The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Online
SEVERAL high-impact resolutions were made by parliaments at the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, which was recently held in Luanda, Angola, from October 23-27, it has been learnt.
The assembly, which was attended by Speakers of Parliament and National Assembly members from 130 countries, was officially opened by Angola’s President João Lourenço, who was the guest of honour.
Zimbabwe’s Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda and President of the Senate Mabel Chinomona attended the sessions.
Zimbabwe is an affiliate member of the IPU.
Adv Mudenda recently stepped down from the IPU Executive Committee after serving for four years representing the Africa Geopolitical Group.
During his tenure, he received recognition for legal opinions in the interpretation of the IPU statutes and rules during the IPU Assembly and related meetings.
Similarly, Ms Chinomona contributed to the IPU women’s Parliamentary Forum, where she highlighted the strides made in Zimbabwe under the Second Republic to increase the number of female legislators in Parliament, as enshrined in the Constitution.
Several resolutions were adopted at the assembly to, among other things, guarantee food security, end conflicts worldwide and strengthen the role of parliaments globally.
A resolution to address orphanage trafficking in its multi-dimensional and complex form, which involve the recruitment, transportation, transfer and harbouring children for purposes of exploitation, was also adopted.
In a move that strengthens Africa’s position within global geopolitics, the Governing Council of the IPU elected Dr Tulia Ackson, Speaker of the United Republic of Tanzania, as the 31st President of the IPU for the period 2023-2026.
She becomes the first African woman to assume the role.
Speaker Mudenda has since congratulated her on the historic feat, pledging Zimbabwe’s support to Tanzania, as the two countries enjoy cordial relations.
The 147th Assembly – which ran under the theme “Parliamentary action for peace, justice and strong institutions” – also adopted the Luanda Declaration on “Parliamentary Action for peace, justice and strong institutions”.
The declaration recognises that through their legislative, representation and oversight roles, parliaments ought to promote universal human rights, inclusion, as well as enhance transparency and accountability to earn the people’s trust.
Accordingly, it calls upon IPU member parliaments to support measures that strengthen strong institutions that enhance democracy for all globally.
