Pan African Parliament Reflects on Activity Report
9 MAY 2017, JOHANNESBURG – On Day 2 of the Pan African Parliament’s 4th Ordinary Session, the Chamber was rife with comments and debate about the Parliament’s undertakings since October 2016.
PAP President, Hon. Roger Nkodo Dang shared with the Assembly, a six-month activity report, summarising, amongst other things the 3rd Session of the Parliament in Sharma El Sheik, Egypt, COP22 in Morocco, regional caucus and committee meetings as well as feedback on parliamentary relations and resource mobilisation.
A definite highlight for the period is the role PAP played in the partial lifting of western sanctions imposed on Sudan.
This followed a delegation to the United States in January, lobbying for the removal of sanctions. “Sudan was given six months to work on the remaining issues which include human rights. Sanctions on trade and banking were lifted,” President Nkodo Dang reported.
A fact-finding mission, led by the PAP Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters, took place in Zambia in March with the aim of gaining insight on the free movement of people at the Chirundu border. The border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, 67km north of Kariba Dam, is the continent’s first one stop border post.
In line with the African Union’s Free Movement Agenda, the visit enabled the PAP delegation to meet with officials from both sides of the border, as well as with representatives from the Zambian Parliament working on trade, customs and immigration.
The Secretariat participated in several election observation missions, including journeys to Cape Verde, Ghana, the DRC, Cote D’Ivoire and the Gambia.
President Nkodo Dang also reported on the PAP’s budgetary forecast, stating that the operating budget increased for 2017. At US$ 15.6 million, it is 23% higher than the 2016 budget, making provision for the inclusion of allowances for Members of Parliament.
Although MPs congratulated the President for the comprehensiveness of the report, they raised concerns about issues that continue to plague the Parliament. These include the ratification of the revised Malabo protocol, MPs safety in the host country, South Africa, and the visibility of the PAP.
Following attacks on MPs during previous PAP sessions in Johannesburg, President Nkodo Dang used the opportunity to expedite security matters, when a delegation attended the South African Parliament’s State of the Nation Address in February.
The speakers and their Clerks have assured the PAP that they are raising the issue of MPs’ security with senior South African leadership.
Hon. Santosh Vinita Kalyan, representing South Africa, lauded the signing of MoUs for resource mobilisation and improved bilateral relations, as highlighted in the report. However, she urged the President to share these documents with MPs prior to parliamentary assemblies.
“It is prudent for the MoUs to come before the House so that we can familiarise ourselves therewith. How else would we know whether it is in line with the policies of our own parliaments?” she asked.
Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai congratulated the Parliament for its success in being able to lift economic sanctions against Sudan.
She said that although improvements have been made to security surveillance in the host country, it remains a matter of critical importance to guarantee members’ safety.
She also informed members that the PAP is proactively working on enhancing its visibility, citing as an example the recent installation of a billboard at OR Tambo International Airport.
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