Story by John Nhandara
CLERKS of African parliaments have been tasked with playing an oversight role in the implementation of Agenda 2063.
The annual meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of African Parliaments held in Midrand South Africa this Tuesday has seen clerks of African parliaments deliberating on strategic goals and priorities of the African Union, particularly agenda 2063 second ten-year implementation plan.
“We must be proactive in implementing policies based on Agenda 2063. Many countries have not domesticated Agenda 2063, which was adopted in 2015, and 10 years after its domestication, we are lagging behind,” said the third vice president of the Pan African Parliament, Honourable Lucia Do Passos.
Promotion, ratification, domestication, and implementation of African Union treaties were also brought to the fore, with special emphasis on the ratification of the Pan African Parliament’s Malabo Protocol which is meant to give PAP legislative powers.
“We have not done much in ratifying AU treaties such as the Malabo Protocol, which will give PAP legislative powers,” Clerk of parliament for PAP, Honorable Lindiwe Khumalo noted.
Meanwhile, participants have pledged to play their oversight role in the effective promotion of parliamentary action for the ratification of African Union treaties.
“We have been lagging behind in implementing of Agenda 2063, so the key highlight was the need for us to play an oversight role in ensuring that it is implemented,” Zimbabwe’s Deputy Clerk of Parliament, Honourable Nomasonto Audrey Sunga said.
“There is a lot of work that we need to do back home with regards to how we can domesticate these treaties and also play a role in ensuring ratification of Malabo Protocol so that PAP can have legislative powers,” highlighted Honourable Lydia Kandetu, Namibia’s Secretary of the National Assembly.
Agenda 2063 has seven key aspirations that include a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development and a peaceful and secure Africa, among other aspirations.
