SMART Zambia’s National coordinator Mr PERCY CHINYAMA has advised parliamentarians in Southern Africa to collaborate and lobby for a digital identity for their citizens.
This digital identity would replace the traditional passport, making it easier for people to move across the region.
He emphasized that a digital identity for the region can be embedded with personal information that can easily be accessed when needed at any cross point among the Southern African Development Community (SADC) members.
With the regional borders digitalized, electronic data becomes easily accessible for authentication and verification.
Mr CHINYAMA said this during his presentation titled "Technology and Democracy; Allies or Adversaries” at the 56th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in Livingstone.
Mr CHINYAMA emphasized that embracing technology is crucial for enhancing regional integration and transparency.
He noted that Zambia has an e-government platform where public services are accessed, and the same can be replicated in other countries in the region.
Meanwhile, Zambia Information and Technology Communication Authority (ICTAZ) president Dr Clement Sinyangwe highlighted the importance of embracing technology in parliament.
He explained that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enhance transparency by transcribing debates and generating accurate meeting records.
AI can also create interactive dashboards displaying parliamentary activities, budgets, and voting patterns.
Additionally, AI-driven platforms can process and present complex government data in user-friendly formats, allowing citizens to understand parliamentary proceedings easily.
By adopting digital identity and embracing technology in parliament, the SADC region can take a significant leap towards enhanced regional integration, transparency, and efficiency.
The theme for the 56th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum is “Leveraging Technology and Innovation for SMART, Inclusive and Responsive Parliaments in the SADC Region”.
Parliamentarians from SADC member countries are gathered at the 56th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in Livingstone to discuss key issues affecting the region, including economic development, peace and security, and regional integration.
The forum provides a platform for parliamentarians to share experiences, best practices, and ideas on how to address common challenges facing the SADC region.
