While the world saw Speakers of Parliament, lawmakers and 2,044 delegates gather in Arusha, few knew the sleepless nights and painstaking preparations behind the hosting of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly.
The efforts came into focus in Dodoma on Monday when Mtama MP Nape Nnauye moved a special motion congratulating President Samia Suluhu Hassan on the successful hosting of the historic Assembly, seconded by Mlalo MP Rashid Shangazi.
Founded in 1889 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU is 137 years old. Tanzania had never hosted its Assembly until the 153rd edition, held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) from October 5 to 9, 2026.
The gathering was held under the theme: Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.
The scale of the event was considerable, with official records showing that 2,044 participants from more than 150 countries attended.
They included 56 Speakers of Parliament, 51 Deputy Speakers and 624 MPs, and women accounted for 39.4 percent of the parliamentarians.
Seconding the motion, Mr Shangazi said the successful gathering demonstrated Tanzania’s reputation for peace and hospitality.
‘Truly, I did not hear even one guest complaining that they got lost or faced any problem while in Tanzania,’ he said.
‘This is something to be highly commended. Tanzania remains an island of peace. Despite everything that has been said, we remain a peaceful nation. That is why the international community trusted us, came to Tanzania and successfully held this major meeting before departing safely,’ added the MP.
He said the achievement would not have been possible without the people who worked behind the scenes, arguing that their contributions deserved recognition in the country’s parliamentary records.
One of them was National Assembly Clerk Baraka Leonard, whose preparations began in September 2025 when he led a delegation to Trkiye to study arrangements for hosting the Assembly.
From protocol and documentation to flags and simultaneous interpretation, Mr Leonard oversaw preparations intended to ensure that every detail met international standards.
Another key figure was AICC managing director Christine Mwakatobe, who oversaw the conference facilities and services during the five-day gathering.
The centre had to ensure that lighting, microphones and internet connectivity remained reliable while accommodating thousands of delegates and supporting more than 2,000 simultaneous connections.
Mr Shangazi also acknowledged the contribution of Arusha Regional Commissioner, security agencies, immigration officials, the city council and residents, who helped manage visiting dignitaries, motorcades and cultural tours.
He singled out Tanzania’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Dr Hoyce Temu, for her role in managing the country’s IPU affairs for more than five years.
Mr Shangazi said the campaign to bring the Assembly to Tanzania had begun at the IPU headquarters in Geneva, where Dr Temu worked to secure international support.
The effort culminated in Angola, where four candidates from Malawi, Senegal, Somalia and Tanzania contested the IPU presidency.
Tanzania’s candidate, Dr Tulia Ackson, won in the first round, becoming the organisation’s president and paving the way for the country to host the 153rd Assembly.
The gathering concluded with the election of Australia’s Milton Dick as Dr Ackson’s successor, marking the end of an Assembly held during her presidency.
Mr Shangazi urged Parliament to record the names of those involved in Hansard so future generations could recognise their contribution to Tanzania’s first hosting of the event in 137 years.
He also noted that the Assembly took place during the tenure of Speaker Mussa Azzan Zungu.
Among the most memorable aspects, he said, was the response to Tanzanian food.
‘Tanzanian food became the unexpected star of the conference. Unlike in many European nations where food is preserved and frozen for months, Tanzania offered fresh food straight from the farms,’ said Mr Shangazi.
‘Whether it was chicken, vitumbua or nyama choma, they had happy and cheerful faces. During Tanzania Night, you could see guests from nations known to be very culturally reserved, trying to even put vitumbua in their pockets to take away,’ he said.
He said the experience showcased the country’s hospitality, food culture and authenticity, demonstrating how cultural exchanges could strengthen Tanzania’s international image.
Beyond hospitality, the Assembly provided a platform for parliamentary discussions on good governance, trust and inclusion, with delegates examining ways to strengthen parliamentary action around the theme.
For Tanzania, the benefits could extend beyond the immediate spending associated with accommodation, food and tourism.
Mr Shangazi said the gathering had brought influential political leaders and potential investors to the country, creating opportunities for future investment and business partnerships.
He argued that visitors who experienced Tanzania during the Assembly could return with their families or recommend the country to others, potentially supporting tourism and investment over the coming years.
The country is also preparing to accommodate larger international gatherings.
A new conference centre capable of hosting between 2,500 and 3,000 delegates is being built opposite the AICC in Arusha, with another major conference centre under construction in Zanzibar.
Once completed, the facilities could expand Tanzania’s capacity to host international conferences and attract visitors whose spending supports tourism and related businesses.
As Parliament unanimously passed the motion congratulating President Hassan, the debate highlighted the people and institutions behind Tanzania’s first hosting of the IPU Assembly.
Their work, Mr Shangazi said, deserved recognition alongside the event’s international visibility and the opportunities it could create for the country.