KENYA AND TANZANIAN LOCKED THEIR HORNS N BIG LEGAL TUSSLE OVER CROSS BORDER TOURISTS BETWEEN THE FAMOUS SERENGETI AND THE MASAI MARA
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
REPORTS EMERGING from the Northern Tanzanian town of Arusha say that tourism stakeholders in both Kenya and Tanzania wants the border between the two countries two world famous tourists attraction sites be opened in line with the principles and spirits of the East African Community.
The two world famous tourist sites are the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti National game Park in Tanzania.
According to the latest newsletter of the East African Tourism Platform {EATP}, the opening of the Bukologonja border which was closed by Tanzania unilaterally following the collapse of the first East African Community in 1977, would save tourists the five hour drive through the nearest border crossing point and encourage regional tourism.
The border at the Sand River is on the route used by wild bests during their spectacular annual migration that attracts thousands of tourists to both countries. Besides its closure, it was a convenient route for tourist visiting the Serengeti National Game Park-Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Following the collapse of the first EAC in 1977, Tanzania closed all border crossing points with Kenya for nearly seven years.
In the mid 1980, it reopened the main highway border points, but left the Bukologonja one closed.
According to EATP coordinator Wafart Matu, visitor to the Maasai Mara wishing to cross into Serengeti sometimes have to drive to Nairobi for an overnight stopover before proceeding to Arusha via Namanga border post and on to Serengeti.
Some tour operator firms based in the Kenya capital Nairobi have complained of extra distance owing to the closed border ,increased the cost of the Serengeti-Maasai Mara package.
Tanzania National Parks spokesman Pascal Sheleti, was widely quoted last week as having said hat Tanzania would not open the border because the differences between the two countries tourism polices.
“Kenya encourages mass tourism while Tanzania prefers quality tourism for a low volume of tourists, but with higher revenue so we feel that once we open Bukologonja border posts, tourist traffic from Kenya can be extremely high at the expense of the fragile Serengeti ecology.”
On his part Mr. Adrian Akiyo an official of the Natural Resources and Tourism Ministry in Tanzania said his Ministry would not bow to any pressure on the matter.” At the Bukulugonja border notwithstanding the East African Community Common Market Protocol that provides for the free movement of goods, persons, labor, services and capital within the EAC region.
“The EAC arrangement is not everything, Tanzania like other partners states is still a sovereign country. We are only obliged to implement those policies we agree with and not everything. Our orders must be respected,” he said.
In addition to the closed border, the stakeholders have also complained about the requirement for tourists to change vehicles at the border of Namanga, Sirari and Taveta, which they said was not only humiliating for the visitor but veiled bid by Tanzania to keep business competition away from its border crossings.
The stakeholders have called upon the two countries to resolve their differences bilaterally
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EAC: Kenyatta attended the EAC summit in Arusha for the first time
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
Kenya’s newly elected Head of State President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was among the heads of states and governments of the East African Community{EAC} who were in attendance at the Summit of the regional trading bloc held in the Northern Tanzanian City Arusha last Sunday.
The one day Summit, which brought together heads of states of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania was held at the Ngurudoto Mountain Lodge, which is located about ten kilometers outside Arusha town.
Other heads o state who were in attendance included Yoweri Museveni {Uganda}, Jakaya Kikwete {Tanzania} Pierre Nkurunzinza {Burundi} and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
At the end of the one day summit, the EAC leaders sign draft resolution in which they sent out a strong message that the region would not tolerate insecurity or destabilization that would scare off investors an undermine development efforts.
The leaders further stated that with the recent discovery of oil and gas deposits, the region must get rid of any efforts o derail its quest to settle down and tap the vast natural resources for development.
“No one should be allowed to derail or to destabilize the region. Our region is now conducive for massive investment and development ‘” said President Museveni who read the final draft to the newsmen.
President Kenyatta on his part stressed that instability must be fought off in order to make the ac region a pace which is conducive for investment and development. CHEERED TO BY HIS COLLEAGUES, President Kenyatta who attended the summit for the first time since he was elected to the office following March 4 ,2013 general election in Kenya was the center of interest by onlookers and government officials.
