Parliament without the people becomes an echo chamber

Former African Union (AU) Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has hailed the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Civil Society Forum for giving African citizens a stronger voice in shaping continental decisions during the third Civil Society-Parliament Dialogue in Midrand.

- By Themba Gadebe

Civil society from African Union member states and Pan African Parliament representatives attending the 3rd Civil Society Parliament Dialogue.

The annual dialogue, held on 8 November, was organised by the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, in partnership with the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the Pan-African Parliament. The gathering reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between the continental parliament and civil society organisations (CSOs) across Africa.

The forum brought together civil society organisations, academics and legislators from AU member states to deliberate on key issues of democracy, human rights, governance and peacebuilding on the continent.

Addressing delegates, Dlamini-Zuma said the strength of any parliament lies in its connection with the people it represents.

Without active public participation, she cautioned, legislatures risk becoming echo chambers where the same ideas circulate without real change.

"The participation of civil society brings the voices of the people into the heart of African decision-making in the continent's legislative processes," she said.

Unpacking the theme, 'Year of Reparations: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,' Dlamini-Zuma said the AU has long recognised the need for reparations as a moral, historical and economic issue tied to Africa's colonial past, slavery and exploitation.

"Reparations are essential for justice, healing and development. They remain a key part of the African Union's 50-year strategic framework, Agenda 2063," she said.

Dlamini-Zuma recalled the 1993 Conference on Reparations held in Nigeria, where it was resolved that the West owed Africa a moral, economic and historical debt.