Story by Wellington Makonese
THE need to uphold peace and security for the successful actualisation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area dominated deliberations during the Second Ordinary Session of the sixth Pan Africa Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa this Monday.
The Second Session was officially opened by the African Union Chairperson and the Union of Comoros President, His Excellency Azali Assoumani.
The opening day saw delegates from the European Parliament and the African continent deliberating on peace and stability for the acceleration of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
This comes at a time the geo-political landscape is uneven, with tensions in Sudan being a cause for concern.
“Congratulations to you for upholding democracy and peace at a time world is changing, we have natural resources youth and education,” said President Assoumani.
” If we give them the appropriate conditions we will be able to realise socio-economic development my thrust this term is to accelerate free trade area but that can only happen under a peaceful environment hence we need to step into the Sudan crisis.”
The negative impact of climate change was also brought to the fore.
“To galvanise Africa’s accelerated economic growth agenda, women and the youth must be prime anchors of the AfCFTA and we must them in all facets of implementation,” said Honourable Candith Mashego-Dhlamini, the Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation in the Republic of South Africa.
“Our operative mantra as it relates to women and the youth must always be remembered in the quest to end hunger in the face of climate change.”
Pan African Parliament President Chief Fortune Charumbira reiterated the importance of ascribing legislative powers to PAP and noted the progress being made in spearheading inclusive development.
“We do not have legislative powers but we would do more with them when PAP was launched in 2004 member states on this regard to have it in five years, amendment of Malabo protocol, ratification since 2014 has been slow, as Chairperson of the AU there is need for review how PAP is viewed,” he said.
“Pursuing the AU theme, accelerating AfCFTA, empowerment of youth and women can be hastened through this, the gender and youth dimension. Agenda 2063 is another challenge the parliament is seized with, so there is a need for trade laws to be, an unconstitutional change of government.”
New members of PAP were sworn in with the institution targeting to expand its influence across the continent.
