ARUSHA: OUTGOING Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Dr Tulia Ackson has issued a strong call for people-centred governance, urging parliamentarians to make transparency, accountability and public participation the bedrock of decision-making.
She warned that in a world battered by conflict, inequality, climate change, economic pressures and rapid technological change, parliaments cannot afford to lose touch with the people they represent.
Speaking in Arusha on Tuesday during the 153rd IPU Assembly, Dr Tulia said good governance must go beyond rhetoric and become a practical responsibility, with institutions responding effectively to changing realities and giving citizens a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their lives.
She said the multiple crises confronting the world were placing new demands on governments and parliaments, requiring them to remain responsive, transparent and accountable.
Dr Tulia also highlighted the growing impact of technology, saying rapid digital transformation was changing how people live, interact and engage with public institutions.
She urged parliamentarians to strengthen public participation and ensure governance systems remain responsive to citizens in an increasingly complex world.
“Our institutions themselves are under pressure. Parliaments have been asked to respond to more complex challenges, often at greater speed,” she said.
Dr Tulia noted that declining public trust and growing polarisation make it essential for parliaments to remain places where differences can be debated constructively and solutions reached through dialogue.
She said good governance starts with parliamentarians understanding the realities, needs and aspirations of the communities they serve, urging them to make listening their first responsibility.
“Our first responsibility as parliamentarians is to listen. We need to listen to all voices and actively seek out those whose voices are rarely heard,” she said.
She said communities should be recognised as equal partners and sources of knowledge, noting that people’s circumstances and vulnerabilities differed.
The outgoing IPU President said diversity should not be viewed as a burden to democracy but as a source of its legitimacy and strength.
“When different experiences and perspectives are reflected in our decisions, people can see themselves in the institutions and government,” she said.
She urged parliamentarians to combine data and research with people’s lived experiences when developing policies, saying the approach would help them understand the causes of persistent challenges rather than merely addressing their visible symptoms.
Dr Tulia said listening must be followed by continuous dialogue within parliaments, with communities and among parliamentarians internationally.
“Dialogue is how we find common ground and build solutions that are relevant to local realities,” she said.
She also warned that misinformation and disinformation are making it increasingly difficult for citizens to determine which information they should trust, potentially weakening democratic debate.
She urged parliamentarians to lead by example by communicating actively, accessibly and responsibly.
On public trust, Dr Tulia said trust between citizens and institutions is a hallmark of good governance, warning that it cannot simply be demanded but must be earned through transparency, accountability and effective service delivery.
She said citizens need to understand how decisions are made, how public resources are used and whether institutions are fulfilling their promises.
For parliamentarians, she said accountability should not only involve scrutinising other institutions but also ensuring that their own work remained open, accessible and transparent.
Dr Tulia also called for corruption to be tackled as part of efforts to strengthen public trust and good governance.
She said community empowerment should include women, young people, persons with disabilities and other groups historically underrepresented in public life and politics.
“Empowering communities therefore also means challenging these assumptions. It means creating an environment where everyone can see themselves as having the ability and the right to contribute, lead and shape the future,” she said.
She urged leaders to look beyond the next political cycle, noting that challenges such as climate change, inequality, technological transformation and changes in democratic systems would affect generations to come.
Dr Tulia said empowering communities is therefore not only about giving people a voice today but also creating conditions enabling them to shape the future of their communities and societies.
She challenged parliamentarians to choose whether to work for the people or with the people, whether to regard diversity as a challenge or a source of democratic strength, and whether to retreat into isolation or stand together during periods of uncertainty.
“Only when institutions and communities work together can that promise become real,” she said.