The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg has highlighted the important role of Commonwealth Parliamentarians in preserving peace and preventing political violence at a workshop organised by the CPA Zambia Branch and the Parliament of Zambia. The workshop, held in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)at the Parliament Building in Lusaka, was held ahead of the Zambia General Election due to take place in August next year and its aim was to equip Parliamentarians to contribute towards preserving peace and preventing political violence during this important and sensitive time.
The workshop participants heard from the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and CPA Zambia Branch President, Rt Hon. Dr Patrick Matibini, MP, who highlighted the key role that Parliamentarians can play as preservers of peace before, during and after an election period and in their contribution towards the prevention of political violence. This workshop was an important step in equipping Members of Parliament for the role that they will play during the election period.
The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, speaking at the workshop via video link, spoke about the key role of Parliamentarians in society and their influence on citizens particularly during an election period. Commonwealth Parliamentarians adherence to, and the promotion of the key tenets of peace and good governance as demonstrated in the Commonwealth Charter can help to provide stability and peace. By virtue of their legislative, oversight and representative role, Parliamentarians have a key role to play in maintaining and promoting peace, as well as in preventing political violence.
The UN Resident Co-ordinator in Zambia, Dr Coumba Mar Gadio spoke of the United Nations’ view that conflict is one of the greatest threats to sustainable development and that the potential for conflict, especially political violence, is heightened during an election. It is at this time that peace can be at its greatest threat presenting a possible challenge to any gains of development already achieved. During the workshop, Members of the Zambia National Assembly also heard from Dr Evans Chibanda, MP, Vice President of the CPA Zambia Branch; Professor John Bwalya, Director of the Dag Hammarskjold Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies; and Hon. Catherine Namugala, MP, First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
Prior to the workshop, the CPA Zambia Branch launched a new project to ‘Plant a CPC Forest’ with a tree planting ceremony at the Parliament Buildings in Lusaka with the first tree being planted by parliamentary staff on behalf of the CPA Secretary-General. The project was an outcome of the 64thCommonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) workshop on climate change held in Kampala, Uganda in September 2019 and the CPA Zambia Branch is the first CPA Branch to undertake this initiative.
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