South Africa

23. October 2018

FIFTH PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT HOLDS FIRST ORDINARY SESSION

Parliament, Tuesday 23 October 2018 – The Fifth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) began its First Ordinary Session in Kigali, in the Republic of Rwanda – under the African Union (AU) theme for 2018:  "Winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable growth to Africa's transformation".

The First Ordinary Session, which started on 22 October, will end on 3 November. Guest of Honour during the official opening was President of the Republic of Rwanda Mr Paul Kagame. In his address, President Kagame implored the PAP, as an important Organ of the AU, to participate and make its contribution to the AU's institutional reform processes.

The President of the PAP Mr Roger Nkodo Dang presented the PAP activity report, covering PAP activities from May to October 2018. The report included activities undertaken by the Bureau and the Permanent Committees of the PAP. Reports of individual PAP Committees will form part of the Committee Reports to be presented, debated and adopted by the Plenary during the course of the First Ordinary Session.  

The Southern Regional Caucus also met to discuss, among other things, nomination of the candidate of the Vice President to represent the Region in the Bureau of the PAP and deployment of Members from the Region to various PAP Committees.

The outcome of the deliberations was the nomination of a candidate from Zimbabwe and Malawi, in accordance with the PAP Rules. These require each Region to submit two names, which also reflect gender balance.

The National Assembly’s House Chairperson for Internal Arrangements Ms Thoko Didiza was elected to serve in the Regional Leadership as Rapporteur of the Region. Ms Didiza was already a member of the Committee on Trade and Immigration-related Matters.

The Region also decided to move Mr Julius Malema from the Committee on Finance to the Committee on Administration and Public Accounts – a crucial committee overseeing the efficiency and effectiveness of the PAP Administration and use of the PAP finances.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

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