Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
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History in the making: PAP amends Rules of Procedure
History was made when a motion on the amendments to the Pan African Parliament’s (PAP) Rules of Procedure was moved, seconded, and adopted in the First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) held in Midrand. The long-awaited process effectively addresses loopholes and legal ambiguities contained in the Rules of…
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13th PAP Women’s Conference: NEPAD pledges support for gender mainstreaming
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has pledged to give its support to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in advocating women’s empowerment and gender equity and equality. In a statement delivered on her behalf by Mrs. Estherine Fotabong, the Director of Programme Innovation and Planning, Madam Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD during the…
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Unconstitutional governments, irregular political transitions under spotlight at PAP High-level Dialogue
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) is today holding a high-level dialogue to deliberate on the rising phenomenon of unconstitutional changes of government and irregular political transitions on the continent. In his keynote address, Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the PAP, said the dialogue is meant to reflect upon, deliberate, exchange ideas, and make…
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Hands on the deck for PAP as Chief Charumbira delivers performance review report
There is a deliberate change in the thrust of the new Bureau of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), from merely activity-based reporting to results-based reporting, Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the African union’s legislative organ has said. The President of the Pan-African Parliament made the remarks while delivering a performance review report of the…
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PAP should strengthen democracy and the rule of law: President Ramaphosa
The Pan-African Parliament has an important mandate of contributing to the strengthening of the culture of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law on the continent, HE Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa has said. The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services for South Africa, Mr. Ronald Lamola (MP) on behalf of the…
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High-level panel for Official Opening of PAP’s first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament
Signifying the high importance of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), high-level dignitaries will grace the official opening of the continental legislative body’s First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament. Representing H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, Hon. Ronald Lamola, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services will deliver the keynote address at the official opening ceremony of…
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New PAP members undergo orientation
The Sergeant-at-Arms of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has given orientation to the August House’s new members about the Parliamentary estate, ceremonies, and security to outline the various facilities and services offered by the unit. The new members are Bernadine Nduwimana from Burundi; Hannaa Benkhiar from Morocco; Sarfina Filipe Franco from Mozambique; Mohamed Jama Mursal, Prof…
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Campaigners call on Zimbabwe to adopt landmark disability law
Zimbabwe is on the cusp of becoming the first Southern African country to ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP) but action is needed to push it across the finish line. This is why today (October 29), Sightsavers’ Equal World Campaign, in partnership with the African Union and the African Disability Forum, is urging governments and…
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Pan African Parliament working on Model Law on Nationality
The Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict is gathering further important information and data in preparation for their presentation of the Model Law on Nationality before the Plenary on 1 November 2022. The sixth parliament of PAP is sitting for its first ordinary session in Midrand South Africa from 24 October…
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All set for PAP Women’s Caucus 13th Conference
The Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Women’s Caucus will, on November 4 and 5 2022, host the 13th Conference on Women’s Rights under the theme “Women empowerment and inclusion in governance.” The Women Caucus has met to discuss the upcoming conference on the sidelines of the continental Parliament’s First Ordinary session of the Sixth Parliament which kicked off…
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Zimbabwe, Malawi exchange notes on curbing child marriages
By Nhau Mangirazi A Zimbabwe delegation was in Malawi this week exchanging notes on curbing child marriages in a move aimed at empowering female politicians and women in general. The tour was held in Zomba, a five-hour drive from Lilongwe where they conducted a transformative feminist leadership learning and exchange visit in Malawi from 23-…
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African Ambassadors affirm commitment to working with the PAP
Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament has commended the African Ambassadors based in South Africa for affirming their commitment to working with the continental lawmaking body. In his address during the meeting with the African Ambassadors at the PAP Headquarters in Midrand, Johannesburg today, Hon Charumbira said the collaboration will…
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PAP Southern African Regional Caucus presents recommendations
The Southern African Regional Caucus today presented its recommendations on the amendments of the Pan African Parliament Rules as guided by the Report of the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline on the Consultative Workshop on the Revision of the Rules of Procedure of the PAP; and Gaps Identified in the Rules of Procedure. After debate…
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PAP joins progressive forces denouncing sanctions against Zimbabwe
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is among the progressive forces denouncing the illegal sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe by some western countries. The 25th of October is now known as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Anti-Sanctions Day. In a speech read on his behalf today by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, President Mnangagwa paid…
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PAP needs to clarify the concept of Deliberative Organ
By Dr. Maurice Ezuruike The ongoing review process of the Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Rules of Procedure presents a unique opportunity to clarify by definition the true interpretation of the concept of “any other deliberative organ” as reflected in Rule 6 of the PAP’s rules of procedure and invoked generally as a synonym to National Parliaments…
