Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s political prowess and commitment to parliamentary excellence are shining bright at the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), which is currently underway in Sydney, Australia.
Lukas Sinimbo Muha, chairperson of Namibia’s National Council, has taken up his role as a newly appointed Member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) international executive committee, representing the Southern Africa Sub-region of the CPA Africa Region.
According to a statement, Muha’s new role is a big step forward for Namibia.
Muha previously served as the vice-chairperson of the CPA Africa Region Executive Committee for three years.
During this year’s event, the CPA general assembly will elect a new CPA Executive Committee Chairperson, with Dr Christopher Kalila (Zambia), Dr Zainab Gimba (Nigeria), and Arthur Holder (Barbados) competing for the position.
This election highlights the CPA’s commitment to democratic processes and strong leadership within the association to which each candidate brings unique perspectives and agendas for the future of the Commonwealth’s parliamentary collaboration.
The CPC provides a robust learning platform through a series of workshops and discussions addressing the complexities of governance in a rapidly changing world.
Topics for this year’s workshops include “Building Bridges: Parliamentary Frameworks for Meaningfully Engaging with Indigenous Peoples,” “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Parliamentary Processes and Practices,” and “Violence and Abuse of Parliamentarians – Case Studies from the Commonwealth.”
According to the statement these workshops, featuring insights from global experts and parliamentarians, aim to build knowledge and improve parliamentary practices across regions.
Humanitarian concerns, including human trafficking, refugees, and immigration, will also be explored, with Commonwealth nations sharing their diverse approaches to fostering safe, inclusive societies.
The conference will also address gender equality with sessions on combating discriminatory legislation and ongoing activism against gender-based violence. Inclusive electoral practices are also on the agenda, with a session dedicated to creating accessible election frameworks for persons with disabilities (PwDs).
One of the most anticipated aspects of the conference is the World Café session, which will provide an open forum to discuss contemporary global challenges.
Key issues set for this session include the geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Middle East, reflections on overcoming the colonial legacy, the urgent timeline on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), corporate lobbying against climate action, and the ethical debates surrounding assisted dying.
The role of parliaments in reinforcing democratic resilience has emerged as a central theme, particularly in light of the pervasive influence of synthetic media and fake news on democratic processes.
This topic will form the core of the General Assembly debate titled “Votes vs Likes – the Role of Parliament in Strengthening Democratic Resilience in an Age of Fake News and Synthetic Media.”
The 67th CPC builds on the momentum of the 66th conference hosted by Ghana in 2023, reiterating the CPA’s dedication to fostering unity and strengthening the global parliamentary network.
According to the statement, Muha’s new role on the CPA International Executive Committee symbolises a personal achievement and a recognition of Namibia’s growing influence within the Commonwealth.
According to the statement, Namibia is poised to continue contributing to the CPA’s vision of promoting good governance, parliamentary democracy, and sustainable development across the Commonwealth through his leadership.
The annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is the largest global gathering of parliamentarians within the Commonwealth, which drew more than 700 delegates, including parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and decision-makers from across the association’s nine regions: Africa, Asia, Australia, British Islands and Mediterranean, Canada, Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic, India, Pacific, and South East Asia.
The conference seeks to address some of the world’s most pressing political and parliamentary challenges through dialogue and debate.