06 Nov 2017

Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Botswana Branch Executive Committee are attending the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) from November 1 to 8 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

A press release from the National Assembly states that the three are committee chairperson, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, CPA Botswana Branch representative, Mr Machana Shamukuni and Mr Haskings Nkaigwa.

It states that the mission of the CPA is to promote advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance.

The association also seeks to build an informed parliamentary community able to deepen the Commonwealth’s democratic commitment and to further cooperation among its parliaments and legislators.

Issues to be discussed at the conference themed: Continuing to Enhance High Standards of Performance of Parliamentarians, include democracy must deliver; role of parliament in addressing the challenges, the role of parliamentarians in building stronger ties within the Commonwealth, new trade issues, visa issues, travel restrictions and non-tariff restrictions.

The release further says in order to give voice to the youth, the delegates will discuss mechanisms for ensuring effective participation of youth in the governance process.

On Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), it says the conference will look into how can CPA members work with their governments in ensuring that the SDG goals have a proper gender lens to ensure success in the areas of alleviating poverty and women’s empowerment.

Other issues include CPA benchmarks for democratic legislatures; progress in the past 10 years while the climate change debate will focus on: A challenge for the Commonwealth and on what factors fuel the rise of different kinds of nationalism.

The MPs are expected to arrive in Gaborone on November 9. ENDS