By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is expected to convene its sixth ordinary session today, the continental parliament has said on its website.
PAP was established on March 18, 2004, following the African Heads of States meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the meeting which culminated in the adoption of the Malabo Protocol. All African states that have ratified this protocol have the representation of five parliamentarians in this continental parliament.
According to the parliament’s website, the session will run by the African Union (AU)‘s 2022 theme: ‘Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development’.
The statement further reads: “The first part of the upcoming statutory meeting will be dedicated to consultations by Members of Parliament on proposals for amendments to the Rules of Procedure. The process is in line with the commitment of the new leadership of the PAP and previous decisions by AU policy organs, calling for the examination and alignment of rules of procedure to create a conducive environment for the operation of the Organ.
“The official opening of the first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament is slated for 31 October 2022. H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the PAP, is expected to present the performance review report of the PAP activities within the framework of the Bureau’s vision to “revive, renew, reposition, and reinvigorate” the continental Parliament since its election in June 2022. “Other highlights will include a High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Africa under the theme: “Unconstitutional changes in government and political transitions in Africa”.
The 13th Conference on Women’s Rights is also expected to take place on the margins of this Ordinary Session where the focus will be placed on “Women empowerment and inclusion in governance”.
In this sitting, it is also expected that Members of Parliament (MPs) from other African countries that have recently held elections will be sworn in.
Meanwhile, Lesotho MPs are to be sworn in in the next sitting of PAP as the incoming MPs of the Lesotho’s 11th Parliament.
Members of PAP have a five-year term in office.
It is AU’s legislative organ and is charged with the mandate to make and implement legislation on behalf of the organ.
