Story by Margaret Matibiri
VICTORIA FALLS – PRESIDENT of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) and Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar, Honourable Justin Tokely, has praised Zimbabwe’s pivotal role in regional development and parliamentary democracy, as he welcomed delegates to the 57th Plenary Assembly Session this Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering at the Elephant Hills Resort, Honourable Tokely described Zimbabwe as a country “pioneering in modern agriculture, mining and other emerging industries,” adding that its “export diversification policy and the zeal of its workforce” made it competitive and resilient on the world stage.
The SADC PF president emphasised Zimbabwe’s historical contributions to the Forum.
“Zimbabwe has been a fervent proponent of regional democracy as it was one of the founding states of the SADC-PF in 1997. Therefore, you may agree with me that being here today feels more like a return to the very origins of the parliamentary resolve that gave birth to our organisation.”
Honourable Tokely reflected on the Forum’s growing role in promoting regional cooperation, legal standards, and accountability.
“In the past few years, this august Plenary Assembly has been the hallmark of constructive resolutions which have assisted to heighten inter-parliamentary cooperation and diplomacy,” he said.
The 57th Plenary Assembly is being held under the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities.”
