Midrand, South Africa – The First Committee sittings and Ordinary Session of the Seventh Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) are officially underway in Midrand, South Africa, as lawmakers from across the continent gather for preliminary deliberations before the formal opening ceremony on July 27.

Permanent Committees have commenced their work, with parliamentarians meeting to examine critical legislative and policy matters that will shape the upcoming plenary session.

The discussions are being held under the African Union’s 2026 theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” which is expected to anchor debates, resolutions, and policy recommendations throughout the sitting.

Zimbabwe has dispatched a five-member delegation to the session, led by Senator Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira.

The team includes Pupurai Togarepi, Tafanana Zhou, Elizabeth Masuku, and Happymore Chidziva, who are actively participating in committee meetings alongside their counterparts from other AU member states.

The legislators are reviewing reports, draft model laws, and policy frameworks spanning multiple sectors, including water and sanitation, health, trade, justice and human rights, rural economy, agriculture, and gender.

Recommendations emerging from these committee meetings will be presented to the full House during the Ordinary Session for debate and eventual adoption.

PAP officials emphasized that the Midrand sitting offers a vital platform for lawmakers to enhance parliamentary oversight, harmonize legislation across the continent, and accelerate the domestication of AU treaties and protocols within member states.

The Seventh Parliament is also expected to prioritize strengthening the legislative functions of the Pan-African Parliament while deepening collaboration with national legislatures and Regional Economic Communities to advance the AU’s Agenda 2063 development blueprint.

The official opening ceremony, scheduled for Monday, will feature addresses from senior African Union officials and representatives of the South African government, formally setting the agenda for the two-week parliamentary session.