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{
    "id": 784791,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784791/?format=api",
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    "content": "(2) The Hon. Beatrice Kones, MP; (3) The Hon. Janet Ong’era, MP; (4) Sen. (Dr.) Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali, MP; and (5) Sen. Stewart Madzayo, MP. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a straightforward Motion on approving the names of our colleagues from both the National Assembly and the Senate for the purpose of them going to serve in a very important organ of the African Union (AU) which is the Pan- African Parliament (PAP). I am privileged to have been part of the first team that represented this country in the PAP from 2013 until 2016 when I was elevated to the position of the Deputy Majority Leader where Sen. Billow Kerrow took over that responsibility. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is a very important institution and organ of the African Union (AU). It is the legislative arm and the body charged with the responsibility of generating Motions that are necessary for adoption in member countries. Recently, something drastic, important and historic happened in Kigali, Rwanda, when AU members signed a protocol to create one economic region in the whole of Africa. This will be one of the biggest economic zones ever created since the inception of the World Trade Organization (WTO). That means something for the PAP because our colleagues who are going to serve in that Parliament will have an opportunity to work on the legal framework for mainstreaming of that important protocol. It will also mean that the reforms that we have been pursuing, even when I was in the PAP, related to strengthening the PAP itself to be a legislative body of the AU, just the same way the European Parliament legislates on behalf of European Union (EU). The PAP now needs to be moved to the stage of being a full Parliament of the people of Africa. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are one community as a continent, considering the way we trade, our relationships and the language that our people speak. There are so many people who share almost similar languages with the people from the western part of the country in southern Africa. For example, if you listen to people from Zambia or Zimbabwe speaking, you will think that they come from Bungoma or Kakamega counties because of the similarity of language, history and heritage. It is important that our President and his colleagues in Africa have realized the importance of uniting the people of Africa to do business together as a united entity. I am emphasizing this because those who are now going to serve in the PAP must accelerate the process of reforms to make it a truly African Parliament. This is so that Bills can be passed there, which must be domesticated in the member countries. This will ensure that we do not have a Parliament that will only be dealing with matters of suggestions and opinions; but a fully-fledged Parliament on behalf of the people of Africa. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I commend Sen. (Dr.) Ali and Sen. Steward Madzayo, who are seasoned legislators, who are representing this House. Sen. Madzayo is serving his second term while Sen. (Dr.) Ali has served many terms in Parliament, having also been a Commissioner in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). I believe that they have a The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}