NKULUMANI MLAMBO
Pan African Parliament President Chief Fortune Charumbira led a delegation to discuss African Union reforms with President of Kenya William Ruto.
President Ruto is the chairperson of the AU institutional reforms committee tasked to strengthen its organs like the crucial PAP which draws its membership from elected leaders.
The meeting was held on Tuesday at the Kenyan State House in Nairobi and it included a strong delegation led by PAP President, Chief Charumbira.
The PAP delegation included the 3rd Vice President, Lucia Dos Passos; chairperson of the Western Caucus, Mbow; chairperson of the Rules Committee, Mikaya; and members of Kenya’s PAP delegation: Danson Mungatana, Rahab Mukami, and Majimbo Kalasinga.
Chief Charumbira said the purpose of the meeting was to address weaknesses within the AU and the need for reforms in order to enhance its capacity to fulfill the body’s mandate in particular the ambitious Agenda 2063 which is Africa’s blueprint for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
He also added that as early as 2016 the African heads of states and governments noted the need for urgent institutional reforms in the AU and identified several challenges which included fragmented focus areas, less coordination between the AU and regional economic communities like ECOWAS, SADC and EAC, and lack of oversight and accountability resulting in failure to meet service delivery targets.
President Ruto acknowledged the dysfunctionality in the AU and affirmed his commitment to push the reforms through.
He also highlighted the importance of close connection between the citizens and their representative bodies like the PAP which a crucial organ of the AU and for it to play a more active role of oversight on issues like the budget.
“The AU can no longer afford to operate in silos, disconnected from the people. The Pan-African Parliament must ensure that African citizens’ voices are heard, and that AU resources are managed efficiently,” said President Ruto.
The meeting concurred that the reforms will strengthen rather than weaken the PAP and this will go a long way in enhancing development for Africa’s poor people who form the majority of the 1.5billion strong population.
Chief Charumbira is on record advocating for the independence of the PAP so that it plays its role with less interference from the mother body, the AU.
He said the PAP must have its own budget not to rely on handouts from member states as it compromises its independence and effectiveness.
