" [1]The Seventh Ordinary session of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) opened in Midrand South Africa on Monday with a call for the transformation of the Institution into a legislative body.
In a statement read on behalf of Dr Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, NEPAD’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, called on the Pan African Parliament to encourage member states to sign the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
Currently, the PAP lacks legislative powers but its aim is to evolve into an institution with full legislative powers, whose members are elected by universal adult suffrage.
Dr Mayaki welcomed the entry into force of the Charter, which is a legal instrument for promoting inclusive political participation in Africa.
“The Charter marks a turning point for Africa in raising levels of good governance and establishing democratic institutions across the Continent. It is a fundamental instrument to promote, strengthen and mainstream political pluralism and tolerance within member states,” he said.
Dr Mayaki also highlighted the recent positive developments in a number of African countries, which have held regular, transparent and fair elections; a sign that the Continent had matured.
He validated the importance of the PAP saying that it has played a critical role in promoting democracy, peace-building and unity on the continent, but that its success would rely on the extent to which member states advocate for PAP and the Charter.
“Strengthening the Pan African Parliament would ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and political and economic integration of the Continent,” he said.
The President of the Republic of Chad, Idriss Deby who was Guest of Honour at the opening called for the transformation of the PAP into a legislative body saying that “that the Pan African parliament will remain toothless as long as it does not have legislative powers”.
H.E. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa highlighted the critical role of PAP as “an important organ of the AU that has a critical role in the democratization process of the continent”.
A number of messages of Solidarity were delivered in the House by the Representative of the President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Sudan, the Vice President of the National Assembly of the Cote d'Ivoire, the Speaker of the National Constituent Assembly of Tunisia, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.
