Zungu: Global challenges require collective action
ARUSHA, TANZANIA: President of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, currently taking place in Arusha, Mr Mussa Zungu, has called for concerted global efforts to address challenges facing the world, including climate change and economic pressures.
Addressing the 153rd Assembly on Tuesday after being elected to lead the event, which is attended by more than 2,000 delegates from across the globe, Mr Zungu mentioned other areas requiring global attention, including technological changes, inequality, conflicts and the changing expectations of citizens.
Mr Zungu, who is also Tanzania’s National Assembly Speaker, insisted that the challenges facing the world are cross-cutting in nature, such that no Parliament, government or institution can address them alone.
To address this, Mr Zungu noted that the 153rd IPU Assembly is not only an opportunity for parliamentarians to meet as representatives of parliaments, but also an important moment to assess how parliaments can meet citizens’ expectations and respond to emerging challenges in society.
He emphasised that representatives of the people have a responsibility to ensure that national commitments are translated into tangible and productive results.
“Through legislation, representation and oversight, parliaments must continue to maintain a close connection with the realities of the daily lives of the people we represent,” he said.
ALSO READ:
Tanzania charts new chapter in IPU history
According to the leader, the meeting is taking place in Tanzania amid various challenges, including declining trust in public institutions, inequality, conflicts and insecurity.
“People around the world are demanding greater accountability, institutions that care about and respond to citizens’ needs, equal opportunities and meaningful participation in decisions affecting their lives,” he said.
“These issues remind us that good governance is not merely a matter of institutions and systems, but an issue that concerns people,” he stressed.
He added that the existing challenges are cross-cutting to such an extent that no Parliament, government or institution can address them alone.
“Climate change, technological changes, inequality, economic pressures, conflicts and the changing expectations of our citizens require greater cooperation and collective action,” he said.
Referring to his Monday speech, Mr Zungu said that to transform relations between the countries of the Global North and Global South, it is necessary to move beyond declarations and turn our goals into effective implementation mechanisms.
He expressed optimism that the 153rd IPU Assembly would produce practical, implementable and forward-looking results.
“We believe in learning from the experiences of other parliaments, sharing successful approaches from our respective countries and identifying solutions that can be applied in different contexts,” he said.
“Therefore, let this Assembly be a platform for restoring trust, strengthening accountability, empowering citizens and creating opportunities for all,” he stressed.
