Story by Margaret Matibiri
Victoria Falls– ZIMBABWE’s Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, has urged the SADC region to prioritise regulation, skills development, and institutional collaboration in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for parliamentary processes.
Addressing delegates virtually during the 57th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum underway in Victoria Falls, Minister Mavetera said governments must be deliberate in building both the infrastructure and human capacity required to harness AI effectively.
“When our skills gap meets with this great need for artificial intelligence education and training, let us grow our workforce, reskill them, and make sure that they are capacitated and ready,” she said.
She highlighted that while AI presents opportunities for enhanced governance and efficiency, it also poses new risks, particularly regarding cybersecurity and misinformation.
“Cybersecurity and disinformation is also a challenge. We need to set up robust cybersecurity measures within our various countries,” Honourable Mavetera emphasised.
The Minister called for a harmonised regional approach to managing AI development.
“We need to come up with an AI governance council and annual AI review summits,” she proposed, stressing the need for shared oversight mechanisms across SADC member states.
“Parliament has to legitimise data sharing, allocate budgets, and also evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence,” she said.
Among her key recommendations were the establishment of a regional AI governance framework, pooled funding for research and infrastructure, and broader policy alignment within the SADC bloc.
“We need to adopt a regional AI governance framework, pool resources for AI research and infrastructure, and strengthen certain digital trends,” she concluded.
Her remarks aligned with the overarching theme of the 57th Plenary Assembly: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities.”
