Hassan Magulumali
Speaker of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, Azzan Zungu, has called for greater participation of women in leadership and decision-making, saying their inclusion is essential to strengthening democracy, good governance and public institutions.
Zungu made the remarks while addressing the 143rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) being held in Arusha, Tanzania, where he stressed the need to remove barriers that continue to limit women’s full participation in political and parliamentary affairs.
He said the theme of the IPU Assembly, “Strengthening Good Governance and Empowering Societies through Inclusion, Trust and Opportunity for All,” directly reflects the importance of ensuring that women are represented and empowered to participate meaningfully in decision-making at different levels.
According to Zungu, good governance requires equal participation by women if democratic institutions and policymaking processes are to become more representative and effective.
He noted that Tanzania has made progress in increasing women’s representation in Parliament, with women accounting for 39.5 percent of parliamentary representation.
However, Zungu cautioned that representation alone is not enough, arguing that greater attention must also be given to structural and institutional challenges that can limit women’s participation, leadership and influence in political and parliamentary processes.
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“Good governance requires equal participation of women to strengthen democracy and policymaking,” Zungu said.
He said the IPU platform provides an important opportunity for parliaments from different countries to exchange experiences and discuss practical measures for increasing women’s participation in decision-making.
Zungu urged delegates to ensure that discussions on women’s empowerment go beyond political commitments and are translated into concrete actions within parliaments and across their respective countries.
He said inclusive parliaments play an important role in strengthening democratic institutions, while greater participation of women in political life contributes to more inclusive and accountable governance.
The Speaker also encouraged delegates to use the Assembly to openly exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation and identify practical measures that can expand women’s opportunities in leadership.
He stressed that genuine good governance cannot be achieved through exclusion, warning that societies cannot be fully empowered when a significant section of their population is left behind.
Zungu further argued that removing structural barriers and ensuring equal opportunities for women in decision-making processes are critical steps towards building public trust, participation and equal opportunity.
The 143rd IPU Assembly has brought together parliamentarians from around the world to discuss issues affecting governance, democracy, inclusion and sustainable development.
Concluding his remarks, Zungu welcomed delegates to Tanzania and expressed hope that the discussions would produce meaningful outcomes capable of strengthening inclusive parliaments and good governance.
