Stefanus Nashama
The Pan-African Parliament has urged its members to engage their respective parliaments on the protocol of free movement across the continent.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Permanent Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration, McHenry Venaani, presented this report during the Pan-African Parliament session in South Africa on Monday.
“Africa has the dream of attaining the highest levels of economic growth, and this can only be effective if there is free movement of people on the continent. Therefore, there is a need to pursue political and social stability at national, regional, and continental levels for the success of integration programs that is one of the important ways through which the free movement of persons can become a reality on the continent,” explained Venaani.
According to the report, the committee aims to develop sound policies for cross-border, regional and continental concerns within the areas of trade, customs and immigration.
It emphasises that migration and mobility have been linked to the development of Africa, calling for the implementation of free movements of persons, goods and services across the 54 African countries.
The report emphasises the significance of free movement in the labour market and the facilitation of expertise exchange across various developmental fields, all while taking security measures into account.
Venaani said in his presentation that poverty, violent conflict, and environmental stress often lead to mass migration and displacement in Africa.
This, he explained, impacts the majority of African countries and complicates migration within the continent, underscoring the necessity for free movement.
He explained the issue of African states’ imposition of barriers on free movement and the concomitant rise of nationalism and inter-state tensions, which he said made migration difficult within the African continent.
“The African Union’s main mission is to work for an integrated African continent and this should be done through the effective free movement of persons within the continent,” he stressed.
Venaani urged his counterparts to prioritize efforts to promote intra-African trade and the free movement of people on the continent.
“Some of these crucial roles are the passing of laws relating to trade policy and development, the promotion of the ratification and domestication of the African Union Protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment in our respective countries,” he reiterated.
Venaani said that the Pan-African Parliament has made recommendations to intensify campaigns to raise awareness about the free movement protocol, enhance understanding through training programs, harmonise national laws and regulations with the provisions of the protocol, and monitor and evaluate the implementation of the protocol, among other things.
On Monday, the Southern African Development Community-Parliamentary Forum officially opened its 55th session in Luanda, Angola.
The forum is set to look at a myriad of issues such as renewable energy and regional integration among other issues of mutual concern.
This year, the focus is on the role of Parliaments in promoting renewable energy policies in the SADC Region and creating a single regional energy market.
Namibia is represented by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, Phillipus Katamelo, Utaara Mootu, Agnes Kafula and Paula Kooper.
John Likando and Olivia Hanghuwo from the National Council are also part of the team.
