Malawi Speaker of Parliament has expressed optimism that the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference and Annual General Meeting will help boosting Malawi’s economic landscape through increased demand for hotels, transport services, restaurants, tourism and local products.
The speaker Sameer Suleiman told reporters at a press briefing the capital Lilongwe, that the conference is scheduled for 9th to 16 August 2026 at Bingu International Convention Centre BICC in the city.
He said the CPA Africa Region is the largest of the association’s nine regions, comprising 63 legislatures from national and sub-national parliaments across Africa, and provides a platform for them to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop practical solutions to challenges facing the continent.
“Hosting this conference is both an honour and a strategic opportunity for our country. It provides Malawi with an opportunity for Malawi to showcase our parliamentary achievements and capacity to host high-level international conferences”, he said.
Suleiman said this year, discussions will focus on strengthening democratic institutions, enhancing parliamentary oversight, good governance and advancing sustainable development.
The Speaker says preparations for the conference are progressing well, with accommodation and transport arrangements secured, while conference logistics, accreditation, security and medical services have been coordinated.
However, Suleman said the Parliament is facing a funding shortfall of about K400 million and appealed to organisations, the private sector and individuals who have not yet supported the conference, to provide financial, logistical or technical assistance.
This year’s conference will be held under the theme, “Renewing the Social Contract: Parliaments as Catalysts for Inclusive Growth and Citizen Trust”, and will bring together more than 300 delegates including speakers and presiding officers of parliament clerks, parliamentary officials, development partners and observers from across Africa and beyond.
The most recent was the 54th CPA Africa Regional Conference held in Banjul, The Gambia from 10-16 August 2025.
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