By Andrew Irumba
South Africa: The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has resolved to engage with national and regional parliaments to have them enact or revise legislation intended to fight corruption.
In one of the resolutions adopted during the Third Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament, PAP also agreed to engage with and have African national and regional parliaments effectively exercise their oversight, legislative and representative roles to ensure an effective management of sovereign debt and the breaking of the cycle of corruption, particularly through timely tracking and oversight of public and private partnerships and the audit of national sovereign debt, financial flows, revenue and procurement.
The resolution on managing debt and fighting corruption in Africa was one of the ten resolutions adopted at the end of Third Ordinary Session of the Fifth PAP in Midrand, South Africa on Thursday 17 October 2019. The sitting was chaired by PAP President, Hon. Roger Nkodo.
“Corruption and illicit financial flows threaten our goals to end poverty and hunger in Africa and to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions through promoting inclusive economic growth, protecting the environment and promoting social inclusion,” read part of the resolution adding that “Illicit financial flows cause shortage of money available for states to spend on national development, which result in borrowing and the rising levels of sovereign debts in Africa.”
At PAP, Uganda is represented by MPs: Hon. Jacquiline Amongin, Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo, Hon. James Kakooza, Hon. Anifa Kawooya and Hon. Felix Okot Ogong.
PAP also resolved to support and promote the role of parliamentary anti corruption networks, citizenry, the media and civil society in promoting the culture of transparency, probity and accountability and in preventing illicit financial flows.
It was also resolved that PAP promotes the ratification, domestication and implementation of four conventions that are in line with preventing corruption. The conventions include: the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption; the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan African Parliament; and the Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights.
Other resolutions adopted were on:
- The model law on disability in Africa;
- The model law on food security and nutrition in Africa;
- The establishment of the Pan African Parliamentarians Forum on Education;
- The adoption of the African model double taxation agreement;
- Peace and security status on the African continent;
- Peace and security situation in the Sahel Region;
- The consideration of the Activity Report of the Pan African Parliament;
- The Report of the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts of the Pan African Parliament;
- Paying tribute to H.E. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
