Report

A delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) visited South African and Kenya from 31 August to 8 September 2018. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., and Chair of the Branch, led the delegation made up of MPs Kerry Diotte and Anthony Rota. Rémi Bourgault, Secretary for the Canadian Branch, accompanied the delegation.

The CPA’s constitution encourages visits between member countries in order to give parliamentarians an opportunity to discuss matters of common interest in bilateral relations and issues related to the entire Commonwealth organization. The visit to South Africa and Kenya was intended to strengthen ties with our Commonwealth partners in Africa and share ideas regarding areas of mutual interest.

Numerous subjects were raised during the bilateral visit, including the state of parliamentary democracy in relation to the Westminster system; social justice; climate change; and sustainable development goals regarding poverty reduction, regional security, trade and investment, gender-based violence, health and access to education.

VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Geography

The Republic of South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa, bordered to the north by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and to the east by Swaziland. The country of Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa. The area of South Africa is 1.2 million km² – about the size of Ontario. In 2017, the population of South Africa was 57 million^[1]The country has 11 official languages: IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, English, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, and isiNdebele. The administrative capital is Pretoria (seat of the executive branch), the legislative capital is Cape Town (seat of Parliament), and the judicial capital is Bloemfontein (seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal). The country is divided into nine administrative provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North-West and Western Cape. Each province has a legislature elected under a system of proportional representation.

Political landscape

On 18 December 2017, Cyril Ramaphosa replaced Jacob Zuma as the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), the latter having been plagued by financial scandals. On 14 February 2018, Mr. Zuma resigned as president and was replaced by Mr. Ramaphosa.^[2]The next legislative and presidential elections will be held in 2019.

The Constitution of South Africa establishes a strong presidency and central government. It also created a bicameral legislature consisting of a National Assembly of 400 elected members and a 90-member National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chosen by the parties in the provincial legislatures. Each of the nine provincial legislative assemblies chooses six permanent delegates and four special delegates from among its members. Each delegation is headed by the premier of the province, who is also one of the special delegates. The Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution is one of the broadest in the world; it bars any discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy and marital status. The Bill protects such rights as the right to adequate housing, food, water, health care and education, as well as the right to life (capital punishment has already been banned).

The two houses of Parliament are responsible for drafting laws, but the National Assembly has specific control over bills relating to monetary matters. The NCOP must approve legislation that involves shared national and provincial jurisdictions. When a bill to amend the Constitution directly affects the provinces, at least six of the nine provinces in the NCOP must agree to it.

The issue of agrarian reform and land redistribution is both complicated and controversial. After apartheid was abolished, provisions concerning agrarian reform and land redistribution were incorporated into the Constitution. The government had planned to redistribute 30% of government-owned land before 2014, but only 4% has been redistributed so far.

In response to growing public pressure, the ANC has begun to explore more radical solutions, such as expropriation without compensation, and adopted a policy in this regard in December 2017. In February 2018, the South African Parliament voted on a motion authorizing expropriation without compensation. A committee was also struck to review section 25 of the Constitution and to hold public hearings on land expropriation. In the same vein, President Ramaphosa announced in late July 2018 that the ANC would finalize an amendment to the Constitution stipulating the conditions for land expropriation without compensation.

Economy

Economically, South Africa is categorized by the World Bank as an upper middle income country. It has abundant natural resources. In 2017, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was approximately US$349 billion, making it the second-largest economy in sub‑Saharan Africa behind Nigeria, which has a population more than three times larger_[3]. The largest sectors of South Africa’s economy are services (68% of GDP), manufacturing (30%) and agriculture (3%).^[4]In 2017, real GDP (taking inflation into account) grew 1.3%, following increases of 0.6% in 2016, 1.3% in 2015 and 1.8% in 2014. In 2009, South Africa’s real GDP shrank by 1.5% owing to the global recession. Some forecasters believe that South Africa’s real GDP growth will increase slightly to 1.7% in 2018 and 1.8% in 2019^[5]

South Africa is Canada’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Canada’s exports to South Africa in 2017 were worth $354 million, while its imports from South Africa totalled $917 million, resulting in a trade deficit of $563 million. Canada’s main exports to South Africa are machinery parts, helicopters and meat. Canadian imports from South Africa include gold, palladium, vehicles, oranges and wine^[6]. In 2017, Canada invested $2.6 billion in South Africa^[7].

