PAP caucus nominates Charumbira

Zawmaida Murvira

senior reporter

The Pan-African Parliament Southern African Caucus yesterday officially named the chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Fortune Charumbira, as its sole candidate to contest as president of the continental legislative body, if the North African caucus does not field a candidate. The way was paved for him to stand unopposed.

Nomination by his constituency also closed the door for Malawi’s legislator, Mr Yeremiah Chihana, who failed to secure a nomination from Southern Africa after expressing interest in the position.

Chief Charumbira was unanimously named last night by the Southern African Caucus as it seeks to emphasize the principle of rotation of regions, which was upheld by the African Union.

Last night it was not immediately clear whether the North African region, the only other region eligible to contest, had nominated a candidate, although sources said they did not.

The nomination of more than one candidate by Southern Africa would have triggered the primary elections as a region was obliged to field only one candidate.

In an interview from South Africa’s Midrand last night, Chief Charumbira expressed confidence that he will rise to the top post at the continental body.

“Tomorrow (today), we have elections for the President of the Pan African Parliament and four vice-presidents. To be elected or be a candidate yesterday (today), you first need to be nominated by your caucus, so the Southern African Caucus has today (tomorrow) endorsed me to be your candidate for president of the PAP. Chief Charumbira said.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude for the confidence that the caucus has put in, but it all stems from the belief and belief that Zimbabwe, through His Excellency President Mnangagwa, who supported my candidacy, has come to this high level and holds the election.” We are confident that tomorrow (today) we will reach the top six of the PAP.

The Chief Whip of the African National Congress, Mrs Pemmy Majodina, said she had named Chief Charumbira as a caucus last year and would not step down until she achieved her objective of bringing her to the position. Wouldn’t do it

He said he sent several delegations to the region for canvas support and his confidence grew when the African Union supported the principle of rotation when some other regions expressed their willingness to contest.

“Today (yesterday) all 10 countries in the southern region supported the name of chief Charumbira as the sole candidate. We were definitely not going to give up on our mission because we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to achieve in 2021.

“We stand firmly with Chief Charumbira. We do not have any other candidates as each region has to submit one name. We are glad that we are showing our unity. There was one (other) person who didn’t even name here, nobody even nominated him,” Mrs Majodina said last night.

They said they are ready to contest from the North African region if they decide to field candidates.

In the first interview, Mr. Chihana said that he is willing to contest.

In yesterday’s proceedings, the continental legislative body was officially erected by African Union Commission President Dr Moussa Faki Mahamat for AU President and Senegalese President Mackie Saal, who accompanied South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the G7 summit in Germany. were participating in.

In yesterday’s proceedings, Zimbabwe’s legislator, CD Tatenda Mawtera, was sworn in to replace CDE Barbara Rovodzi, who is now deputy minister for the environment, climate, tourism and hospitality industries.

The PAP is a forum for the people of African states to engage in discussion and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent.

Instead of being directly elected by the people, PAP members are nominated by the legislatures of their member state and members of their home legislatures.

The ultimate objective is for the Parliament to be an institution with full legislative powers, whose members are elected by universal suffrage.

Until such time, the PAP has advisory, advisory and budgetary oversight powers within the AU.

Some of its objectives are to facilitate and monitor the enforcement of AU policies, objectives and human rights, and to strengthen democratic institutions and culture, good governance, transparency and the rule of law by all AU organs.