DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 3 -- THE significance of the Great Lakes parliamentary forum coming to Dar es Salaam in November extends well beyond four days of speeches and diplomatic meetings.

For Tanzania, the gathering is an opportunity to reinforce its role in regional diplomacy, for the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR), it is a test of whether parliamentary cooperation can turn regional commitments on peace, security and womens empowerment into policies with economic consequences.

From November 2 to 5, Tanzania will host women legislators and senior leaders from the 12 member states of FP-ICGLR where President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to serve as guest of honour. The meeting com...