The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has signed three landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Afrobarometer, the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), and the Southern Africa Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (SAPNAC). The agreements were formalised on 29 July 2025, on the sidelines of the ongoing 5th Ordinary Session of the 6th Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.
During the official signing ceremony, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament, hailed the agreements as more than symbolic gestures. He described them as strategic partnerships aimed at anchoring PAP’s legislative and oversight functions in credible data, robust anti-corruption frameworks, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
Speaking at the signing ceremony with Afrobarometer, Hon. Charumbira underscored the importance of data-driven decision-making. “Afrobarometer, with its public opinion surveys across more than 30 African countries, offers us the pulse of our nations. Whether in governance, economic performance, or human rights—Afrobarometer provides a mirror to reflect and a map to act,” he said.
He noted that the MoU with Afrobarometer would enhance the quality of PAP’s debates and policy recommendations, bolster its oversight and advocacy roles, and build the capacity of Members of Parliament to critically engage with data. “This marks a significant milestone in bridging research with policy, voice with vision, and statistics with strategy,” said H.E. Charumbira.
The ceremony also featured the signing of an MoU with NANHRI, the umbrella body representing national human rights institutions across Africa. H.E. Charumbira highlighted NANHRI’s essential role in promoting access to justice, protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, and ensuring government accountability.
“This partnership is not just timely—it is essential. Citizens demand more than promises—they demand rights that are protected, voices that are heard, and institutions that are responsive,” he said.
The agreement with NANHRI seeks to integrate human rights considerations into legislative processes, establish joint governance monitoring frameworks, and promote a culture of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Recalling the High-Level Dialogue held in Banjul in 2024 between PAP and NANHRI, H.E. Charumbira emphasized the need to embed this collaboration within the African Governance Architecture and align it with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and SDG 16.
“Human rights are not abstract,” he stated.“They are the right of a child to attend school safely, the right of a journalist to speak truth to power, the right of women to live free from violence, and the right of all people to be treated with fairness and dignity.”
During the signing of the MoU with SAPNAC, Chief Charumbira was unequivocal in describing corruption as one of the gravest threats to Africa’s development and democracy. “The cost of corruption is immense—it undermines public trust, deters investment, diverts resources from essential services, and erodes the legitimacy of our institutions,” he declared.
He commended SAPNAC’s commitment to not only denounce corruption but to actively combat it through legislative advocacy and knowledge-sharing. Through this agreement, PAP and SAPNAC will work together to promote anti-corruption legislation, strengthen parliamentary oversight mechanisms, and foster cross-border cooperation to dismantle transnational corruption networks.
“Corruption is not only about individuals—it is about systems. And changing systems requires political will, legislative courage, and partnerships like the one we are cementing today,” said H.E. Charumbira.
He urged all African parliamentarians to use their voices and platforms to defend the public interest and promote a culture of transparency and ethical leadership.
These MoUs underscore a renewed commitment by the Pan-African Parliament to fulfil its mandate as the legislative arm of the African Union—grounded in democratic accountability, evidence-based governance, and the protection of the rights and dignity of African citizens.
As Hon. Charumbira concluded: “Let today be remembered not just for the signing of documents, but for the beginning of a journey where knowledge, rights, and integrity move hand in hand in service of Africa’s people.”
