Parliamentarians push peace plan implementation

Individual members of parliament from 17 countries, including those directly involved in the DRC conflict, have vowed to carry out their “legislative and oversight responsibilities” to support implementation of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement. At a workshop organised by the independent organisation Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) in the Zambian capital Lusaka last week, the legislators said they had a “significant role” to play in peace-building, particularly in the DRC. They resolved to work to ensure that all signatories of the Lusaka accord fully honoured their commitments and were “severely sanctioned” in the event of non-compliance. In a plan of action, the politicians said they would seek, over the next year, to have resolutions passed in their respective parliaments in support of the Lusaka plan and would carefully oversee budgetary provisions presented for approval “to better monitor military expenditures”.