Foreign direct investment in South Africa is increasing significantly, particularly investment in infrastructure. For historical reasons, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands remain the main sources of investment, but China is also a contributor, both in South Africa and throughout the continent.^[8]

Delegation meetings in Cape Town, South Africa

Visit to Langa Township

During their visit to Langa Township in the Cape Flats area and to the offices of the Development Action Group (DAG), the delegates saw the challenges involved in service delivery and governance as well as the glaring inequities in post-apartheid South Africa. They noted the benefits of Canada’s contribution of $2.5 million over four years (Equal Spaces project) to help poor households in urban areas, many of which are led by women. Rooftops Canada is working to create safe and affordable housing for families living in urban areas and to reverse the impact of the Group Areas Act, which relegated Black South Africans to remote townships (many people had to spend 40% of their income on commuting to work or have their children cared for by their parents who lived far away). Rooftops Canada’s partners include the National Association of Social Housing Organizations (NASHO) and DAG.

Meetings with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences and with students

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a pan-African network of centres of excellence (six across Africa) that trains top African students and helps these talented individuals become innovators who support the continent’s scientific, educational and economic self-sufficiency. The organization’s headquarters is in Kigali, Rwanda, and in 2003, AIMS opened its doors in Cape Town, South Africa.

The AIMS centres of excellence offer a one-year structured master’s degree in mathematical sciences. Students take part in an immersive educational environment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while learning about collaboration, problem solving and independence, and addressing Africa’s socioeconomic issues.

The AIMS Industry Initiative seeks to maximize opportunities for the mathematical sciences to contribute to African economies through human capital, knowledge transfer and applied research in scientific and technological excellence. The initiative links mathematical sciences to industry needs and fills the skills gaps in Africa through strategic partnerships with skilled stakeholders.

AIMS is proud to have produced 1,682 graduates from 43 countries so far, 32% of whom are women. In South Africa, AIMS continues to contribute to regional and national research by organizing or co-organizing short-term courses and workshops in various branches of mathematics.

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) administers Canada’s contribution of $44.6 million to expand the AIMS network.

Meetings with political experts and analysts

The working meal was attended by Phephelaphi Dube, Director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights; Richard Calland, a professor at Cape Town University; Ben Cousins, a professor at the University of Western Cape and founder of the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS); Jolobe Zwelethu, a professor at Cape Town University; and Crystal Oderson, South African correspondent for the Africa Report. The purpose was to brief delegates on South Africa’s foreign and national policy priorities, particularly agrarian reform, governance, the public service, gender equality and the media. Agrarian reform has been a top issue for several years. Expropriation without compensation is an option, given that the land was stolen during the colonial period.

While the delegation was at Parliament, they sat through committee hearings with stakeholders and viewed the proceedings. The committee was conducting consultations on best options and should produce a report shortly. Discussions also touched on the challenges caused by the change in presidency. Participants talked about the importance of education to the country’s future. The country faces a high unemployment rate especially for people between the ages of 18 and 35. This is a cause of concern for safety and the future prospects for the country.

Meeting with the Parliamenary Monitoring Group

The Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) is a non-governmental organization that provides objective and timely information on all South African parliamentary committee proceedings. The PMG also reports on the status of bills before the South African Parliament and provides information on public hearings.

The meeting with the PMG provided an opportunity to better understand South Africa’s parliamentary system, including the work of its committees. The Association heard that there are over 50 committees of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

Parliamentary sittings are televised, and Parliament has a YouTube channel. The work of the Parliamentary Monitoring Group is essential, as Parliament does not publish an official transcript of its proceedings.

Meeting with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation

The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) is a civil society organization established 18 years ago following the conclusion of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to implement the Commission’s recommendations. The IJR then extended its activities across the continent, particularly in the southern area. The IJR is intended to be a forum for discussion between stakeholders and is not an organization that imposes binding measures.

Meeting with John Steenhuisen, member of the Democratic Alliance and Official Opposition Chief Whip

Hon. Steenhuisen described the workings of the National Assembly and how it is organized. The ANC, which is the governing party, holds 246 seats and the Economic Freedom Fighters party holds 25. He also described South Africa’s proportional voting system. Mr. Steenhuisen gave the Association an overview of South Africa’s system of government and discussed electoral reform. He noted that South African elections, are based on a party list system of proportional representation, which enables smaller parties to attain representation. However, he added that the system creates a disconnect between voters and legislators because members of the National Assembly are not elected to directly represent a constituency. Discussions also touched on the country’s high unemployment rate and economic problems. The delegates also discussed challenges that his party may face in the next election.

