Behind the smiles of Speakers of Parliament, lawmakers and 2,044 delegates who gathered in Arusha for the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly were months of planning, diplomatic engagement and coordination by public officials whose contributions were largely unseen.
Their role came into focus in Parliament on Monday when Mtama MP Nape Nnauye moved a special motion congratulating President Samia Suluhu Hassan for Tanzania’s successful hosting of the international parliamentary gathering, with Mlalo MP Rashid Shangazi seconding it.
The Assembly, held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) from October 5 to 9, 2026, marked a historic milestone for Tanzania, which hosted the global parliamentary meeting for the first time in the IPU’s 137-year history.
Founded in 1889 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU brings together parliaments from around the world to promote dialogue, democracy and parliamentary cooperation.
The Arusha meeting, held under the theme “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all”, attracted 2,044 participants from more than 150 countries.
They included 56 Speakers of Parliament, 51 Deputy Speakers and 624 Members of Parliament. Women accounted for 39.4 per cent of the participating parliamentarians.
But while the international attention focused on the high-profile gathering, Mr Shangazi used his contribution to highlight the officials and institutions whose work helped Tanzania deliver an event of such magnitude.
He said the successful hosting demonstrated the country's reputation for peace, security and hospitality, which had helped build confidence among international visitors.
“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.”
Mr Shangazi said the achievement should also be attributed to the people who handled the technical, diplomatic and logistical responsibilities behind the scenes.
Among those he singled out was National Assembly Clerk Baraka Alphonce Leonard, whose preparations began in September 2025 when he led a delegation to Turkey to benchmark arrangements for hosting the Assembly.
His responsibilities included coordinating protocol, documentation, national flags and simultaneous interpretation, among other technical requirements.
He also recognised AICC Managing Director Christine Mwakatobe for overseeing the conference facilities and ensuring that the centre could accommodate the demands of thousands of international participants.
The preparations required reliable electricity, functioning conference equipment and internet connectivity capable of supporting more than 2,000 simultaneous connections.
Mr Shangazi further acknowledged the contribution of Arusha Regional Commissioner, security agencies, Immigration authorities, the City Council and residents, saying their coordination helped manage visiting delegations, official movements and cultural activities.
Another key figure was Tanzania's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Dr Hoyce Temu, who has managed the country's IPU portfolio for more than five years.
Mr Shangazi said the diplomatic campaign to bring the Assembly to Tanzania began long before delegates arrived in Arusha, with Ambassador Temu playing a central role in mobilising support at the IPU headquarters in Geneva.
That 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 first Tanzanian to lead the global parliamentary organisation.
Her election also paved the way for Tanzania to host the 153rd Assembly.
The Arusha meeting subsequently marked the conclusion of her presidency, with Australia's Milton Dick elected to succeed her.
Mr Shangazi urged Parliament to ensure the contributions of the officials and institutions involved were recorded in Hansard so that future generations could understand the work behind the historic achievement.
He also highlighted hospitality as one of the most memorable aspects of the meeting, saying Tanzanian food had become an unexpected attraction for international delegates.
“Tanzanian food became the unexpected star of the conference,” he said.
He recalled how guests enjoyed local dishes, including chicken, vitumbua and nyama choma, particularly during Tanzania Night.
“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.
Beyond the diplomatic recognition and cultural exposure, the Assembly also offered Tanzania an opportunity to strengthen its position as a destination for international conferences and investment.
Mr Shangazi said the presence of political leaders and other influential figures from different countries created opportunities for business engagements, particularly through side meetings involving potential investors.
He argued that the benefits could extend beyond immediate spending on accommodation, food and tourism services, as delegates who experienced Tanzania could return with their families or encourage other visitors to consider the country.
For businesses in Arusha, the wider tourism industry and local suppliers, the gathering provided an opportunity to showcase their services to an international audience.
However, the longer-term economic gains will depend on the country's ability to convert the visibility and connections generated by the Assembly into actual investment, tourism growth and repeat international events.
Tanzania is also seeking to strengthen its conference infrastructure to attract larger gatherings.
Plans include the construction of a modern conference centre opposite AICC in Arusha, with a reported capacity of between 2,500 and 3,000 delegates. Another major conference facility is being developed in Zanzibar.
Such investments could help the country combine conference tourism with its established attractions, including wildlife, beaches and cultural heritage.
The successful hosting of the 153rd IPU Assembly has therefore placed Tanzania on the international conference map, but sustaining that position will require continued investment in infrastructure, service delivery and institutional capacity.
As Parliament unanimously passed the resolution congratulating President Samia, the debate also served as a reminder that international achievements are rarely the work of one individual.
For Tanzania, the first hosting of the IPU Assembly in 137 years was not only a diplomatic milestone but also an opportunity to demonstrate its organisational capacity, hospitality and potential to attract international business.
And as Mr Shangazi's contribution highlighted, behind the global recognition were public servants, institutions and ordinary citizens whose work helped make the historic gathering possible.