BY DAVID CHIKOKO
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has called on global parliaments to protect the public interest of their jurisdictions by enacting laws that scrutinised the spending of taxpayers’ money and through proactive government oversight.
Addressing the opening of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly in Arusha through a video message on October 5, 2026, President Samia said parliaments were so bound by duty as they drew their authority from the people and as such they must protect the public interest.
Outgoing IPU President, Dr Tulia Ackson of Tanzania, warned that inequality and exclusion weakened confidence in institutions. She called for meaningful participation by women, young people, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities in the decision making processes.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, also addressing delegates virtually, emphasised the role of parliaments to ensure inclusion and hold governments accountable, particularly “in rebuilding the trust on which all societies depend”.
The Assembly, hosted by Tanzania’s National Assembly, was held from October 5 to 9 at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC). About 2,000 Parliamentary delegations from around the world discussed governance, inclusion and disability rights.
The IPU’s Governing Council was expected to elect a new president as Ms Tulia has completed her three-year tenure of office.
Tanzania National Assembly Speaker, Mr Mussa Azzan Zungu, Chair of the Session, urged countries to overcome divisions and confront common challenges that the world faced. “We have one humanity and a shared destiny,” he said, adding: “We have a human problem and it requires a human solution.” He did not elaborate.
