NAME AND SHAME ABSENTEE MPS – PAP MPS DEMAND

Members of the Pan-African Parliament on Tuesday expressed their dismay at the attitude of some of their colleagues who habitually absent themselves from meetings of the Parliament and demanded that these absentee MPs be named and shamed.

The MPs were of the view that the list of attendance be compiled and sent to all Member Countries for them to know what their delegates have been up to. Some MPs were alleged to be using the meeting of the Pan-African Parliament as an excuse to come to South Africa for holidays or other personal motives, other than their legislative responsibility.

 

Membership of the Pan-African Parliament is made up of five delegates of which one is a female, from the Parliaments of all the AU Member States. These MPs are expected to represent the interest of their respective countries and the entire citizens of the African Continent.

Inaugurated in 2004, the Pan-African Parliament is an organ of the African Union whose purpose is “to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and economic integration of the continent.” The Parliament is intended as a platform for people from all African states to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent.

 

Though the Pan-African Parliament has been struggling with MPs' absenteeism for some time now, the issue became more pressing when on Tuesday, the Second Vice President, Hon. Dr. Ashebiri Gayo from Ethiopia, while chairing proceedings raised the issue of quorum during the presentation and adoption of the Women Caucus report.

 

This generated a huge argument as some of the MPs were of the view that it is not up to the Chair to raise the issue of a quorum but rather from the floor. Others were also of the view that some of the MPs have already returned home after staying for two weeks and therefore the issue of quorum should be set aside since it has the tendency to affect the remaining days of sittings.

 

After the long back-and-forth arguments, the Chair finally brought proceedings to an abrupt end, adjourning the house to the next day. 

 

After the adjournment, many of the unsatisfied MPs could be seen still arguing their case and challenging the Vice President’s ruling.