From the mighty roar of the Zambezi River to the reverberating voices of determined parliamentarians, Victoria Falls did not merely host a regional summit, it embodied a historic reckoning with the past, a confrontation with the present, and a fearless march into the future. The 57th Plenary Assembly Session of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) convened in this majestic city under the unifying theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities,” a theme that captured the ambitions of a region eager to embrace innovation without abandoning identity, to legislate not just for today’s realities but for tomorrow’s uncertainties. The plenary was more than a series of speeches and sessions, it was a renaissance in motion, a panoramic reflection of a region in full conversation with itself, its people, its land, and its future.
Hon. Justin Tokely, Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar and President of the SADC PF, opened the forum with warmth and reverence, speaking of Zimbabwe not as a passive host, but as a foundational pillar of the Forum’s history and future. He praised President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s stewardship of Zimbabwe’s economic diversification and democratic resilience, identifying the host nation as a lighthouse of regional integration and reform. Tokely’s reflections underscored how far the Forum has evolved, from a symbolic gathering into a living, breathing institution that champions democratic norms, regional solidarity, citizen participation, and technological readiness. What stood out in Tokely’s address was not just a ceremonial welcome, but a call to memory and motion, a return to the founding resolve of 1997 when the SADC PF was birthed in the spirit of regional parliamentary unity. And now, in 2025, that spirit was reinvigorated, this time under the mist of Mosi-oa-Tunya.
The intellectual force of the summit, however, was driven most powerfully by the keynote address of Hon. Adv. Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe. Speaking at the Mini-Symposium held at Mt Hampden on May 22, a precursor to the plenary, Mudenda articulated a vision that refused to romanticize tradition nor blindly embrace technology. He reminded delegates that Artificial Intelligence is not a distant possibility, it is an inescapable imperative. “Parliament must be at the forefront of this transformation by harnessing Artificial Intelligence and innovation to accelerate institutional modernisation,” he charged, framing AI as both an opportunity and a responsibility. He laid out Zimbabwe’s 10th Institutional Strategic Plan (2025–2029), calling for a national AI Needs Assessment that would gauge readiness, identify use cases, ensure data governance, and provide targeted capacity building for both Members of Parliament and administrative staff. Beyond blueprints, Mudenda painted a vivid picture of the future: a Parliament where AI-enhanced Hansard tools would transform transcription, where a chatbot would allow ordinary citizens, especially the youth, to engage with Parliament in real time, and where algorithmic systems could track MP attendance and the implementation of national programs with unflinching accuracy.
However, both Mudenda and other leaders refused to be swept away by technological euphoria. They issued serious warnings against outsourcing the soul of African governance to foreign algorithms. Speaker Mudenda raised deep concerns over data sovereignty, algorithmic bias, misinformation, and ethical erosion. Without a well-developed domestic AI ecosystem, he cautioned, the region would risk becoming a passive consumer of external technologies that neither understand its people nor reflect its values. To this end, he called for AI legislation rooted in African constitutionalism, dignity, and human rights, echoing the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 2024 resolution on AI’s implications for democracy. Zimbabwe’s stance was clear: AI must be localized, inclusive, and just. Delegates from across the region echoed these concerns and hopes. Hon. Sengizo Tshabangu emphasized the role AI could play in agriculture, education, regional trade, and small enterprises, proposing the use of drones for crop monitoring, AI chatbots for SME support, and blockchain for seamless intra-regional commerce. Yet, he too recognized that none of this is possible without digital infrastructure, literacy, and inclusive policies that prevent the marginalization of women, youth, and rural communities.
The summit also addressed the broader democratic reform agenda, including the anticipated transformation of SADC PF into a full-fledged regional Parliament. With thirteen member states already having signed the treaty amendment, expectations are high for complete ratification during the upcoming SADC Heads of State Summit in Madagascar this August. Hon. Mudenda was recognized as one of the driving forces behind this evolution, advocating for the strengthening of the region’s legislative voice in continental affairs. This proposed elevation was not merely administrative. It was conceptual. A region with its own legislative body can better steer its development priorities, respond swiftly to shared crises, and speak with one voice on matters of peace, trade, climate, and justice. In addition to institutional reform, the Assembly tackled uncomfortable realities. The poor conditions of women and juvenile prisoners, the need for climate-resilient health systems, and the urgency of preventing child marriage were all raised, discussed, and woven into the resolutions. The discussions reflected a maturing Forum, one not afraid to confront its shadows while reaching for the light.
Youth and gender priorities were at the heart of the plenary. Hon. Angela Nokubatha Dube of the Southern Africa Youth Parliament passionately demanded a formal SADC Youth Protocol that guarantees access to education, healthcare, and political participation. At the same time, the Regional Women Parliamentary Caucus, led by Hon. Helen Pushie Manyeneng, moved from symbolism to substance, calling for gender-responsive budgeting, the integration of gender data systems, and stronger male allyship. Their interventions made it clear: democracy without women and youth is an unfinished project, and any technological revolution that does not serve the marginalized is no revolution at all. A powerful testament to the region’s determination to build local solutions came from its academic institutions. Presentations by Bindura University, the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), Chinhoyi University of Technology, and others showcased Africa-grown innovations, tools designed to solve real problems in agriculture, public service delivery, and civic participation. These weren’t imported solutions, but expressions of a uniquely Southern African digital identity.
Outside the conference walls, delegates were immersed in Zimbabwe’s breathtaking natural beauty, reinforcing the notion that environmental stewardship and technological progress must co-exist. A sunset cruise on the Zambezi River offered not only encounters with crocodiles, elephants, and hippos but moments of reflection on the region’s ecological wealth. The visit to Victoria Falls was more than tourism, it was a silent contract with nature, a commitment that development must never come at the expense of heritage. Zimbabwe’s hospitality stood out as more than logistics, it was an assertion of cultural leadership, a reminder that progress is rooted in people, place, and pride.
By the time delegates left Victoria Falls, they carried more than policy resolutions, they bore witness to the unfolding of a regional vision. They had stood at the confluence of thunder and thought, of cascading waters and rising aspirations. The 57th Plenary Assembly did not just advance the parliamentary agenda, it reframed what it means to govern in the 21st century. It summoned Southern Africa to embrace the power of Artificial Intelligence without surrendering human agency. It urged the region to create technology, not just consume it. It asked that every byte of progress be encoded with justice, every line of code infused with compassion, and every platform built to include the unheard.
What unfolded in Victoria Falls was nothing short of a declaration of progress, an awakening at the edge of one of the world’s greatest wonders. A call to shape a democratic future as expansive, powerful, and enduring as the Falls themselves. From this convergence of nature and nationhood, from the swirling mist and rising minds, Southern Africa did not just imagine a new dawn, it began to build it.
