Midrand, (New Ziana) — Zimbabwe’ Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda has been elected President of the Bureau of the Conference of Speakers at the Pan African Parliament  (PAP) 2026 Annual Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments.
The two-day conference, which ran from 31 July to 1 August 2026 in South Africa, was held under the theme: “The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievements of the Objectives of Agenda 2063.”
Senate President, Marble Chinomona, immediate past PAP President Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira, Government Chief Whip and PAP Southern Africa Caucus Chair Pupurai Togarepi, and Zimbabwe’s PAP representative, Happymore Chidziva were also part of the country’s delegation to the conference.
Soon after his election, Speaker Mudenda assumed the chair and presided over the conference proceedings.
Opening the conference, PAP President Dr. Fateh Boutbig urged African Parliaments to move “from vision to action” and to “Legislate it, Finance it and Defend it” to deliver Agenda 2063. He called for unified African positions, accelerated integration, and the harnessing of AI for peace and sustainable development.
South Africa’s National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, said open parliamentary dialogue was key to tackling migration and other shared challenges.
Guest speaker, Prof. Sahiba Gafarova of Azerbaijan also called for a stronger African voice globally and sought Africa’s support for her IPU presidency bid.
The Pan African Women Parliamentary Caucus, led by Amina Tidjani Yaya, presented a declaration marking Pan African Women’s Day, calling for gender-budgeting and ratification of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
In plenary, Speaker Mudenda outlined Zimbabwe’s progress on 6 Agenda 2063 pillars, citing: Pfumvudza/Intwasa and dam construction for food security; BEAM support for 1.5m learners; diplomatic resolution of the DRC conflict during Zimbabwe’s COMESA chairmanship; performance contracting for accountability; the Museum of African Liberation; and 2,500 Village Business Units already established with solar boreholes and drip irrigation out of a 3,500 target by 2030. He also noted the Women and Youth Bank.
New Ziana
