Online Reporter
Zimpapers Reporter
Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has called on legislative bodies across the globe to transcend traditional diplomacy and play a direct role in conflict resolution, peace-building and equitable governance.
He made the call in Cape Town, South Africa, where he addressed the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20), which ended on Friday.
The gathering brought together presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from around the world to deliberate on pressing global issues.
Adv Mudenda said parliamentary diplomacy must fill the gaps left when traditional diplomatic efforts stall, particularly in protracted conflicts such as those in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
“Parliamentary diplomacy must act decisively where traditional avenues struggle, focusing on conflict resolution, peace-building, and fair dialogue rooted in the UN Charter,” said Adv Mudenda.
He warned against humanity’s failure to learn from history, citing the devastating toll of the First and Second World Wars as examples of crises that only ended after millions had perished.
“It was only after millions had died that people decided to sit down and end the war. The Second World War, which claimed 25 million lives, only ended through such dialogue. Yet, it appears humanity does not introspect or learn from history.”
“There is the ongoing problem in the Middle East. South Africa has taken the lead in advocating for diplomacy, grounded in international law and has highlighted actions that contravene international norms.
“We now see a growing number of States supporting Africa’s and South Africa’s initiatives at the International Court of Justice and at the recent United Nations General Assembly. Many countries are now backing a Two-State solution in the Middle East Conflict and we must support this approach through parliamentary diplomacy.”
The Speaker proposed that a special parliamentary delegation engage directly with the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) and other authorities to push forward commitments made at the United Nations General Assembly towards achieving peace in the Middle East.
Turning to Eastern Europe, Adv Mudenda said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine must also end, and that parliaments could no longer stand aside.
“Parliamentary diplomacy is being called upon to intervene decisively,” he said.
He also raised concerns over global economic inequality, criticising the current financial order as unfair to less developed countries, especially in the Global South.
He argued that African nations were being short-changed in the trade of critical raw minerals, which are exported at undervalued prices despite accounting for 40 percent of global supply.
“In this context, it is unjust that critical raw minerals from Africa and other parts of the Global South are exported to Europe at undervalued prices. Forty percent of these critical minerals come from Africa. I must also note with concern that the European union has enacted a law governing the exploitation of these resources, yet lacks appropriate, arm’s-length control over them. This is inequitable and unacceptable.”
Highlighting the growing global wealth gap, he noted that just one percent of the world’s richest people control 46 percent of financial resources, a situation he described as unsustainable.
He urged parliamentary leaders to work towards a global order rooted in fairness, justice and respect for all nations.
