The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) marked a pivotal step toward shaping its future with a validation workshop for the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan at its headquarters in Midrand, South Africa. In his opening remarks, H.E. President Chief Fortune Charumbira highlighted the Parliament's evolving role as a central voice for Africa's citizens and a driver of development across the continent.
President Charumbira described the Strategic Plan as a five-year roadmap designed to deepen Africa’s economic integration, democratic governance, and stability. "This Strategic Plan is our collective vision, crafted through extensive consultations with our stakeholders," he remarked, noting that the Parliament consulted with representatives from African Union (AU) institutions, civil society, and regional bodies to shape the vision of a united and empowered Africa.
Anchored in the AU's Agenda 2063, the Strategic Plan aims to adapt PAP's activities to Africa’s evolving social, political, and economic landscape. “The Pan-African Parliament is not just another institution; it is the legislative voice of Africa, committed to fully involving our people in building the Africa we aspire to,” President Charumbira stated, emphasizing PAP's mission to be the guardian of African citizens' aspirations.
One key feature of the workshop was a structured program designed to refine the strategy by incorporating insights from prior consultations, particularly with PAP committees. President Charumbira underscored the goal of enabling PAP to effectively fulfill its legislative and oversight roles, while championing human rights, economic integration, and good governance. He urged the Parliament to commit to transparency and inclusivity, ensuring the strategy reflects Africa’s achievements and challenges alike.
In his welcome remarks, the 4th Vice President of PAP, Hon. Djiddar Mamar, called the workshop "a crucial endeavor for the Pan-African Parliament and for Africa." He encouraged participants to collaborate towards actionable resolutions that would embody the needs and aspirations of African citizens.
Professor Benon Basheka, an independent consultant, presented his perspectives on the plan’s strategic goals, including PAP’s role in model law development, legislative harmonization, and AU policy oversight. He highlighted operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and capacity building as key priorities, emphasizing the need for an evidence-based approach that strengthens PAP’s impact on African governance. “The Pan-African Parliament must be a unifying legislative force that drives economic growth, democratic governance, and peace,” he said, stressing the need for policies that bolster Africa's development.
The Strategic Plan draft presented at the workshop outlined key objectives, including developing model continental laws, promoting ratification and domestication of AU protocols, and reinforcing PAP’s operational framework to enhance oversight and accountability. These initiatives aim to elevate PAP’s role from harmonizing legislative standards across member states to advancing meaningful integration in Africa.
Throughout the workshop, participants focused on developing a plan that positions PAP not only as a legislative arm of the AU but also as a bridge between the Union and Africa’s citizens. Hon. Mamar highlighted this vision in his address, noting that the final draft will be presented for review and adoption at the upcoming PAP plenary, where African legislators will have the opportunity to endorse the strategy.
The workshop underscored PAP’s unique role as a forum for African voices and a legislative body for socio-economic transformation. By aligning its objectives with Agenda 2063, PAP stands prepared to lead Africa toward a prosperous, peaceful, and integrated future.
The 2025-2028 Strategic Plan seeks to solidify PAP’s role as a leading force for unity and development in Africa, employing a results-oriented approach to place the Parliament at the heart of the African integration process. This phase in PAP's strategic planning also reflects its commitment to align with Agenda 2063 and the AU’s Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, which prioritize parliamentary functions, economic integration, and citizen engagement across the continent.
