ARUSHA: TANZANIA has called for stronger cooperation between the Global South and Global North, saying developing countries need a meaningful role in decisions on natural resources, technology, value addition and youth employment.
Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, Mr Mussa Azzan Zungu, said the two sides should work together rather than compete or confront each other, arguing that their strengths could complement one another to promote shared development.
He made the remarks in Arusha during the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which has brought together parliamentary leaders and delegates from around the world.
“The Global South has resources. The Global North has technology. We should sit together,” Mr Zungu said.
He said developing countries should move beyond being sources of raw materials and instead participate meaningfully in decisions on how their resources are developed and how the benefits are shared.
Mr Zungu said stronger cooperation should focus on increasing value addition to minerals and other natural resources in developing countries, creating employment opportunities for young people and ensuring that producing countries benefit more from their resources.
He proposed that the IPU consider establishing a youth wing to encourage cooperation between young people from the Global South and Global North and promote initiatives aimed at skills development, value addition and employment.
“The IPU can have a youth wing that will encourage the Global South and Global North to work together and increase value added on our minerals and employ more youth in our countries all over the world,” he said.
Mr Zungu said such cooperation would be consistent with the broader purpose of the IPU, which he said should promote dialogue and cooperation among parliamentarians.
“IPU should stand for mankind. That’s the main idea of IPU,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in leadership, saying their inclusion was critical to development and efforts to address challenges facing societies.
Mr Zungu welcomed the organisation’s new leadership and commended the outgoing leadership, while pointing to the increasing role of women within the institution.
He said the Assembly also provided an opportunity for the international community to experience Tanzania’s capacity to host high-level global meetings.
Mr Zungu linked the Assembly to Tanzania’s broader development agenda, particularly Vision 2050, saying its success would depend on strong governance, political rights, human rights and democracy.
“As the President says, Vision 2050 will only succeed with the pillars of governance, political rights, human rights and democracy in Tanzania,” he said.
The 153rd IPU Assembly is being held in Arusha, bringing together parliamentarians from around the world to deliberate on global challenges and strengthen parliamentary cooperation.
