The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira has urged Pan-African Parliamentarians to remain engaged and committed as the continent grapples with a myriad of challenges. The leader of the Continental Parliament was speaking during a meeting of the Bureau with Senior Management, convened yesterday to expedite the affairs of Parliament, and set out a roadmap for the remainder of the year.
Analysing the current socio-economic and political context, Hon. Chief Charumbira said expectations from the African citizenry on the Pan-African Parliament are growing. He cited youth unemployment, food insecurity, climate change, and unconstitutional change of governments as some of the challenges requiring the intervention of the legislative arm of the African Union.
“These challenges put the Pan-African Parliament to the test. The institution was established to ensure that it served as a platform for African peoples and their grass-roots organizations to be more involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. Now more than ever, Parliamentarians need to be on the ground to assess the impact of these various challenges on our citizens, relay their concerns and formulate concrete solutions. The Pan-African Parliament cannot afford to be absent,” says Hon. Chief Charumbira.
The President of the Pan-African Parliament recognized that the lack of adequate financial resources impedes the Parliament’s ability to effectively discharge its mandate. However, he urged all Parliamentarians to remain alert and engaged.
The meeting of the 6th Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament also consulted on the way forward regarding the scheduled Sitting of the Permanent Committees and the 3rd Ordinary Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament, slated for October.
Finally, the meeting also saw the swearing-in of Mrs. Lindiwe Khumalo as the Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament.
