By Jeffrey ONGANGA
Commemoration
of the Africa Day should be a reflection on the strength of education, economy,
and health sectors among others. This was uttered by the Acting Pan-African
Parliament (PAP) President, Hon. Bouras DJAMEL, while officiating
the continental Parliament’s virtual celebration of this important day on the
African Union Calendar.
Addressing
over 100 participants joining the PAP webinar on 25 May, Hon. Djamel lauded the
continent for evident development in emancipation, recognition and empowerment
of youth and women which are aspirations of the Agenda 2063.
Hon.
Djamel also welcomed the Africa Day message from H.E Cyril RAMAPHOSA,
President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the African Union,
who called for greater
solidarity among African countries in the fight against COVID-19, while
praising the continent’s response to the pandemic . PAP’s
Acting President further acknowledged the call for a stable and peaceful
continent by H.E Moussa Faki MAHAMAT, Chairperson of the African Union
Commission in his Africa Day address.
The
PAP had day-long engagement with the Civil Society from across the continent as
well as the African Diaspora in Africa, Europe and the United States of America
to reflect on Agenda 2063 and the goal to silence the guns on the continent in
the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unpacking
the role of Members of Parliament in the Covid-19 response, Vice President
of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Chief Fortune CHARUMBIRA was
emphatic on the need for more scrutinization of policies, oversight on the
utilization of public funds and advocating for improved budget allocation for
the health sectors. The Vice-President also called for provision of
personal protective equipment (PPE) for Parliamentarians, to ensure they are
safe while sensitizing constituents on the coronavirus and other threats.
Civil Society Forum
Civil
Society Organizations believe that while there are undeniable achievements
since the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU),
commemoration of this day should be about aspirations in order to propel the
continent to address and achieve on the most crucial vulnerabilities
confronting Africans.
In
his intervention, Mr. Solomon AYELE DERSSO, Chairperson of the African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), called for redirection
of priorities and review of social policies. “For many Africans,
Health, water, sanitation, education and housing are still are dream. Our
oversight reveals that on the response to COVID-19, many are still unable to
practice social distancing because they live in one tiny room and regular hand-washing
is an aspired luxury. Our success will also rely on our capacity to
successfully address lingering issues such good governance and human rights,”
he emphasized.
The
Southern African Trust (SAT) emphasized on the
need for African members of Parliament to mobilize support for relief funds
and other initiatives while addressing policy vulnerabilities that have
reportedly locked-up women and children in more abusive situations since the
start of the COVID-19 era.
“We
plead with the Pan-African Parliament to encourage national Parliaments to prioritize
addressing ‘care economy’ which is essentially about strengthening health
systems and promoting food security,” said Ms. Masego MADZWAMUSE,
SAT CEO.
Speaking
in agreement that covid-19 be used as a benchmark to build resilience
against potential health threats yet to come, the gathering lauded
Mauritius Island for its swift response to the virus. The Island has not lost
any life to coronavirus and has recorded full recovery of all its 11 cases.
The
forum also tasked PAP to steer member states into normalizing and making
meaningful investments in research, citing the Madagascar covid treatment
as potential that could have easily thrived with the back-up of research from
the Continent. Chairperson of the PAP Permanent Committee on Cooperation,
International Relations and Conflict Resolution, Hon. Aboubacar Kone SIDIKI
lauded Madagascar for demonstrating that with strong Parliaments, Africa has
the potential to provide solutions to threats against the rest of the world.
The
African Union Commission (AUC) also used the opportunity to make a case for
Civil society and the Continental Parliament to double efforts to sensitize
members -states and the public about Agenda 2063; Africa’s development blueprint.
“Countries need to account for Agenda 2063 which was signed by all member
states in 2013 , yet it is hardly known by the African people
and national development plans do not talk to the strategy,” said Mr.
Charles WANGADYA, Policy Officer at the African Union Commission.
The
sentiment was echoed by civic Organizations that are worried about the pace at
which conflict exacerbates vulnerability of the continent. “It is
worrisome that seven years into the adoption of the Agenda 2063 there are very
little gains, although a lot of work has been done to address conflict. We call
on more involvement of Civil Society, and its integration into the overall
continental agenda. Leaders need to be aware of the extent to which conflict
feeds on socio-economic deficiency,” said Dr. Nkatha MURUNGI.
