Programme Director
The Vice Chairperson of CSPOC, Hon. Dr. Moses Wetang’ula and Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon, Ronald Lamola
Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Hon. W.M. Mosupyoe
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Dr Lotriet
House Chairperson of the NCOP, Hon Radebe
Honourable Speakers’, Deputy Speakers and Presiding Officers of Continental Parliaments and sub-legislatures
Secretaries of Continental Parliaments and sub-legislatures
Esteemed Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good afternoon,
It is with great humility and honour that we assume this August stage, to welcome all Honourable Members and distinguished guests, to the Official Opening Session, of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers, in South Africa, Gauteng Province.
● We take this opportunity on behalf of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, together with all our Nine Provincial Legislatures, to send our warm fraternal greetings as we gather as heads of Continental Parliaments and sub-legislatures, under the auspices of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
● We also take this opportunity to thank the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, under the leadership of the Standing Committee of CSPOC, for a job well done, in the successful planning, organizing and convening of this prestigious conference, from 16 - 20 June 2026.
● In the interest of our guests and fellow members of the African community who are following this conference on various media platforms. This venue (Emperors Palace) gave birth to new South Africa and a profound transition from a repressive apartheid system to a thriving democracy in South Africa hence it is the befitting for us to have this dialogue and to share our experiences, as it is etched in our sacred memory, as the location where the historic CODESA negotiations took place.
● We also take cognizance that we convene today, on 16 June 2026, as we Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of one of the most significant events , June , 16, 1976 Uprisings; where the youth and children of this beautiful land, took the ultimate sacrifice, to contest a repressive government of apartheid, against its systems, practices, and orders; that introduced forms of life, that will guarantee perpetual state of servitude.
● For Africa and the people of this nation, today is not a day of celebration, however a moment when we pause to mourn, and remember all our fallen heroes, whose ultimate sacrifice shaped the freedoms we enjoy today.
● In this accord, let us appreciate the work of the organizers for allowing delegates to this Conference, to begin today’s session, with the wreath laying at Hector Peterson Memorial site, with his Excellency, the President of South Africa.
● As we gather in this Opening session, under compelling theme, “Proactive Parliaments and Sustainable Development: An imperative for Political Stability in Africa,” what is invoked are the common challenges, ongoing struggles and shared interests that enjoin us together; as we deepen our collective vision, towards the building of a better Africa and a better world.
● Programme Director, this theme underscores, through its thematic areas, the necessity and the verying ways in which we can strengthen our parliamentary institutions as responsive and transformative spaces, for the promotion of democracy, peace and a sustainable future of all the people of Africa.
● Africa still confronts a suspicious world that is still trapped in the two myths, One, was what V.Y. Mudimbe referred to as a picture of a pre-European Africa, with no account of Time; no Arts, no History, no Society and the continued fear of danger and violence.
● Second, a picture of an African Golden Age of liberty, equality and fraternity.
● However, today we all face an Africa whose history of colonial domination intended to transform non-European areas into fundamentally European constructs.
● As we gather under a new vision of a refined and reformed CPA from its founding in 1911, the Africa region is united in its pursuit and concern for the place of Africa in the world today.
● We, together understand the depths from which Africa has emerged, under its painful history of slavery, colonialism, neocolonialism and apartheid.
● In this respect, cognisant of our mission to fulfil the promotion and advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance; the focus areas of this Conference, must equally underline the major faultlines of the world today.
● These, key amongst others, is the division of minority wealthy nations against the majority of very poor nations of the world.
● The gap between our nations in terms of wealth and power deepens daily, where our resources continue to benefit rich nations through patterns that reproduce exploitation and the continued making of the poor.
● To this extent, the unity of Africa remains very sacrosanct and South Africa remains the home for all Africans, and open to the community of nations across the globe.
● Our destiny and prospects of a more politically stable and sustainable future are intertwined.
● We therefore call on our nations to explore the possibilities of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, understanding our shared belief that Africa cannot be split into tiny political and economic units and hope to command its share of the globe and redress its historic challenges.
● The current shared challenges of immigration and the problem of co-existence, as global and continental phenomenon, are the manifestations of the unresolved questions and challenges of history.
● These platforms are thus a necessary where Heads of Parliaments convene to share knowledges in developing the scientific capacity and tools, to further the well-being and development of African societies.
● In our considered view, there is no one to catch up with, only for Africa to become the best version of itself.
● Our economic challenges manifested in the ongoing challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality, are not just material; but rooted in problem of cohesion and unity of purpose, as a political and cultural force.
● To this end, we welcome the objectives of this conference; to promote the interests and perspectives of Africa within the Commonwealth and beyond:
● promote knowledge and education on social, economic and cultural systems obtained in various Member Countries and beyond;
● promote knowledge and education of various Constitutional and legislative systems obtaining in various member countries and beyond;
● Promote gender equality and equity at all levels of human development;
● Promote the respect for fundamental rights and
● Promote peace, democracy and good governance in all member countries.
● In this regard, this Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers must in its conclusion, in its resolutions and in its declaration pronounce clear positions reflecting our collective priorities, as we confront standing challenges of the past, present and the future.
● Through these deliberate efforts to strengthen collaboration among Speakers’, Presiding Officers and Parliamentarians; an opportunity is created to redefine and advance the role of the Commonwealth Parliament and beyond, as true instruments of representative and participatory democracy.
● In addition, we hope this Conference plays its role to inform the CPA Africa Region joint approach and agenda setting, as we approach the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be held in the City of Cape Town in September 2026.
● As we discuss standard approaches to our common challenges, our people’s expectation is the absolute intellectual sovereignty of our ideas and policies, if our nations are to flourish.
● This means, thinking deeper on better ways to exercise parliamentary influence, through critical spaces of diplomacy.
● Notwithstanding, the current geopolitical climate, marred by multiple interconnected and interlocking crisis; we must assert our interests, through cooperation, and collective agency.
● We must recreate a transformative agenda, through maximum use of parliaments, more involved and rooted in the core issues that affect our people; especially women, youth, the elderly, people living with disability and other more vulnerable groups within our communities.
● In accordance, this conference through its thematic areas is providing opportunity to elevate both old and new conversations, towards new possibilities.
CONCLUSION:
● To this end, we are confident that the conference objectives will build consensus on the collective role of parliaments and enhance mechanisms for parliamentary diplomacy towards a sustainable and more stable future.
● Let us take the opportunity to think through and shape policies that affect our nations, and face the challenge of how we achieve more unified positions.
● Once again, we welcome you all to this Conference for Speakers and Presiding Officers, CPA Africa Region.
● We appreciate the opportunity afforded to South Africa to host you in our shores.
● Hoping that delegates will have a great stay and experience of our hospitality and Ubuntu, in this great Province of Gauteng, over the next few days.
● We hope to receive you all once again in the CPC in September 2026 in the City Of Cape Town.
● Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika
I thank you
Arrange a tour