Oxfam Engages SADC Parliamentary Forum on Inequality
From the 19th to the 22nd of May 2026, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum (PF) hosted its Standing Committee Joint Sitting for the 59th Plenary Assembly at the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport Hotel in Johannesburg.
At the heart of these critical regional conversations Oxfam stood out by establishing itself as a leading voice for systemic change and transformation at the regional level. Stepping directly into the policy arena, Oxfam drove urgent conversations on regional disparity, economic accountability, and gender justice across the Southern Africa Development Community.
On Wednesday, 20th of May 2026, Machinda Marongwe, the Southern Africa Cluster Regional Director delivered a pivotal presentation titled, ‘Tackling Inequality through Parliament-CSO Advocacy for Socio-Economic Justice’. Mr Marongwe shifted the perspective on poverty, arguing that systemic imbalance is not an accidental reality, but a direct consequence of policy choices by governments of the 16 SADC states. His session to the SADC parliamentarians explored how regional parliaments and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can form collaborative advocacy alliances to actively dismantle these structural barriers. By leveraging legislative oversight and collective grassroots action, the discussion challenged leaders to reform the economic systems in the countries and the region at large so that vulnerable populations are not left behind.
Reflecting on the deeply entrenched, structural roots of economic disparity, Liveson Manguwo, Senior Programs Manager at Oxfam South Africa, shared:
“Inequality has many facets to it. It is historical, [to meaningfully address it] we need to look at the historical context of countries like South Africa—the legacy of Apartheid and colonialism which still live with us today. This legacy of inequality is visible in the job and educational opportunities people receive today, as well as in healthcare services available for them. Across all of these areas, there is a stark disparity in terms of access, opportunity, income, and wealth along racial and educational classes. Ultimately, to resolve inequality in the SADC region we need to collectively address the disparities that exist due to these historical disadvantages and imbalances, whether in access to land, education, employment and economic opportunities.”
Furthermore, the conversation on reducing inequality expanded to explore how regional development and human mobility intersect with economic gaps. Portia Kurima, Programme and Policy Manager for Gender Justice at Oxfam in Southern Africa, noted that:
“Inequality comes in various forms, and it is highly interconnected to a lot of issues. We are living in an era of regional integration, so inequality manifests as people start moving across borders in search of opportunities. On the other end, where people migrate to, the gap also starts to widen because of the increased pressure placed on local resources.”
In a dedicated Standing Committee session on Gender Equality, Women advancement and Youth Development Ms. Kurima delivered a powerful presentation on Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in the region. As part of her session, she guided delegates through the critical stages of the budgeting cycle, proving that systemic equity requires concrete financial backing and political commitments. Crucially, her presentation warned against gender-unresponsive policies, illustrating how neutral-looking budgets actively perpetuate historical inequality when they ignore systemic gaps and gender imbalances.
This SADC PF engagement provided Oxfam with a vital platform to directly contribute and influence regional policy making processes, build key partnerships with national parliaments and other CSOs, and to actively champion equality at the highest level of decision-making. By pairing CSO-parliamentary advocacy with clear guidelines for gender-just budgeting, Oxfam provided leaders with an actionable roadmap for gender transformation.
Oxfam remains dedicated to ensuring that these macro-level policy making processes yield real dignity, fairness, and economic justice for all.
Watch the video below for more.
