Delegation from the Open Government Partnership calls on deputy speaker Ìý |30 October 2023
The two delegations in a souvenir photograph: (l to r) Ms Payet, Ms Moumou, Mr Perez Ara, deputy speaker Henrie, Ms Semela and Ms Isaac
On Monday, October 23, 2023, a delegation from the Open Government Partnership (OGP) paid a courtesy call on the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Gervais Henrie.
The delegation comprised of programme manager, M Kgothatso Semela, and research manager, Gustavo Perez Ara.Ìý
Accompanying the deputy speaker was the clerk to the National Assembly, Tania Isaac, the director general for cabinet affairs, Florry Payet, and deputy cabinet secretary for policy affairs, Margaret Pillay.
Ms Semela enlightened the deputy speaker on the role of OGP whose mandate is largely focused on bringing together government reformers and civil society leaders to create robust plans of action that create more inclusive, responsive, and accountable governments.
For her part, Ms Pillay elaborated that the delegation is visiting 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ to conduct training and sensitisation workshops for both government and civil society leaders on the OGP process.
Deputy speaker Henrie welcomed the delegation and discussed some of the achievements and undertakings of the National Assembly in enhancing the transparency of government through continual oversight and legislative scrutiny.
The OGP representatives invited 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ to showcase these developments and become a leader for the SADC region. Mr Henrie also noted the need to improve the knowledge and capacity of both members of the assembly and parliamentary staff on these matters. This was echoed by Mr Perez Ara who proposed further engagement between the OGP and the 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’ National Assembly.
An agreement was made to conduct a capacity building session for members and parliamentary staff before the end of 2023.
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