Tanzania guides its lawmakers on how to effectively protect their nation’s interests on global stages
DODOMA: THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation has strengthened cooperation with the Tanzanian Parliament to enable lawmakers representing the country in regional and international parliamentary forums to effectively promote Tanzania’s agenda and national interests.
The development was announced in Dodoma on October 15, 2026, by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Charles Kadonya, while presenting the Ministry’s report to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security (NUU), chaired by Najma Murtaza Giga.
Mr Kadonya said the Ministry had developed a special guideline, finalised in April 2025 in collaboration with the Office of Parliament, to improve coordination, ensure timely access to information and strengthen preparations for Tanzania’s positions in international discussions.
He explained that the guideline followed directives issued by the relevant parliamentary committee in August 2024, after concerns emerged that some representatives were not receiving schedules and information about activities organised by the forums in which they participated.
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Tanzania is a member of seven parliamentary forums: the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States–European Union Parliamentary Assembly (OACPS-EU), the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Through these forums, Tanzania’s representatives are responsible for following policy debates, bills and resolutions, obtaining and advocating the government’s official positions, and identifying potential implications for the country.
The initiatives are aligned with Tanzania’s Foreign Policy of 2001, revised in 2024, which emphasises regional and international cooperation to protect and advance the country’s political, economic, defence and social interests.
Members of the NUU Committee commended the Ministry for developing the special guideline. They also praised its successful coordination of the 153rd IPU Assembly, which was held in Arusha from October 5 to 9, 2026.
