Remarks by the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Ms Faith Muthambi on the occassion of the meeting of the committee of Focal Points in preparation for the summit of the participating Heads of State and Government of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APR Forum), Wednesday, 26 April 2017, Midrand
Your Excellences
We are gathered here today in preparation for the 27th APR Forum scheduled for July 2017. This meeting occurs at a very momentous in the life of the APRM.
In 2018, the APRM will be turning fifteen (15) years since its inception in 2003. We have all witness the genesis and evolution of this unique home grown initiative from a few participating countries to thirty-six (36) today.
The latest member to join being our friend and neighbour, the Republic of Namibia. We are told that the Gambia is on the verge of joining. Should this happen, it will assist us move progressively towards universal accession as mandated by the Heads of States.
We all bear witness to the sterling work that has been achieved during this current phase of the revitalization of the mechanism, led by the outgoing Chairperson, President of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta.
In partnership with the Chair of the APRM Committee of Focal Points, Honourable Mwangi Kiunjuri and the current CEO of the APRM Secretariat, Professor Eddy Maloka, tremendous progress has been made in the revitalization of mechanism. All of us we are testimony to the sterling work executed by Secretariat under Prof Maloka.
Chairperson
I wish to convey South Africa’s appreciation of the collective efforts of this committee in ensuring that the APRM rise to expectations of the “Founding Fathers” in playing a role as a catalyst for sustainable development for the people of our continent. Most importantly this meeting is taking place on the backdrop of SA celebrating her 23 years of freedom tomorrow 27 April 2017.
As servants of our people, we should always seek to ensure that we let nothing stand in the way of achieving the dream of a better Africa for our children and future generations.
I am proud to proclaim, with conviction and without fear of contradiction, that this committee, the APR Forum, and the entire APRM family including our strategic partners, continues to play a positive and significant role in ensuring that we achieve an Africa characterised by Good Governance.
Your Excellences
Some of our collective achievements that we need not compromise include the adoption of the APRM Statutes, and the decision by the African Union Assembly at its 28th Summit held on 30-31 January 2017 to reposition the APRM to play a monitoring and evaluation role for the African Union Agenda 2063 and the UN Agenda 2030.
Undoubtedly, the Assembly decision will have very profound implications for APRM and as such requires the mechanism to realign its operations and processes to the expanded mandate.
I am glad that the recent work undertaken by various experts in March 2017 during the experts and methodology workshops as well as the outcome of commissioned work done by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on impact assessment of the APRM on Governance, will go a long in providing us with the basis for further reflection and improvement of the mechanism.
Distinguished Focal Points
As a country, we wish to implore this commit to support the proposed events to mark the celebrations of the 15 years since this mechanism was established. We would like to urge this committee to deliberate on ways in which we can collectively solicit resources and support to ensure a successful event.
Chairperson
On behalf, of His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma and on behalf of people of South Africa, I would like to extend a warm hand of welcome to our country. We hope that although you will surely be focused on the core business delegated to you, you will also find time to visit some of our tourist attractions and experience the warmth of our people.
His Excellency’s, I am well briefed and informed about the outcome of the Steering Committee meeting, which nearly diverted the strategic direction of the meeting. Fortunately the Steering Committee kept to our collective spirit of ensuring that as we revitalize the mechanism we do so mindful of the fact that we should not lose focus on strategic issues.
I, therefore, appeal that if there are any administrative and logistical issues affecting Member States these should be brought to my attention as the host country. I reiterate my commitment to address such.
With those few remarks, I wish you productive engagements and fruitful deliberations.
I Thank you.
