A new bill, the Pharmaceutical Research Transparency Act, was introduced yesterday in both the US House and Senate. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) endorses this bill as it would give people, governments, and treatment providers like MSF more leverage to negotiate fair drug prices. Currently, pharma doesn’t have to disclose how much they spend on R&D to bring new…
Over 250 African Parliamentarians are expected to converge on Midrand, South Africa for the Second Ordinary Session of the Six Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), scheduled from 15 May to 02 June 2023. The continent’s premier parliamentary forum is set to devise ways to fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area…
The Speaker of Parliament Hon Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda is in Algiers, Algeria, on a Parliamentary Bilateral Visit at the invitation of his counterpart, His Excellency, Speaker Brahim Boughali, Speaker of the People’s National Assembly. He is accompanied by members of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, namely, Hon. Webster Kotiwani…
The Pan-African Parliament will host the 3rd African Parliamentarians Summit on Climate Policy and Equity scheduled to take place on May 16 – 17 on the sidelines of the Second Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The Session is scheduled to hold from 15 May to 02 June 2023 at…
The President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. William Ruto has called on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to be the continent’s standard-bearer on issues affecting African citizens. These include issues related to intra-African trade, climate change, democracy, and good governance. The call was made during an audience accorded to the President of the Pan-African Parliament,…
The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E Chief Fortune Charumbira is currently on a working visit to the Republic of Kenya. Earlier today, he met with Rt. Hon. Moses Wetangula, Speaker of the National Assembly. They discussed ways to strengthen partnerships to advance the African agenda including regional integration, economic development, and peace and…
The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has encouraged the youth to be the driving force behind the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). H.E. Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira called on young people to tap into opportunities offered by intra-African trade, and play a leading role in accelerating Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation. The President…
H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) held a working session with the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), led by H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira. The meeting took place at the seat of the Continental Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. The consultation formed part of the ongoing engagements between the…
Political leadership is not for the faint-hearted, women in high echelons of power in Zimbabwe’s major political parties have said. They revealed this at the Media Training Workshop on Women’s Political Participation jointly convened by Gender and Media Connect (GMC) and UN Women in Zimbabwe that kicked off in Harare on 19 April 2023 and…
Own Correspondent On behalf of Chief FZ Charumbira whose name has been making rounds across social media platforms and some news outlets over allegations that he raped his niece, we want to make the following clarification in the interest of setting the record straight. Chief Charumbira has not been reported for rape at any police…
The President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Hon. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, has noted with grave concern the outbreak and escalation of armed conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has resulted in the death of at least three civilians and injuries to countless others. The PAP President…
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced the appointment of Constitutional Court judge, Hon. Justice Rita Makarau as Acting judge of the Supreme Court of Namibia with effect from 1 April 2023. The Commission said Hon. Justice Makarau’s secondment to the Namibian bench will run until 31 March 2024 and it speaks to the cordial…
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) met to appraise the milestones reached as part of their existing collaborative framework. Technical teams from both parties held an engagement on lessons learned, and ways to sustain and amplify the collaboration in new areas of common interest. As a background, PAP and…
South Africa’s National Assembly (NA) Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula arrived in Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire yesterday on a special visit to address the official opening of the Côte d’Ivoire National Assembly as a guest of honour today Monday 3 April 2023 in Hemicycle, Abidjan, the Capital City. An invitation was extended to Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula by her…
Hon Mabel Chinomana, Zimbabwe’s Senate President addressed the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation during the state visit to the European country. The legislator hailed the privilege to be accorded the rare opportunity to address the Russian August House. “I would like to express my gratitude for your invitation and for the honour and hospitalities…
