Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda
By Lisca Philo
The Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda has underscored Zimbabwe’s commitment to the inclusion and participation of formerly marginalised groups such as women and youths in the political and decision-making processes of the country.
Advocate Mudenda is in Capetown, South Africa where he is attending the South Africa Legislative Sector Oversight Summit currently underway at the Century City Conference Centre.
Speaking at the summit Tuesday, Hon. Mudenda accentuated Zimbabwe’s commitment to the post-millennium development agenda as evidenced by the country’s responsiveness to the operative mantra, “Nothing For Us, Without Us,” as it relates to the youth and women.
“Parliamentary oversight is meaningless and inadequate if it does not result in an inclusive governance framework that ensures that no one and no place is left behind in advancing representative democracy and in the implementation and execution of government policies and programmes,” said Advocate Mudenda.
Advocate Mudenda noted that the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 2 Act of 2021 marked a pivotal juncture in Zimbabwe’s electoral legislative landscape, as it introduced transformative measures to enhance democratic representation and inclusivity.
“Notably, the amendment ushered in the Youth Quota, ensuring the inclusion of one youth representative from each of the ten provinces, thereby amplifying the voices of the younger generation in the political sphere,” said Hon. Mudenda.
In addition to harnessing the demographic dividend resident in the growing youth population, Hon. Speaker Mudenda commended the 9th Parliament for extending the women’s quota in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. He averred that this reflects a commitment to sustained efforts in fostering proportional representation as well as ensuring that historically marginalized groups have a
substantive role in shaping the legislative landscape.
Hon. Speaker Mudenda also lauded the 9th Parliament for amending the Constitution of Zimbabwe to provide for the 30% Women’s Quota at the Local Authority level as a strategic step towards gender parity and women’s active participation in decision-making processes.
He exhorted women and youth in political and decision-making positions to use these platforms to open spaces for the greater participation of other women and youth as this strengthens pluralistic and participatory democracy.
Zimbabwe has seen the promotion of youth and women in positions of high authority with many assuming cabinet positions in the cabinet appointments made last September after the elections
The sentiments from Advocate Mudenda echoed the Summit’s clarion call for collaborative efforts among the three arms of government to achieve the aspirations of the people as well as to improve the livelihoods of the citizenry, including the marginalised and vulnerable communities.
