Chief Charumbira leads in restructuring of Pan African Parliament

Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter

Pan African Parliament president, Chief Fortune Charumbira is leading a team from the institution to reform the continental assembly and strengthen it in line with a 2016 resolution made by African leaders.

Chief Charumbira has presented several proposals on legislative reforms, PAP’s reporting structure, financial architecture and remuneration of bureau members, among others issues.

The proposed reforms come after a resolution made by African leaders in 2016. The leaders felt that institutional reforms of the African Union (AU) were necessary given the role that the organ is expected to play in driving Africa’s Agenda 2063 of inclusive economic growth and development.

“Reforms should strengthen PAP, not weaken it. As has already been indicated, the AU institutional reforms should seek to strengthen PAP as the continental harbinger of the people’s voice,” reads part of Chief Charumbira’s paper.

“A strong PAP translates to a stronger and more effective Union. PAP is the prime institution on the demand side of accountability as well as the people’s eyes, ears and voice on the continent. This should be recognised and acknowledged as opposed to the usual tendency to resist the existence of a Parliament.”

PAP has also been calling for legislative powers in line with the Malabo Protocol but has noted that while the powers are important, failure to exercise them would not hinder it from discharging its role.

“It is important to note that whether or not a body is vested with legislative or quasi-legislative power, this has no impact on its other functions, including budgetary, oversight and representational. These powers operate independently from the law-making power or the lack of it,” reads the paper.

“In fact, law-making constitutes not more than 30 percent of parliamentary business per session in most Parliaments all over the world.

“A large part of the business of Parliament is the oversight and representative functions which, in essence, are advisory and consultative functions.”