Charumbira on the move to restore the battered image of PAP

By Dr. Maurice Ezuruike

The newly elected President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H. E  Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira is on the move and on track to restore the battered image of PAP with the Executive Council as he makes his debut appearance as PAP President at the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Lusaka Zambia. The governing instrument of the African Union is structured where key decisions are made within the Executive Council and PAP as an organ of the AU must work within the framework of the AU. 

In the years preceding H.E Charumbira's election as President, the relationship of PAP to the Executive Council had significantly deteriorated to a point where serious questions and concerns were raised relating to the bad image of PAP, the lack of respect for AU decisions, the failure to adhere to institutional regulations, and what they perceived is the absence of viable results to underscore PAP’s legislative mandate. 

This poor relationship which had been a direct consequence of poor leadership, had led to significant budget cuts and loss of respect typically accorded to a legislative body.

That’s why in this election, the PAP MP's in overwhelmingly electing Charumbira as President were motivated by his unique experience and background in institutional transformation as well as his proven knowledge of the AU processes and procedures as well as the inner workings of the Executive Council.

The parliamentarians also reaffirmed their commitment to embrace with efficiency the huge task of restoring the breakdown in relationship with the Executive Council and restore PAP to its foundational reputation. They understood that to accomplish this task will require a leader like Charumbira who is substantially capacitated with the requisite temperament, integrity, respect, experience & deep familiarity with AU systems.

PAP’s relationship with AU organs particularly the Executive Council remain vital to the actualization of the institutional mandate of PAP.

Dr. Ezuruike wrote from Abuja, Nigeria