PAP Plenary endorses appointment of Lindiwe Khumalo as Clerk of Parliament

Mrs. Lindiwe Khumalo from the Republic of South Africa has been appointed Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). In accordance with Rule 17 (f) of the Rules of Procedure, Mrs. Khumalo’s appointment was presented to the Plenary Session of the Pan-African Parliament for endorsement.

In his presentation to the Plenary, the President of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira detailed the competitive process that led to the appointment of the new Clerk after the position had remained vacant for over a year. Hon. Chief Charumbira told Pan-African Parliamentarians that the Bureau is confident that the appointment of Mrs. Khumalo, the first female Clerk since the establishment of the institution in 2004, will propel the Secretariat of the Continental Parliament to new heights.

Prior to joining the Pan-African Parliament as Clerk, Lindiwe Khumalo served as the Acting Executive Secretary to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Notable executive positions held by Mrs. Khumalo include serving as Chief Operations Officer, and thereafter Chief Executive Officer of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Additionally, she held several advisory positions which include serving as Technical Advisor to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).

The Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament heads the Secretariat and manages the day-to-day administrative affairs of Parliament, and is responsible to Parliament through the Bureau for accounting issues. The Clerk is assisted by two Deputy Clerks; one heads the Legislative Business Department and the other is responsible for the Finance, Administration, and Human Resources.

The Plenary of the Pan-African Parliament, gathering on the occasion of the Second Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament, was further informed that Mr. Kenneth Akibate from Ghana, currently the Serjeant-at-Arms, has been appointed Acting Deputy Clerk Finance, Administration and Human Resources with effect from 1st June 2023. This follows the Bureau’s resolution to readvertise the vacant position after the ongoing recruitment process could not secure the required minimum of four shortlisted candidates. Mr. Akibate has extensively acted in the same position in the past. He has worked for the Pan-African Parliament since 2006, having previously served in the Parliament of Ghana.