SADC’s PAN African Parliament (PAP) caucus vice-chairperson, Auxilia Mnangagwa has accused most African countries of refusing to ratify the revised Protocol of the Consultative Act for fear of losing their territorial integrity.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
The revised protocol, enacted by Heads of State and government last year, has so far been ratified by two countries – Mali and Mauritania – whereas it can only become operational if at least 27 countries give it the nod.
Speaking to NewsDay from Senegal, where she attended the PAP meeting, Mnangagwa said it appeared most member States were afraid of losing their territorial integrity, as the Act seeks to give the Pan African Parliament legislative powers on trade and movement, environment and infrastructure.
“A key reason for this reluctance is that the majority of AU member States do not want to lose or undermine their political and territorial integrity, particularly because of the legal and political implications of such legislative powers,” she said in a speech delivered to PAP.
“The member States are still protective of their political and territorial integrity and the sovereign rights of national Parliaments to make laws that apply to their territory.”
Mnangagwa said the varying political, constitutional and governance systems obtaining in different countries also made it difficult for co-ordination at PAP and there, was, therefore, need to learn from others systems like the European Union Parliament how these issues could be harmonised.
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She, however, said ratifying the protocol would also bring advantages to member States, especially in the area of trade, combating crime and terrorism among other ills which have ravaged the continent of Africa.
