Members of Tanzania’s Parliament on Thursday, February 5, 2026, elected Ukonga MP Bakari Shingo to represent the country in the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum, despite his struggle to speak English while seeking support from fellow legislators.
Mr Shingo, an ACT–Wazalendo lawmaker, failed to clearly present his case in the ‘foreign’ language during his address to Parliament.
English had been announced as a mandatory requirement for candidates contesting the position. However, he was the only candidate in the race.
The election session drew objections from some MPs after it became evident that language proficiency, one of the stated qualifications, had not been demonstrated during the candidate’s presentation.
Despite the concerns, Parliament proceeded with the vote and elected Mr Shingo to the regional parliamentary body, which brings together legislators from countries within the Great Lakes region such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC.
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