When the Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda, took to the podium at the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) in Cape Town, South Africa, his address did not merely mark a routine contribution to the proceedings, it reignited Africa’s collective conscience. His message, delivered with clarity, conviction and statesmanship, carried the voice of a continent long yearning for equity, justice and global recognition in the evolving architecture of international diplomacy.
Advocate Mudenda’s address was both visionary and profound, reflecting the intellectual depth of a leader who understands that Parliaments are not only legislative institutions but moral compasses in a world grappling with conflict, inequality and disunity. His call for Parliaments across the globe to embrace parliamentary diplomacy as a tool for peace, inclusion and global solidarity resonated deeply with leaders who recognised that traditional diplomacy has, at times, fallen short in achieving sustainable peace.
“Parliamentary diplomacy must act decisively where traditional avenues struggle,” said Advocate Mudenda, in a powerful statement that challenged legislators to move beyond the confines of convention. In that moment, he articulated a new paradigm, one in which people’s assemblies take the lead in fostering international cooperation, peacebuilding and equitable development.
His reflections drew heavily from history, particularly the lessons of the two World Wars, which he cited as a reminder of humanity’s recurring failure to learn from its past. By connecting those lessons to the ongoing crises in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Advocate Mudenda underscored the urgency of parliamentary intervention in conflict resolution. He called for direct engagement with the Knesset to pursue the Two-State solution, demonstrating not only diplomatic foresight but a pragmatic understanding of the moral responsibility borne by world parliaments.
Equally striking was his critique of the global economic system, which he described as unjustly structured against the Global South. Advocate Mudenda drew attention to the reality that forty percent of the world’s critical raw minerals come from Africa, yet the continent continues to receive a fraction of their value. His assertion that “it is inequitable and unacceptable” for Africa’s minerals to be exported in raw form without benefiting local economies captured the growing sentiment for economic sovereignty across the continent.
This was not simply an economic argument, but a moral and political one. It reflected Africa’s awakening, a continent no longer content with being a supplier of resources to enrich others, but determined to industrialise, innovate and claim its rightful place in shaping the global economy.
Advocate Mudenda’s appeal for fairness in trade, debt relief and financial reform also mirrored Zimbabwe’s broader philosophy of engagement and re-engagement under the leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. The Speaker’s message aligned with the vision of a new Zimbabwe anchored on justice, cooperation and mutual respect within the community of nations. His words reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and to Africa’s collective advancement.
Indeed, Advocate Mudenda’s presence at the P20 Summit was not merely symbolic. It represented Zimbabwe’s assertive re-entry into the global stage as a thought leader and peace advocate. His eloquence and conviction resonated with the moral authority of a nation that continues to stand firm in its call for equality and mutual respect among nations.
More profoundly, his emphasis on parliamentary diplomacy as a lever for change reflected the maturity of Zimbabwe’s democratic and governance ethos. Under his stewardship, the Parliament of Zimbabwe has transformed into an active participant in international dialogue, promoting transparency, inclusivity and legislative innovation.
In concluding his address, Advocate Mudenda reminded the world that genuine peace cannot exist without justice and that prosperity cannot flourish where inequality persists. “Let us march together toward this vision. We will achieve it,” he declared, in words that captured both hope and determination.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe left Cape Town not only as a respected participant but as a voice of conscience for the Global South. His message echoed the spirit of Ubuntu, that timeless African philosophy affirming that “I am because you are, and you are because we are.” Through his message, Advocate Mudenda demonstrated that Zimbabwe’s leadership continues to inspire a continental awakening, one that insists Africa must not only be present at the table of global discourse but must shape its own destiny.
