PAC director elected into AU advisory body
Public Affairs Committee (PAC) executive director Robert Phiri has been elected as deputy presiding officer (Southern Africa Region) for African Union’s (AU) Economic, Social and Cultural Council (Ecosocc).
The AU Ecosocc secretariat, in a note to the Malawi Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, states that Phiri was elected at the Fourth Permanent General Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.
Established in July 2004 as an advisory body of the AU, the purpose of Ecosocc is to provide an opportunity for African civil society organisations (CSOs) to play an active role in contributing to the AU’s principles, policies and programmes.
Reads part of the communication: “The secretariat would like to call upon the Government of the Republic of Malawi that all the necessary courtesies be extended to Mr Robert [Phiri] in the performance of his duties and for the successful conduct of the work of the organ.”
Other deputy presiding officers elected at the Assembly include Brenda Brewer-Moore (West Africa), Chongosi Ayeah Joseph (Central Africa) and Mahendranath Busgopaul (East Africa) while Khalid Boudali was elected presiding officer.
Phiri in an interview yesterday described his election as an honour and a challenge.
He said during his tenure of office, he will ensure that through policy influence, there is greater participation of CSOs from the southern part of Africa into Ecosocc, pointing out that Covid-19 slowed activities in previous years.
“I appreciate the support I receive from PAC board in pursuit of continental integration which I love most. Without their support I should not have reached this level,” said Phiri.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Kabaghe asked for more time before responding.
Phiri will lead a southern African team comprising various clusters of economic affairs, infrastructure and energy including a credentials committee.
In the economic affairs cluster committee, Phiri will work with its chairperson Boniface Cheembe from Zambia while in the infrastructure and energy committee, he will work with its chairperson Kundani Ngwena from Zimbabwe.
In the credentials committee, he will work with its chairperson Lebogang Kenneth Mabotho from Botswana.
Ecosocc members are elected for four year terms and may be re-elected once.