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Mobile tax should fund SRHR: Parliamentary Caucus
By Nhau Mangirazi The Women Parliament Caucus (ZWPC) has recommended the mobilization of resources towards the sexual and reproductive health rights affecting women and girls in most marginalized communities. ZWPC chairperson, Hon Goodluck Kwaramba made the presentation last week during a prebudget seminar saying the proportion of the 5 percent mobile airtime levy, introduced in…
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Chief Charumbira sets motion for PAP Review of Rules of Procedure
Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) has set the ball rolling for the continental parliamentary body’s Bureau and Regional Caucuses to come up with a roadmap for the review of the Rules of Procedure. Chief Charumbira revealed this while officially opening the First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament…
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Women’s Parliamentary Caucus urges Mthuli Ncube to help on water issues
By Nhau Mangirazi The Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has urged finance minister Prof Mthuli Ncube to set aside money to improve water and sanitation in mostly rural and marginalized communities. The parliament caucus chairperson, Hon Goodluck Kwaramba made the presentation last week calling on Prof Ncube to consider setting aside funds that will help improve…
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PAP leadership structures convene on eve of first Ordinary Session of sixth Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Bureau has jointly met with the Bureaus of the Permanent Committees and Regional Caucuses, Women’s Caucus and Youth Caucus ahead of its first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament that will hold from October 24 to November 12 2022, to consider the programme of the session. The Session, which will be…
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Pan African Parliament Bureau holds consultations with focal team of African Ambassadors
The Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) met with selected members of the African Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of South Africa namely Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Congo Brazzaville, Mali and Zimbabwe. The focal team was set up in September 2022 by the Dean of African Heads of Diplomatic Missions to work closely with the…
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Job Sikhala is my employee: Douglas Mwonzora
Opposition politician Douglas Mwonzora revealed that he visited incarcerated legislator for Zengezi West, Job Sikhala because their relationship transcends politics and professionalism. “I am actually disturbed by social media hullaballoo where uninformed elements tend to question my visit to incarcerated Zengeza West MP, Job Sikhala. First and foremost, Job Sikhala is in Parliament on an…
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Chief Chundu jerks government to address challenge of veld fires
By Nhau Mangirazi Harare – The Zimbabwe government has agreed to take punitive measures to curb veld fires after Chief Chundu raised the issue with information minister Monica Mutsvagwa who promised action to address the major challenge affecting the environment. Chief Abel Mbasera Chundu said this during the Senate sitting under Oral Answers to Questions…
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Deal with GBV perpetrators: Girls Collective
BY Nhau Mangirazi Girls Collective – a civil society coalition fighting for girls’ rights and justice has called on the government to deal with perpetrators of violence against girls. In a statement following the death of Nokutenda Hwaramba (15) who died while giving birth at a shrine in Bikita, the umbrella body says suspects must…
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Go beyond rhetoric in gender mainstreaming: PAP President Charumbira
The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira has told global Parliamentarians gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 145th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), to go beyond rhetoric and utilize their budgetary powers to fast-track gender equality and mainstreaming around the world. The leader of the African continental Parliament made the call…
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Death penalty inhuman: Veritas
Veritas, a Non-Governmental Organization has called for the abolishment of the Death Penalty with Zimbabwe having 62 prisoners awaiting capital punishment. Zimbabwe will join other nations in commemorating World Day Against the Death penalty. Observed every 10 October, the World Day Against the Death Penalty unifies the global abolitionist movement and mobilizes civil society, political…
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Zimbabwe’s Electoral Act amendment gets nod
By Elvis Dumba Harare – The government has given a nod to the amendment of the electoral law. The cabinet received and approved the Electoral Amendment Bill 2022 as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi during a cabinet meeting. The bill seeks among other things, to provide a timeframe…
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Cynthia Chigwenya among Zimbabwean youths raising country’s flag at international stage
Zimbabwean Youths are making waves on the continent, taking a centre stage in socio-economic and political affairs. One such youth is Cynthia Chigwenya who doubles as the current African Union’s Ambassador for Southern Africa and a Program Coordinator for Political dialogue for Sub-Saharan Africa at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Prior to that position, she was previously a researcher…
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Budget consultations: public urged to provide researched submissions
By Hillary Munedzi Legislators are urging the public to give detailed figures that can be allocated to different ministries by researching the previous budgets before presenting their submissions to Parliament. Speaking during the public hearing on Monday 3 October 2022 in Harare, the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance, Economic Development and Expanded Committee on Sustainable…
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State Duma of Russia, Parliament of Zimbabwe sign cooperation agreement
An Agreement of Cooperation between the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly of the Parliament of Zimbabwe was signed yesterday. The Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe, Hon Jacob Francis Mudenda is on a Bilateral Visit to Russia and is accompanied by Hon. Webster Shamu, Chairperson of…
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Media urged to take a leading role in fighting corruption
By Baboloki Semele Nairobi, Kenya: The Executive Secretary of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), Charity Nchimunya has urged the media to occupy the front lines in the fight against corruption. She made the call on 27 September 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya at a media engagement workshop on supporting the implementation of the…
