Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
THE Speaker of the House of Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, is in Midrand, South Africa, for the annual conference of Speakers of African national and regional parliaments being held under the auspices of the Pan-African Parliament.
The conference is convening under the theme: “Transforming Parliaments for citizen-driven continental integration, sustainable development, prosperity and peace, and enhancing Africa’s dynamic role on the global stage.”
In a statement, Parliament described the conference as a vital platform that enables strategic reflection on the role of legislatures in driving continental priorities, enhancing institutional linkages and reinforcing the African Union’s governance architecture.
“It is trite to note that the legislature has become an increasingly critical cog in advancing multilateralism in a world grappling with multiple threats to the very being of humanity, including disease, food insecurity, geopolitical tensions and debilitating effects of climate change, among other existential pressures.
“To that extent, parliamentary diplomacy is providing quintessential legislative scaffolding to complement traditional Executive-led diplomacy,” reads part of a statement from Parliament.
At least 52 parliamentary representatives, including 18 Speakers from national and regional legislatures, are attending the conference.
“Through high-level interactions of the highest-ranking parliamentary leaders, the conference ensures that parliaments, which are an embodiment of the people’s voice, are fully integrated into Africa’s governance integration and development agenda.
“The 2025 conference takes place at a decisive juncture in Africa’s transformation journey with the continent’s quest for several milestones, including striving to consolidate and accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a driver of industrialisation and intra-African trade, accelerate regional integration and reinforce resilience against external shocks,” said the statement.
Africa was expected to leverage digital transformation and innovation ecosystems, including architects of digital governance and artificial intelligence (AI), to fast-track economic development, diversification and digital service delivery.
Africa was intensifying efforts to reinforce its strategic role in global governance.
“With its demographic weight, vast natural resources and rising geopolitical relevance, the continent is asserting its demand for equitable representation in multilateral decision-making processes, particularly in areas such as global trade, climate negotiations, digital governance and reforms of the UN Security Council as well as within the Bretton Woods institutions,” the statement read.
