Arusha hosts 70th Executive Commonwealth Committee

DAILY NEWS Reporter

THE 70th Executive Committee Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - Africa Region is being held in Arusha, starting on Wednesday through Sunday.

A statement released in Dar es Salaam by the CPA Regional Secretary, Dr Thomas Kashililah, said that the meeting will be attended by various dignitaries.

They include the chairperson of the CPA Africa Region Executive Committee Lindiwe Maseko MP, (South Africa), President of the Association and Speaker of Mauritius National Assembly Santibai Maya Hanoomanjee MP, Speaker of Uganda and Chairperson of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians International Rebecca Kadaga MP.

Others include Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and Vice-President of the Association, Hon. Acho Ihim MP (Nigeria), Hon. Request Muntanga and Treasurer of the Association and the Host Speaker, Job Ndugai.

The statement noted that the meeting is being held to consider important decision, which affects the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – Africa Region. It said further that the main item in the agenda of the 70th Executive Committee meeting includes proposed budget of the Association for the year 2017.

“More than 30 Members of Parliament representing their own countries to this Association will be joining the above (mentioned leaders) to compose the Executive Committee Meeting,” reads the statement.

Tanzania is the Headquarters for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - Africa Region since 2004 when it took over from Zimbabwe after being withdrawn from Commonwealth during the 35th Africa Regional Conference in Swaziland.

The CPA Africa region is an organization of National Parliaments and Provincial / State /Territorial Legislatures of member countries of the Commonwealth on the continent of Africa who irrespective of gender, race, religion are committed to, Respect for Human Rights and Freedom and the pursuit of the ideals of Democracy and good governance, Building understanding and unity between countries of the Region and the Continent, and Promoting the interest / perspective of Africa into the Commonwealth and Beyond