African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat is in the country to open the sixth Ordinary Session of the Fourth Sitting of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand on Monday.
The Parliament that will sit for two weeks will also elect its President and four Vice Presidents for the next three years.
They will each represent the five regions of the continent.
“The main highlight is the elections, the other highlight in some years we have the chair of the African Union Commission as a guest of honour,” says PAP Clerk Vypia Harawa.
The Pan African Parliament was established in 2004 as one of the arms of the African Union. It was intended to make laws for the continent but up to now it has only played an advisory role.
This year as in its 14th year it will get another president, the fifth.
Will it be a completely new president or will Cameroon get a second term?
Each of the 55 member countries is represented by five MPS. The election is a simple majority vote. The Northern region has six countries while the Southern region has 10 countries.
Some MPs say without a rule for rotation regions like the North, which has already nominated a candidate, may never assume the presidency. “ There is no rule for rotation, the current sitting made a rule to be incorporated in the revised protocol; until that protocol is ratified it remains a principle not a rule,” says Harawa.
More than 80 Members of Parliament from the continent will be sworn as new members of the Pan African Parliament. Four of the new members will be from South Africa representing the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Names attracting attention include the National Council of Provinces Chair Thandi Modise, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema. Do any the five MPs from South Africa stand a chance to represent the Southern Region?
“I’ve noticed that Hon Charumbira of Zimbabwe, Dr Phenyo of Botswana are campaigning and both are from the South, current President Cameroon is also campaigning and he is from central, but so far none of the three are officially candidates, because candidates are nominated by regions, but we expect that come Thursday 9: 30 am the regions will have nominated their candidates, only North has nominated a candidate,” says Harawa.
In the past some officials of the parliament have been unhappy with media reporting on issues including financial matters of the Parliament. What is the way forward?
“The Pan African Parliament is a public institution, we have nothing to hide, and we are obliged to show it to the public,” says Harawa.
Only five of the 55 countries have ratified the Malabo Protocol, an agreement to give the parliament more legislative powers. Until all countries ratify the Protocol, the parliament remains and advisory body.
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