Donor dependency unhealthy, says Pan-African parliament

Members of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), this week debated the budget for 2015, and agreed to develop new methods of funding for the organisation, noting its dependence on donors is unhealthy. This was during a session held in Midrand, South Africa on Tuesday. The PAP had earlier on discussed and adopted the organisation’s Strategic Plan for 2014-2017. The newly adopted Strategic Plan was approved by all the AU organs, development partners and other key stakeholders of the PAP during a consultative meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria last December. “The plan is aligned to the overall AU priorities, defines the strategic objectives of the PAP,” reads a PAP statement in part. “The Strategic Plan will guide the annual planning and budgeting process of the PAP and define the modalities for strategic partnership between PAP and key strategic partners aimed at building stronger networking, synergy building and harmonisation,” the statement adds. The Strategic Plan also aims at advancing the Parliament as an overarching Parliamentary body for the continent, providing a platform for African voices and promoting human rights and democracy in Africa. Promoting peace and security, fostering continental integration through harmonisation of policies and strengthening the institutional capacity of the PAP, are the other objectives. MP Bethel Amadi, the president of the Pan-African Parliament said: “We need to harmonise African legislations in order to transform the African continent.” With the implementation of the new plan, the PAP is determined to make a positive influence in Africa through transparency and accountability. Mid last year, Khalid Dahab, the PAP’s senior information, communication and media relations officer, told The New Times that the PAP’s total budget for the year 2014 stood at $11,685,390 with $2.7m allotted to administrative costs and $8.9m allotted to operational costs. Meanwhile, Cameroonian MP Roger Nkodo, was on Wednesday elected as first vice-president of the PAP. Rwanda has five seats in PAP and members serve for five years. Rwanda’s PAP representatives are MP Fidel Rwigamba (RPF-coalition), elected last October to replace the late Tharcisse Shamakokera who passed on in February 2012, MP Jeanne d’Arc Nyinawase (PL), Sen. Gallican Niyongana (PSD), MP Juliana Kantengwa (RPF), and Sen. Jeanne d’Arc Mukakalisa (PDC).

National

Donor dependency unhealthy, says Pan-African parliament