The Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson is now on the fast track to vie for the global Inter-Parliamentary Union Presidency, in the October 2023 polls in Luanda, Angola.
But what exactly is the legislator intending to do should she get the world’s top legislative position?
To begin with, she will be serving the position for three consecutive years up to 2026.
Among other things, Dr Ackson is drafting the cause to advocate for increased women participation in National Parliaments around the sphere.
Apparently, the Tanzanian Speaker is not satisfied with the global average of 26.4 percent women representation in National Assemblies around the world.
And she clearly pointed this out during the recently held SADC Parliamentary Forum in Arusha.
She now wants to push the envelope to greater gender and youth participation.
Speaking shortly after being endorsed to be the sole East, Central and Southern Africa candidate, to the race for the IPU Presidency, Tulia explained that she will also…
… work to ensure effective participation and representation of geopolitical groups in the organs of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The former senior lecturer at the University of Dar-es-salaam’s School of Law, Dr Tulia Ackson envisages to warrant
… regular consultations within and between the geopolitical groups of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
On the covers of the notebooks specially printed for Tulia’s mission to the IPU there is her guiding theme.
The leading contesting motto reads: ‘For effective, accountable and transparent IPU.’
Dr Ackson is also gearing towards establishing new and innovative strategies for resolving IPU challenges in its pursuit of meaningful peace and sustainable global prosperity.
Tall, slender and infectiously charming, Tulia is a Tanzanian Member of Parliament representing the Mbeya Urban Constituency in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.
Dr Ackson was born on 23 November 1976.
The National Speaker also happens to be an expert in social security and labor laws, Wildlife management laws, trusts, probate and administration of estates law, project financing as well as mining laws.
Tulia boasts long experience in general commercial agreements, like joint ventures, agency agreements, distributorship agreements, mergers and acquisitions, Initial Public Offerings, Management Buyouts, employment, commercial and competition laws.
During their recent regional forum held in Arusha, the 15 Parliaments in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) unanimously endorsed Dr Ackson to be their sole candidate for IPU presidency, representing the East, Central and Southern African Geopolitics Region.
The IPU is a global legislative organ made up of 189 National Parliaments across the world.
During the 53rd Plenary Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in Arusha, South African legislators moved the special motion on a matter of urgency and regional importance, calling the house to support the candidature of Dr Tulia Ackson for IPU Presidency.
The Motion was chartered by Darren Bergman a Member of Parliament from South Africa and was seconded by Pedro Sebastio a legislator from Angola.
“Recognizing that all Member Parliaments of the SADC Parliamentary Forum are also Members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,” stated Bergman.
“The Southern Africa Development Community Group mandate includes consulting on Agenda Items under consideration at Inter-Parliamentary Union Assemblies for purposes of ensuring regional consensus,” Bergman added.
“And cognizant of the urgent need for consensus by the SADC Group regarding the candidate for the Inter-Parliamentary Union President for the period 2023 – 2026 and recognizing the prestige of the position of President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, there is the need for a concerted and unified campaign to garner support for Ms Ackson’s candidature,” stated Bergman.
The SADC parliamentarians therefore reached agreement to field Dr Ackson from Tanzania as their sole candidate.
Previously, SADC had three potential candidates for the IPU Presidency, including Ms Catherine Gotani Hara, from Malawi and Mr Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda of Zimbabwe.
The others agreed to pull out of the race in support of the Tanzanian envoy.
Tulia already has the support of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) at the African Union.
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