{"id":147992,"date":"2026-02-06T20:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/drama-in-parliament-as-tanzania-mps-take-tests"},"modified":"2026-02-06T20:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:56:01","slug":"drama-in-parliament-as-tanzania-mps-take-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/drama-in-parliament-as-tanzania-mps-take-tests","title":{"rendered":"Drama in Parliament as Tanzania MPs Take Tests"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Tanzania. <\/strong> <\/span>A Tanzanian Member of Parliament has been forced to withdraw from international parliamentary positions after failing to meet English-language requirements in a mandatory proficiency test.<\/p>\n

Bakari Shingo, the MP representing the Ukonga constituency, could not proceed with his bid for delegate positions in major international bodies following the language assessment conducted during the selection process.<\/p>\n

The elections were organised to fill Tanzania’s representation slots in three key international forums that became vacant after the 12th Parliament’s term expired, prompting the need for fresh appointments.<\/p>\n

The affected positions include seats in the Pan-African Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Parliamentary Forum, all of which require English fluency.<\/p>\n

Shingo did not satisfy the English proficiency requirement, which remains a mandatory qualification for anyone seeking to participate in these influential international forums.<\/p>\n

The development has sparked conversations among Tanzanian legislators about language preparedness, as they aspire to represent the country on continental and global parliamentary stages where English dominates proceedings.<\/p>\n

According to the latest EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2025 report, Tanzania ranks 77th globally out of 116 countries assessed, placing it in the “Low Proficiency” band overall.<\/p>\n

Within Africa, Tanzania ranks 11th with an EF EPI score of 479, indicating significant room for improvement in English language skills across the population.<\/p>\n

Dar es Salaam leads the country with the highest proficiency score of 508, followed by Arusha with 478, highlighting regional variations in English language competence across Tanzania.<\/p>\n

English proficiency remains essential in the Pan-African Parliament because it serves as a working language, facilitating debate on regional integration, policy formulation, and oversight among diverse representatives.<\/p>\n

The Inter-Parliamentary Union relies on English alongside French for its e-bulletins, publications, and databases, ensuring members can access vital information on parliamentary trends and international best practices.<\/p>\n

For the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Parliamentary Forum, English enables collaboration on peace, security, and development issues across member states with different linguistic backgrounds.<\/p>\n

These international organisations operate in diverse, multilingual environments where English serves as the primary common language for sharing data, drafting resolutions, and ensuring effective collaborative decision-making.<\/p>\n

Without adequate English skills, parliamentarians cannot actively contribute to complex international discussions, comprehend policy documents, or effectively represent their constituents on the global and regional stage.<\/p>\n

The language requirement ensures that delegates can participate meaningfully in legislative debates, access documentation, and engage in cross-border communication, all essential to international parliamentary cooperation.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Tanzania<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Tanzania. A Tanzanian Member of Parliament has been forced to withdraw from international parliamentary positions after failing to meet English-language requirements in a mandatory proficiency test. Bakari Shingo, the MP representing the Ukonga constituency, could not proceed with his bid for delegate positions in major international bodies following the language assessment conducted during […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":147991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,7,12],"tags":[711],"class_list":["post-147992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-head-lines","category-policy","tag-tanzania"],"yoast_head":"\nDrama in Parliament as Tanzania MPs Take Tests - Tanzania<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press - Tanzania. 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