Story by Tichaona Kurewa
VICTORIA FALLS -THE 57th Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) entered its third day in Victoria Falls this Wednesday, with delegates calling for practical strategies to mobilise funding for Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives.
Over 300 delegates, including Speakers and Members of Parliament from across the SADC region, as well as development partners, are attending the high-level meeting in the resort city.
With digital governance forming a central pillar of the Assembly’s agenda, parliamentarians are deliberating on sustainable approaches to regional cooperation and technological innovation.
A key highlight of the session was a call for member states to establish clear policies and mechanisms that facilitate the mobilisation of resources to support AI integration across public and private sectors.
Addressing the gathering, SADC PF President and Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar, Honourable Justin Tokely, underscored the importance of partnerships, capacity building, and national ownership.
“We know that artificial intelligence requires significant resources. Many countries highlighted yesterday the challenges they face in terms of infrastructure and funding, but that should not hinder progress. We need to seek partnerships and mobilise funds. More importantly, we must build expertise learning from countries that are ahead of us. Once that’s in place, funding can come from local resources or international partners and economies,” he said.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola, Honourable Carolina Cerqueira, said national legislatures must take a leading role in championing AI development.
“Funding will need to come from within our National Assemblies, which are part of the state budget framework. The Ministry of Finance often leads this process, but Parliaments must prioritise and champion AI integration. In Angola, for instance, our Parliamentary Academy is already tasked with disseminating knowledge on AI. Through such institutional actions, we can implement the necessary policies,” she said.
The forum stressed that the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in parliamentary operations, public service delivery, and the broader economic landscape is no longer optional but a necessity in accelerating regional development and ensuring effective governance.
As deliberations continue, delegates are expected to craft resolutions aimed at aligning legislative frameworks with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
