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Zvamaida Murwira, Senior Reporter
The Pan African Parliament says it will be playing a leading role on initiatives being undertaken to reform the African Union to strengthen the organisation and enhance its capacity to fulfil its mandate.
The just ended Fourth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Pan African Parliament that concluded last weekend in Midrand, South Africa, agreed that current efforts to reform the AU will in turn give impetus to PAP to effectively discharge its mandate in the governance architecture of the continent.
The oversight role of PAP, it was noted, was not fully realised, chief among them the need for it to participate in the AU budget formulation.
To this end, PAP led by Chief Fortune Charumbira met Kenyan leader, President William Ruto last month, who is Chairperson of AU Institutional Reform Agenda in relation to PAP and its role in strengthening the union particularly as it relates to the attainment of the AU Agenda 2063.
The meeting discussed how to address institutional weaknesses within the AU given challenges such as fragmented focus areas, limited coordination between the AU and Regional Economic Communities and a lack of oversight and accountability leading to inefficiencies in service delivery.
It was noted that there was need for regular coordination between AU organs including PAP to avoid the current disjointed approach where the union bodies often operate independently.
PAP is crucial to achieve the AU objective as its functions align with the vision and goals of the union as outlined in the AU Constitutive Act
In an interview soon after holding PAP’s planning workshop for 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa, Chief Charumbira said PAP had an oversight role to play on the objective to attain Agenda 2063 and reforming AU.
“We also need to have oversight over the implementation of AU Agenda 2063 which is the main flagship of the continent to develop. There is also the issue of reform of the AU which is being undertaken now under the leadership of Kenyan President William Ruto. We need to reform the AU.
“The people of Africa are not happy. They have not seen the dividends of forming AU, so they are asking ‘what does AU do.’ It is high time that PAP takes a lead in reforming the AU so that people are aware what the organisation stands for,” said Chief Charumbira.
He described the just ended PAP plenary as a success as it dissected several issues affecting the continent.
Several MPs who spoke to The Herald said PAP should be a vehicle of progressive change to the continent.
Matabeleland North MP, Cde Elizabeth Masuku who is also a Member of PAP said it was gratifying that the continental body was united on several issues that Africa is grappling with.
She said it was quite encouraging that there was unanimity in calling for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe.
“As African countries we have been speaking with one voice on several issues. African countries have also supported us as Zimbabwe on the call of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe imposed by Western countries,” said Cde Masuku.
She said PAP was united in taking a position that they may not be arm-twisted by some Western capitals who may want to bring aid to African countries attached with some conditions.
Tanzanian MP Mrs Anatropia Theonest said there was discussion on how Africa could harmonise languages to bridge the language barrier.
“There has been discussion around language barrier. Africa does not speak one language. During plenary sessions here, it has been expensive to bring translators and the attendant gadgets used in translation. As we plan in line with the AU Agenda 2063, we must include how to deal with the issue of language barrier and we need to consider use of Swahili language which is widely spoken in the continent,” said Mrs Theonest.
Gambian Member of Parliament, Mr Alhagie Mbow, said the major take away from the session was the adoption of the strategic plan which would help the continent achieve Agenda 2063.
“Another take away is the election of the first Vice President and the adoption of the model law that national parliaments can use in their legal statutes,” said Mr Mbow.
With unity among African legislators, there is hope that PAP might be the vehicle of change and development in Africa that will ultimately improve the lives of people.
Online Reporter