowed Different Nations To Dine
He said His Majesty’s hospitality was felt in every detail, the food, the music, the peace that allowed different nations to dine as one family. He said last night, they truly felt the heart of Eswatini.
“Allow me, honorable co-presidents, to commend all the honorables here who are looking very nice and dazzling in our local traditional Imaya. The strategic role of regional parliamentary organizations. Regional parliamentary bodies, such as the SADC Parliamentary Forum and the Pan-African Parliament, constitute indispensable platforms for dialogue that transcends national boundaries. They enable us to anticipate and debate emergent conflicts before they escalate,” he said.
A practical example, he said, is the Cabo Delgado insurgency in Mozambique, where parliamentary voices amplified calls for coordinated regional security under the SADC mission in Mozambique. Oversight and accountability in peace missions.
Parliamentarians Guardians Of Democratic Oversight
He noted that Parliaments were the guardians of democratic oversight. They ensure that peace operations led by the executive are transparent, accountable, and respectful of human rights.
He said the deployment of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in Mozambique was strengthened by parliamentary scrutiny, which safeguarded resource allocation and reinforced legitimacy.
“I therefore propose that regional peace missions institutionalise reporting frameworks to brief parliamentary committees regularly. Promoting inclusive peacebuilding. Peace cannot be sustained without inclusivity. Regional parliaments must champion the participation of women, youth, and civil society in the peace processes,” said the prince.
Promote Social Cohesion
The SADC parliamentary forum model law on gender-based violence, GBV, he said, was the concrete example of how parliamentary re-instruments can address root causes of insecurity and promote social cohesion.
In addressing cross-border security challenges. The MP said instability in one member state inevitably affects its neighbours. He said the Lesotho political reforms process supported by SADC illustrated how parliamentary engagement was critical in stabilising governance structures and preventing the spillover instability.
This, he said, underscored the principle that an injury to one is an injury to the region. He said regional parliaments required sustained capacity building to support effectively the monitoring of peace and security initiatives.
Pan-African Parliament
“The extraordinary session of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand demonstrated how parliamentary diplomacy can reinforce continental unity in addressing these crises. Capacity building must not therefore remain a priority in Africa-EU cooperation.
In partnership with the European Union, he said, the European Union was a strategic partner in financing and technical support for peace missions.
He called for the establishment of joint parliamentary monitoring mechanisms between African and European parliaments to track progress and secure commitment and said this partnership must be anchored in mutual accountability and shared values.
OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
In Eswatini’s perspective and contribution, he said, “The Kingdom of Eswatini has demonstrated its readiness to provide a neutral platform for dialogue. The hosting of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly here in Ezulwini is a testament to our commitment to international cooperation.”
The MP noted that Eswatini’s unique Tinkhundla System of Governance, which harmonises tradition with modern parliamentary practice, offers a model for stability and resilience.
The MP, together with Prince Banzile, formed part of the panel chairing the first ever seating of the meeting hosted by the kingdom.
The Princes listened as submission were made how other African countries, such as Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as submitted by the respective MPs representatives, envied the peace and stability enjoyed by the Kingdom of Eswatini.
#OACPS #Africa-EU #EzulwiniPalazzo #Delegates #Eswatini #Parliamentarians
