The closing ceremony of the 5th Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) was marked by a strong show of support for its President, Chief Fortune Charumbira.
Amidst a backdrop of significant financial and institutional hurdles, members of the parliament lauded his efforts to keep the legislative body functioning and relevant.
Hon. Fateh Boutbig of Algeria highlighted the President’s “positive strides” despite the “critical financial challenges.” He commended the PAP for its ability to “deliver objectives of the African Union” and “business of the day” in the face of these constraints.
This sentiment was echoed by Hon. Sen. Kouadio Kouakou Bertin of Côte d’Ivoire, who delivered a particularly powerful tribute.
He thanked President Charumbira for “defending PAP on many issues” and “working tirelessly to make things happen at the AU.”
Bertin’s remarks, which concluded with a call for applause for the Bureau, were a testament to the belief that Charumbira’s leadership was instrumental in preventing the institution from being “dead by now.”
Hon. Sen. Tony Sibandze of Eswatini called for a re-evaluation of the relationship with the African Union, stating, “We need to reclaim our power from the African Union.”
He also offered a practical solution to the persistent issue of vacancies, suggesting the recruitment of staff from national parliaments to circumvent the AU’s freeze on hiring. This indicates a growing desire among some MPs for greater autonomy and a more direct approach to solving the PAP’s operational problems.
In his own closing remarks, President Charumbira confirmed the severity of these issues. He revealed that the PAP received a paltry USD 600,000 from the AU for the plenary session, underscoring the severe lack of budget.
He also pointed out the “very serious position with 25 vacancies” due to the AU-imposed recruitment freeze and stressed the importance of 15 more countries ratifying the Malabo Protocol to “unlock one or two things.”
Despite these formidable challenges, Charumbira’s closing message was one of gratitude and resilience, as he saluted the MPs for their “unwavering strength.”
The closing ceremony highlighted a shared commitment among the MPs to their work, with Charumbira’s leadership being a central pillar of their resolve.