President Kenyatta said the stability must remain a critical ingredient for the future development and prosperity.
The Kenyan leader said that his country’s priority will be to work closely with the EAC partner states.
Meanwhile other information emerging or the EAC Arusha based secretariat says the five member countries have raised concerns about Tanzanian reluctance to scrap the work permit stance that is still undermining the free flow of labor across the region.
THE LAST Sunday summit meeting asked Tanzania to consider resolving the issue and report on it during the net East African Legislative assembly meeting scheduled for Uganda next months.
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ARMED CONFLICT IN THE DR CONGO PUT TANZANIA INTO A CATCH 22 POINTS AS IT IS CONFLICTING WITH DAR’S SADC MEMBERSHIP.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
Information emerging from the Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar Es Salaam says that armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is likely to shift to the East African Legislative Assembly this week with the regional parliament taking Tanzania to task over its support for a new UN sanctioned peacekeeping force following the recent breakdown talks between the M23 rebels and Kinshasa government.
Tanzania currently chairs the Southern African Development Community {SADC} peace and security Council, that political pundits and analysts argue that leaning towards SADC give Dar’s conflicting obligation to the international conferee on the Great Lakes and east African community, leaves on a collision course with Uganda and Rwanda, which are vehemently opposed to troop deployment under the UN.
A Ugandan member of the East African Legislative Assembly Fred Mukasa Mbidde was last week quoted as having tabled a motion at the regional parliament asking Tanzania to support the position that "military confrontation can only escalate war".
THe EALA member said, ”Our position is based on three facts,
One, that Uganda and Rwanda may be drawn into an unnecessary war,
Two, that Uganda and Rwanda sometimes, Tanzania always suffer the humanitarian burden,
Third, war can only lead to further proliferation of arms in the region."
The motion at the EALA meeting which is scheduled for April 16 will also propose that SADC AND THE un Security Council resolution or an “offensive international peacekeeping force” against M23 rebels be kept in abeyance to give dialogue a chance.
The newly elected Kenyan head of state President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta will attend the EALA meeting o the first time since winning his presidential race on 4 March 2013.
However, this latest development comes as Tanzania prepares to seek parliamentary approval for its troops participation in the mission when the government tables on 3 May 2013, the Ministry o Defense and National Service budget, which its national security council has already endorsed.
Tanzania is also engaged in other UN peace keeping missions in Liberia,Sierra Leone,Ivory Coast and Sudan It has committed itself to deploying 850 troops in the DR Congo, part of UN Security Council sanctioned 2,000 –man “Intervention Brigade” approved a week ago.South Africa is another SADC member state wit economic interest in the SADC has also agreed to contribute troops, according to the Uganda EALA member Mbide.
The M23 rebels and the Kinshasa government of President Laurent Kabila have been in talks aimed at ending fighting which ha claimed many lives and displaced thousands since late last year when a section of rebels that had joined government after brokered deal opted out and resumed fighting citing marginalization.
A UN probe committee accused Rwanda and Uganda of supporting the M23, but Uganda was .Kampala in spite of the accusations, brokered the dialogue between the belligerents citing the talks broke two months ago following a violent split in the M23 leadership. Uganda’s Defense Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga however, continued with the efforts to brig the belligerents back to the talking table.
The Permanent secretary in the Ugandan ‘s ministry of Foreign affairs James Mugume dismissed talks as ridiculous exercise between Uganda and Tanzania.
He said, It is entirely untrue. We are currently hosting SADC and EAC Joint Chief of Staff we are doing truck carrot we are supporting dialogue but if dialogue fails then members can resort to other means of resoling the conflicts ,he added.
Mbidde said the regional parliament {EALA} has ten a position for dialogue and Tanzania position for troop deployment is against this spiriti of dialogue
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TANZANIA PLANS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR REHABILITATION OF ITS RAILWAYS NETWORK TO EASY THE TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO AND GOODS TO ITS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
Tanzania is expected to spend the colossal amount of USD 330 million to upgrade its railways network in order to make it competitive with those across Central and Southern Africa.
