SA ready for African Parliament
Richard Mantu
17 August 2004
The president of the Pan African Parliament, Gertrude Mongella, visited Pretoria last week to discuss preparations for the inaugural session of the Parliament, to be held at the interim venue at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg on 16 September.
The venue is currently being refurbished to accommodate the 265-member African Union (AU) parliament.
South Africa won the right to host the parliament at an AU summit in Ethiopia over a month ago.
The parliament will function as a consultative body to the AU, addressing issues such as civil wars, diseases such as HIV/Aids, and other developmental issues on the continent.
It will not have any legislative powers for a five-year period until 2007, when it will become a legislative assembly.
Welcoming Mongella in Pretoria, Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe promised African MPs a warm welcome when they come to attend the first sitting.
Van der Merwe said that in the
long term the continental parliament would be hosted in Gauteng, at a venue still to be decided. A continent-wide competition will be conducted for the design of a "truly African building" that will reflect the continent's rich cultural heritage.
Mongella said South Africa deserved to host the Parliament, and that this served as another milestone in the country's path to consolidate its 10-year-old democracy.
Mongella will chair the parliament with the help of four vice-presidents: Fernando Van-Dunem, representing Southern Africa; Mohammed Lutfi Farhat from Libya; Elise Neloumsi Loum, who represents Central Africa; and Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere from Benin.
"We are pleased with the co-operation shown by South Africans following the announcement of its successful bid to host the Pan African Parliament. 16 September will be a great day for the continent", Mongella said.
Source: BuaNews
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