Parliamentary Networks: For What Impact?

The Network of Parliamentarians for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism is the Benjamin of the 28 parliamentary networks in Cameroon’s Parliament created by Order No. 2021/004/AP/A of 19 February 2021. This network held its constitutive general assembly on April 5, 2021 at the Yaounde Conference Centre Parliament premises.
Each of the 28 parliamentary networks has specific objectives. They also span through different sectors such as politics, environment, health, economy and society.  The current 10th legislative period of the National Assembly that started with the election of Members of the National Assembly in the twin legislative and municipal council elections of February 9, 2020 and the second legislative period in the Senate  have been marked by a noticeable upsurge in  the creation of the parliamentary networks. Over 12 of the parliamentary networks were created between April 2020 and February 2021.
Some of the parliamentary networks, besides their constitutive general assemblies and workshops, have succeeded to initiate special plenary sittings of the National Assembly on pertinent issues that touch on the lives of the population.  For instance,  on March 23, 2021 the Network of Cameroonian Legislators for Road Safety (LEGIS-SECUROUTE) whose President is Hon. Malomba Esembe initiated a special plenary sitting of the National Assembly that addressed the issue of the upsurge  in the number of road accidents in the country and recommendations  were made to government, parliament and the population on ways of curbing the accidents. Other networks such as the Parliamentary Network for Diaspora, Decentralised and Cross –border Cooperation, in the November 2020 ordinary session of Parliament also initiated a special plenary sitting on how to bring  Cameroonians in the diaspora on board  to participate in the  development of the country. Officials of this network have been carrying out advocacy through consultation sessions with different government ministers and officials.
The creation of the parliamentary networks is a laudable idea for it makes the people’s representatives busy and enables them to bring before parliament, government...