Mudenda Urges Malawi to Strengthen Parliamentary Oversight and Embrace Ubuntu

Zimbabwean Speaker Jacob Mudenda urges Malawi’s Parliament to strengthen committee oversight, uphold impartial leadership and embrace Ubuntu to enhance accountability, governance and democratic effectiveness (image source)

BLANTYRE — Speaker of Zimbabwe’s Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has urged Malawi’s newly elected parliamentary leadership to prioritise strong institutional oversight, impartiality and democratic accountability, describing parliamentary committees as the backbone of effective legislatures.

Speaking during a high-level orientation programme for Malawi’s parliamentary leaders in Blantyre, Mudenda addressed the Business of the House Committee, which he characterised as “a barometer of your nation’s democratic health and institutional maturity in Parliament.” He cautioned that weak or imbalanced committee systems risk reducing legislatures to “mere rubber stamps for governmental initiatives,” rather than serving as robust checks on executive power.

Mudenda emphasised that the credibility of parliamentary oversight depends heavily on neutrality and inclusivity, particularly at leadership level. “The impartiality of the Chairman is absolutely non-negotiable,” he said, adding that the chair must be “beyond question, beyond reproach and beyond partisan consideration.” He warned that perceptions of bias erode public confidence and weaken Parliament’s ability to hold the executive to account.

In a separate session focused on leadership communication, Mudenda outlined two foundations of effective parliamentary authority: strict adherence to standing orders and the clear, consistent communication of those procedures to all members. He encouraged regular and disciplined engagement among parliamentary leaders to promote predictability, transparency and orderly decision-making, arguing that such practices help reduce confrontation and legislative paralysis.

Drawing on African philosophical traditions, Mudenda advanced Ubuntu as a guiding principle for parliamentary conduct. He said the ethic of shared humanity, respect and collective responsibility could temper adversarial politics and redirect debate toward problem-solving in the public interest. “Parliamentary communication anchored in our shared humanity fosters solutions that serve citizens rather than partisan advantage,” he said.

Mudenda proposed practical reforms to strengthen legislative performance, including regular leadership coordination meetings, structured communication frameworks, and continuous capacity-building for committee chairs and members. He also disclosed plans to establish a Parliamentary Training Academy in Zimbabwe and offered collaboration with Malawi and other regional legislatures through joint training and peer-learning initiatives.

Observers say Mudenda’s intervention reflects Zimbabwe’s growing use of parliamentary diplomacy to support governance reforms across the region. Strengthening committee systems and investing in leadership capacity, they note, are relatively low-cost but high-impact measures that can improve legislative scrutiny, transparency and democratic consolidation.

As Malawi’s new parliamentary leaders continue their orientation, Mudenda’s call for impartiality, procedural discipline and Ubuntu offers a practical blueprint for balancing robust debate with effective, accountable governance.