Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Loide Kasingo, said that while the Pan-African Parliament has no legislative powers, it is not a useless forum as it discusses pertinent issues affecting the continent and makes recommendations to Head of States through the African Union.

Kasingo said this on Tuesday during a media briefing on the just-ended fourth ordinary session of the fifth parliament of the Pan African Parliament held between 21 May- 04 June in South Africa.

She said for years, since the inception of PAP in 2004, one of the challenges and frustrations has been the lack of power to legislate, which has rendered the parliament as an advisory body to AU.

“The main purpose of PAP is to represent the voice of people on the African continent. Since inception, we used to debate on very important topics and issues affecting the continent, including the movement of people and goods and made model laws,” Kasingo said, adding that those laws and models are then forwarded to the AU, where heads of member states sit, with recommendations.

Since its establishment in 2004, PAP, which is attended by over 200 MPs representing more than 50 countries and convenes twice a year, has been calling for the AU to give it legislative power.

Kasingo highlighted that the AU has agreed to a Malabo Protocol of 2014, which conferred legislative powers on PAP, if signed by at least 28 AU members states.

She said the protocol however remains ineffective as only 13 members states have signed thus far.

In the meantime, even without such power, PAP remains an important forum where African leaders come together to debate issues affecting the continent and effect changes to their countries and the continent at large.

“There is still hope for PAP and we are hoping things may change. We are hoping maybe the next generation will take over from where we are leaving and improve things,” she said.

Source: Namibia Press Agency