In a decisive demonstration of parliamentary diplomacy, Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, has transformed a four-day visit to Japan into a high-stakes theatre of legislative innovation, economic ambition, and strategic alliance-building. From the corridors of Japan’s National Diet to boardrooms of global technology giants, Mudenda’s mission signals a new era where Zimbabwe’s Parliament asserts itself as both custodian of democracy and engine of economic resurgence.
Accompanied by a formidable delegation including Hon. Tawanda Karikoga, Hon. Sibongile Maphosa, Hon. Patricia Kundlande, and Hon. Knowledge Kaitano, Speaker Mudenda’s presence in Japan immediately set the tone for a diplomatic engagement that was both substantive and visionary. In discussions with the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association, led by Hon. Yamagiwa Daishiro and Vice President Hon. Kazunori Tanaka, Mudenda’s remarks resonated with clarity and conviction. He did not merely exchange pleasantries; he articulated a strategic blueprint for Zimbabwe’s role on the global stage. He highlighted that multilateralism is not just a diplomatic nicety but the lifeblood of socio-economic progress, underscoring that Zimbabwe, under the Second Republic, is determined to align its parliamentary agenda with robust economic diplomacy. “Parliament,” Speaker Mudenda emphasized, “is the citadel of our democracy, and through its legislative mandate, it must actively drive national development and international collaboration.”
Hon Mudenda’s commentary on Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth was equally striking. With palpable enthusiasm, he described the nation’s status as the world’s largest lithium producer and its wealth of over forty known minerals as a foundation for transformative partnerships with Japan. “We are not merely custodians of resources; we are architects of beneficiation. With Japanese expertise in technology and industrial processes, Zimbabwe can elevate these resources from raw potential to global value, particularly in lithium battery production, mining innovation, and advanced material processing,” he asserted, his voice reflecting both urgency and vision.
His remarks on agriculture carried a similar weight. He painted a compelling picture of Zimbabwean farmers, empowered through JICA-supported infrastructure and training, poised to deliver high-quality sesame seeds to global markets. He reminded his audience that agricultural development is not just an economic issue, it is a tool of empowerment, a means of lifting communities, and a pathway for reinforcing bilateral ties. Tourism, too, featured prominently in his discourse. Advocate Mudenda passionately stressed the need to restore Japanese tourist arrivals to pre-COVID vibrancy, framing the initiative as a cultural bridge that deepens mutual understanding and strengthens economic exchange.
Perhaps most forward-looking were Hon Mudenda’s reflections on artificial intelligence and digitalization in parliamentary processes. He painted a bold vision of a technologically empowered legislature, asserting that AI is central to modern governance, oversight, and strategic national development. “AI is not the future, it is the now. From cybersecurity to mining, agriculture to legislative efficiency, Parliament must harness these tools to safeguard national interests and elevate our legislative impact,” he declared, setting a tone of transformative ambition. The discussions were further strengthened by Ambassador Stewart Nyakotyo’s account of the ZINGSA-Cross U partnership, highlighting Zimbabwe’s emerging engagement with space technology as a tangible demonstration of forward-looking diplomacy.
In meetings with Hon. Sekiguchi, President of the House of Councillors, Speaker Mudenda’s dialogue became both reflective and prescriptive. He emphasized legislative reciprocity, bicameral knowledge exchange, and the harmonization of parliamentary practices. He lauded Japan’s experience in social development legislation while proposing the creation of a Zimbabwe-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, a concrete mechanism to institutionalize inter-parliamentary collaboration, which Sekiguchi received with enthusiasm. Speaker Mudenda framed this initiative not as symbolic diplomacy but as an enduring conduit for shared governance, legislative modernization, and democratic consolidation.
Throughout the visit, Advocate Mudenda’s remarks were underpinned by a narrative of opportunity and responsibility. He repeatedly positioned Parliament as an active agent in shaping Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory, stating that the legislative arm must work in tandem with national policy to remove barriers to investment, strengthen property rights, and facilitate innovation through frameworks such as the One-Stop Investment model under ZIDA. His words painted a picture of a Parliament that is both guardian and architect, harmonizing democratic integrity with economic progress.
The tour of Japan’s historic National Diet building offered a symbolic climax. As Hon Mudenda and his delegation traversed the halls, he drew parallels to Zimbabwe’s New Parliament Building, noting that legislative spaces are more than structures—they are embodiments of national ambition, beacons of democratic resilience, and engines of transformative governance.
Speaker Mudenda’s mission to Japan transcends ceremonial engagement. His articulate, forceful, and visionary commentary signals a Parliament ready to lead beyond its walls, driving legislation that fuels economic growth, harnessing technology for national advancement, and forging strategic international partnerships.
In every remark, Speaker Mudenda conveyed that Zimbabwe’s Parliament is not merely an observer of history but a decisive architect of its nation’s future, a legislative powerhouse determined to shape global as well as national destiny.
