Maravi

Lubinda urges civil society, legislature linkages

Lubinda urges civil society, legislature linkages
By Kabanda Chulu in Accra, Ghana
Thursday April 24, 2008 [04:00]

ZAMBIAN parliamentary committee on economic and labour affairs chairperson Given Lubinda on Tuesday challenged international civil society organisations to establish linkages with the legislatures in order to enhance effective policy formulation. And Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) international projects adviser Atul Kaushik has said there was need to have home-grown initiatives in the fight against poverty.

Speaking during the launch of a book by CUTS International titled Poverty Linkages in Ttade and Development, Lubinda said there was always a disjointed network between prime movers (members of parliament) of development and the implementing agencies such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

“Research of this kind must be brought before parliamentarians through establishing linkages between parliaments and the related institutions because parliamentarians are vital in formulation of almost all policies and they also speak on behalf of the people,” Lubinda said. “Surprisingly, even the European Union Parliament is not informed of the economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which Europe wants to establish with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries. We know about this development because we are in constant contact with fellow parliamentarians around the world and this is why I am asking all institutions dealing in trade matters to establish linkages between their work and parliaments in order to have effective trade policy formulation.”

He also urged CUTS Zambia and other related local civil society organisations to bring trade linked research to the attention of parliamentarians so that parliamentarians could have a broader understanding of issues.

“MPs in Zambia are in need of research materials on topical issues such as WTO discussions and the dual membership of Zambia to COMESA and SADC but they rely on the media hence lagging behind on global development processes,” said Lubinda.

And Kaushik, who is based in India, said the book with specific country case-studies including Zambia, was aimed at enhancing home grown initiatives in the fight against poverty.

“Through this book, we are hopeful that there will now be linkages between international trade and development and these measures must be home grown so that economic growth and poverty reduction can be enhanced as part of sustainable development in poor countries,” said Kaushik.

The book, Poverty Linkages in Trade and Development was launched by Lubinda, during the civil society forum taking place under the sidelines of the ongoing UNCTAD XII.

Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, GOVERNANCE

posted by MrK @ 5:14 AM