Allexer Namundjembo
Vice president Lucia Witbooi has urged African parliaments to strengthen oversight and accountability.
She said strong and independent parliaments are key to safeguarding democracy and supporting development across the continent.
Witbooi made the remarks on Thursday while officially opening the 90th executive committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa Region in Swakopmund.
The meeting brought together speakers of parliament, lawmakers and delegates from across Africa to discuss parliamentary governance and cooperation.
Witbooi said parliaments must expand their role beyond passing laws and actively hold governments accountable.
“For a country to be stable and grow in a way that lasts, it needs strong, independent and robust legislatures,” she said.
“Parliaments must move beyond lawmaking to exercise rigorous oversight, ensure fiscal accountability, articulate the aspirations of the people, and safeguard the constitutional order.”
She said the credibility of democratic systems depends on the strength and integrity of parliamentary institutions.
“The credibility of our democracies depends on the effectiveness and integrity of our parliamentary institutions,” Witbooi said.
She said African democracies still face challenges, including unconstitutional changes of government and economic pressures linked to global crises.
“A modern and credible Parliament must be inclusive,” Witbooi said, adding that women, youth and marginalised communities must be empowered through legislative processes.
The chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Muha, stressed the importance of cooperation among African parliaments.
“Your presence is not only a testament to your commitment to the CPA family but also a powerful signal of the collective resolve to strengthen parliamentary cooperation across our continent,” Muha said.
He said African parliaments must ensure the continent’s priorities are represented within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
“It is vital for us to ensure that the voices of Africa are not only heard but amplified within the broader Commonwealth Parliamentary Association,” Muha said.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is an international organisation that connects parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from across the Commonwealth. It promotes democratic governance, human rights and effective parliamentary practice.
Founded in 1911, the association links more than 180 national, provincial and territorial legislatures in 54 Commonwealth countries through nine regional groupings.
The Africa Region, established in 1980, is the largest regional bloc in the organisation. It brings together national parliaments and sub-national legislatures across the continent.
Its programmes focus on strengthening parliamentary oversight, law-making capacity and citizen participation in governance while promoting democratic values, human rights and gender equality.
The meeting also supports development frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 16 which promotes peace, justice and strong institutions.
