A study by Gwakwara et al. (2022) titled “Bolstering the role of the legislature for efficient, effective, and sustainable foreign policy-making and execution: A case study of Parliament of Zimbabwe” published in the African Journal of Democracy and Governance reveals that the Parliament of Zimbabwe plays a role in foreign policy-making but is overshadowed by executive dominance, limiting its oversight and effectiveness.
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Zimbabwe’s Parliament plays a role in foreign policy-making but is overshadowed by executive dominance, limiting its effectiveness.– Gwakwara et al 2022
The article examines the critical function of Zimbabwe’s Parliament in shaping and implementing foreign policy. Grounded in social contract theory and role theory, the study presents a model to strengthen Parliament’s influence in foreign policy-making. Using a mixed-method approach, the research incorporates interviews, newspaper articles, official documents, and scholarly literature to analyze parliamentary diplomacy’s role in the formulation of foreign policy. A key focus is on the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which serves as a crucial link between the legislative and executive branches. However, the study highlights several challenges, including executive dominance, lack of consultation, political patronage, the whipping system, and insufficient expertise and resources among parliamentarians. To address these issues, the authors propose a model aimed at improving the Parliament-Executive interface in foreign policy-making. This model advocates for greater capacitation, enhanced consultation, structured decision-making processes, strengthened checks and balances, and robust parliamentary oversight. Ultimately, the article underscores the need to empower the legislature to play a more active and effective role in Zimbabwe’s foreign policy landscape.
How the Study was Conducted
The study adopted a mixed-method approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The authors conducted interviews with a convenient sample of 70 respondents. These included 15 current and former Members of Parliament (MPs), 15 current and former officers of Parliament, 15 officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, 5 former presiding officers and premiers, 5 former ambassadors, and 15 opinion leaders. The authors assessed newspaper articles, official documents, and other relevant literature on the role of Parliament in foreign policy formulation and execution. In addition, the study employed a narrative/interpretative approach for the analysis of data. This involved analyzing and interpreting the qualitative data gathered from interviews and document analysis to derive meaningful insights and patterns. The combination of these methods provided a comprehensive understanding of the role of the Parliament of Zimbabwe in foreign policy formulation and execution, as well as the challenges and opportunities it faces.
What the Authors Found
The study found that while the Parliament of Zimbabwe plays a role in foreign policy formulation and execution, it is often overshadowed by the Executive, which makes unilateral decisions without adequate consultation. Parliament’s responsibilities include oversight, policy formulation, resource allocation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and setting performance targets for ambassadors. However, challenges such as executive dominance, lack of expertise and resources, patronage, and the whipping system limit its effectiveness.
Why is this important?
Strengthening Democracy: Empowering the legislature in foreign policy-making ensures a more balanced distribution of power between the branches of government. This helps maintain checks and balances, which are fundamental to a democratic system.
Accountability: By involving Parliament in foreign policy decisions, the Executive is held accountable for its actions. This transparency can lead to more thoughtful and deliberate policy-making that is in the best interests of the country.
Informed Decisions: The study highlights the need for better training and resources for parliamentarians. An informed and knowledgeable Parliament can make more effective contributions to foreign policy, which can enhance the country’s international relations and overall governance.
Representation of Interests: Parliamentarians represent the interests of their constituents. By playing a more active role in foreign policy, they ensure that the perspectives and needs of the populace are considered in international relations.
Reducing Executive Overreach: The study addresses the issue of Executive dominance. By proposing a model for a better Parliament-Executive interface, it seeks to reduce unilateral decisions by the Executive and promote a more collaborative approach.
Regional and International Influence: Stronger parliamentary diplomacy can enhance a country’s influence in international forums. This can lead to better outcomes in negotiations and international agreements, benefiting the country’s strategic interests.
Sustainable Policies: Including Parliament in the policy-making process can lead to more sustainable and comprehensive foreign policies. Policies that have broad support and input from diverse viewpoints are more likely to be effective and enduring.
What the Authors Recommended
- The authors suggest that there should be more comprehensive training for parliamentarians to deepen their understanding of foreign policy and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively participate in foreign policy-making and execution.
- Strengthening the existing institutional structures, such as the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, is crucial. This involves ensuring that these committees are well-resourced and have the authority to effectively link Parliament and the Executive on foreign policy matters.
- The Executive should regularly consult Parliament on foreign policy issues. Establishing a more collaborative relationship between the Parliament and the Executive can ensure that foreign policy decisions benefit from diverse viewpoints and are more representative of the nation’s interests.
- Implementing a robust system of checks and balances to prevent the Executive from making unilateral decisions without Parliament’s input. This can help maintain accountability and transparency in the foreign policy-making process.
- Parliament should play a more significant role in the appointment of ambassadors and other key government officials involved in foreign policy. This can ensure that these appointments are based on merit and align with the nation’s strategic interests.
- Encouraging parliamentarians to actively participate in inter-parliamentary engagements and international forums. This can enhance Zimbabwe’s influence on the global stage and ensure that the country’s foreign policy positions are effectively communicated and advocated for.
- The authors propose a model that emphasizes capacitation, consultation, decision-making, checks and balances, and oversight. This model aims to foster a more collaborative and effective approach to foreign policy formulation and execution.
In conclusion, the study by Gwakwara et al. (2022) highlights the crucial yet constrained role of Zimbabwe’s Parliament in foreign policy-making. While Parliament has oversight responsibilities, executive dominance limits its effectiveness. The research underscores the need for a more balanced governance approach, advocating for greater consultation, institutional strengthening, and enhanced parliamentary oversight. By implementing the proposed model, Zimbabwe can foster a more democratic, transparent, and inclusive foreign policy process. Strengthening Parliament’s role will not only improve accountability but also contribute to more sustainable and strategically sound international engagements, ultimately benefiting the nation as a whole.
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