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The Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Honorable Advocate Jacob F.N Mudenda arrived in Bali, Indonesia on 30th August 2024, where is attending the Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Summit running from 31st August – 2nd September at the Grand Hyatt Hotel meant to foster social justice and sustainable economic development.
Speaker Mudenda is accompanied by the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Portfolio Committee, Honorable Webster Shamu, Honorables Sithabisiwe Moyo, and Brian Mudumi who are both members of the same Portfolio Committee. Speaker Mudenda and his delegation were received at the airport by the Zimbabwean Ambassador-designate to Indonesia, His Excellency, Mr Martin Makururu, and Counsellor Mrs Viola Madongorere.
The 2-day Forum is a follow-up of the first Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum convened in 2018 which sought to explore and enhance strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Africa within the context of Africa’s Agenda 2063. It is, therefore, befitting that this Parliamentary Forum is aptly running under the overarching theme, ‘FORGING INDONESIA – AFRICA PARLIAMENTARY PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT.’
Running on the margins of the Africa-Indonesia Summit, the Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum is expected to further galvanise the relations between Africa and Indonesia from a Parliamentary perspective, serving as a timeless reminder of the historical experiences and attendant aspirations towards self-determination, social justice, and sustainable economic development.
Resultantly, the event has drawn over 150 participants from 21 African countries, including 10 (10) Speakers, 7 (seven) Deputy Speakers as well as 17 Indonesian Members of Parliament who are expected to share best Parliamentary practices.
Speaker Mudenda continues on a trailblazing path of Parliamentary diplomacy where he has put Zimbabwe on a firm pedestal of parliamentary diplomacy as exemplified by his current Chairmanship of the SADC-PF lobbying mission on the establishment of a SADC Parliament which has resulted in the regional parliamentary body garnering required signatories for it to transform into a fully-fledged parliamentary body.
To augment the foregoing and in recognition of his contribution to the parliamentary body of knowledge worldwide, Speaker Mudenda was nominated to deliver a keynote address on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Indonesia -Africa Parliamentary Forum on Sunday 1st August 2024. Speaker Mudenda is expected to accentuate the win-win relationship that exists between Africa and Indonesia in advancing strategic South-South Cooperation and sustainable economic growth which is anchored on the fulcrum of the United Nations’ 16 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Portfolio Committee, Honorable Webster Shamu is also expected to sit as a panelist during a morning session on South-South Cooperation for Prosperity and Sustainable Development Parliaments.