NATIONAL Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is leading a high-level delegation from the South African Parliament to attend the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Luanda, Angola.
The event is scheduled to take place from Monday, 23 October to Friday, 27 October at the National Assembly (NA) of Angola.
The assembly is held under the theme: “Parliamentary action for peace, justice, and strong institutions.”
Parliament spokesman Moloto Mothapo said on Sunday, 22 October that representatives of 110 parliaments are expected to attend.
“Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula will also attend as part of the eight prominent parliamentarians representing the global parliamentary community in the IPU Task Force for the Peaceful Resolution of the War in Ukraine,” said Mothapo.
He said a meeting is scheduled for parliamentarians from both the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
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Mothapo said the IPU Committee on Middle East Questions is also scheduled to meet and consider the latest developments and chart a path to peace for the region.
”The IPU is also in close contact with the parliamentary leadership of both Armenia and Azerbaijan and has offered its offices to help promote political dialogue between MPs from the two countries,” he said.
The five-day session will include the election of the 31st IPU president by secret ballot for a three-year term.
The new IPU president will take over from Duarte Pacheco, a member of Parliament in Portugal.
Mothapo said: “So far, four female candidates, all from Africa, have indicated their availability for the position. They are Dr Tulia Ackson, speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Ms Catherine Hara, speaker of Parliament of Malawi, Ms Adji Kanoute, deputy chairperson of the Parliament of Senegal, and Ms Marwa Hagi, Member of the House of People of Somalia.”
The IPU is the oldest multilateral organisation made up of 178 parliaments.
The South African delegation consists of ANC MP and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) deputy chairwoman Sylvia Lucas, NCOP Chief Whip and ANC MP Seiso Mohai, deputy Chief Whip of the majority party Doris Dlakude, ANC MP Fikile Masiko, Democratic Alliance MP Dr Annelie Lotriet, EFF Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu, and Secretary to parliament Xolile George.