A climate change expert has said COP 27 was unable to agree on the inclusion on the special needs and circumstances of Africa with the main challenge being that other developing nations are arguing on similarly being recognized for their special needs and priorities, mostly from Latin America. These were the sentiments of Dr. Mithika…
HE Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) conveyed the continental legislative body’s wishes as from Thursday 23rd March 2023 (today) as the Muslim world begins observing the holy month of Ramadhan. During Ramadan, Muslims across the world will observe fasting for a whole month. “On this sacred occasion, I,…
The curtain came down on a highly productive Russia-Africa Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference which ran from the 18th to the 21st of March 2023 in Moscow, Russia, more specifically under the precincts of the State Duma. Speaker of Parliament, Hon Advocate J.F.N Mudenda attended the Conference where he held a bilateral meeting with Hon. V.V. Volodin,…
The President of the Pan-African Parliament, HE Hon Senator Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira met yesterday in Manama in the Kingdom of Bahrain the President of the House of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco Enaam Mayara. In this meeting, President Charumbira expressed his great willingness to work with Morocco to contribute to the development of…
The ratification of legal instruments and legislation with regard to people with disabilities and older persons in Africa has come under scrutiny at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) with calls for governments to ratify the relevant instruments. This came to the fore at the joint sittings of the Committee on Gender, Youth, Family and People with…
The Speaker of Parliament Hon Advocate J.F.N Mudenda addressed the IPU 146th Assembly this morning. The IPU 146th Assembly is being held in Manama, Bahrain, from the 11th to 15 March 2023, running under the theme ‘Promoting peaceful co-existence and inclusive societies: Fighting intolerance.’ The delivery by the Speaker came on the backdrop of the…
His Excellency, Hon Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) attending the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has reiterated the continental lawmaking body’s support for the aspirations of the Palestinian people. The President of PAP made the contribution during the meetings of SADC and Africa groups prior to…
The Pan African Parliament (PAP)’s Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment yesterday held deliberations on contributions from stakeholders on coming up with a model law on soil management. Hon Didier Molisho Sadi led the deliberations at the PAP Precincts in Midrand, South Africa where the legislative body is holding its Permanent Committee…
The Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe, Hon Advocate J.F.N Mudenda is in Bahrain, Manama, where he is attending the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and related meetings. The venue is the Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB). Speaker Mudenda is accompanied by Members of Parliament Hon T Muzenda, Hon V Tsvangirai, Hon T.M Mnangagwa, and Hon S…
In his contribution to the Debate on International Women’s Day hosted by the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on 8 March 2023, Prof Mathole Motshekga called on policymakers and stakeholders to give women access to land and natural resources and means of production. “Hon. President of the PAP Women Caucus and Hon Chief Fortune Charambira, President of…
As a Christian organisation with a continental presence, the Council of Churches in Africa (CCA) in Africa has reached out to the Pan Africa Parliament with a view of forging synergies to entrench religious and cultural practices that promote harmony, peace, and unity. Speaking to Spiked Online Media soon after meeting Hon Senator Chief Fortune…
On International Women’s Day today, Hon Senator Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira underscored the fact that women’s rights are human rights in his address to parliamentarians and dignitaries at the continental legislative body’s headquarters in Midrand, South Africa. Among the dignitaries attending the celebrations at the PAP are representatives of the United Nations, the Bureau of…
The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), an affiliate of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has registered full support for the Pan African Parliament (PAP)’s push for a visa-free continent. Addressing the PAP Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism, and Human Resources that was sitting today to deliberate on the Eradication of Visa for Sports…
The Pan African Parliament (PAP)’s Permanent Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism, and Human Resources has promised to work on promoting African food and eradicating visas for sports teams travelling within the continent. This emerged today during a session chaired by Hon Senator Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira, the President of the PAP that was held under…
The rapid turnaround and rejuvenation of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) have been largely described as vibrant by a number of people in high-standing positions on the continent ever since the inauguration of the legislative body’s Sixth Parliament. This was revealed by Hon Senator Fortune Z. Charumbira, during the official opening of the Siitting of…
