Officiating at the Parliament of Zimbabwe Institutional
Strategic Plan (ISP) for 2024-2028 workshop in Victoria Falls yesterday, Adv
Mudenda said globally, Artificial Intelligence is now a key anchor of science
and technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Parliament is crafting a skeletal strategic plan which will
be presented to legislators for input to enable the fulfilment of
constitutional mandates and to adeptly respond to the dynamic needs of diverse
internal and external stakeholders.
Parliament had its inaugural ISP during the 2001 to 2005
Parliament and the 7th strategic plan is meant to guide the 10th Parliament and
will replace or complement the 6th ISP that ended on the dissolution of the 9th
Parliament ahead of last year’s harmonised
elections.
“Today, we assemble once more, not only to reflect upon the
past performance of the predecessor Institutional Strategic Plan, but
meticulously craft and refine the successor Institutional Strategic Plan of the
10th Parliament, which will guide and illuminate the path of the constitutional
mandate of the 10th Parliament,” said Adv Mudenda.
“As we embark on this journey, let us do so with a spirit
of collaboration, innovation and strategic intent, fully committed to the noble
pursuit of excellence in our parliamentary responsibilities.”
Adv Mudenda commended the Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy
Chokuda and staff for their unwavering dedication and exceptional proficient
leadership of Parliament as guided by the Committee on Standing Rules and
Orders.
He said it is self-evident that any pronounced
Institutional Strategic Plan must find credence if and when it is
implementable.
Adv Mudenda said a world class Parliament riding on an ISO
certification is an ephemeral artefact if it does not accentuate the ethos of
being a people-driven institution.
“To that an extent, the people of Zimbabwe are the
denominator and barometer of the quintessential success of an implementable
Institutional Strategic Plan wherein Parliament would have excelled in the
fulfilment of its tripartite roles of oversight, legislation and
representation,” he said.
“Any Institutional Strategic Plan, therefore, which does
not embrace the people as both the subject and object of its main goal of
improving the livelihoods of the citizenry is a nullity.”
Adv Mudenda said the Institutional Strategic Plan has to be
anchored on the national development ecosystem underpinned by the Constitution.
“The actualisation of the Bill of Rights is a cornerstone
for the rationale for socio-economic development, including the National
Development Strategy1, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Africa Free
Trade Area Agreement as well as the African Union Agenda 2063,” he said.
“Furthermore, another area of concern which should underpin
a bolstered 7th Institutional Strategic Plan is a possible Key Result Area of
the robust application of science and technology now pervasively being driven
by Artificial Intelligence. As Parliament, it is imperative to urgently
consider the crafting of legislation on the application of Artificial
Intelligence with an international lens.”
Adv Mudenda said Parliament should be guided by Pope
Francis’ call for the inclusion of every citizen’s voice in crafting of
legislation on artificial intelligence.
He said the Zimbabwe Parliament is the only Parliament that
is ISO certified in the world hence the concept of strategic planning is not an
unfamiliar territory fit.
“As we craft the 7th Institutional Strategic Plan, let us
be enjoined by the kernel of wisdom. The implementation of an Institutional
Strategic Plan necessitates rigorous evaluation and assessment of its
implementation matrix,” said Adv Mudenda.
The workshop is being attended by the Attorney General Mrs
Virginia Mabiza, Parliament staff, officials from the Ministries of Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Finance, Economic Development and Investment
Promotion and development partners and private sector.
Some of the objectives of the workshop is to reaffirm the
mandate of Parliament, identify stakeholders, craft a vision, mission and
values, analyse operating environment, come up with key results areas and
identify some risks. Herald
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