Lawmakers in Zimbabwe have been urged to take the lead in pushing for the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the national vision of achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030. The call was made during a sensitisation session held at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden on Thursday, where legislators were exposed to key strategies to bring development directly to the grassroots.
The session was organised to raise awareness among Members of Parliament on the importance of aligning community-based initiatives with the global SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The meeting attracted wide participation from both Senators and MPs who expressed commitment to carrying the message back to their constituencies.
Senator Annah Shiri, who represents persons with disabilities, described the meeting as an “eye-opener” for her. She noted that with the new understanding gained, she is better positioned to advocate for the needs of people living with disabilities in Parliament.
“This programme has opened my eyes in a big way. I now see how I can take the voices of people with disabilities from our communities straight into Parliament. Our inclusion is vital in all development plans,” Senator Shiri said.
From Zaka North, Honourable Ophias Murambiwa praised the government for taking the lead in implementing SDG-related initiatives, especially in the education sector. He pointed out that projects such as school construction and support for vulnerable learners are signs that Zimbabwe is serious about achieving inclusive development.
“The government is showing seriousness when it comes to Sustainable Development Goals. We can see improvements, especially in education. We have school construction projects ongoing in several areas,” Hon. Murambiwa explained.
Chairperson of the Thematic Committee on SDGs, Honourable Senator Chief Nkatazo Siansali, stressed the importance of sustained engagement. He called for continuous training and discussion platforms that help legislators understand how to effectively bring SDGs into their local communities.
“We need more of these sessions. Parliamentarians must understand how to apply SDGs at the local level, not just at policy level. That’s where the real development happens,” said Senator Siansali.
Honourable Chenjerai Kangausaru, MP for Hurungwe East Constituency, also pledged to act on what he had learnt at the session.
“What we learnt here today will not just end in this building. We are going to take this knowledge back to our people and implement it practically because it is the communities that we represent,” he said.
The session was coordinated by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Mrs Sylocoius Chaturuka, Director for Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 within the Ministry, explained that the engagement with Parliamentarians is part of a broader strategy to strengthen local ownership of the development agenda.
“Parliamentarians are closest to the people. They operate at community level, where real transformation must occur. That’s why their role in local development cannot be overemphasised,” Mrs Chaturuka said.
She added that the government has started rolling out Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) across communities in partnership with local councils to monitor and report on the progress of the SDGs. According to her, lawmakers are expected to act as champions of this process and ensure that the SDGs and Agenda 2063 are fully integrated into the Mid-Term Development Strategy (MDS2).
Mr Kennedy Chokuda, Clerk of Parliament, also spoke on the expectations from legislators, urging them to go beyond attending meetings and take action that would bring change in the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Our expectation is simple — that lawmakers will take this knowledge, go back home, and implement it. That’s the real purpose of this meeting,” Mr Chokuda said.
The sensitisation comes at a time when the Zimbabwean government is rolling out several people-focused projects in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. These include the building of new schools, improving access to clean and safe water, and providing food relief to vulnerable communities, especially in drought-prone areas.
Observers say if lawmakers take the challenge seriously, their actions could bridge the gap between policy and real impact on the ground. With just five years left to reach the 2030 deadline, all eyes are now on Parliament to drive the change from top to bottom.
