Harare- The Parliament of Zimbabwe on Wednesday signed four separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with regional and civil society organizations in a move aimed at strengthening its legislative functions and deepening public participation in governance .

Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda presided over the signing ceremony with the Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI), Hivos, the Female Students Network (FSN), and the Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI) at the Parliament Building in Harare.

Addressing attendees, Mudenda emphasized that strategic alliances are essential for Parliament to effectively execute its constitutional mandate of legislation, representation, and oversight.

“Taken together, these four partnerships affirm a principle to which Parliament is firmly committed, namely, that no matter how elevated an institution might be, it cannot consummately realise its mandate in isolation,” Mudenda said.

The Speaker highlighted that Parliament’s effectiveness is enhanced through collaboration with organizations that bring technical expertise and authentic connections with communities.

Under the renewed partnership with MEFMI, a regional institution headquartered in Harare, Parliament will strengthen its capacities in macroeconomic analysis, public financial management, fiscal oversight and debt sustainability . Mudenda noted these competencies are essential for scrutinizing National Budgets and monitoring public expenditure.

The agreement with Hivos aims to strengthen the Women’s and Youth Parliamentary Caucuses in pursuing gender equity and inclusive policy dialogue, building on previous initiatives including the Women and Youth Leadership and Participation Project.

Formalizing collaboration with ECOZI, established in 2009 as a network of non-governmental organizations and teachers’ unions, is expected to enhance evidence-based policy formulation and oversight in the education sector through engagement with Portfolio Committees.

The Female Students Network will collaborate with Parliament on initiatives including the Young Women Model Parliament and advocacy on issues affecting female students.

Looking ahead to the national Artificial Intelligence Strategy launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday, Mudenda challenged the partner organizations to embrace AI opportunities in their collaborative work with Parliament.

He encouraged MEFMI to explore how AI and advanced data analytics could bolster macroeconomic analysis and fiscal forecasting, while urging Hivos to harness AI for expanding digital civic spaces and citizen engagement platforms.

“The Female Students Network, in particular, should position itself at the very vanguard of the Artificial Intelligence revolution,” Mudenda said. “The future of inclusive and equitable development depends, inescapably, on ensuring that women and girls are not left behind in the digital transformation of our world.”

For ECOZI, Mudenda suggested AI could strengthen education policy research, data analysis and evidence-based advocacy to promote equitable access to quality education across Zimbabwe.

The partnerships are expected to facilitate knowledge exchange, capacity building and collaborative programmes that strengthen Parliament’s oversight role while improving engagement with citizens and stakeholders .