The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H. E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, has called upon Pan-African Parliament MPs to engage with their national Foreign Affairs Ministers and African Union Ambassadors to secure more resources for the institution. This appeal was made during the presentation of the PAP’s performance report for March-June 2024, which highlighted a concerning budgetary decline over the past eight years.
H.E Hon. Chief Charumbira revealed that the PAP’s 2024 budget stands at US$10,570,625, a reduction from the previous year’s already insufficient budget. Of this amount, US$8,038,113 is allocated to staff costs, leaving a mere US$2,088,820 for programs. He underscored the inadequacy of this funding by noting that only US$900,000 is set aside for the two plenary sessions in 2024, despite the need for at least US$1.3 million for just one session. Similarly, US$530,000 is budgeted for two Committee sessions, each requiring at least US$800,000.
The President emphasized the dire situation, stating that hosting the 3rd Ordinary Session required using funds from both the plenary and Committee budgets. Without a supplementary budget from the African Union Commission (AUC), the August Committee Sittings and November plenary session may not be possible. Additionally, an unbudgeted US$241,265 was spent on an Extraordinary Session, necessitating a request for reimbursement through a supplementary budget.
Chief Charumbira also appealed to MPs to help restore the PAP’s role in continental governance. He pointed out that persistent conflicts within the PAP have tarnished its image among other AU organs and a skeptical public. Every Foreign Minister at the Executive Council meeting in February 2024 condemned the constant instability at the PAP. He urged MPs to collaborate in repairing the PAP’s image and regaining public trust in the institution and its representatives.
Read More: https://pap.au.int/en/news/press-releases/2024-07-03/pan-african-parliament-mps-lead-advocacy-more-funding
