The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira has called on the PAP members to ensure that their work is geared towards helping Africa. The President of the Continental Parliament has urged members to aim for tangible results when devising plans as part of the work assigned to their respective Permanent Committees.
H.E. Chief Charumbira was addressing a joint meeting of the PAP Bureaus which include the PAP Bureau, Permanent Committees, PAP Regional Caucuses, Caucus Youth and Women Caucus. The consultation was held in Midrand, South Africa ahead of the Sitting of the Permanent Committees and other PAP Organs, which kicks off tomorrow 6 March and will run until 17 March.
The Sitting will be held under the African Union 2023 theme “Accelerating the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”
H.E. Charumbira also emphasised the role of the continental legislative body in facilitating the functions of the AU if the desire is for PAP to remain relevant in the continent as he demanded that Parliamentarians ensure that their respective parliaments are aware of AU programmes and policies, especially those which deal with trade”.
“As African legislators, we need to ensure that our own people and our own parliaments are made aware of African Union programmes and policies of trade,” he said while also encouraging members to work hard in their respective Permanent Committees.
“We need to emphasise the role of PAP in facilitating the functions of the African Union in our respective communities and parliaments, and our plans should speak to those programmes or else we will become irrelevant.
“There is a need for proper planning in permanent committees as far as issues affecting the continent are concerned. Members need to work wholeheartedly in looking at issues affecting Africa as it is the only way the continent can benefit, for its good and that of its people,” he added.
The meeting was also attended by 1st Vice President, Hon Prof. Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf, 2nd Vice President Hon. Dr Ashebiri Gayo, 3rd Vice President Lucia Maria Mendes Goncalves dos Passos and 4th Vice President Hon. Francois Ango Ndoutoume.
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