Africa is entering a period where technology could change almost every part of everyday life, from education and employment to healthcare, business and government.

The bigger question is whether African countries will have a say in shaping that future or remain largely consumers of technologies developed elsewhere. Therefore, this conversation is now gaining attention in Zimbabwe following the appointment of Member of parliament Hon. Darlington Chigumba to the Parliament of Zimbabwe’s new Committee for the Future.

The committee has been established to help Parliament look beyond today’s challenges and prepare for emerging issues that could shape Zimbabwe in the years ahead. It’s areas of focus include artificial intelligence, technological advancement, climate change, demographic shifts and other developments that could have a long term impact on the country.

To Hon MP Chigumba, the work is not simply about predicting what is coming but it is about making decisions today that can help Zimbabwe prepare for tomorrow.

“What makes this Committee particularly important is its focus on strategic foresight, ensuring that our legislative, policy and oversight decisions are informed not only by today’s realities, but also by the future we want to build,” Hon Chigumba said.

His appointment comes at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is moving quickly across the world. African businesses, universities, governments and young entrepreneurs are already experimenting with AI, while questions around jobs, data, privacy and regulation are becoming harder to ignore.

However, technology also presents an opportunity for Africa to build solutions around its own needs.

African innovators are working on everything from financial technology and agricultural platforms to health services, education tools and digital businesses. The challenge is creating an environment where these ideas can grow locally rather than seeing African talent and data become resources primarily used by companies outside the continent.

Hon Chigumba recently invited researchers, universities, innovators, industry leaders, civil society organisations and development partners to engage with the Committee for the Future.

“Your research, ideas, expertise and perspectives can help Parliament better understand emerging issues and develop forward-looking responses,” he said.

That invitation opens the door for a much wider conversation about Africa’s technological future.

Hon Chigumba further said,”The future should not find us unprepared. We must actively shape it.”