Speaker Mudenda highlights threats posed by ICTs, calls for vigilance

Farirai Machivenyika

Senior Reporter

Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda has warned Sadc Member States to be wary of security threats posed by the latest Information Communication Technologies while embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution spurred by Artificial Intelligence.

He said this in a vote of thanks during the opening ceremony of the 56th Plenary Assembly Session of the Sadc Parliamentary Forum being hosted by Zambia in Lusaka.

The session was officially opened by Zambia’s Vice President Mutale Nalumango.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Parliament of Zimbabwe said Advocate Mudenda also commended Zambia for its efforts in transforming the Sadc Parliamentary Forum into a legislative body.

“Speaker Mudenda posited that while embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution which is driven by AI, Parliaments must be mindful of information security threats,” reads the statement.

“To that extent, Parliaments must enact appropriate legislation to mitigate the negative effects of ICTs and AI.”

Meanwhile, as a He for She champion, Advocate Mudenda celebrated regional female leaders in positions of influence, including Zambia’s VP Nalumango; Madam Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is Namibia’s first female President; Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and former Malawi President Mrs Joyce Banda.
In her keynote address, VP Nalumango commended the signing of an agreement by 12 Sadc Member States to establish a regional Parliament.

“She expressed optimism that the remaining Member States will soon follow suit. Highlighting Zambia’s commitment, she pledged full support for operationalisation of the regional Parliament, emphasising its importance to the region and the African Continent as an anchor to the Pan African Parliament and the African Union.

“The Sadc Parliament will be the fifth cog to the PAP, which to date has been the missing gap,” reads the statement.