Imperative of electing the right MPs

25 Feb, 2018 - 00:02 0 Views
Imperative of electing the right MPs

The Sunday Mail

Cleophas Pedzisa
Parliamentary diplomacy is the full range of international activities undertaken by Members of to increase mutual understanding between countries.
It is aimed at assisting each other in improving the control of Governments and the representation of a people.

It also seeks to increase the democratic legitimacy of inter-governmental institutions.

As such the articulation of foreign policy is no longer a preserve of the executive alone.

This new phenomenon also includes participation of MPs in international conferences and election observation missions where they can learn the best practices in holding elections.

It is quite clear that these days, MPs should be articulate about what is happening in the global order.

MPs should be able to go an extra mile in appreciating the current topics and trends in the international relations area.

This will enable them not to become by-standers when there is debate on pressing matters, be they on climate change or democratisation and human rights.

Our MPs should be active participants when these issues are put on the table.

We select our MPs in accordance with the long-held principle of representation that we cannot all come from the “four corners” of Zimbabwe to Harare to present and represent our ideas and grievances at Parliament Building.

In this regard, the choice of MPs to represent us in the first to fifth sessions of the ninth Parliament should be given due diligence and care as some of them will represent us at international conferences.

They need to meet the test of character and stamina to present and preserve our position as a country at such fora.

No longer should we send members who are not able to put into context the developmental trajectory that Zimbabwe is pursuing post November 24, 2017.

In his budget speech, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa repeated his call for all ministries and Government departments to truncate delegations to foreign missions to a reasonable limit.

This is a welcome development.

Where Zimbabwe has a diplomatic mission, he has called for our emissaries to step in and codify these meetings for our consumption back home.

Furthermore, he has restricted to a bare minimal, those of our Very Important Persons who travel in first and sleeper class.

We need to send MPs with knowledge and the ability to think on their feet to represent us internationally.

It will make good sense to send our representatives who have a good grasp of economics and ergonomics, not those categorised as “zvidzoyi” – bystanders , only good at shopping and buying “zvitemuramutsegede” (hotdogs) in foreign lands.

The nation is operating at high speed to recover lost time. Our MPs should, as in prayer, “read without ceasing”.

In their own right, MPs who represent us in these missions should be custodians of democratic values who should be able to return from these Conferences and give guidance on how we should be handling our agenda in international relations.

They should be able to interrogate the executive’s posture against international standards without causing disharmony in the process.

Political parties should begin a proactive process of identifying and capacitating the human capital in their ambits.

The need to develop expertise in this area cannot be over-emphasised.

Parties should substitute MPs known for largesse, and distributing opaque beer and food during rallies for mentally astute figures who are able to articulate issues off-hand (extemporaneously).

Elections form part of the core of parliamentary diplomacy.

It is, therefore, imperative that Zimbabwe as quickly as is possible works on these and leaves the rest of its energy to economic recovery.

Our MPs should marshal the necessary knowledge and expertise to explain to the international community the difference between the forthcoming elections and the others held under polarised environs.

They should warm up to the idea that elections held under the current peaceful environment have no room for a hide-and-seek mentality when it comes to observation.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been clear and forthright that the elections will be held in a peaceful environment in which observers from every corner and quarter can observe.

Our parliamentarians have an onerous task in parliamentary diplomacy.

Able MPs in this field are quick to shine both at home and abroad. They are quick to be picked by the executive and get additional and broader responsibilities.

Our MPs should be signposts of wisdom and lamp posts of reason.

No longer should they only endorse and ratify treaties and protocols but question and contextualise them to our situation.

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