Zimbabwe’s deputy president of the Chiefs Council, Fortune Charumbira was on Monday re-elected president of the Pan African Parliament (PAP).
He was the candidate of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Charumbira shrugged off challenges from other aspirants, among them Zambia’s Miles Sampa.
Last week, a South African High Court dismissed an application by Botswana MP Christian Greef who sought to stop the PAP extraordinary session in which Charumbira was set to be retained as the leader of the continental legislative body.
Our delegation from Botswana consists of Christian Greef, Dr. Gobotswang, Leuwe Friction and Simon Moabi who is our campaign manager for the Pan African Parliament Presidency. pic.twitter.com/nJrsJllZds
— Sampa For PAP Presidency (@SAMPA4PAP) March 22, 2024
Monday’s voting was conducted during a Pan-African Parliament extraordinary session to fill vacant positions in the Bureau held at the PAP headquarters in Midrand, South Africa.
Prof. Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf from Mauritania was also re-elected First Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament.
Djidda Mamar Mahamat from Chad was elected as the 4th Vice President of the PAP.
The positions of President, first Vice President, and fourth Vice President of the Bureau were vacant following elections and unconstitutional changes of government in some African Union member states.
Charumbira PAP presidency was terminated by law after he temporarily ceased being a legislator in his home country, Zimbabwe after parliament was dissolved to pave way for elections last August.
Charumbira, who has a seat in Zimbabwe’s Senate courtesy of a quota reserved for traditional leaders, first became PAP president in 2022.
The Pan-African Parliament, also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union. New Ziana