The venture involves track repair and up grades including changing the national network rail line to the standard gauge.
The move according to an impeccable source in Arusha follow tripartite agreement to harmonize operations between the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority [Tazara] Zambia Railways Limited,and the Societe National des Chemine des Fer do CongoSari of the Democratic Republic of Congo,the National Raiway operation of Tanzania,Zambia and DR Congo respectively.
The deal which was signed recently is expected to facilitate smooth and seamless transportation of goods and passengers in the three states.
Tanzania’s Transport Minister Harrison Mwakyembe was quoted last week as saying the sums of Tshs 6 billion {USD 3.7 million] had so far been spent on the renovations, train carriages and railway infrastructure for the Tanzania Railway ltd.
The government has ordered 274 passenger wagons,22 locomotives,23 wagons and 34 railway stocks,brakes {brakes vans},which are expected in the country before the end of June this year.
According to Minister Mwakyembe, the government of Tanzania through Tazara has also secured USD 39 million from China to buy six new locomotives 80 new wagons and spare parts as well as to renovate nine locomotive engines.
The Central rail line running westwards from Dar Es Salaam through Dodoma will be improved substantially this year, he added.
The upgraded Tanzania Central line on a standard gauge is expected to carry 35 million tones of freight annually to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and eastern DRCongo..
Dalmas Ndamburo the managing director of the Tazara said the acquisition of the new locomotives and other measures by the management is expected to increase the tonnage of cargo that it hauls.
Dr Ndamburo said the government of Zambia is providing the USD 82 milion needed to keep the UHURU railway line afloat.
Tazara operates in two countries of Zambia and Tanzania –both which have regional managers working on the set performance benchmarks. Tanzania hosts the headquarters. Each regional manager has been tasked with the responsibility of increasing tonnage of cargo and goods from 30,000 to 809,000 tones.
The railway line which is to connect Rwanda,Burundi and Tanzania is now under construction.
Charles Tireba, the deputy Minister for Transport sasid the Dar Es Salaam-Isaka-Kigali / Reza, Getag M Mosongoti Railway project which is estimated to cost USD 52 billion will take four years to complete and is expected to lower Rwanda’s and Burundi’ transport costs.
Rwanda and Burundi have had to bear high transport costs when ferrying goods from the Kenyan coastal port of Mombasa and Dar Es Salaam, which has increased the cost of doing business in the two countries. The new railway line is also expected to reduce the time it takes to transport cargo from Dar Es Salaam.The use of road takes four days while the railway will take just two days.
Tanzania is currently seeking USD 13,3 billion to finance infrastructure projects.
These projects include the rehabilitation of the railways from Dar Es Salaam to Tabora as well as Kilimapanda line to Kasanga port on Lake Tanganyika.
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KENYA: GOVERNMENT ASKED TO CONTROL FLOODS
By Agwanda Saye
The East Africa Law Society (EALS) wants the Government to control perennial floods that leave trails of death and misery.
EALS President James Aggrey Mwamu said that it was sad for the Government to watch as citizens drown and homesteads marooned after down pours.
“The right to life that is enshrined in Article 26 of the Constitution must not be taken for granted,” Mwamu said.
Mwamu said that it was disheartening that lives are being lost over floods even after the meteorological department announced the coming of long rains.
“We express concern at the dilatory in which the Ministry of Special Programmes is dealing with the floods issue,” Mwamu said.
The EALS President regretted that the Ministry of Special Programmes made no preparations to evacuate families from flood prone areas.
Mwamu said that the Government had capacity to control the ravaging floods in areas like Kano Plains in Kisumu County.
“Budalangi in Busia County experienced the worst floods in the history of this country but was controlled…why not other areas in the country,” Mwamu said.
Mwamu spoke as raging floods reportedly claimed human lives and displaced several families countrywide.
On Sunday night, raging waters killed four passengers in separate incidents in Kajiado North District.
