The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, has called upon African legislators to promote the continental agenda with peace andsecurity, and education as key priority areas. He made this appeal while officially opening the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.
Taking place under the African Union (AU) Theme for 2024: “The Year of Education: Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa,” the session is set to conclude on 5 July 2024.
“We need to prioritise promoting peace, security, and stability,” said H.E. Chief Charumbira during his address to parliamentarians and delegates at the opening ceremony. “Without peace, there is nothing that can be done on this continent. We need to close ranks as Africans and put our differences aside for a better future for our citizenry. As people’s representatives, it is high time we start contributing to a more prosperous future for the people of Africa by promoting collective self-reliance and economic recovery. Our actions must also focus on facilitating cooperation and development in Africa.”
He underlined the importance of effectively implementing the policies and objectives of the AU, promoting the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa, and facilitating cooperation among Regional Economic Communities and their parliamentary fora.
H.E. Charumbira further urged parliamentarians to always encourage good governance, transparency, and accountability in member states. He emphasized familiarizing the peoples of Africa with the objectives and policies aimed at integrating the African continent within the framework of the AU, strengthening continental solidarity, and building a sense of common destiny among the peoples of Africa.
“This is what we are called to do, Honorable Members. This is what we should focus on delivering to an expectant continent. Let us be guided by principle, our collective conscience, and the love of the motherland in everything we do if we are to make this continental parliament effective in fulfilling the functions stated above. Our operative mantra, as espoused by the AU, should be ‘Think Africa Above All.’ With this mentality, we can start talking and living our motto, ‘One Africa, One Voice,’” added H.E. Charumbira.
The President also praised the Pan-African Parliament for adhering to the AU Theme of the Year. “We always work within the framework of the AU, which is why this session is predicated on its Theme of the Year for 2024: ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa.’”
“We believe this theme is appropriate and relevant now more than ever for the entire Union. Justifiably, the first three decades of the AU focused on the fight against colonialism. Africa is indeed politically independent, but we believe we still need to decolonize our education systems and focus on heritage-based education that supports the economic development of Africa. Beyond the rhetoric, Africa must take concrete steps in decolonizing education, making sure that heritage-based education is accessible to every child and developing academic curricula that are relevant and spur economic growth, sustainable development, and prosperity in Africa. We, therefore, commend the Union for this timely theme and encourage all of us to apply ourselves in debating this topic.”
H.E. Charumbira also disclosed that the session will discuss various issues relevant to Africa, such as continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area, peace and security issues, climate change, and other pertinent topics.
Meanwhile, H.E. Charumbira voiced his concern over the continued killing of the Palestinian people. “I cannot conclude my remarks without adding my voice to the Israeli-Palestinian war. As the elected representatives of the voiceless, we shall also pronounce ourselves on the horrendous human rights violations perpetrated by Israel in Palestine with the tacit support of a silent international community. We cannot remain silent when over 38,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, have been killed in the war. Our hearts and minds are with the people of Palestine during this horrific time. We call for a cessation of hostilities and remain adamant that a two-state solution is the only sustainable solution to this crisis,” he added, applauding the South African President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa’s government for taking the Israeli government to the International Court of Justice over the senseless and inhumane killings in Palestine.
The President also mentioned that the Pan-African Parliament should not forget the people of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He further challenged the AU to demonstrate its strength in dealing with conflicts in Africa, reminding them that parliamentary diplomacy can play an instrumental role in conflict prevention, management, and resolution.
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