The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira stresses that the relationship between the African Diplomatic Corps and the continental Parliament is crucial in “ensuring the full participation of the African peoples in the economic development and integration of the continent” in line with the PAP’s mandate.
The President further stressed that in order to reposition the PAP and cement its important role in the continental governance matrix, the Parliament requires the support and collaboration of strategic stakeholders such as the African Ambassadors.
H.E. Hon. Charumbira also used the occasion of the meeting with Ambassadors to demand that they play a role in calling for the removal of sanctions imposed on a number of African countries including Zimbabwe.
The call was echoed by the Dean of Diplomatic Corps, H.E Ambassador, Salih Omar Abdu from Eritrea who highlighted the importance of annihilation of illegal sanctions hindering development across affected countries.
“PAP must prioritise the issue of illegitimate Western sanctions imposed on the people of Zimbabwe, Eritrea and Ethiopia. In doing so, as Africans, we must come together and fight as one together with all countries under sanctions.“
The meeting between the Bureau of the PAP and the African Ambassadors accredited to the Republic of South Africa has become a traditional engagement leading up to statutory meetings of the PAP. Among other items on the agenda, the meeting usually covers the ratification of the Malabo Protocol and the programme of the Ordinary Session and how it aligns with the pressing needs of African citizens.
The first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament of the PAP and its related meetings will run until 11 November 2022. The Session is guided by the African Union theme of 2022; ‘Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development.’
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