Organisations plan to work together
MIDRAND – The Pan African Parliament and the Motsepe Foundation meet to fine-tune areas of collaboration.
The acting president of the Pan-African Parliament, Honourable Bouras Djamel held an engagement with the Motsepe Foundation on 9 February at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand.
Djamel met with Brigette Motsepe-Radebe of the foundation to explore potential areas of cooperation between the two parties.
According to Jeffrey Onganga, media officer for the parliament, the Covid-19 vaccination in Africa was identified as one of the top priorities. The Parliament has undertaken to complement the African Union’s efforts to accelerate access to vaccine and increase vaccination programmes across the continent.
Onganga added that while vaccination programmes have begun in some countries, it had been much slower than in wealthier nations. “Meanwhile, Africa has reported over three million infections since the outbreak in March [2020] and lockdowns and closed borders have battered economies,” Onganga said.
“The Motsepe Foundation has pledged to work with the [parliament] to identify countries which require vaccines and engage organisations which can provide funding for the vaccines.”
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Onganga said in 2019, the parliament appointed Motsepe-Radebe as a goodwill ambassador during the August committee sittings of the parliament, with the hope her involvement would bring a new vision for the aspired Pan-Africanism.
Djamel added that the parliament believed the appointment would motivate women and that it was an opportunity for the continental parliament. “This will showcase the ability and capability of African women to the entire world.”
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Onganga also said that Motsepe-Radebe would be working with the parliament’s permanent committees on agriculture, gender, trade, finance, health and education to understand the needs and see how the Motsepe Foundation could assist as part of their missions.
“The foundation will also work with the committee on education on issues of decolonising sport, arts and heritage, especially in the context of the AU theme for 2021, ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want’,” concluded Onganga.
Details: Pan-African Parliament
011 545 5000.