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Parliament laptops procurement saga: Clerk clears air
There were heated verbal exchanges today at the committee meeting by the Public Accounts Committee that sat to deliberate events that led to the cancellation of a Blinart Investments P/L tender to supply 173 laptops for US$1,602,755.77 to the Parliament of Zimbabwe. If the deal had sailed, Parliament would have parted with US$$9,200 per laptop…
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Junior Parliamentarians propose measures to revive the tourism sector
Junior Parliamentarians today proposed a raft of innovative measures to enhance the contribution of tourism to the economy as the sector is emerging from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. They made the contributions today during the commemoration of World Tourism Month celebrations at the inaugural Debate Session by Junior Parliamentarians organised by the…
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PAP delegation kicks off official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President, H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira is leading a delegation of the continental Parliament to the Kingdom of Morocco for an official visit at the invitation of the Moroccan Parliament. The visit is taking place from 24 to 27 September 2022. The President of the PAP and his delegation are expected…
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Media Practitioners’ Bill should clearly define a journalist: Stakeholders
By Tafadzwa Muranganwa The proliferation of citizen journalism, blogging, and vlogging among other alternative media have made the definition of a professional journalist in Zimbabwe difficult. This was heard at the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) engagement meeting on Wednesday. Media stakeholders including the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ), the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists…
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Banket Service Stations robbed of cash and fuel
By Elvis Dumba Banket – Police are on the hunt for suspected armed robbers who got away with £2000 from Trek and Zuva Service Stations in Banket. Suspected five males accompanied by a lady reportedly pounced on the two adjacent fuel stations in the Banket CBD area on Wednesday at midnight. Information gathered during a…
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Pan-African Parliament and Africa Forum explore cooperation prospects
The Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the Forum for Former African Heads of State and Government (Africa Forum) have agreed to establish a collaborative framework to support the implementation of the broad objectives of the African Union (AU). An introductory meeting between the two parties took place on 14 September 2022 at the…
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ZHRMP analyses roadmap to 2023 elections
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform (ZHRMP) has said as the country is heading towards the 2023 elections, there is a lot hanging on the recommendation of the Monhlante commission and the 2018 election local and international observer recommendations. In this edition of its National Election Watch (NEW), the organisation observed that human rights violations…
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PAP President outlines vision to African Ambassadors in South Africa
The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira has called on African Diplomats to act as PAP’s “brand ambassadors” in African Union (AU) Member States, as the new Bureau embarks on a journey to “revive, renew, reposition, and reinvigorate” the continental Parliament. The call was made during a plenary meeting of African Diplomatic Heads…
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AU organs in South Africa celebrate African Union Day
On the occasion of a recreational sports day, African Union organs based in South Africa namely the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), and African Union Development Agency (AUDA NEPAD) joined forces to commemorate the African Union Day (AU Day). The aim of the activity was to promote a healthy lifestyle and…
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IOM-Zimbabwe hosts SADC workshop on Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMA)
The government of Zimbabwe in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will host a capacity development initiative on “Promoting Ethical Recruitment and Rights-Based Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements in the Southern African Region”. The regional workshop is meant to build the capacity of multifarious stakeholders from SADC countries on ethical recruitment standards and to…
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PAP hosts 11th Conference of Speakers of African Parliaments
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is hosting the 11th Conference of Speakers of African National and Regional Parliaments from 1 to 2 September 2022. The conference will be held on the margins of the ongoing August Sittings of the Permanent Committees of the sixth Parliament in Midrand, South Africa guided by the African Union (AU) theme for 2022: “Building…
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Justice Moses Chinhengo among eminent African jurists to monitor Kenyan election petition
The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) has commissioned a High-Level Panel of African Jurists to observe the 2022 Presidential Election Petition in Kenya. Trial Observation Mission is headed by the Rtd Chief Justice of the Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Justice Mohammed Chande Othman. Justice Moses Chinhengo, a Zimbabwean national who serves on the ad…
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AGA Project, PAP partnership capacitates journalists on parliamentary reporting
The African Governance Architecture (AGA) Project in partnership with the Pan African Parliament (PAP) held a capacity-building workshop for African journalists, drawn from several African Union member states in a bid to improve reporting of parliamentary activities. The main objective of the workshop, the first of a series to be held by the continental Parliament,…
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Workshop equips PAP with knowledge on nutritional resilience and food security
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By Baboloki Semele The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has been oriented on the AU Theme for 2022: “Strengthening nutritional resilience and food security on the African continent: strengthening Agri-food, health, and social protection systems for the acceleration of the development of human, social and economic.” Held on 24 August 2022 at the headquarters of the…
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Media aids PAP to deliver on its mandate: Chief Charumbira
Media is an indispensable partner and vehicle through which the Pan African Parliament (PAP) will be able to carry out its functions and deliver on its mandate, the continental body’s president, Chief Fortune Charumbira has said. Chief Charumbira made the remarks today in his keynote address during the second and final day of a capacity-building…