Kinshasa, June 6th, 2021 (CPA).- The President of the Parliamentary Forum of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and President of the National Assembly of the DRC, Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga, pleaded, Friday, for the holding of the meetings of the aforementioned face-to-face forum and respecting the barrier measures against COVID-19.
Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga who indicated at the opening of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, organized by videoconference, recommended some prerequisites namely, the agreement of the host country, the facilitation of visas for the members and the secretariat of the Forum and the guarantee of care in the event of infection. « No country has escaped the Coronavirus pandemic, » he said, before stressing that each African state is developing its response mechanisms and strategies.
While expressing his concerns about the new Indian variant of COVID-19, which risks destroying the efforts made by African states, the president of the lower house of parliament welcomed the Covax mechanism of the World Organization of health (WHO), which finances immunization around the world.
Christophe Mboso also sent congratulations to Seychelles for having vaccinated more than 70% of its population.
The Parliamentary Forum chaired by the president of the lower house of the DRC Parliament reviewed the items on the meeting’s agenda.
These are the COVID-19 situation in the sub-region, the study of the possibilities of face-to-face plenary sessions for the forum; transforming the forum into a SADC regional parliament; the finalization of a model law on the occasion of its golden jubilee; the issue of translating model laws; the forum’s implementation capacity development activities; consideration of the reports of other sub-committees and bodies of the forum.
This meeting also looked at public finance management and gender-based violence. These two points are part of the plan for the 2019 – 2023 forum, it should be noted. ACP/