SADC Parliamentarians Gather to Harness AI for Progress

By Staff Reporter

As Zimbabwe hosted the 57th Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) Plenary Assembly Session, a crucial question was posed by the Speaker of Parliament for the Republic of Lesotho, Tlohang Sekhamane: “If AI is solving Africa’s problems, of governance issues, high unemployment rates, hunger to mention just a few, with some countries opting to go back to the basics of pen and paper in schools when the world is moving to high tech?” This thought-provoking query set the tone for a symposium that explored the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) For Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities.”

The symposium, held from June 2nd to 6th, 2025, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, brought together Hon. Speakers and Parliamentarians from 13 SADC Member States, representatives of the Zimbabwean Government, and AI Experts drawn from tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe. The gathering resolved that the SADC Region can no longer afford to overlook the transformative impact of AI, as it has become integral to progress and development.

The Parliamentarians acknowledged that the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), is “truly and firmly underway.” SADC PF President, Hon. Speaker Justin Tokley, emphasized the need for SADC National Parliaments to proactively legislate for AI, following the example of the European Parliament, which has laid down harmonized rules for Artificial Intelligence. “It is only a matter of time before Parliaments fully consider the use of AI to catalyze parliamentary processes,” Hon. Tokley said.

Hon. Tatenda Mavetera, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services in Zimbabwe, highlighted the importance of adopting enabling legislative and policy frameworks to promote AI adoption while ensuring adequate safeguards against its hazards. “We need to mobilize domestic resources to fund AI research and infrastructure development, strengthen local and intra-SADC digital and innovation hubs, and prioritize the adoption of ethical AI that serves SADC citizens’ best interests,” Hon. Mavetera emphasized.

The symposium recognized the digital divide between urban and rural areas in the SADC Region and challenged SADC National Parliaments to leverage their control of the national purse to ensure adequate budgetary allocations for AI Research and Development. This would facilitate the establishment of appropriate infrastructure, including in rural areas, to ensure equitable access to AI.

The symposium featured expert presentations from representatives of local universities, including Bindura University of Science Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Midlands State University, University of Zimbabwe, and the Harare Institute of Technology. These institutions showcased various AI tools that can be customized and deployed to bolster parliamentary processes in the SADC region. The need for closer collaboration between parliaments and academic institutions in developing AI tools was emphasized, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of parliamentary processes and ensure ethical AI integration.

The symposium concluded with a call for a regional legal framework and institutional innovation to guide responsible, rights-based AI use in SADC Parliaments. The Country Reports presented by national Parliaments demonstrated that SADC Parliaments had readily embraced the AI revolution, with a concerted call for tailored applications, shared resources, and enhanced accessibility to bridge digital gaps. As Hon. Mavetera noted, “The SADC PF has played a crucial role in advocating for the harmonization of legislative texts across the region through the development of Model Laws.” The Forum was encouraged to finalize the development of the Draft Model Law on Artificial Intelligence, which will serve as a benchmark for national legislative frameworks.

As the SADC region continues to navigate the complexities of AI adoption, it is clear that a coordinated approach is essential. By working together, SADC nations can harness the transformative power of AI to drive progress and development, while ensuring that its benefits are equitably distributed and its risks mitigated. As the symposium demonstrated, AI is not a panacea for Africa’s problems, but rather a tool that can be leveraged to complement human efforts and drive positive change.

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