Online Reporter
George Maponga
PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT (PAP) president Chief Fortune Charumbira on Wednesday challenged parliamentarians not to be bystanders as the world continues to grapple with crises that are blighting humanity’s progress.
Speaking at the ongoing 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) at the Benguela Cove Wine Estates in Cape Town, South Africa, Chief Charumbira highlighted the role of parliaments in addressing challenges affecting the globe.
The 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit is running until October 3.
It serves as a precursor to the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit, which will be held in South Africa next month.
South Africa currently holds the rotating G20 presidency.
This year will be the first time the summit will be hosted on African soil.
The US is next in line to take over the rotating presidency.
In his address on the first day of the Speakers’ Summit, Chief Charumbira said parliaments are at the centre of participatory democracy.
“In a world of global crises and rapid change, from climate to conflict, from migration to innovation; in a changing world order, we are here because parliaments cannot afford to be passive bystanders on issues that affect two-thirds of the world’s population,” he said.
“Our citizens expect us to not only represent their voices, but also to safeguard their rights and interests.”
The summit, he added, is a platform to strategise, coordinate and empower national parliaments to act decisively for the benefit of the global citizenry.
During the 5th Ordinary Session of PAP’s 6th parliament held in July this year, PAP and the South African parliament held a symposium in Johannesburg to devise ways through which Africa can benefit from Pretoria’s G20 presidency.
