Speaker of Parliament Mudenda in Geneva, Switzerland for 149th IPU Assembly

Peter Matika, [email protected]
SPEAKER of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda is in Geneva, Switzerland for the 149th Inter Parliamentary Union Assembly and related meetings, where he is expected to address parliamentarians on the adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Zimbabwe.
The Parliament of Zimbabwe recently embraced AI in its legislative business.
The meeting, running under the theme “Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future”, commenced on Saturday and will conclude on October 17.
Adv Mudenda attended the IPU Conference of the Future in Uruguay in 2023, where the application of AI for parliamentary processes was adopted.
In a statement Parliament of Zimbabwe said Adv Mudenda is expected to articulate the gains and milestones the Parliament of Zimbabwe has made to entrench AI within its ecosystem and Zimbabwe’s efforts in embracing science, technology and innovation.
“Relatedly, the 149th Assembly is set to adopt a new Charter on the Ethics of Science and Technology, drafted by the IPU’s Working Group on Science and Technology,” read the statement.
The Charter aims at creating a regulatory framework of principles to guide legislation and decision-making in order to ensure that science and technology sustainably serve humanity and the environmental ecosystem.
Parliamentarians are also expected to adopt an IPU resolution titled “The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”
“The resolution urges parliaments to develop strong legal frameworks and policies for the responsible use of AI technology. In the same vein, the resolution also seeks to address the vulnerabilities of democratic institutions to AI application and how to alleviate negative impacts such as the spread of misinformation, disinformation, malinformation, hate speech or incitement of violence through AI-generated content.”
The Assembly will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and its role in reducing the harm caused by anti-personnel mines.
His Royal Highness, Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, Special Envoy for the APMBC, will participate at the event and is expected to encourage parliaments that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so expeditiously.
“The crowning moment of the Assembly will be the presentation of the winner of the 2024 Cremer-Passy Prize to the winning Parliamentarian during the Assembly. This prestigious award, now in its third edition, will recognise an outstanding parliamentarian who has made an exceptional contribution to supporting Parliamentarism, the rule of law and advancing human rights.”
Mr Samuel Teo, Speaker of the Tuvalu Parliament was the previous winner.
Zimbabwe’s delegation, led by Adv Mudenda and President of the Senate Mabel Chinomona, arrived in Geneva on Friday.
They were accompanied by Members of Parliament that are Zimbabwe’s representatives to the IPU.
These include Chief Mtshane Lucas Khumalo (member of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development Goals); Tsitsi Veronica Muzenda (member of the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights); Sengezo Tshabangu (member of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development Goals); Lusyomo Nyelele (member of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians and IPU Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs); Maureen Kademaunga (member of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians and IPU Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs); Jona Nyevera (member of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians and IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security); and Tawanda Karikoga (member of the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights).
The delegation was received at the Geneva International Airport by Zimbabwe’s Charge d’Affaires to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva Mr Nesbert Samasuwo and embassy officials.