BY THEMBA ZWANE
EZULWINI – Kenya Member of Parliament (MP) Jayne Njeri Wanjikū Kìhara has challenged Africa to establish a law that will help protect natural minerals of the continent.
The MP first thanked the Kingdom of Eswatini for a warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to the visiting Parliamentarians at Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention Centre.
She pointed out that although Kenya has already made her submissions, she liked to add a brief point on the issue of inclusive agriculture and value chains for women.
In many parts of African societies, she noted, that women still faced challenges in land ownership. She therefore suggested that legislators looked into policies that promote equitable land ownership for both men and women, while also ensuring greater access to funding and financing opportunities for women in agriculture and value chains.
The legislator commended the broader discussion regarding Africa’s development and independence. She noted Africans fought hard for political independence, and said the time had come to fight for financial independence as well.
Unless and until they attained meaningful financial independence, she said, they shall continue to meet year after year discussing important agreements such as the Samoa Agreement, while implementation and tangible outcomes remained a challenge.
“Africa is one of the richest continents in terms of natural resources, yet we continue to witness the extraction of our minerals and cash crops while poverty persists among our people. We must therefore rise collectively as Africans to support our own economies, strengthen local beneficiation and value addition, and ensure that Africa derives greater benefit from its own resources,” said the Kenyan lawmaker.
She said they may not yet possess all the industrial capacity required to establish large-scale factories everywhere across the continent, but they could begin by putting in place strong laws and frameworks that protect African minerals and promote local development.
On another note, Ghana’s MP Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana also expressed gratitude to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini for the warm hospitality extended to visiting Parliamentarians.
“I also wish to commend Eswatini for this excellent convention centre. It is truly one of a kind and comparable to any in the world. I take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt appreciation to the Government and people of Eswatini.”
He said the first point he would like to make relates to page 3 under Peace and Security of the agenda. he said it was a very small but important amendment.
“The heading currently condemns the targeting of Khartoum International Airport in Sudan. I would like to propose the insertion of the words “and other critical civilian infrastructure,” so that it reads:
“Condemns the targeting of Khartoum International Airport airport and other critical civilian infrastructure.”
In the same section, on the fifth line, I noticed that the phrase “call upon” has been repeated, and I believe the Secretariat may wish to correct that repetition,” he said.
Secondly, he said, on page 5, paragraph 22, which calls for the scaling up of private investment in local processing and refining, he believed the text should specify exactly what is being referred to.
“I therefore propose the insertion of the words:
“of mineral and natural resources.”
The sentence would therefore read:
“Calls for the scaling up of private investment in local processing and refining of mineral and natural resources.”
My next point relates to page 7 on EU migration and mobility. I wish to draw attention to Priority 6 of the Samoa Agreement, which deals with migration and mobility.
I would also like to bring to your attention the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact, whose enforcement is expected to take effect on the 12th of June next month,” he said.
The MP noted that the implications of this pact may dilute or undermine some of the understandings already established between the OACPS countries and the European Union. He said it was therefore very important that the relevant organ of the institution examined the matter urgently before the pact comes into force.
Finally, on page 9 regarding culture and creative industries, he said, he would like Parliamentarians, in a thoughtful and balanced manner, to find space for the recognition of the unique cultural and family values that exist within their respective nations. One way or another, he said, this should be reflected in the text, acknowledging the diversity of cultural and family values across African countries.
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