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President H.E Chief Fortune Charumbira has said that the Continental legislative body should be a beacon of hope for the aspirations, dreams, and ideals of the people of Africa in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He was speaking at the Official Opening Ceremony of the Permanent…
Prof Mathole Motshekga, the Director of Kara Heritage Institute, who is a member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) Committee on Education, Culture, Heritage, and Tourism is spearheading the African History Month Colloquium to be held on the 7th of March 2023 in celebration of Ghana’s independence led by the late President Kwame Nkrumah. Speaking…
The election of Enaam Mayara, who succeeds Pedro Roque (Portugal), took place on the sidelines of the 17th Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) plenary session hosted on Wednesday and Thursday by the Moroccan parliament. He was unanimously accredited by the countries of the southern group to chair this international parliamentary organization. Following the election,…
The Permanent Committees of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) will convene from 06 to 17 March 2023 in Midrand, Republic of South Africa for their first sitting of the year. Other structures of Parliament including the Bureau, regional and thematic caucuses are also expected to meet during the same period. The March Sittings of the Continental Parliament…
Throughout its participation in the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) presented it’s efforts to reposition the institution as the most viable instrument to realize the African Dream. With it’s ability to connect the African Union with the African citizenry. The African Union (AU) was officially launched in July…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has intensified efforts to rescue a three-year-old baby, who is a victim of child trafficking, by partnering with Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), in a bid to save the minor child. The three-year-old baby was separated from her mother Charlene Gugulethu Moyo in December 2022 after her grandmother…
The Chinhoyi Residents Trust has petitioned medical officers to improve service delivery at Alaska Clinic in Mashonaland West Province. The petitioners are members of the Chinhoyi Residents Trust (CRT) whose line of work involves pushing for improved service delivery including access to quality and affordable health care in Chinhoyi. The petition is mindful of the fact…
By Elvis Dumba Traditional leaders in Zvimba South Constituency got a boost in carrying out their traditional duties after receiving bicycles from their legislator, Dr. Philip Chiyangwa. The traditional leaders who have been complaining of incapacitation in carrying out their duties were handed over the bicycles by Zvimba South Legislators who said traditional leaders are…
The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill currently being debated is intended to reform the mining laws in the country and comes with joy among stakeholders since the process has been envisaged with minimum success and over a long period with attempts to amend the Bill in 2007 and 2018. Addressing delegates at the Key Stakeholder…
By Nhau Mangirazi The majority of Zimbabwean women face challenges in accessing better services delivery. Of late some of the women and girls in most outlying rural communities have faced the worst challenges but it has been a sad reality affecting the urban setups. They are facing a constitutional crisis in service delivery. Women and…
The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H. E. Hon. Chief Fortune F. Charumbira has called on the Arabs to invest in Africa, especially in the fields of infrastructure and agriculture, pointing out that the continent is rich in natural resources. H. E. Chief Charumbira made the call on Saturday while delivering a speech as…
By Elvis Dumba Zvimba – As the country gears itself towards the 2023 harmonised general elections later this year to choose leaders for the presidency, nearly every citizen yearns to play an active role in voting. Whilst it is a constitutional right for every citizen who has attained the legal age to vote, which is…
The Institute for Young Women’s Development (IYWD) yesterday presented a petition to Parliament on the hiking of candidate nomination fees and the cost of accessing electoral information by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) with approval from the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, submitted to the Parliament of Zimbabwe on the 2nd of September…
By Nhau Mangirazi The Malawian Women’s Parliament Caucus delegation that is in the country on a learning visit has agreed with their hosts that there is a need for gender equality within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). According to Zimbabwe Parliament’s Women’s Caucus chairperson, Hon Goodluck Kwaramba, both countries have a role to play…
To demonstrate close bilateral cooperation between the two nations, a Namibian Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security delegation is on a state visit to Zimbabwe to deepen engagements on the legislative front. In a speech read on his behalf today by his deputy in the ministry, Dr. David musabayana, Hon Fredrick Shava,…
