Speaker Zungu: Why the world must unite to address emerging challenges

ARUSHA, TANZANIA: Speaker of the Parliament of United Republic of Tanzania, Mr Mussa Zungu, has said the world must work together to address emerging challenges because no side can succeed without the other.

Speaker Zungu made the remarks on Monday when he addressed the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, suggesting that differences can be transformed through dialogue, while conflicting interests can be reconciled through reasoned debate.

“We are the place where differences are transformed through dialogue, conflicting interests are reconciled through debate, and the dignity of every human being is protected. We do not deal with tomorrow’s differences,” said Speaker Zungu at the event attended by more than 1,500 Speakers and parliamentarians from around the world.

“We share one humanity and a common destiny. We do not have a problem of the Global South or a problem of the Global North. We have a human problem, and it requires a human solution. The North has technology and capital, while the South has resources, young people and resilience. Neither side can succeed without the other,” he said.

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Zungu said the world of tomorrow requires a language of cooperation and innovation rather than one of dependency and charity under a single parliamentary body.

“There are not two worlds of developed and developing countries. For decades, our international vocabulary has been shaped by terms such as donors and recipients, developed and developing, aid and assistance.

“Such language may describe aspects of our history, but it does not adequately describe the world we are entering. The world needs critical and rare minerals to manufacture batteries, renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, advanced electronic equipment and other technologies that are critical to the future of our economies.

“We are not two worlds; we are one world trying to build one future for humanity. Rare minerals beneath Africa and Latin America can drive the green future being developed in Europe and America. Young people from the South can drive the economies of the North,” he emphasised.

He said the world’s future should not be one in which the South provides resources while the North captures a larger share of knowledge, technology and value, adding that the answer was not to close the doors to investment and international cooperation.

“The answer is cooperation so that investment brings capital and technology, education brings skills, local participation creates jobs, and innovation creates value.

“As we meet here for the 153rd Assembly, I urge all of us, from the Global North and the Global South, to work together for one humanity and a common destiny. Let us leave Arusha having chosen cooperation over dependency, solidarity over division, and shared prosperity over unequal opportunities,” he said.

The 153rd IPU Assembly is being held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) under the theme, “Enhancing Good Governance and Empowering Communities through Inclusivity, Trust and Opportunities for All.”