Model Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum

As part of the 2012, 37th Annual Conference of the New York African Studies Association, the Department of African American Studies and the Africana Research Center at the Pennsylvania State University is sponsoring a Model Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (MSADC-PF) organized and operated by students.  The first of its kind in the nation, the MSADC-PF seeks to engage students in the contemporary debates and issues within Southern Africa and develop research and oratory skills through experiential hands-on-learning. 

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the focus of the student forum, began as a coalition of countries known as the Frontline States who opposed white minority rule in South Africa and Southwest Africa (now Namibia).  Over time it has evolved into a pan-regional organization that addresses many issues.  Among the most important are those emphasizing economic, political, environmental and social concerns.  SADC has 15 member states.  Those currently active in the organization are: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  Madagascar membership was suspended following the coup d’état led by Andry Rajoelina, the former mayor of Antananarivo.  

Students from the region will participate in the MSADC-PF simulation on February 24-25, 2012, starting with the opening ceremonies at 3 p.m.  The closing ceremony will be Saturday February 25, 2012 in conjunction with the closing event for the conference. 

As delegates representing one of the fourteen countries currently active in SADC, the students will research three preselected issues for discussion and resolution passage at the Model SADC-PF.  Students will be scored on three performance factors: accurate representation of the country; research (as evidenced in position papers, substantive contribution, debate, and resolutions); and mastery of diplomatic skills, including parliamentary procedures.  Awards will be decided by the organizing committee and will consist of exemplary performance, and honorable mention.

Those seeking additional information about the Model SADC-PF should contact the coordinators of the event Darryl C. Thomas (814) 863-2427, dct10@psu.edu, Robert Compton (607) 436-3048, comptonw@oneonta.edu and Ahmed Banya,  ahmed.banya@gmail.com. (814) 863-9496.  Here is a link to last year MSADC-PF http://www.oneonta.edu/academics/nyasa/SADC.html.