Among calls for African unity to advance strategic interests

The Speaker of the Parliament, Anita Among, has called on African leaders to dig up solutions to challenges affecting the continent.

The Speaker made remarks while presiding over the opening ceremony of the 86th Executive Committee Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)-Africa Region taking place at Protea Hotel in Entebbe.

The high-level meeting has in attendance 17 member countries, including Namibia, South Africa, Ghana, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Gambia, and Mauritius.

Among emphasised the main aim of having sustainable trade, extraction and processing, equity exclusivity, shared prosperity, among others across the African countries.

“As CPA can we champion advocacy and realisation of fair , equitable and sustainable trade , industrialisation, sustainable natural resources extraction and processing, the respect and protection of our charitable African values especially the African family, equity exclusivity among others to enable our continent move forward,” she said.

CPA-Africa vice chairperson Lucas Sinimbo Muha said at the region level, they were still grappling with the challenge of change of the legal status of the organisation.

He said the 66th CPA held in Accra, Ghana adopted a three point approach of achieving the desired international standards of parliamentary organisations.

The plan was to have the headquarters secretariat proceed and seek legal financing advise to enable the CPA create a new non-charitable organisation.

"The headquarters secretariat should engage the UK government to persuade them to recognise the CPA as an International Parliamentary Organisation,” Sinimbo said of the plan.

The executive meeting is expected to tackle challenges on how to address a number of challenges which include climate change, insecurity, youth unemployment, high cost of living and loss of trust in the political institutions which are affecting the African countries.

Among expressed confidence that  the meeting will serve as a catalyst for positive change.

“To achieve this positive change, we shall need to work as a united team in our negotiations with the wider Commonwealth,” she said.

Among was also emphatic on the need to reject the Status of CPA as a charity organisation in UK.

“Africa has more charitable causes due to colonialism, imperialism, unfair trade and climate change disasters than UK," she said.

"Africa should desist from contributing resources in form of subscription fees to a Charity Organisation in the UK. It is not fair and it is not right. This meeting should decide that enough is enough."