On
the other hand, Director of the Centre for Democracy and
Development-Abuja (CDD-Abuja) Ms. Idayat HASSAN underscored
the need for Africa to explore the possibility or reality of universal
democracy by addressing the conflict resolution framework and further
mainstream disability, gender and youth into development conversations as well
as the African Union annual themes.
Diaspora Forum
The
Pan-African Parliament applauded the African diaspora for commitment to use
knowledge for the benefit and development of Africa, particularly during this
crucial time of COVID-19 where at least 35 000 doctors in the diaspora are
battling to save world citizens from the claws of the novel virus. The
Parliament has marked the current health threat as central to many other
challenges that the Diaspora in general could be of use and help to the
Continent
The
Acting President of PAP, Hon. Bouras DJAMEL said the Continental
Parliament also takes note of the incredible contribution that could be made by
many of those young Africans who are crossing oceans in abnormal ways in search
for better opportunities elsewhere or fleeing conflict from their
countries. “We also have a duty to work with them in building Africa.
Together we can find solutions to the problems of Africa, and of the world. The
African Diaspora is the Pride of the African Continent,” he said while officiating
the Diaspora forum whose engagement was on exploring opportunities presented by
the Agenda 2063, in which the African Diaspora could participate to build
African economic industries.
Rev.
Dennis DILLON,
an Economic Activist from the Harlem Chamber of Commerce
and Organizer of the Door of Return said Africa’s strength in terms of economic
and knowledge power must be harnessed outside its borders where approximately
50 million Africans represent 1.75 trillion dollars in buying power in the
United States alone. “The Nations of Africa need to begin to explore ways of
harnessing this power. The Diaspora is ready to collaborate and give back to
the motherland,” he said.
Presenting
key economic opportunities and areas for collaboration and participation of the
diaspora, Mrs. Bridgitte Motsepe-RADEBE, PAP’s Goodwill Ambassador for
Socio-Economic Development highlighted legislative impediments as an area that
needs to be addressed with the creation of laws that empower indigenous people
to invest and play in the mining sector. She encouraged more unpacking of the
Agenda 2063, exploration of other minerals in abundance such as cobalt, copper
and uranium; also encouraging exploration of beneficiation of minerals and
harnessing the entire value chains in Africa.
“It
is important for Africa to work towards creation of laws that ensure Africa
exports end products, not raw materials. COVID itself is a wake-up call and
the strengthening of the local manufacturing base is long overdue,” says Mrs.
Radebe.
Participating
Diaspora advised that the ease of integrating infant industry
technologies, value-adding technologies to exploit the entire value chains
as well as facilitating Diaspora links to support the youth economic
activity, would enhance and respond to the African Union’s goal to build
local economic development.
Worried
that 90% of African economies are supported by the informal sector and
that Africa imports 60% of its food, the African Union Development Agency
(AUDA-NEPAD) reiterated the urgency to support and invest in Small and
Medium enterprises and to assist SMEs to graduate from informal business
activity. AUDA-NEPAD said Africa should begin to re-think and transform
mechanisms to respond to challenges through technology, post Covid-19.
“Governments
have to start investing on the health sector and re-building the business
sector on the foundation of innovation and creativity and investments in
manufacturing and industrialization,” said Mr. Amine Idriss ADOUM.
Senator
James SANDERS called
for careful review of sectors for Africa to gain the most from
possible collaborations but also appealed for governments to be more
transparent for the anticipated joint initiatives to bear fruit. Ms. Anna
McCOY called the PAP to reflect on how Africa can be future-relevant, citing
human development and upskilling youth in technological advancements, artificial
intelligence and material science as key and an area that has a promise of
possible collaborations between African industrialists and the African
diaspora.
In
his closing remarks, PAP acting President Hon. Bouras DJAMEL reiterated
that “with meaningful collaborations, we can create a powerful free-trade area
with our Diaspora.”
The
need for economic activism was echoed as a long overdue exercise.
Jeffrey ONGANGA is Media
Officer, Pan African Parliament
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