“Raging floods leave a trail of death and misery especially to rural homesteads that leave from hands to mouth,” Mwamu said.
Recently four people were swept away and killed by raging floods in Taita Taveta and Tana River Counties as heavy rains pounded Coast Province.
The EALS President said that the Constitutional rights of families living in flood prone areas must be upheld.
“We demand urgent action towards fulfilling fundamental rights of families that are perpetually marooned and lose members over raging floods,” Mwamu said.
The EALS urged the Government to improve and act on disaster preparedness especially after early warning signs from the meteorological department.
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EAST AFRICA LAWYERS CONDEMN KISUMU KILINGS
By Agwanda Saye
Lawyers from East Africa have accused police officers of shooting to kill demonstrators in Kisumu over the weekend.
They called for prosecution of the trigger happy police officers towards bringing to an end perpetual shooting of demonstrators using live bullets.
The East Africa Law Society President James Mwamu said firing of live bullets when quelling down demonstrations at the lakeside city must stop.
“We demand an explanation from the police force as the officers seemed to have been given orders not only to shoot but shoot and kill,” Mwamu said.
Mwamu said that several of the civilans who are nursing gunshot wounds at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Provincial Hospital were shot while running away.
“It seems that it is has become a rule in the police force that every time there is demonstration in Kisumu live bullets must be used,” Mwamu said.
The EALS President said that the security officers have in the past five years shot to kill protestors at the lakeside city.
Mwamu was reacting to media reports following demonstrations that rocked parts of Kisumu after the Supreme Court upheld the Presidential election of Uhuru Kenyatta.
Gun shots were heard up to almost midnight as armed police officers dispersed youth from Kondele and chased them to areas such as Nyawita, Obunga and Nyalenda.
“The Constitutional right to life must not be taken for granted and can only be taken away legally,” Mwamu said.
Article 26 of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to life and shall not be deprived of life intentionally except when authorized by the Supreme Law.
“We strongly condemn the shootings in Kisumu that led to the death of two civilians and injuring several others on Saturday evening,” Mwamu said.
The EALS President said that the police must up hold the rule of law arguing that use of excessive force must stop under the new Constitutional dispensation.
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Africa: LAKE VICTORIA FACES ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IF THE DRY WATER HYACINTH IS SUNK IN THE WATER.
Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
Experts have once again sounded a stern warning that Lake Victoria is facing ecological disaster if the particles from dry hyacinth weed are left to rot and sink inside its waters.
The Kenya Marine and fisheries Research Institute {kemri} said in Kisumu this week that if the hyacinth weeds sunk, aquatic life would be placed at the high risk.
Several fish species in the lake, especially the much cherished Nile Perch and Tilapia and small fish like [Omena} that cannot survive inside the water with few oxygen concentration might be completely wiped out, said Dr Ojwang’ Oweke the KEMRI’s senior scientist.
Mad fish, locally known as “Kamongo” and cat fish locally called “Mumi”are among the specifies that can survive in the water with low oxygen concentration.
According to KEMRI’s researcher’s water hyacinth produces humid acid when it decomposes in the water-a process that used oxygen and deprives aquatic plants and animals of fresh air.
The acid contains harmful elements lie iron and manganese which the scientist attributed to the brown color of water supplied in the region by the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company ltd.
Dr. Oweke called upon the government to make use of colleges and universities in the region to assist in removing the dry weed by use of conveyor belt.
“This is the time for the government to come and try to use the conveyor belt mechanism t remove the dry hyacinth so as to save the lake.:
“The manual removal used by Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project in 2011 and late last year was a total waste of money, and time because this poised a high risk to the laborers and it also led to ever sprouting of the dreadful weed.
The scientist the machine would clear the dry water hyacinth and ump on the shore where it would be burned.
Reupen Omondi, another scientist said the hyacinth had turned brown because weevils had fed on it as it was drying up.
He insects were introduced in the lake by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in 2005.
“Weevils are killing the weed and the government need to respond quickly to remove danger from destroying ecosystem, he said.
