Rapid or Incremental Change? Assigning greater Legislative Powers to the Pan African Parliament

This study sought to achieve three key goals: firstly, to review the institutional development and practical achievements of the PAP during its first term; secondly, to examine the prospects of the PAP acquiring greater legislative powers and competencies; and thirdly, to examine ways in which the PAP could enhance its institutional effectiveness and competence by strengthening its non-legislative role in the short to medium term while still working towards its long term goal of acquiring greater legislative powers. This research report will therefore take the view that current efforts to build and enhance the PAP’s institutional legitimacy and influence on the basis of acquiring expanded legislative powers and competencies is unlikely to succeed, at least in the short to medium term.