Pan African Parliament's woes

2005-11-23 13:58

Pretoria - Development of human resources, training staff and parliamentarians were needed for the Pan African Parliament to fulfil its political objectives, the chairperson of PAP's strategic task team said on Tuesday.

"For the PAP to fulfil its political objectives, it will need to realise its institutional objectives first, such as developing its human resources and training the staff and parliamentarians," said Miria Matembe, chair of the task team on the 2006-2010 strategic plan.

"Right now we simply do not have enough staff and specifically enough skilled people, to function to our full potential."

Matembe described the strategic plan as a "roadmap of the way forward for PAP for the next five years and beyond, as to how it will fulfil its various objectives."

"Our other institutional objectives include getting financial resources, developing better communication mechanisms and doing all that will enable us to function efficiently as an institution."

Among PAP's main political objectives were popularising the concept of the parliament across the continent and transforming into a legislative institution.

"We have very few people in Africa who do actually know what the PAP's role is.

"One of our political objectives is to popularise it, through debates, pamphlets and community programmes."

Other political objectives were promoting the "harmonisation" of continental and regional laws to foster integration; promoting democracy, gender rights, human rights and peace and security, Matembe said.

A discussion document on the proposed plan was reviewed and debated by the parliament on Tuesday.

Matembe said it was expected the document would be adopted on Wednesday.

On the web: www.pan-african-parliament.org/index2.htm

- SAPA