The Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga has highlighted the key roles played by the legislators in influencing the shape of a country’s financial and development agenda through legislation and influencing policy.
The Speaker made these remarks while addressing delegates from various African Parliaments at the opening of the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CWP) Africa Region Conference taking place in Balaclava, Mauritius from 22nd to 27th August 2016 under the theme “Africa for Sustainable Goals: the Role of Parliaments.”
“In their core mandate, which revolves around legislation, policy oversight and budget approval, Parliaments are central in the growth and development of any country,” the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga said.
On the issue of women representation in parliaments, Kadaga noted that some strides had been achieved on the African continent. She cited that some success stories have been registered in Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda where women representation in parliament ranges between 30 to 40 percent.
Kadaga however also cited challenges in the West African region where women representation is still less than 30 percent. Delegates from West African countries attributed the low levels of women representation to branding elective posts to men and the mentality that it was taboo for a woman to stand for a parliamentary position.
The Speaker advised on the need for CWP African Region to continuously monitor countries due for elections so that political party leaders are engaged to influence policies and legislations before elections.
Kadaga reminded African governments to include women in all the peace and security processes at all levels including peacekeeping, peace negotiations and peace building.
The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Rt. Hon. Sir. Anerood Jugnauth, told Parliamentarians that the twin pillars of the Commonwealth are democracy and social economic development.
“Democracy and development are inter-connected. Democracy creates the necessary conditions that favour economic development by giving citizens the liberty to freely make choices for their well-being and future,” he said.
In the meeting, Hon. Dikigale Masefako Clarah from the National Assembly of South Africa was elected the new Chairperson for the Commonwealth Women Parliamentary Association.