Newly re-elected president for Pan African Parliament (PAP) Roger Nkodo Dang has vowed to serve will loyalty and allegiance to the African Union in a bid to promote principles of good governance on African continent.
In a three hot seated election Mr. Nkodo Dang defeated, Fortune Charumbira from Zimbabwe and Mustapha El Gendy of Egypt garnering 133 votes out of 224 votes cast making him the first president to be re-elected since the establishment of PAP in 2004.
Speaking after taking oath of office, Dang lauded his supporters for trusting him for the third consecutive time as vice president and president.
“You have demonstrated that I am capable to fulfil functions of President of PAP,” he said.
Fortune Charumbira who conceded defeat said that this is a process in a democracy adding that the will of the people has been seen through the numbers, “I congratulate Nkodo Dang for being trusted to head Parliament for another term,”
The re-election of Central Africa brings to the fore the sticking issue of a rotational presidency in the Pan African Parliament.
Northern and Southern region have not had opportunity of being at the helm of PAP leadership, a fact not lost to some MPs who see rotation as a principle espoused by the African Union, which rotates its leadership every year.
“We condemn such behavior. The PAP needs to ensure that it fully implements the rotational system to ensure that each region is afforded the opportunity to serve in the Presidency,” said South African MP Mandla Mandela.
“The incumbent has won and that means he has the confidence and support of the Members,” Hon. Felix Okot Ogong (Uganda) said, adding that however, “The unwritten law in the PAP is that the presidency should be rotational. I think we now need to amend our rules to make the Presidency rotational so that other regions get to the helm of leadership at the PAP.”
The PAP also held elections for its Vice Presidents. The Bureau of the Pan African Parliament consists of the President and four Vice Presidents elected to represent the North, Central, and Eastern, Western and Southern regions.
Hon. Stephen Julius Masele from Tanzania was elected First Vice President representing the Eastern Region. The others were Hon. Haidara Aichata Cisse from Mali (Western Region) elected Second Vice President and Hon. Bouras Djamal from Algeria, representing the Northern Region, as PAP’s Third Vice President.
The Southern Region however, did not submit a candidate. The PAP will conduct elections at a future date to elect the Fourth Vice President of the Southern Region.
Uganda’s Members to PAP are: Hon. Jacquiline Amongin (NRM, Ngora); Prof. Ogenga Latigo (FDC, Agago North); Hon. Anifa Bangirana Kawooya (NRM, Ssembabule); Hon. Felix Okot Ogong (NRM, Dokolo South) and Hon. Babirye Kadogo (Ind. Buyende).
