Pan-African parliament reflect on its journey as it turns 19

Pan-African parliamentarians recently held a commemorative event at the seat of the parliament in Midrand to ‘reflect on the journey’ as the institution turned 19.

It sought to retrace the origin and context of the establishment of the parliament. March 18 marks Pan-African Parliament Day (PAP Day) which commemorates the inauguration of its first parliament in 2004 at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The celebration included musical performances by the African Cultural Music and Dance Association and a presentation by Professor Motshekga Mathole of the Kara Heritage Institute on ‘Whither Pan-Africanism, African Culture, and Heritage’.

The PAP Day was launched in 2021 to educate citizens about the continental parliament and ignite conversations about its future in line with its mandate.

The establishment of the PAP amongst the AU organs signalled a historical milestone and perhaps the most important development in the strengthening of the AU institutional architecture.

It laid solid ground for democratic governance and oversight within the AU system and provided a formal platform for the people of Africa to get involved in discussions and decision-making on issues affecting the continent.

The commemoration serves as a reminder to the decision-makers around the continent to fulfil their commitment to the parliament by ratifying its Malabo Protocol. Fourteen AU member states have so far ratified the Malabo Protocol. Moreover, the celebrations coincided with the closing ceremony of the sitting of the PAP permanent committees and other organs.

The sitting took place under the AU theme for 2023, ‘Accelerating the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area’ from March 6 to 17.

The parliament’s president, Chief Fortune Charumbira, said “When you return to your respective countries ensure that the work achieved over the past two weeks is transmitted to national for the benefit of our citizens.”

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