Story by Silibaziso Dlodlo
MEMBERS of Parliament have been urged to align budget oversight with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and to embrace Artificial Intelligence to enhance accountability and service delivery.
Speaking at a meeting held in Bulawayo on Friday, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, called on legislators to strengthen financial oversight. He stressed the need to ensure that national expenditure is guided by NDS2 priorities and delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
“The Public Finance Management Act Chapter 22:19 should work in line with the National Development Strategy 2. NDS2 must provide direction to the national budget so that the country does not lose focus, with people unaware of where they are going. Members of Parliament should maintain oversight and regularly engage parliamentary committees to ensure proper utilisation of national funds,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of Artificial Intelligence in improving communication between Parliamentarians and the communities they represent, enhancing accountability and service delivery.
Advocate Mudenda further encouraged Parliamentarians to adopt emerging technologies to strengthen communication with citizens and improve representation across constituencies.
“Artificial Intelligence allows Members of Parliament to look ahead and improve how they engage with those they represent across different sectors. Using Artificial Intelligence and mobile technology, Parliamentarians can communicate with people in their constituencies without travelling long distances and remain responsive to community needs,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda said combining effective financial oversight with technology-driven engagement can strengthen accountability and support the achievement of national development priorities.