Meeting with the Hon. Baleka Mbete, Speaker of the National Assembly

Speaker Mbete was accompanied by Mr. L. Tsenoli, Member and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and Ms. A. T. Didiza, Member and Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), Africa Region. The delegates discussed changes within the international CPA, such as the organization’s status and the parameters of the international conference. Ms. Ratansi noted that Canada plans to suggest to the international committee that the international conference be held in Canada in January 2021, following the September 2019 conference in Uganda. In order to ensure that the Speaker was aware of the collaboration between Canada and South Africa, Ms. Ratansi praised the contribution of both Mr. Tsenoli and Ms. Didiza at the CWP strategic planning session in Wilton Park. Speaker Mbete appreciated the input and stated that she focuses on the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Chair of the NCOP focuses on CPA meetings. Speaker Mbete also highlighted that the speakers of many of South Africa’s provincial legislative assemblies are women.

Meeting with representatives from the National Council of Provinces

Delegates met with Mr. A. J. Nyambi, Member of NCOP and Chair of Committees, Oversight and Intergovernmental Relations. He was accompanied by Ms. M. C. Dikgale, Member of NCOP, Mr. L. Tsenoli, Member and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and Ms. A. T. Didiza, Member and Chairperson of the CWP, Africa Region. The NCOP would be the equivalent of the Senate in many legislatures and it is one of the components of South Africa’s Parliament, along with the National Assembly. The NCOP has 54 permanent members and 36 special members. Each province has 10 representatives. The NCOP also has representatives from local governments. It holds sittings in the provinces so that it can take provincial interests into account. It can also hold a joint sitting with the National Assembly. Participants at the meeting also discussed the history of agrarian reform.

Miscellaneous

The delegation was officially recognized in the National Assembly and attended part of the proceedings of the committee on agrarian reform.

Acknowledgements

In conclusion, the delegates would like to express their thanks to the dedicated staff at the Canadian High Commission in Pretoria for preparing a very comprehensive itinerary and contributing to a successful visit.

VISIT TO KENYA

Geography

The Republic of Kenya lies on the equator on the east coast of Africa. It has 536 km of coastline on the Indian Ocean and is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and South Sudan to the northwest. As of July 2017, Kenya’s population was an estimated 47.6 million. The country’s population density of close to 82 persons per km2 places it 14th in Continental Africa^[9]. The capital is Nairobi, the most populated city in the country with close to 3.9 million inhabitants in 2015, although the greater Nairobi area has 8.3 million inhabitants. The second-largest city is Mombasa, located on the Indian Ocean near the border with Tanzania. It has a population of close to 1.2 million.

Kenya is divided into 47 counties and has seven tribal groups: the Kikuyu (22%), Luhya (14%), Luo (13%), Kalenjin (12%), Kamba (11%), Kisii (6%) and Meru (6%). In addition, 16% of the population is from outside the country (15% from Africa and 1% from other continents). English and Swahili are the official languages, but 22% and 13% of the population speak Kikuyu and Luo, respectively, as their first languages. According to 2009 estimates, 48% of the population is Protestant, 23% Catholic, 12% is of another Christian denomination and 11% is Muslim. The Muslim population is concentrated on the coast and in the northeast, where the population is primarily of Somali origin.

In 2017, 40% of the population was estimated to be under the age of 15, and the median age was 19.7. In comparison, 16% of the Canadian population was under the age of 15 in 2017, and the median age was 40.6^[10].

Political landscape

President Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party won the majority (54%) of the 16 million votes cast in the presidential election of 8th August 2017. However, these results were nullified by Kenya’s Supreme Court, owing to election irregularities and problems with electronic voting. A second election was held 26th October 217, even though the main opposition candidate, Raila Odinga (National Super Alliance – NASA party), withdrew on 10th October 2017, saying that he considered the election illegitimate. On 30th October 2017, Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Mr. Kenyatta president-elect, having received 98% of the 7.4 million votes cast (38% of registered voters).

In November 2017, Kenya’s Supreme Court unanimously validated the results of the second election held the previous month. The opposition leader initially refused to recognize Kenyatta as the leader of the government, going so far as to hold a symbolic ceremony in which he was sworn in as the “people’s president” in January 2018. Mr. Odinga then participated in a surprise speech with President Kenyatta on 9th March 2018. Their symbolic handshake led to a new political consensus and an inclusive and collaborative approach for a comprehensive dialogue under the Building Bridges initiative which, as of August 2018, had made little progress.