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Eac member states may be losing the lucrative tourism revenue to other African region due to several factors
Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
The position of East African region as the continent’s most attractive tourist destination has come under serious threats from other regional blocs taking advantage of the region’s lengthy business procedures, insecurity and poor infrastructure to boost their competitiveness edge.
The latest publication of the World Economic Forum {WEF] survey on global tourism and travel competitiveness is jointly written by experts and just released.
It shows that Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi are badly trailing emerging global tourism giants in sub-Saharan Africa as Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa.
In the sub-Saharan region, the three countries were ranked at the top followed by Cape Verde, Namibia, Gambia, and Botswana.
Kenya, the EAC’s top tourism investment destination come eighth. The WEF cited the insufficient property rights, protection, insecurity, lengthy and costly business procedures as well as dilapidated infrastructure as the main drawbacks.
In the sub-Saharan Africa ranking Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda took position nine 112 and 13 respectively while Burundi was ranked at 30.
At the global level, only Kenya made it to the top 100 countries of the 140 surveyed, coming in at position 96, Rwanda was ranked 105, Tanzania 109, Ugfanda 116, Burinbdi was two positions shy at the last position.
The EAC has been pushing to increase its share of the growing global tourism market. Last month, the EAC secretariat in Arusha reported that it had lined up several projects to increase tourism earnings from USD 7 billion to USD 16 billion annually by the year 2020 .
The planned investment is expected to cost the USD 3.95 billion by the year 2020 up from the current USD 1.65 billion.
The coordinator of the East Africa’s Tourism Platform, Wateri Matu was recently quoted as saying tha6 whereas the traditional tourism products based on the region’s natural resources will continue playing a crucial role in the industry, there is the need for innovations and creativity.
The region’s problems, he added, is the over reliance on traditional source markets. Europe and the US with little emphasis on Africa and in particular the EAC,” Matu said.
The WEF ranking came at a time when East Africa’s tourism sector is preparing for a bumpy ride in 2013, caused by a show down over fears of insecurity and Euro zone crisis.
In Kenya, the managing director of the Kenya Tourists Board Murithi Ndegwa was last week quoted widely by the local media as having said that the country’s recently investment in transport infrastructure such as the up-grading of the Kisumu Airport and the on-gong expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport could boost the county’s competitiveness.
In what may be affecting the market is the Euro zone crisis because the most of the country’s visitors come from Europe. The other effect is the issue f the travel adversaries, adding that that now that the general elections in Kenya are over Kenya are over, the Tourist Board hopes the travel adversaries would be lifted.
The Kenya Tourist Board, Ndegwa disclosed, has been meeting with its counterparts in the EAC to plan joint marketing initiative and strategies. The project line up included the introduction of a single tourists’ visa classification of hotels, increased marketing expenditure and training of industry players in the hospitality industry.
“We also need to harmonize immigration management system and introduce some sophisticated equipment in collaboration with the relevant authorities in the five member countries, mainly for security reasons.
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KENYA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS DISPUTE IS CLOSELY BEING MONITORED BY TANZANIAN AND OTHER REGIONAL LEADERS
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
INFORMATION emerging from the multiple sources in the Tanzanian city of Dar Es Salaam are all indicating that the majority of Tanzanian citizens are closely watching the unfolding political events inside their northern neighboring state.
All the indications that leaders of the various political parties, the ruling CCM party and its ach-rival the CHADEMA are said to be keenly watching events in Kenya.
President Jakaya Kikwete is reported to be neutral and keeping his cards to his chest. He has yet to sent a personal congratulatory message to Kenya’s president - elect Uhuru Kenyatta. However, junior cadre of CCM leadership including member of parliament are said to be leaning towards the Jubilee side of Kenya’s political divide, while Chadema leadership is said to be sympathetic to the CORD alliance.
The CCM stand on the Kenya’s election dispute is said to have been prompted by unfounded rumor that CHADEMA has been covertly cultivating close working relation with the CORD ALLIANCE.
