Online Reporter
Moses Magadza in WINDHOEK, Namibia
A DELEGATION of senior staff members from the Parliament of Zimbabwe recently completed a week-long learning exchange visit to the National Assembly of Namibia and the Secretariat of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF).
Parliament of Zimbabwe assistant clerk Mr Prince Daniel, who led the delegation, described the experience as enriching and pointed to promising prospects for future collaboration.
The six-member delegation focussed on deepening their understanding of parliamentary practices, records management and the institutional evolution of the SADC PF, particularly its transformation journey into a SADC Regional Parliament.
“We might be an old democracy compared to our brothers here in Namibia, but we never stop learning,” Mr Daniel said in an interview at the close of the visit.
“We continue to learn, especially as we usher in new Members of Parliament and strive to give them the best service possible using modern systems.”
The Parliament of Zimbabwe is International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certified.
While at the National Assembly of Namibia, the delegation held extensive engagements with officials from the Committees Department, the Library, Records Management, Administration and the Journals Office.
The highlight of the tour, according to Mr Daniel, was the Library and Records Management system.
“We were fascinated by how they manage their records electronically. Parliamentary information is bulky, and with electronic records management, you just click a button and instantly locate the exact information. This is the level of efficiency we aim to replicate as we transition into a fully fledged e-parliament,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s new Parliament building at Mount Hampden in Harare, he added, is “an architectural landmark” that has necessitated a change in basic assumptions in internal operations to match global best practices.
“We must ensure the kind of service that comes out matches what is expected of a world-class parliament like ours,” he stressed.
The team also explored the procedural nuances of parliamentary questioning in Namibia.
Mr Daniel noted with interest how Namibian MPs often contextualise their questions with background narratives before tabling them in the House, an approach slightly different from Zimbabwe’s system.
“In our parliament, questions are drafted, approved and submitted in advance to the respective ministries to allow ministers time to prepare written responses,” he explained.
“We also have impromptu questions without notice, particularly on policy matters, and ministers are expected to respond in detail.”
On the production of the Hansard, Zimbabwe is leading.
“Our Hansard is published online within three hours of production. That is something we are proud of and an area where we can share our experience with our Namibian counterparts,” Mr Daniel said.
“It was very interactive. They (Namibian counterparts) presented, and we also shared our experiences. We both have so much to learn from each other. That is the spirit of a true learning tour.”
The Zimbabwean team visited the Secretariat of the SADC Parliamentary Forum to gain insights into the forum’s mandate, structure and strategic aspirations, including its transformation into a SADC Regional Parliament.
Looking ahead, Mr Daniel confirmed that the team would compile a report of best practices and recommendations for possible adoption by the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
“If our parliament is agreeable, some of the practices we saw here will be implemented,” he said.
He also hinted at future reciprocal visits.
Online Reporter