Tendai Keith Guvamombe (Johannesburg)
The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Chief Fortune Charumbira, opened a historic two-day gathering with the European Parliament (EP) in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking the first-ever joint session between the two continental legislative bodies.
Expressing immense honor and enthusiasm, Chief Charumbira emphasized the unique and robust mandates held by both Parliaments, distinguishing them from smaller, less formal parliamentary forums.
The primary goal of the engagement is to resuscitate and elevate the relationship between Africa and the European Union (EU), which he noted had recently been operating on a “lower mode.”
The central focus of the Johannesburg meeting is to craft clear, impactful recommendations for the upcoming Africa-EU Heads of State Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, which will commemorate 25 years of partnership between the two continents.
Chief Charumbira stressed that Parliaments representing two major continents have a solemn duty to defend multilateralism globally, arguing that a failure to do so would be a failure to both constituencies.
The preparatory engagement is intended to be a candid review of the past quarter-century, looking at both the challenges and achievements encountered since the partnership began.
Key thematic areas for discussion include peace and security, strengthening democratic institutions, and enhancing multilateral cooperation.
Crucially, the PAP President highlighted the need to align African development priorities with global strategies, specifically mentioning the Global Gateway initiative.
He emphasized the transformative potential of the newly operational African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and called for a strategy on how the EU and Africa can align trade interests, particularly concerning minerals and resource sharing.
The aim is to ensure that African member states receive maximum benefit and that any trade arrangement is built on a foundation of mutual respect in all areas.
Chief Charumbira underscored the hope that this parliamentary direction will forge a continental strategy for member states on governance, ultimately strengthening the overall Africa-EU partnership ahead of the Rwandan Summit.
The gathering seeks to give a strong, unified voice to the legislative arm of both continents, ensuring their priorities are front and center when Heads of State convene.
