THE SIXTH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF THE PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT KICKS OFF

THE SIXTH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF THE PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT KICKS OFF

The Sixth Ordinary Session of the Third Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) kicked off on Monday May 18, 2015 at Midrand, South Africa. In his welcome remarks, the President of the Parliament, His Excellency, Hon. Bethel Amadi stressed the need to develop a continental approach in addressing the problem of youth unemployment in Africa. Hon. Amadi stated that providing economic opportunities for African youths will greatly reduce the number of Africans who die while attempting to cross over to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pastures. Continuing, Hon. Amadi stressed the need for increased inter-African trade and economic integration as a better alternative than going cap in hand seeking for foreign aid with the attendant negative consequences.

Hon. Bethel Amadi condemned the recent xenophobic attacks on fellow Africans living in South Africa, describing it as contrary to the spirit of “ubuntu” and African togetherness, and then called on the South African government to ensure the protection of the lives and property of Africans who reside in the country while ensuring that the perpetrators are made to face the full weight of the law to serve as a deterrent. He called for the observance of a minute silence in honour of those African youths who lost their lives during the xenophobic attacks as well as those who lost their lives at the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to cross over to Europe.

Concluding, Hon. Bethel Amadi described as worrisome, the increase in terrorism and religious extremism particularly the terrorist attacks in Kenya and the security challenges posed by Boko Haram in Nigeria and then condemned the aborted coup in Burundi while joining the African Union in calling on all parties to respect the constitution of Burundi and shunning all acts of violence and intimidation. He announced that the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Third Parliament will devote two legislative days to Inter-Generational Youth Dialogue (May 22 and 23) as well as one day, May 25 for the Africa Day Celebration which will focus on women empowerment and development towards Africa’s 2063 agenda.

Thereafter, the Parliament received messages of solidarity from various dignitaries and leaders. One of such dignitaries, Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo who represented the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, condemned the increase in religious fanaticism and urged parliamentarians to join in its condemnation including such other ills as bigotry, xenophobia and racism. He called on various national parliaments to act swiftly to arrest the ugly trend by dialoguing with the leaders of such groups and seeking to identify and address whatever their grievances might be.

Also addressing the Parliament, Hon. Cecilia Barbara Atim who represented the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, condemned the aborted coup in Burundi and the xenophobic attacks in South Africa and called on the African continent to rebuild its economic moral to greatly reduce the number of African youths who die while attempting to cross over to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. Recalling her days as a member of the Ugandan delegation to the Pan African Parliament, Hon. Atim advised that concerted efforts should be made to increase the number of women in leadership positions stressing that women have over the past years demonstrated their ability to handle sensitive positions. She advocated that Africa’s raw materials should no longer be exported to other continents unless processed as a way of creating economic opportunities for Africans.

In his message of solidarity, the Speaker of the Parliament of Namibia, Hon. Peter Katjavivi who was also a former member of the Pan African Parliament, appreciated the contributions and achievements of the current PAP President, Hon. Bethel Amadi especially in midwifing the transformation of the Parliament from an advisory body to a full legislative body. Speaker Katjavivi observed that although Africa has succeeded in getting political independence, it has yet to achieve economic independence and then called on parliamentarians to rise to the challenge of achieving economic freedom for Africa.

In her own message, the Speaker of the House of Parliament of Sierra Leone, Hon. Sheka Dumbuyu who was also a former member of PAP, expressed excitement at the successful transformation of PAP to a full legislative body and thanked the body for identifying with the government and peoples of Sierra Leone during its period of Ebola epidemic. She reasoned that the wisdom of men depends on the contributions of women and therefore advocated for the increased participation of women in leadership positions. Speaker Dumbuyu stated that Africa has come of a long way politically as we now have countries where incumbent heads of state have conceded defeat in elections  and congratulated opponents and then extolled the sterling qualities of the PAP President, Hon. Bethel Amadi describing him as Nigeria’s gift to Africa.

In her own message, the South African Minister in charge of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane welcomed the Parliamentarians to South Africa observing that her country will host the African Union (AU) Summit in June (next month). She expressed her country’s regret over the recent xenophobic attacks and observed that blaming foreigners for unemployment and economic problems in South Africa is both simplistic and opportunistic and then pledged the resolve of the South African Government to protect foreign nationals living in South Africa. She congratulated the people and government of Nigeria for her peaceful 2015 general elections and then urged other heads of state and government to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan’s example.