Kenya is a presidential republic and has been a member of the Commonwealth since gaining independence in 1963. Executive power is vested in the president, who is elected by a simple majority of the popular vote for a five-year term, renewable once. Since March 2013, when the position of prime minister was eliminated, the president has been both head of state and head of government.

Legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament. The Senate has 67 seats, 47 of which are held by directly elected senators (one per county), 16 are reserved for women, two for youth and two for disabled persons. Senators are appointed by each party, based on the number of seats won during the election. Senators have a five-year mandate. Following the election of 8th August 2017, the breakdown of seats was as follows: Jubilee Party, 24 seats; NASA, 28; senators from other parties, 14; independent, 1. There are 21 women sitting in the Senate^[11].

The National Assembly is composed of 349 members, broken down as follows: 290 members directly elected by their constituency; 47 women elected in each county; and 12 members appointed by the National Assembly, six of whom represent youth and six represent disabled persons. Members are selected by their party, based on the number of seats obtained by each party in the election^[12]. Members serve for five years. Following the election held 8th August 2017, which was not nullified like the presidential election, the Jubilee Party held 140 seats; NASA, 62; and other parties, 118. There are 76 women sitting in the National Assembly^[13].

Economy and human index

In 2016, agriculture accounted for 35.0% of GDP, industry 17.6% and services 47.7%. The number of tourists grew by 17% and tourism revenue by 37%.

In 2017, Kenya’s exports of goods and services totalled US$909 million, while imports totalled US$2.0 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of US$1.1 billion. In 2014, Kenya’s main exports were tea (US$1.1 billion), trees, plants and flowers ($622 million) and refined petroleum products ($606 million). These goods were exported primarily to Uganda (11.2%), Tanzania (8.0%) and the Netherlands (7.6%).

Kenya imports mainly refined petroleum products (US$3.8 billion), machinery and equipment (3.2 billion), and vehicles and transport equipment (3.9 billion). These imports came mainly from India (16.3%), China (15.3%) and the United States (10.4%).

The estimated unemployment rate in 2013 was 40%, which is very high. A significant proportion of jobs may be in the underground economy. In 2012, it was estimated that 43% of the population had an income below the poverty line.

In 2015, Kenya ranked 146 out of 188 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index, which put it in the medium human development category just above 148, which is the low human development category.^[14]

The maternal mortality rate (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) went from 687 in 1990 to 510 in 2015, a slight improvement that puts Kenya in the middle range of its neighbours: Uganda (343), Ethiopia (353), Tanzania (398), Somalia (732) and South Sudan (789).^[15]

As of 30th June 2018, Kenya had 196 soldiers and police officers (including several civilians) deployed as part of eight UN peacekeeping missions. This number is relatively low and places Kenya 57th among contributing countries. The two main missions to which they were deployed were UNAMID (120 persons deployed to the joint mission of the United Nations and the African Union in Darfur) and UNMISS (41 persons deployed to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan)^[16]

Freedom House categorizes Kenya as partly free; Internet access is considered free, but the press is partly free^[17]. On 14 August 2017, the Kenyan government deregistered the Kenya Human Rights Commission as a non-governmental organization, which effectively prevents it from carrying out its mandate. This decision was in the wake of the election on 8 August 2017, when the Commission expressed doubt about the interim and final results and criticized the security forces’ response to the demonstrations that followed the election.^[18]

Delegates meetings in Nairobi, Kenya

Meeting with Environmental groups at the High Commission’s residence

The delegation was hosted on the first evening of their visit by the Canadian High Commissioner,  Sara Hradecky. She invited a number of civil society groups as well as political representatives engaged in the environmental issues,and they shared their observations on challenges facing  agriculture and rural population, especially in the Rift Valley. As well, with the rural population migrating to cities like Nairobi, the delegates exchanged ideas about the urban vs rural experience.  Since the majority of rural experience in climate change is affecting women, discussions ensued on Canada’s International Feminist Agenda and how it could help these women.  The delegates learned about the United National Environment Programme which is helping African countries mitigate the effects of climate change.

Meeting with the Hon. Justin B.N. Muturi, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chair of the Kenyan Branch of the CPA and Chair of the CPA, Africa Region

Speaker Muturi is the new Chair of the CPA, Africa Region and is a member of the Expert Committee of the CPA with MP Alexandra Mendès, the Canadian representative at the Executive Committee. The delegates discussed with Speaker Muturi, the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference which was being jointly sponsored by Canada and Kenya, in November 2018 in Nairobi. The conference aims to focus on the following issues: the growth of marine-based economies in developing countries, distribution of their benefits; overexploitation of marine resources; and marine safety and the effects of climate change on the oceans, including acidification. As co-host, Canada is allocating US$2 million to the conference for the purposes of supporting the participation of other developing countries, small island developing States, and women.

