Mudenda urges MPs to use AI for NDS2 budget oversight

Mudenda urges MPs to use AI for NDS2 budget oversight

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Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has urged Members of Parliament to tighten oversight of public spending by aligning budget monitoring with National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) priorities, while also adopting Artificial Intelligence to improve accountability and service delivery.

Addressing a meeting in Bulawayo on Friday, Mudenda said Parliament’s financial oversight role should ensure that national expenditure delivers measurable benefits to citizens and remains focused on agreed development goals.

“The Public Finance Management Act Chapter 22:19 should work in line with the National Development Strategy 2. NDS2 must provide direction to the national budget so that the country does not lose focus, with people unaware of where they are going. Members of Parliament should maintain oversight and regularly engage parliamentary committees to ensure proper utilisation of national funds,” he said.

Mudenda also encouraged legislators to embrace emerging technologies, arguing that Artificial Intelligence and mobile tools can help MPs communicate more effectively with the communities they represent, particularly in constituencies where travel distances are a barrier.

“Artificial Intelligence allows Members of Parliament to look ahead and improve how they engage with those they represent across different sectors. Using Artificial Intelligence and mobile technology, Parliamentarians can communicate with people in their constituencies without travelling long distances and remain responsive to community needs,” he said.

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He said a combination of strengthened financial oversight and technology-driven public engagement could improve transparency, help Parliament track delivery of Government programmes, and support progress towards NDS2 targets.

While the meeting took place outside Mashonaland Central, the call has relevance for constituencies across the province, where communities frequently raise concerns about service delivery, the use of public funds and timely feedback from elected representatives.

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