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Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) has said the continental legislative organ of the African Union has returned to full operational functionality with a fully quorate Bureau but it is hamstrung by budgetary constraints.
He made the remarks today during the official opening of the 3rd Ordinary Session of the 6th Parliament of the Pan African Parliament, at the PAP precincts in Midrand, South Africa.
“The constant suspensions and stoppages have affected our budget execution rate which is one of the arguments that the AU uses to reduce our budget. As Members are aware, in line with Article 14(2) of the PAP Protocol as read with Rule 28 of the PAP Rules of Procedure, the PAP convenes two statutory Committee Meetings in March and August and two Plenary Sessions per year in May and October/ November. Since the establishment of the PAP, the cost of convening one Committee Sitting has remained fixed at US$800 000. Therefore, for the two Committee Sessions per year, the PAP requires US$1 600 000. However, only US$ 530,000 has been provided for the two Committee Sittings for 2024. This amount is not even enough to convene one Committee Sitting.
“Similarly, the cost of convening one Plenary Session has remained fixed at US$1 300 000 translating to a total of US$2 600 000 for the two plenary sessions per year. Again, only US$900 000 has been provided for the two Plenary Sessions for 2024. This amount, regrettably, is not enough to hold one plenary session. If the PAP does not get a supplementary allocation from the AU, it will not be able to host the August Committee Session nor the October/November Plenary Sitting as the entire budget will be exhausted in funding this Plenary session,” Chief Charumbira said.
With the PAP now back to full operational functionality, he assured stakeholders that the Bureau is back and working diligently to ensure that it refocuses the institution on achieving its mandate, reconnecting with sister AU Organs, other stakeholders, and the citizens of Africa, and, in so doing, rebrand and repair the soiled image of the Pan African Parliament.
Addressing the same gathering, the CEO of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Her Excellency, Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the recent credible, free, and fair general elections in the Republic of South Africa, the PAP host country.
She said the smooth and seamless election of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and those of the provincial governments as well as the election and inauguration of the President of the Republic, bears testimony to the steadfast commitment of the people of South Africa to consolidating and entrenching democracy, good governance, unity, and cohesion of the nation. Especially as the country celebrates 30 years of freedom and democracy.
The APRM CEO said the Pan-African Parliament has a critical role to play in promoting and advancing democracy and good governance in Africa, as a requirement to achieve development for the well-being and prosperity of the people.
“As the democratically elected representative of the people, our Parliament has the honorable task to be the voice of the voiceless; to ensure that their needs and views are represented and to guarantee their full participation in discussions and decision making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. Its representational role allows it to respond to the growing public pressure for greater involvement, information, accountability, and better service delivery to citizens.
“Our respective legislative branch, in our member states, have a critical role in the performance of its key functions of legislation, representation, and oversight. They are expected to actively engage in the development and implementation of laws, policies, and practices that promote democracy, good governance, regional integration, socio-economic transformation, and the protection of those most vulnerable such as women and children amongst others.
“It is our earnest conviction that the Pan African Parliament will impose itself as an action-orientated Institution that will be looking forward to greater results only for the interest of the Continent beyond our political differences and dynamics. We may certainly recall the words of the Former Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Bernadette Devlin who stated that: “My function in life is not to be a politician in Parliament: It is to get something done”. This is a historical reminder and a call for greater commitment from the Institution which represents us all,” she added.
