Imagine walking into your country’s parliament building, a symbol of democracy, sovereignty, and national pride, only to discover that it was designed, built, and still maintained by a foreign government. This is not a hypothetical scenario. That's the reality in countries like Malawi, where China built the national parliament and remains key to its upkeep. Over the past two decades, China has funded and built at least 15 national parliaments, including the African Union headquarters in Zimbabwe, Lesotho and even Ethiopia. While these projects are often presented as generous initiatives to help spur development, they have hidden costs that extend far beyond initial construction.
These buildings are more than just physical structures. They are centers of democratic governance and symbols of national identity. When foreign powers dominate law-making and national debate, serious questions arise regarding sovereignty and national self-determination. In the case of Malawi, the National Parliament building suffers from a number of deficiencies, including a leaky roof, peeling tiles and faulty plumbing, but remains reliant on Chinese contractors for repairs and maintenance, perpetuating a cycle of dependence. , ensuring that foreigners remain at the heart of democracy. .
This dynamic is not just a matter of bricks and mortar. That extends to digital breaches as well. As countries seek to modernize, the infrastructure that supports parliaments is becoming increasingly digital. Funded by the Chinese government, these African parliaments are fully equipped with mainstream digital infrastructure.
Field research by Dr. Innocent Batsani Ncube, one of the authors of this article, reveals that Chinese contractors installed local area networks and closed-circuit television in Malawi, and that network diagrams were provided in Chinese. It became. As a result, the digital operations of Malawi’s Parliament have become dependent on China’s continued technical assistance. Malawi cannot replace this network infrastructure without the consent of the Chinese government, which the Chinese government does not allow.
Without active efforts to build and manage their own digital public infrastructure, more countries may become dependent on outside powers’ “infrastructure diplomacy” to provide the technological framework that underpins their democratic institutions.
Parliament is the place where people interact with the government. Although these are essential to the functioning of democratic systems, the tools and applications that can modernize these institutions are currently absent from international discussions and support for “digital public infrastructure” (DPI). These internationally supported digital systems instead focus narrowly on financial, medical, and educational applications. The omission of legislative technology from DPI efforts leaves significant weaknesses in the fabric of democracy, especially in a rapidly digitalizing world.
As technology accelerates, national legislatures face a “pace problem,” or a widening gap between the rapid pace of technological advancement and the slowing pace of legislative adaptation. Expanding the DPI definition to include legislative technology will help Congress function more effectively, increase transparency, foster better public participation, and strengthen the ability of legislators to make informed policy decisions. will help you.
Developing democracies often face significant hurdles in funding parliaments and implementing technology. Without sufficient resources, parliaments may become dependent on external support to modernize. If charities and international organizations do not provide opportunities and funding for this public interest technology, these countries may have no choice but to accept “gifts” from countries wishing to exert greater influence.
This dependency gives foreign companies unprecedented access to legislative processes and sensitive information, potentially undermining democratic principles and violating national sovereignty. The very institutions that are supposed to represent the interests of the people can become conduits to external agendas.
The lessons from Malawi’s Parliament House are clear. Reliance on external forces for critical infrastructure can have serious implications for sovereignty and democratic governance. In an increasingly digital world, it is essential that developing democracies retain control of their digital public infrastructure, especially within their legislatures.
Global donors have an important role to play in supporting democratic institutions through the expansion of DPI’s work focused on legislative technology. It is essential to invest in legislative technology by funding the development and deployment of digital tools for legislation, governance and public participation.
Promoting open source solutions will ensure transparency and customization, while increasing capacity building through training programs will equip legislators and staff with the skills they need. It is also important to foster international cooperation to facilitate the sharing of best practices in legal modernization. Through these efforts, global donors can help developing democracies maintain sovereignty over their governance systems and build resilient, independent digital infrastructures for the future.
