On 4 June 2021, the African Parliamentarians’ Network on Development Evaluation (APNODE) held a roundtable as part of the 2021 gLOCAL Evaluation Week themed ‘The Role of Parliamentarians in Africa’s post COVID-19 Recovery.’ Moderated by Ms. Josephine Watera, Head of M&E, Parliament of Uganda, the event’s distinguished panelists were Sen. Langton Chikukwa, Senate of Zimbabwe and APNODE Executive Committee member, Sen. Sylvia Kasanga, Senate of Kenya, Hon. Rahhal El Makkaoui, House of Councillors of Morocco and APNODE Executive Committee member, and Mr. Germain Mbav Yav, Advisor to the Research Department of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and APNODE Member.
Ms. Watera set the ball in motion, contextualizing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on communities across Africa and the globe, while highlighting the efforts being made to contain the spread and impact of COVID. Panelists were then given the floor to deliver opening remarks, including sharing insights on their respective country situations.
First to intervene was Sen. Chikukwa, who explained that since the onset of the pandemic, Zimbabwean legislators have worked closely with the executive to institute policies and operational measures to combat the pandemic. He cautioned that for a meaningful post-recovery, parliamentarians will need to initiate policies and enact legislation to revitalize the economy, provide oversight over the use of resources (both from the budget and donations), and should closely work with the executive on all measures being implemented. More importantly, he felt there was a vital need to collaborate, coordinate and integrate efforts regionally as well as across the continent.
Sen. Kasanga next highlighted the centrality of parliament to Kenya’s efforts to tackle COVID-19. Drawing on her experience as the Chair of the Ad hoc Senate Committee on COVID-19 in Kenya, she detailed the stakeholder engagements, oversight, and legislative efforts started, including receiving 160+ submissions, delivering 9 Progress Reports, undertaking 5 county visits, and holding 17 joint sittings with the Health Committee to address audit reports and procurement irregularities; as well as reviewing policy and legislative interventions, and developing the Pandemic Response and Management Bill. Sen. Kasanga emphasized that during the initial pandemic period in Kenya, reality evolved so rapidly that available data and information were not current enough to enable effective decision-making. Nevertheless, Kenyan MPs played different pro-active roles in attaining information on implementation progress by Government. Like Sen. Chikukwa, she also stressed the need for better collaboration between parliament and the executive to enhance efficiency in service delivery; strengthened parliaments with access to cutting-edge research and data to inform decision-making; appreciation for expert ideas to help inform or improve the pandemic management and recovery strategy; and, effective channels via which MPs can exchange on vital information with interest groups, citizens, and experts.
In the case of Morocco, Hon. El-Makkaoui noted that during the pandemic, parliament did not close, allowing parliamentarians to continue working in person as well as remotely throughout the crisis. He further stressed that it was vital for the government and parliament to collaborate as per the Constitution. Doing so enabled parliament to not only provide its views and opinions on the different measures and actions authorized by the government to tackle the disease, but also to pass laws. He further pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered widespread discussions within the country about the recovery process, particularly on how the country can reach food, health, power and industrial security.
Speaking on the situation in DRC, Mr. Mbav Yav concurred with other panelists on the pandemic’s impact. However, he suggested that parliamentarians would need to act proactively by involving themselves in major reforms and solutions, rather than complaining about the challenges. One way to do so is for parliamentarians to utilize the parliamentary recess periods to engage with and explain to their constituents on emerging issues affecting them, notably the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the COVAX Initiative, or the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT).
Following the interventions by the panelists, the moderator opened the discussion to accommodate questions from the audience. The ensuing interaction brought additional insights to the discussion, including actions MPs should undertake to ensure a meaningful post COVID-19 recovery. Some participants also used the opportunity to engage with the panelists and to share additional country experiences.
The event, which attracted over 35 attendees, concluded with a call for more collaboration, networking and partnerships among African parliamentarians to foster a learning and experience-sharing environment.
Watch the roundtable