Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini, SC, MP has called on Members of Parliament to embrace the ideals and principles of the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) which include safeguarding peace and driving positive democratic change through political dialogue and concrete action.

The Speaker said this at the opening of the Local Seminar of the Inter- Parliamentary Union organised by the Zambia National Group at Parliament Buildings on Monday, 25th June 2018. The workshop brought together all Members of Parliament in their capacity as members of the IPU Zambia National Group to consider and discuss topics domesticated from the IPU Assembly Resolutions.

Dr Matibini said that meetings such as that of the IPU and other international bodies provided opportunities for parliamentarians from across the world to share best practices and learn from each other. 

He also said that holding local seminars is one way of ensuring that the value of the IPU Assemblies trickles down to everyone through sharing of information.

The local seminar was the first of its kind and its objective was to assist all Members of Parliament feel connected to issues discussed at the IPU Assemblies especially the resolutions.  The rationale for localising these topics was to enable MPs, identify with the issues that were discussed and see how best they can contribute to the implementation of the various resolutions within a local setting.

The Speaker pointed out that the IPU has been encouraging member Parliaments to report progress made on the implementation of adopted resolutions as a way of connecting previous meetings to current ones and also as this would present an opportunity for parliamentarians who may not have participated in previous meetings to be abreast. He added that it would also give parliamentarians a voice to make suggestions regarding the implementation of resolutions.

The topics which were discussed during the seminar included Early and Child Marriage and Designing and Creating Structures to Accelerate and ensure Sufficient Funding for Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the IPU recognising that Zambia is one of the sixty (60) members of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, ensured that presentations were made on the Current Status of Nutrition in the Country and the Role that Parliamentarians can Play in Tackling Nutritional Challenges. The IPU Secretariat also facilitated for a presentation on how Political Parties from the Ruling and Opposition Parties can put aside Political Affiliations and Collaborate in order to Enhance National Development.

The IPU holds several meetings every year including the main Assembly and Related Meetings, where all member Parliaments are invited to send delegates.  The meetings include seminars which cater for smaller groups or participants.