Parliament works towards digitalisation

via Parliament works towards digitalisation – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 6, 2014 by Veneranda Langa

THE Parliament of Zimbabwe is working towards becoming an e-Parliament with fully digitalised computer equipment, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said yesterday.

Mudenda said this during a donation of $100 000 worth of information communication technology (ICT) systems equipment by the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament to the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

He said the ICT infrastructure at Parliament had become archaic and needed upgrading in order to become a fully-fledged e-Parliament.

“Parliament still has deficiencies in ICTs in the areas of network monitoring software, bandwidth monitoring, antivirus software, and our Microsoft space also needs upgrading, as well as our help desk software that has gaps which need to be upgraded in terms of tracking of user calls,” Mudenda said.

“The ICT donation will improve our service delivery in terms of wi-fi connectivity, and it is our hope that it will also improve our digital recording system for Hansard, administration meetings, as well as committee meetings so that they are accurately recorded.”

Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Lin Lin said upgrading of ICT equipment at the Parliament of Zimbabwe was necessary as the legislature played an indispensable role in Zimbabwe’s political life by protecting the Constitution and promoting democratic governance.

“At this critical juncture of social and economic transformation in Zimbabwe, Parliament is an important force in creating a positive legal environment for the implementation of the ZimAsset blueprint, through amending the laws and regulations according to the new Constitution,” Lin Lin said.

China’s bilateral trade with Zimbabwe reached over $1,1 billion in 2013, and has doubled 2010 figures of $560 million.

Senate President Edna Madzongwe said use of ICTs in Parliament had become the norm the world over.