Pretoria- The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has on Thursday tabled five Country Reports for discussion at the Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament (PAP).
The Mechanism on Thursday said it has embarked on a major drive to lessen its backlog of tabling Country Reports to PAP.
The Ordinary Session was opened on Monday in Midrand near Johannesburg PAP President Nkondo Dang and will end on 18 May.
APRM Chief Executive Officer, Professor Eddy Maloka, said the tabling of the reports represented yet another major milestone in the revitalization of the continent-wide initiative.
“We have successfully tabled Country Reports from Nigeria, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Benin and South Africa. The APRM is indeed redeeming itself and advocating for a universal accession of non-members to accede to the Mechanism because its gains are enormous.
“We further urge the Members of Parliament to demonstrate their commitment to the Mechanism by ensuring that there exists a vibrant and dynamic APRM Process in their respective countries.
“We acknowledge the important role of PAP in the space of the African governance landscape and the potential role it should play in the successful implementation of the APRM Process in Member Countries,” said Maloka.
The Mechanism said country reports present for consideration of the Head of State of the country under review a set of recommendations with an attached programme of actions deemed necessary for overcoming identified shortcomings and improving governance, in accordance with the mandate of the APRM.
The Mechanism said, following the presentations of the country reports, representatives from Nigeria, Mauritius, Benin, Ethiopian and South Africa were given an opportunity to respond and articulate measures that their countries have put in place to implemented recommendations by the APRM Report.
“Other milestones in the revitalization of the APRM are increased number of Peer Review Countries and more effective implementation of National Programmes of Action and enhanced APRM’s visibility. It has also facilitated experience-sharing and peer–learning.
Lead Panel Member for these countries Honorable Joseph Tsang Mang Kin commended the commitment of the Pan African Parliament to the APRM.
“This will indeed bring harmony across Africa in the implementation of AU programmes and initiatives,” he said.
According to the Mechanism, Dang said the benefits derived from the APRM cannot be over-emphasized.
He said in some countries, the APRM findings have highlighted good practices that are worthy of broader dissemination across the continent and drew attention to impending crises that need immediate preventive action, and analysed virtually all issues of governance that fall somewhere in between.
Since its inception, the APRM said it has made significant progress in terms of the number of countries that have acceded to the Mechanism, the rolling-out of the review exercise, the refining of the review process, as well as the level of participation and engagement of stakeholders.
“Today, the APRM has a membership of 35 countries that have voluntarily acceded to it. Seventeen of these countries have completed their reviews, while three are currently at advanced stages of the review process and will be tabled at the 27th APR Forum in July 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda,” said the Mechanism.-SAnews.gov.za
