Story by Tamuka Charakupa
PARLIAMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s national development agenda, with staff urged to fully utilise the Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) system to improve planning, implementation, accountability and service delivery.
The call was made during the official opening of Parliament of Zimbabwe’s strategic review workshop currently underway in Kadoma, where parliamentary staff are meeting to map strategies aimed at strengthening internal systems and enhancing institutional performance.
Addressing delegates, Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, emphasised the need for a shift from activity-based reporting to outcome-driven performance measurement under the IRBM framework.
“At its core, IRBM mandates the prioritisation of outcomes over activities. It no longer suffices to simply enumerate Committee meetings convened or Bills tabled. Traditional metrics might celebrate that Portfolio Committees conducted 50 oversight visits during the year. IRBM, by stark contrast, demands more penetrating interrogation, such as, did these visits eventuate in ameliorated service delivery? Were the identified irregularities rectified? Did Parliament’s recommendations catalyse substantive policy changes or administrative reforms? Were misallocated resources redirected to constitutional purposes?
“These are the critical questions because they measure Parliament’s impact on the lives of ordinary citizens rather than simply cataloguing Parliamentary activities that may be impressive in volume but negligible in effect. Similarly, in the legislative realm, merely reporting that Parliament passed thirty pieces of legislation is insufficient.
“The pertinent questions become: How effectively do these laws address the challenges they were enacted for? What is their implementation rate? Are they achieving their intended social, economic or governance outcomes? Have they substantively improved the livelihoods of ordinary Zimbabweans in measurable ways? These questions reorient institutional focus from process to impactful results and from outputs to outcomes. They compel you to advance beyond the comfortable metrics of bureaucratic proclivity towards the demanding standards of democratic accountability,” he said.
In her opening remarks, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Marian Chombo said Parliament should also take a leading role in promoting tourism opportunities in the province.
“Mashonaland West is a province blessed with natural beauty, rich mineral resources, and vibrant communities. From the rolling farmlands that sustain our agriculture, to the mining activities that have earned Kadoma its reputation as a centre of gold and chrome production, our province continues to be a proud contributor to Zimbabwe’s economic growth. Tourism potential in Mashonaland West is vast from the scenic majestic Lake Kariba, Chinhoyi Caves, to the wildlife and game reserves that showcase Zimbabwe’s natural heritage. These attractions, coupled with ongoing infrastructure development, make our province an ideal destination for both leisure and business,” she said.
The planning workshop is expected to strengthen the capacity of Parliament staff, ensuring they remain efficient, accountable, and well prepared to support Parliament in advancing Zimbabwe’s national development agenda.as
