Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini, says Members of Parliament are in vantage position to contribute to the shaping, advancement and implementation of sustainable development agenda.
Addressing the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in cooperation with the United Nations at the UN Headquarters, Dr. Matibini said Members of Parliament could crucially contribute to achieving sustainable development by enacting relevant legislation and closely monitoring the implementation of the various programmes and initiatives.
Dr Matibini urged parliamentarians, as direct representatives of the people, to make their voices heard and define the fiscal and budgetary trajectory of their nations.
He told the global meeting of leaders of Parliaments, which takes place once every five years, that Zambia had made significant parliamentary reforms.
He said that since 2002, an ambitious process of enhancing the core functions of Parliament has been implemented through the parliamentary reform programme.
Dr Matibini stated that these parliamentary reforms have in particular enhanced parliamentary oversight including alignment of parliamentary committees to Government Ministries to enhance policy development and implementation.
He explained that this ensures that all Government ministries are effectively covered and scrutinized.
The Speaker further said that Zambia had established constituency offices in all the 150 constituencies, and that these offices were strategically deployed as centres of democracy and development.
The Conference, attended by at least over 180 parliamentary Speakers, several deputy Speakers and other parliamentary leaders, closed yesterday after three days of deliberations focused on Sustainable Development.
This is according to a statement issued by First Secretary fir Press and Public Relations at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Chibaula Silwamba.