MEMBERS of Parliament have called for the swift development of a national policy and legal framework to govern the use and management of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Tanzania.

The call was made during a specialised training session held over the weekend in Dodoma, aimed at equipping lawmakers with knowledge on the opportunities and risks posed by AI.

Fatuma Toufiq, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Community Development, officially opened the training. She stressed the urgent need to regulate the rapidly evolving technology, noting that while AI is already being used across multiple sectors, the country lacks policy direction and regulatory oversight.

“There is currently no policy or law to guide how AI should be utilised, managed, or supervised,” Toufiq said. “This gap leaves users and society vulnerable to potential harm.”

Representing Speaker of Parliament Dr Tulia Ackson, Toufiq further warned that the absence of a framework hampers efforts to prevent misuse and protect vulnerable populations—especially women, who are increasingly targeted by AI-generated manipulated images and misinformation.

The training was organised by Women Political Leaders (WPL) and the German Development Agency (GIZ), with support from Omuka Hub, a local organisation focused on digital transformation and development.

The session brought together MPs from various key parliamentary committees, including Infrastructure; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security; Education and HIV/AIDS; and Governance, Constitution and Legal Affairs.

Neema Lugangira, founder and executive director of Omuka, highlighted AI’s potential to improve lawmakers' work, from policy formulation and research to campaign strategy. She noted that AI tools can quickly analyse large datasets, extract insights from online content, and generate summaries that support decision-making.

“Artificial intelligence is an asset, but we must use it responsibly,” Lugangira said. “A national AI policy is essential—not only to harness its benefits but also to shield society from its potential harms.”

Iringa MP Jesca Msambatavangu (CCM) sought to reassure the public that AI adoption would not jeopardise livelihoods. Rather than replacing jobs, she said, AI should be leveraged to enhance productivity.

“These trainings are not about taking jobs from Tanzanians,” she said. “In fact, I will tell my constituents during campaigns—if they see a strange or inappropriate image of me, know that it’s AI-generated and fake. Your real MP would never behave that way.”

Also speaking at the event was Kenneth Simbaya, Executive Director of the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), who advised journalists to be cautious when using AI-generated content. He stressed the importance of fact-checking, warning that while AI is powerful, it is not infallible.

“AI can make errors,” Simbaya said. “As journalists, we must verify sources and remain vigilant. AI may be intelligent, but it’s the human behind the machine who must apply wisdom.”

The training marked a significant step toward fostering AI awareness among policymakers. However, participants unanimously agreed that without a well-defined legal and policy framework, Tanzania risks falling behind or mismanaging the growing influence of AI.