NAIROBI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 African lawmakers including those from regional economic blocs are discussing aid effectiveness, political parties and the role of the media in Nairobi on Monday.

    The conference, which opened on Sunday, aims at scrutinizing the role of parliament in donor negotiations as well as sensitizing parliamentarians in East and Central Africa on the Paris Declaration in promoting development.

    The Paris Declaration, endorsed by over 100 countries, was signed on March 2, 2005 to reform the system of aid delivery and monitor the commitment and progress of both donors and partner countries in promoting development by 2010.

    The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in partnership with the Association of European Parliamentarians organized the conference whose theme is "Parliamentary Consultation on Aid Effectiveness".

    Tanzanian lawmaker Kilonntsi Mporogomyi told the conference on Sunday that poor negotiations at the global for as including lack of thorough scrutiny of terms and conditions of foreign aid has made Africa debt-ridden.

    Mporogomyi said African negotiators for aid failed in bargaining for better aid terms due to poor research and inadequate negotiating skills. He noted that some donors engaged in corruption where they bribed cabinet ministers to sign contracts that favor them.

    "Negotiators are duped to dine with the donors in exclusive hotels, where they sign agreements without scrutinizing the documents," he said.

    According to local daily, Mporogomyi argued that most African countries' constitutions gave the executive sweeping powers on international and bilateral economic engagements, leaving no room for independent evaluation of aid use.

    "That is the reason why there are no records both in recipient countries and the donor country on how the aid was used for audit purposes.

    "Governments have failed to be transparent because the executive has engaged in gross corruption with donors," he said.

    Legislators from Europe and Africa called for greater involvement of the legislature in formulation of national budgets and ratification of aid agreements.

    EALA Speaker Abdirahin Abdi said it was time for parliaments to be given powers through legislation, to tilt the balance in their favor to ensure accountability.

    "We are all aware that foreign aid is not given to legislatures, but to the executive branch. Despite being people's representatives, we are left in the dark about the economic engagements of our countries," he said.

    He said some parliaments have been forced to approve aid agreements without allowing for sufficient time to analyze the terms.

    "More often than not, parliaments in our region will ratify the agreements as presented in order to meet tight deadlines established by governments," he said.

    Abdi called for strengthening of the capacities of parliaments through research support and expertise to analyze aid flows and government expenditure carefully.