Legislative assemblies in the region have been urged to play a pivotal role in creating robust legislation that enables members of Parliament to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities, according to the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda. Speaking at the 21st Zambia-Zimbabwe-Botswana Senior Parliamentary Staff Seminar, Advocate Mudenda emphasized the importance of parliaments taking the lead in crafting legislation that supports oversight, legislation, and representation in the context of e-governance.
The seminar, which is running under the theme Post Covid-19, resilient, robust and inclusive Parliaments, aims to enhance the administrative performance of parliamentary staff. Senior personnel from legislative assemblies in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, as well as guest delegates from Uganda, have gathered in Victoria Falls to benchmark and discuss the induction of new legislators and staff.
Highlighting the significant role played by parliaments during the Covid-19 pandemic, Advocate Mudenda commended the resilience and innovative measures employed by these institutions to mitigate the crisis’s impact. He acknowledged that parliaments globally amended their standing orders to facilitate virtual parliamentary processes, thus ensuring the continued effective and efficient functioning of these institutions. Advocate Mudenda also lauded parliamentary staff for their expertise in crafting the necessary standing orders that allowed parliaments to operate with administrative efficiency and effectiveness during these challenging times.
Emphasizing the need for staff to remain relevant in the digital era, Advocate Mudenda cautioned against the potential overreliance on artificial intelligence and urged the capacitation of staff to adapt to the digitalization phenomenon. He stressed that staff members play a critical role in the envisaged transformational parliaments and encouraged them to embrace new ways of thinking and operating in line with digital advancements.
Advocate Mudenda further called for the widening of the seminar’s scope to include all Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, drawing upon platforms where Speakers of Parliament convene to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas for mutual institutional growth and development.
The news article highlights the importance of legislative assemblies in crafting sound legislation to support the constitutional mandate of members of Parliament. It also underscores the resilience and innovative measures employed by parliaments during the Covid-19 pandemic, acknowledging the crucial role played by parliamentary staff. Advocate Mudenda’s cautionary message regarding the digital era and the need for staff to remain relevant emphasizes the importance of adapting to new technologies. The article maintains a neutral tone and adheres to the guidelines provided.
