Online Reporter
George Maponga
Pan African Parliament (PAP) president, Chief Fortune Charumbira, has officially opened the National Assembly of Benin in West Africa, where he underscored the key role parliaments should play to cure the continent’s ills.
Officially opening the National Assembly of Benin in the Atlantic coastal city of Porto Novo, Chief Charumbira emphasised the centrality of parliaments to addressing the problems that are militating against the drive to meet the African Union Agenda 2063 targets.
The PAP president told the Benin National Assembly that it is sad that Africa continues to grapple with both historical and present challenges that impede socio-economic transformation for the benefit of more than one billion citizens in Africa.
The continent’s goal to silence guns by 2030 is being threatened by raging conflicts in eastern DRC, Sudan and the Horn of Africa.
“Why has Africa failed to effectively address these conflicts? Why have the AU’s conflict resolution initiatives, such as the “Silencing the Guns by 2030” roadmap, struggled to yield results? What role should the parliaments play in advancing peace and stability?” asked the PAP president.
Chief Charumbira lamented the continued marginalisation and exclusion of the majority of African citizens, noting that vices such as corruption should be the centre of attention for African parliaments.
Hunger and starvation, because of the ravages of climate change, required the attention of African parliaments to engender a new dawn of food security and improve living standards.
He called for the speedy implementation of continental flagship projects such as the Grand Inga Dam power project in DRC, which is key to ensuring reliable renewable energy for the continent.
The PAP president also amplified calls for AU member states to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area to allow the uninterrupted movement of people and goods, which is a boon for economic growth and prosperity.
Chief Charumbira said the official opening of the National Assembly of Benin also brought to the fore the need to accentuate calls for Africa to be paid reparations for historical ills such as slavery and colonialism.
