According to the speakers' list, the hon B N Dlulane will make a statement.
[Mrs B N DLULANE: Mhlalingaphambili, ndiphakama ngexesha elibi, emva kokubhoxwa kwentetho ebimnandi kangaka zizibhoxi. [Uwele-wele.] [Chairperson, I am afraid that I have to stand up after a very interesting speech was obstructed by obstructors. [Interjections.]
Hon members will recall the heroic struggle waged by our countries during the last century for political independence, human dignity and economic emancipation. We take pride in the achievements made to promote and consolidate African unity and we salute the heroism and sacrifices of our people, particularly during the liberation struggles.
Colonialism in Africa and particularly apartheid in South Africa have projected African countries as part of Europe, rather than African countries. In order to cope with these challenges and to effectively address the new social, political and economic realities in Africa and in the world, we are determined to fulfil our peoples' aspiration for greater unity in diversity, as we will recognise and take account of the racial, ethnic, religious, political, linguistic and cultural diversity on our continent.
I would like to believe that as African countries, regardless of our past, or indeed because of it, we are committed to the continuous and sustained spiritual upliftment and fulfilment of all the individual persons who constitute African society and therefore the construction of a better society for all.
Since the Pan-African Parliament was first mooted, articles 7 and 14 of the monumental treaty establishing the African Economic Community signed in Abuja, Nigeria, on 3 June 1991 provided for a Pan-African Parliament for the community whose composition, functions, powers and organisation are today being discussed in this House. This treaty is monumental in that it adds yet another pillar to support our fundamental challenges of promoting human dignity and economic emancipation.
In order to strengthen the unity of our continent and its people, we have to establish African union to ensure the speedy establishment of all the institutions provided for in the Abuja Treaty, such as an African central bank, African monetary union, the African Court of Justice, and in particular, most of all, the Pan-African Parliament.
The Pan-African Parliament will not be a legislative body, but deliberative and consultative, and Pan-African parliamentarians' terms will run concurrently with their terms in their respective national parliaments.
In this endeavour we were inspired by the ideas which guided the founding fathers of our organisation and generations of Pan-Africanists in their resolve to forge unity, solidarity and cohesion as well as co-operation between African people and among African states.
As members of the South African Parliament with the task of ensuring the ongoing work of the establishment of the Pan-African Parliament, we have come up with the following resolutions. The Pan-African Parliament should be a deliberative body without any law-making powers. The Pan-African Parliament should be composed of eight members from each member state appointed by each national parliament from its ranks on the basis of broad representivity, with a minimum of three women members. Members of the Pan- African Parliament should represent the views of their respective parliaments. The term of each Pan-African parliamentarian should run with his or her term in the national parliament concerned. Some general objectives of the Pan-African Parliament should be inserted in the draft protocol. The seat of the Pan-African Parliament should be determined by the Assembly of the Heads of State of the African Union. The direct election of members of the Pan-African Parliament would not be appropriate. The procedure for the election of the president and vice-presidents should be specifically stated in the protocol. The protocol should be reviewed at intervals of not less than five years.
That is what we, as this Parliament, are saying. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Declaration of vote: