Tuesday 11th February, 2020: APRM National Governing Council (NGC) Media Statement
1. President Lungu, Amb. Kapambwe, Ministers Malanji, Chiteme, Phiri and Press Aide Amos Chanda
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The National Governing Council (NGC) of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in Zambia would like to commend the Government of the Republic of Zambia for embracing the Mechanism since the country acceded to it in 2006.
Particularly the NGC would like to pay tribute to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Zambia for deciding to make the APRM as one of its priority focus areas for the year 2020.
It is indeed gratifying that Parliament asked and invited before its Parliamentary Select Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights, National Guidance, Gender Matters and Governance a number of stakeholders that included Civil Society Organisations, experts on the subject matter and the Ministry of Justice and the National Governing Council on the APRM in Zambia, to prepare and submit memoranda.
The NGC is encouraged by this move by Parliament as it enhances the hopes of having this once upon a time held in high esteem tool given back the attention it deserves.
Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika
Bright Muenga and Guess Nyirenda of Operation Young Vote with Derrick Sinjela pix by Javis Lupheol KNC TV Sun 9 Feb 2020 at 16 (8)
The NGC is exited know that this exercise by Parliament is coming at the same time Zambia was scheduled to present its Targeted Review Reports in Addis Ababa on the Contribution of Mineral Resources and Tourism to the Economy of the country. It is further gratifying that a Zambian – Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika was appointed as an APR Panel Member of Eminent Persons to preside over the APRM on the Continent. This cannot be a mere coincidence, neither is it mean achievement.
The NGC, as one of the stakeholders that gave testimony before the Parliamentary Select Committee, is of the considered view that this exercise by Parliament particularly and the Government of the Republic of Zambia generally will not only champion a more formidable trajectory on the APRM in the country but will also further institutionalize the Mechanism while concretizing the best practices regarding procedures of the tool and substantive governance matters within the tool.
The NGC would also like to applaud all stakeholders that took time to research, prepare memorandum, submit and appeared on the matter of the APRM before the Parliamentary Select Committee. The NGC is convinced that the Committee’s information base of the subject matter has been enriched by the various submissions from different stakeholders. The NGC believes that this stakeholder’s consultations on the APRM by Parliament were robust.
The NGC would like to cease this opportunity and appeal to all Zambians individually and collectively to take particular interest in the APRM with the view of owning the Mechanism, benefits and dividends that accrue or would accrue going forward.
