Articles

UNDP committed to supporting MPs in their legislative function

The United Nations Development Progaramme (UNDP) Administrator Ms Helen Clark has reaffirmed the UNDP support to the National Assembly and MPs in particular in order for them to effectively carry out their legislative function. She made the reaffirmation during a meeting with selected Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees that was held at Parliament Buildings on Thursday 16th July, 2015.

IPU welcomes Iran nuclear deal as boost for global peace and security

IPU has welcomed as a major achievement an historic agreement under which Iran has agreed to curb its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of international sanctions.
 
The accord, announced in the Austrian capital, Vienna, is the culmination of nine years of negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany.  It ends years of stalemate on an issue that has fuelled global tensions and divisions.   
 

Load Shedding Stop-Gap Measure to Conserve Energy - MATIBINI

Hon Mr. Speaker - Matibini

Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Justice, Dr Patrick Matibini, SC, MP says several countries in the SADC region have had to resort to load-shedding as a stop-gap measure to conserve energy.  He said he was aware that low water levels at the Itezhi-tezhi reservoir and the Kariba Dam were affecting power generation, forcing the national power utility ZESCO to ration an average 200 megawatts of the total power generated daily.

Press Release: African heads of Public Services target high performance at Commonwealth Forum

Heads of public services from 18 African countries in the Commonwealth are in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between 13-15 July 2015, at a major intergovernmental forum to improve the efficiency and impact of public services.
 

The Commonwealth Heads of African Public Service Forum is convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat and hosted by President Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The theme is ‘From Good Plans to Effective Execution: Anchoring Policy Coherence, Strategy and Execution for a High Performance Culture in the Public Service’.

Côte d’Ivoire National Reconciliation

Côte d’Ivoire Parliament commits to continuing national reconciliation efforts

CPA Update January to June 2015

26th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Chairperson of the CPA opens the Seminar.

The 26th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 17 to 22 May 2015 and was attended by the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP.

Immediate action called for Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysian opposition MPs

 
Geneva, 2nd July 2015
 
An IPU human rights delegation to Malaysia has called for the jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to receive prompt medical attention as and when required after visiting him in prison this week.
 

IPU e-Bulletin No. 6, 30th June 2015

World Speakers to focus on democracy, peace and development - Preparations for the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, taking place at UN Headquarters in New York from 31 August-2 September, are being finalized with a focus on placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development. The Conference Preparatory Committee, comprising some 25 Speakers, members of the IPU Executive Committee and the representative of the UN Secretary General, met in Geneva in June to agree to the agenda, format and main documents of the Conference.

Parliamentarians vote to increase External Loans

On Thursday, 25th June, 2015 an Order was read for resuming the debate of 24th June, 2015 where the Minister of Finance moved a motion and proposed that, in terms of Section 3 of the Loans and Guarantees (Authorization) Act, Chapter 366 of the Laws of Zambia, the House authorize the Minister of Finance to increase, by Statutory Instrument, the amount outstanding at any given time on External Loans from thirty-five billion kwacha to sixty billion kwacha.
The housed subsequently divided and voted as follows
AYES              -    74
NOES              -    41

IPU human rights mission to Malaysia includes Anwar Ibrahim prison visit

Geneva, 29 June 2015
 
An IPU human rights delegation today (29 June) has begun a three-day mission to Malaysia which includes a prison visit to jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
 
A three-member IPU team from the Organization’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians will assess the conditions in which Anwar is being held amid concerns that the 67-year-old is in increasingly frail health. A meeting will also be held with his wife and daughter.   
 

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