Zimbabwe legislators ratify establishment of African Medicines Agency

RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AFRICAN MEDICINES AGENCY

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker, I move the motion standing in my name;

THAT WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that any Convention, Treaty or Agreement acceded to, concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President with one or more foreign States of governments or international organisations shall be subject to approval by Parliament;

WHEREAS the Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency was adopted by the African Union on the 5th February, 2019;

WHEREAS the Republic of Zimbabwe is a signatory to the aforesaid Treaty;

WHEREAS the Republic of Zimbabwe is desirous of becoming a Party to the aforesaid Treaty;

AND WHEREAS the entry into force of the aforesaid Treaty shall be conditional upon its ratification by Member States in accordance with their constitutional procedures;

NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid Convention be and is hereby approved.

Mr. Speaker, we are desirous to do that and that is the reason why we are bringing these proceedings before the House to ensure that Parliament agrees to the ratification of the African Medicines Agency.  I am hopeful that Hon. Members have been able to have sight of the treaty.  It is a very good treaty that will help us as a continent to be able to promote our own traditional medical products, develop and use them.  Our view is that this is a very important treaty Mr. Speaker Sir, that as a Parliament, we must ratify so that we can deposit the instruments of ratification.  The Hon. Minister of Health who is also our Vice President is also desirous that since this is a new treaty that came into force two years ago, as a country, we are in a good position to bid to host the African Agency.  It will be in the best interest of Zimbabweif we can ratify it so that when we solicit for support, our papers will be in order.

So Mr. Speaker, having said that, I therefore move that the aforesaid Convention be and is hereby approved.

HON. DR. LABODE: Thank you very much.  I rise to support the domestication of the proposal by the Minister of Justice.  I fail to understand why it has taken us so long to make that decision because Zimbabwe can benefit from it.   Obviously, we cannot isolate ourselves as if we are a big manufacturing company to be able to compete in the world, especially in African for exports of drugs.  For bulk manufacturing, we would need to come together as a continent.  Right now, the reason why we have such expensive drugs and why our small companies are failing to compete is because India produces in bulk for the UN, the whole world and when the product lands here, it is cheaper than the one produced here.  So, I think NEPAD has come up with a very good proposal, that let us come together and put our resources together and say for example Zimbabwe, go and produce ARVs, South Africa produce this and you produce that.  Let us export to each other at controlled prices.  This is good for Zimbabwe and Africa Thank you.

HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to add my voice to the ratification of the treaty.  Having heard Hon. Dr. Labode speak to and about the domestification of the same, I am challenged to provoke some thinking of some thought process in terms of beneficiation of our God-given natural resources which we are endowed with.

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