The Rwandan Senate yesterday, November 13, 2019, elected Senators Pélagie Uwera and John Bonds Bideri to represent the Parliament of Rwanda at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). PAP is the legislative body of the African Union (AU) whereby members serve for a three-year long term. A plenary session made up of 24 senators unanimously voted for the two senators, who were the only candidates. The elected legislators pledged to champion the development and the welfare of African citizens by tackling unemployment and poverty, as well as insecurity, which sometimes results in Africans taking risky journeys of migration to Europe in search of better livelihoods. They will replace former Senators Jean Népomuscène Sindikubwabo and Jacqueline Muhongayire whose term came to an end. Speaking before the voting on Wednesday, Senate President, Augustin Iyamuremye, who presided over the election said that the Upper House had communicated to members asking them to express interest in the positions but only two of them did. Senator Uwera called for unity in Africa. She said that improving the welfare of Africans required progressive legal regimes, pointing out that this is what the Rwandan legislators aspire to achieve. Uwera holds a master’s degree in development studies. Prior to becoming a Senator, the 45-year-old was a commissioner in the National Electoral Commission (NEC) since 2012. She emphasised the need for Africa to develop homegrown solutions to the challenges affecting society, pointing out that the continent should tap into its human resources for development. “We will also work together to ensure that Africans do not continue to drown while on their way to look for jobs or better living conditions abroad. We will continue to raise the voice so that they (Africans) can get, on their continent, what they go to look for elsewhere, she said. Agenda 2063, AfCFTA Senator Bideri said that in line with the responsibilities of PAP, he will work to ensure that Africa’s Agenda 2063 is effectively implemented for the benefit of all Africans. Bideri. The agenda, which was adopted in 2015, is the continent’s 50-year long-term vision aimed at optimising the use of its resources for the benefit of its people. Among other responsibilities, Bideri, 61, who holds a master’s degree in development studies, served for about five years as the Chairperson of Board of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), before becoming a senator. PACJA is a coalition of civil society organisations whose primary goal is to mobilise and empower African civil societies to ensure realisation of environmental and climate justice for all people in Africa. It works in 45 countries on the continent. He said that he will promote security and peace, whose absence is to blame for instability on the continent, as well as contribute to the success of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “The African Continental Free Trade Area will ease movement of Africans, as well as facilitate trade among the continent’s member states. This is an activity that we will monitor closely so that Africans benefit from it to develop themselves,” he said. The pursuit of genocide fugitives Uwera said that they will put efforts into telling countries to put in place laws that punish genocide fugitives. “We want that because African countries are harbouring many people who participated in the [1994] Genocide [against the Tutsi] in Rwanda. When such laws are in place, they can help us to track down those who took part in it,” she said. About PAP PAP aims to involve all Africans in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. Its purpose, as set out in article 17 of the AU Constitutive Act, is “to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and economic integration of the continent”. The first Parliament was inaugurated on March 18, 2004, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Pan-African Parliament has its seat in Midrand, South Africa.
