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Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
President of the Zimbabwe Chiefs Council Senator Fortune Charumbira (pictured left) was on Wednesday elected unopposed as vice president of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Bureau, representing the Southern African Region.
The elections were held in Kigali, Rwanda.
Chief Charumbira shrugged off stiff competition in the first round and the subsequent round until his rival, Malawi’s Alice Ngoma, withdrew her candidature at the last minute.
Chief Charumbira garnered 114 out of the 157 ballots cast, with 25 ballots being blank and 18 spoiled.
Speaking soon after his elevation, Chief Charumbira said the road had been long, but he was thankful to PAP members for the confidence they had shown in him.
Chief Charumbira promised to work with the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament as a team to eliminate regionalism and enhance the unity of Parliament.
“I stand here to thank you for the confidence you have bestowed in me that I can make a contribution to the Pan-African Parliament by sitting on the Bureau of PAP,” he said.
“My focus will be on working hand-in-hand with the other bureau members to come up with ways to make a difference in the lives of our people as per the mission of this institution. I am grateful to the members of the PAP for the confidence shown in me through what has been a free, fair and transparent process.
“I hope to count on everyone as we aim to overcome the difficult task of making the PAP relevant to the people.”
Chief Charumbira said the road had been long.
In October last year, he won against Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa, who is the former Minister of Higher Education in Zambia, and in May this year he beat Dr Penyo Butale of Botswana.
The last round required two candidates – one male and one female – to contest and on Monday this week elections were held which saw him square off against Ms Ngoma.
PAP president Roger Nkodo Dang urged all members to put their differences aside and work as a united entity.
“This election signals the end of the election process,” he said. “The bureau is now complete and it is time to get on with the work as a united front. The election is behind us, so let’s honour our commitment to the continent.”
Online Reporter