Parliamentarians hopeful after African Peer Review Mechanism workshop

WINDHOEK, 20 APR  – Although Namibia has been rated among the top 20 countries on the African continent to have achieved consistent governance improvements over the last decade, a lot still needs to be done in this regard.
This was said by Swapo Party deputy chief whip, Hamunyela Hambiuka, at a half-day workshop on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) here on Thursday.
“If fully implemented, the APRM will go a long way in enhancing our governance processes,” he said.
The APRM was established in 2003 by the New Partnership for Africa Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee as an instrument for monitoring performance in governance among member states.
The workshop was organised by the APRM in conjunction with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA); the Institute for Public Policy Research; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa.
It was held for Members of Parliament and civil society organisations to learn from the experiences of other countries that have been members of the APRM for a number of years.
Namibia became the 36th African Union member state to accede to the APRM in 2017.
“Many laws have been passed in parliament by member states due to the influence and existence of APRM,” SAIIA Programme Head of Governance and Foreign Policy, Steven Gruzd said during the workshop.
Swanu of Namibia President, Usutuaije Maamberua described the workshop as progressive and beneficial.
“This is not a workshop to exchange ideas, but also to hear the experiences of other countries for Namibia to position itself in preparation of developmental programmes and governance regimes,” he said.
Agnes Limbo from the Rally for Democracy and Progress said what they learned is very important.
“It is only through a system of self-criticism that we will be able to say whether we are on the right path,” she said.

NAMPA