The Courier

© European Parliament / Manoocher Deghati

On the set up of the Pan African Parliament

Its main goal is to look into conditions in Africa, make recommendations to heads of state on the development of African continent. We have a role to harmonise the laws of Africa. We have achieved a legislative role in this respect and have a responsibility of political and economic integration of the people of African.

Aims and achievements

We’ve set up the structure of the Parliament comprised of the presidency, bureau members representing the five regions of Africa and 10 committees working on different issues.

We’ve developed our strategic plans from 2006–2010 and there will be another strategy in 2010 to give us a sense of direction.

A relationship with a number of parliaments of a similar nature on the continent and outstide Africa has been established. For example, there is close collaboration with the European Parliament, Latin American Parliament and Indian, German and Japanese Parliaments. We also have very close relationships with our national Parliaments because they are the ones who designate the five members from each country (53 countries are represented) to sit on the PAP. They support our activities and even pay the expenses of some of the members of so they can carry out their responsibilities as members of the PAP.

A trust fund has been set up to compliment the regional resources that we get from the African Union because it is also under-funded. We’re therefore looking for friends and partners to contribute to the Fund to enable the Parliament to build its capacity and human, financial and technical resources.

We have also carried out a number of activities of great interest to the African continent. Conflict and security is permanently on the agenda, as is discussion about development of Africa in general, and also the NEPAD – the African initiative for development.

Do Member States pay enough attention to the PAP’s views? This is often the problem with European Parliament resolutions.

This is definitely a problem. A vote cannot be taken on every resolution you adopt. This is why we have to work out a sort of mobilisation or sensitisation mechanism to make sure that the issues we raise of great concern to everybody cannot be ignored.

How can the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) and European Parliament support the PAP?

When the PAP was established we were well aware that Africa is a continent with relationships with other continents, so issues concerning the African continent are not necessarily all localised on Africa. We needed to reach out to similar bodies such as the European Parliament and others, to see how we can work together, share experiences and look at what others have been able to achieve and how they did it.

We want to share information and look at whether we could solve in partnership some of the world problems, like HIV/AIDS or migration. A partnership can strengthen the work of the PAP and likewise, the PAP can strengthen the work of other parliaments. For example, we’ll be at the Africa-EU Heads of State Summit in Lisbon with our colleagues from the European Parliament. We want to see what Heads of State decide. This is of concern to both the people of Africa and Europe. By doing things jointly we have more energy. Alone you can run fast, together you run faster.

What is PAP’s request for financial support from the EU?

We have asked for EU financial assistance. The EU’s support for Africa should have a broad base. You cannot support democracy if you do not support parliamentary institutions. They have a role to play in promoting democracy. EU support for Africa should be for good governance, economic development, etc. The PAP is part of that process.

How specific can the EU assist good governance?

Part of our strategic plan is to promote the democratic processes in Africa: elections and the rule of law. This can only be done if we have capacity within the PAP, particularly for oversight of laws.

How can the Parliament help make progress for peace in Darfur?

From the outset, we have taken this issue very seriously. At the beginning of this Parliament, the first thing that we tackled was Darfur. We sent a mission there and have drawn up a report on the Darfur conflict. We gave some recommendations on how to solve some of the internal problems of Darfur. We are fully engaged in looking at the situation and the real causes of the problems in Darfur. What next after the fighting has stopped? There is spillover into Chad and the Central African Republic. We eventually intend to send another mission to the conflict areas.

When last in Brussels, you brought up the complex issue of Zimbabwe. As you know there’s is a bone of contention between EU and Africa over Zimbabwe. Is consensus possible?

Africa cannot deal with the Zimbabwe question just by finding consensus with Europe. The question is whether Africa can work with Zimbabwe to resolve its problem. This is why have we have taken initiative to work with Zimbabweans to find a solution. We think that the involvement of issues where the conflicting parties are now engaging in dialogue is to be commended. We should not be hard line. We are all family members. You cannot throw family members overboard simply because they may have gotten drunk or have made a mistake. Zimbabwe is Africa. We are concerned and we must work with them to find a solution. This is what Africa is doing. If the relationship between Africa and Europe is judged by the way Africa loves Zimbabwe, or doesn’t love Zimbabwe, the Lisbon meeting will miss the point. We should not destroy the Lisbon meeting by bringing in issues that can be better dealt with on the continent.

Gertrude Mongella

A graduate of the East Africa University in Dar es Salam, during her early career, Mrs. Mongella held various posts in education in her native Tanzania. She became a member of parliament and was subsequently appointed to ministerial positions
On the international stage, she is especially renowned for her work in promoting womens issues and rights. In 1995, as United Nations Assistant Secretary General, she was Secretary General of the UN’s 4th Beijing World Conference for women. In 2002, she became a member of the Organisation of African Unity’s (OAU) High Level Advisory Panel of Eminent Persons.