The PAP Bureau pays a courtesy call on South African Minister of Foreign Affairs

By Ntsiuoa Thatolla Sekete

A delegation of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), led by Rt. Hon. Roger Nkodo DANG, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). This was the first meeting between the leadership of the continental Parliament, based in Midrand, and the Minister since her appointment earlier this year.

In this regard, the two parties discussed various issues including the host country agreement between the South African government and the African Union (AU) pertaining to the PAP including the Malabo Protocol; and update on the new PAP headquarters, among others.

It is important to note that South Africa and Zimbabwe are currently the only Southern African countries to have signed the Malabo Protocol, the legal framework which will empower the PAP with full legislative powers once ratified by 28 AU member states. To date, 13 countries have ratified the protocol.

“We were honored to meet the Minister today and plead with her leadership status on the continent to advocate for the ratification of the Malabo Protocol so that the PAP is more relevant to the people of Africa. We have also agreed to meet more regularly with the Minister to engage on issues related to the operational aspect of the PAP,” says Rt. Hon. Nkodo DANG.

DIRCO is responsible for relations with International organisations based in South Africa. The Southern African nation has played host to the PAP, the legislative organ of the AU, since 2004.

The PAP delegation was made up of Hon. Bouras Djamel (3rd Vice-President); Hon. Chief Chirumbira (4th Vice-President) as well as the Acting Clerk and selected staff of the Secretariat.

Ntsiuoa Thatolla Sekete is the Senior Communications & Media  Officer at the Pan African Parliament.