Africa Focus: African lawmakers urged for unified effort to fight terrorism, poverty

Lawmakers drawn from African parliaments have been urged to rally behind efforts to fight the scourges of terrorism, poverty, diseases and marginalization based on creed or ethnicity.

Speaking at the 46th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference in Nairobi, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the continent has outgrown the colonial hangovers to chart its own destiny.

"We must rise above sectarianism to fight our collective enemies like terrorism, poverty, infectious diseases and exclusion," Kenyatta told the conference that brought together 400 delegates from 18 countries in the continent.

Kenyatta said lawmakers are strategically placed to advance peace, security and development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

He urged African parliaments to enact laws that contribute to the eradication of poverty for people in the continent to enjoy the benefits of political freedom. Kenyatta said for Africans to reap the freedoms of independence, and attain sustainable development, laws should protect them from poverty cycles.

Kenyatta said Members of Parliament as people's representatives, should strive to ensure inclusive debates where the interests of all Africans are incorporated.

"Let us all join hands to defend the freedoms of our socio-economic and political independence. We can honour our freedom fighters by ensuring that the virtues they stood for are respected," the president told the lawmakers.

Kenyatta also urged parliaments to tolerate divergent opinion of the minority and encourage debates that impact positively on the lives of citizens.

The lawmakers will discuss sustainable development goals, representation, social justice and urban renewal during their five-day meeting.

Lindiwe Maseko, chairperson of CPA African Region, said lawmakers have mobilized communities to revitalize sustainability agenda.

"African parliaments should foster dialogue on sustainable development goals that will be adopted by community of nations in September. They include empowerment of women and youth alongside green and inclusive growth," Maseko said.

She added that African lawmakers have agreed to craft policy and legislative frameworks that strengthen climate change response.

Maseko said the chapter intends to change its constitution to make it more responsive to the issues of the day and asked the Africa region to prepare to make changes to its laws at the next international CPA meeting in Pakistan.

She also expressed concern at the low representation of women in parliaments, saying some African countries had as low as 10 women legislators.

Justin Muturi, Speaker of Kenyan National Assemblyand president of CPA African Region, said African states must decisively combat terrorism, poverty and marginalization of youth in order to sustain the current socio-economic progress.

Muturi noted that terrorism, insecurity and rising inequality jeopardized Africa's renaissance.

"We must deal with the phenomenon of terrorism and rising income gaps in order to have a cohesive and prosperous society,"he said. Endit