Speaker Muturi also provide a brief overview of the changes to the standing orders that the National Assembly of Kenya needs to introduce in order to move forward. As Speaker Muturi had to leave, the delegates continued their discussions on women’s empowerment, education, the environment and economic issues with Mr. Njagena and Ms. Stienei, members of the National Assembly.

Meeting with the Hon. Kenneth M. Lusaka, Speaker of the Senate

The Speaker was accompanied by a number of senators. He spoke about the need for capacity-building, as new senators require training and more than 70% of them do not get re-elected. The Canadian High Commissioner noted that there is already a great degree of collaboration between Kenya and Canada, and participants discussed their experience and transition involved in changing from a Westminster parliamentary system to a presidential system, including the role of the Senate.

Meeting with the National Assembly’s defence and foreign relations committee

Delegates met with the Committee Chair, the Hon. Katoo Ole Metito, and several committee members. The committee members had visited Canada in June 2018 and met with Association members. The committee recently tabled its report on the visit. Committee members said they were pleased with Canada’s recommitment to Africa and noted that while Kenya is seeking an observer status at the UN Security Council, they support Canada’s bid to seek a seat on the UN Security Council in 2021. The Committee Chair discussed Kenya’s involvement in Somalia, challenges of radicalzation, and border issues between the Kenya and Somalia. Discussions also focused on youth engagement and economic empowerment.

Meeting with the Aga Khan Development Network and visit to the university hospital

Delegates had the opportunity to meet with several representatives of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Kenya during a briefing on its institutions and programs. The AKDN has been active in Kenya for more than 100 years. The AKDN is composed of 11 socioeconomic development agencies and 175 individual initiatives and programs in Kenya, employing more than 16,000 people full time, more than 99% of whom are Kenyan. Each year, the AKDN reaches close to 7 million Kenyans directly and millions more indirectly, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or religion.

Delegates attended presentations by the following groups: the Aga Khan Foundation -  East Africa (AKF EA), the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and the Aga Khan University (AKU). Delegates also visited the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUHN). The AKUHN is a world-class teaching hospital that focuses on research and tertiary care (Aga Khan University) and features a heart and cancer centre. The AKUHN also administers a network of 43 medical and diagnostic centres across Kenya. The hospital has 280 beds and offers a full range of services in all disciplines. It has advanced technology to diagnose and treat complex diseases. There are plans to gradually expand the hospital to 600 beds.

Visit to the Ujamaa education project

Ujamaa supports boys and girls and engages other key stakeholders to build a more stable society by addressing social norms regarding violence against women. The main objective of this activity is to effect generational change at the community level by transforming gender norms and reducing violence against women and girls. Previous research has shown that Empowered Transformation Training (ETT) also contributes to reducing related social and public health problems, including pregnancy-related school drop-out, early marriage and youth radicalization. ETT achieves these objectives because it directly empowers girls, boys, women and men to resist effectively if they are in a situation of potential sexual assault. Delegates were given a demonstration of the techniques taught to young people to defend themselves against aggression. The delegation then met with students at a school where these techniques are taught.

Miscellaneous

Delegates visited a school which was part of the Ujamaa education process.  There they sat through some of the classes being taught on self empowerment and defence.  The delegates donated over 200 packages of feminine hygiene products to the young women.

The delegates met over lunch with several civil society representatives to discuss human rights issues. On Saturday, September 8th, the delegates visited the Nairobi War Cemetery, which is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Four Canadians are buried in this cemetery, and the delegation laid a wreath on behalf of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Acknowledgements

The delegation would like to thank Sara Hradecky, Canada’s High Commissioner to Kenya, for organizing and hosting a dinner to discuss ways of mitigating the effects of climate change and explore the opportunities in Africa offered by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and other environmental partners in Kenya.

Conclusion

The delegation would like to thank the High Commissioner and the dedicated staff at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi for preparing a very comprehensive itinerary and contributing to a successful visit.

In addition to the staff at the Canadian High Commissions in South Africa and Kenya, the delegates would like to thank the representatives of Global Affairs Canada and the Library of Parliament, who helped to prepare the necessary background information.

Respectfully submitted,

Yasmin Ratansi, M.P.

Chair of the Canadian Branch of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)