Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Justice Dr Patrick Matibini, SC, MP has said there is urgent need for SADC Governments to lead in the mobilization of domestic funding for HIV and AIDS and strengthening health care systems to roll out HIV prevention, treatment, care and support strategies.

Dr Matibini said this during an orientation workshop for Members of Parliament on the Implementation of Regional, Continental and International Commitments on HIV/AIDS Financing Projectswhich was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka on 22^ndJuly, 2015.

Dear Members and Colleagues,

The summer recess is nearly upon us, and the new Parliament has already seen a great deal of international outreach activity here in Westminster and abroad.

The National Assembly of Zambia received three (3) new Members of Parliament following the by-elections that were held in three (3) constituencies on 30th June, 2015, in Mulobezi, Malambo and Petauke Central.

The three seats fell vacant after High Court nullifications.  The Mulobezi  and Malambo seats were scooped by Ms Patricia Mambeya M.  Mulasikwanda and Mr Jacob Shuma, respectively, while the Petauke Central seat was retained by Ms Dora Siliya. All the Members are from the ruling Patriotic Front Party.

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.   
 

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 Parliament commits to continuing national reconciliation efforts

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.

 
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.
 

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.

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