Chadema is reported to have donated several motor vehicles to the CORD alliance during the recently concluded electioneering campaign in Kenya. It has also been reported that President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is another regional leader who has yet to offer any comment about the election despite in Kenya. Rwanda is another important trade partner of Kenya. Lie the other land-locked countries, which depended entirely on the Kenyan port of Mombasa or their export and import.
From the neighboring Uganda the current presidential election results dispute between the h . . .
Uganda was embroiled in a mega financial scandal involved the reported theft of millions of dollars from donor nations meant for its development in the North. The money is said to have been siphoned with the Office of the Prime Minster in Kamala.
Although it has its own sea port of Dar Es Salaam, its northern parts of the country as well as western, especially towns and gold mines , which are allocated around the LAKE Victoria also depended on Kenya for supplies via Lake Victoria.
The mayhem that broke out following a similarly the disputed presidential election of Dec. 2007 had impacted negatively to the economies of both Tanzania and in particularly when the political goons in Nairobi uprooted the rail LINE LINKING THE Kenyan port of Mombasa and Uganda at a section in Kibera within Nairobi suburbs.
The incident sparked off the fuel shortage in Uganda and other land-locked nations in the hinterland and almost crippled that country’s economy.
These are some of the valid reasons why Tanzanians and Ugandans, particularly the big business people would not entertain seeing Kenya collapsing into a distasteful conditions.
A correspondent operating in the northern Tanzania town of Arusha described the recently concluded presidential election in Kenya a sham and not credible enough to convince the neighboring states that it was held in good faith.
However, we love Kenya and its people and as such would go with their wishes, said the TANZANIAN WRITER, ADDING THAT IT WAS TIME Kenya learn how to organize its elections and put only the most credible people to the task of overseeing the elections.This time around people tasked with the handling of the elections in Kenya were not sufficiently qualified for the task.
One Tananian politician commented that the time is ripe or those organizing elections in Kenya to put aside their monetary interest and make sure that such elections are helped in a better manner for the prosperity of the country and its future generation. Must be strictly devoid of corruptive deals.
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EAC plans is targetimg multibilion dollsrs tourist revenujre in the year 2020
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
The East African community member states have lined up several projects to increase tourism earnings from the current USD 7.billion to USD16 billion annually.
Sources at the Arusha based secretariat of the EAC have quoted top officials as saying that the plan is aimed at doubling the number of tourists visiting the bloc from 5 million to 10 million annually.
The planned investments are expected to cost USD 3.95 billion by the year 2020 up from the present USD 1.65 billion.
THe envisaged projects include the introduction of a single tourist visa, a single passport, classification of hotels, increased marketing spend and training of personnel’s in the hospitality industry.
The EAC ministers responsible for tourism are expected to hold a meeting before the end of June, this year to discuss the establishment of the single tourism visa and hotel classification in the member states.
Frustration is growing among the business people over delays in pushing through key projects like opening up the regional airspace, rolling out a single passport and visa, the elimination of non-tariff barriers {NTBs}
They claim the delay in implementing the EAC Common Protocols are slowing the expansion of tourism, trade and business envisaged by the protocol.
EAC Principal Tourism Officer Shedrack Mashauri said the bloc plans to negotiate with the regional airlines like the Rwandair and the Kenya Airways to increase the connecting of flights across the region.
Nearly 60 per cent of tourists budgets goes into air tickets. This money could remain in the region, if we had well established local airlines with strong connection into local market,”said Mashauri,adding that such arrangements would also be made with the international airlines.
According to the plans, a tourist would apply and pay for a visa fee in any of the five member states of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Brundi and South Sudan, and thus visa would be applicable for travels to all the countries in the region, thus necessitating a proper revenue sharing formula.
It is anticipated that issuance of a single of a single EAC visa and passport will not only ease the movement of people across the region, but significantly boost the regional drive to promote the bloc as a single tourist destination.
Plans are also underway to harmonize policies and have standard training and certification, particularly the tourist guides and hoteliers.
"We want tourists to stay longer in the region, hoteliers and tour guides will be required to be committed to exceeding tourists expectation with great customer service and highest degree of professional ethics,” said Mashauri.
The classification of the hotels is nearly six years overdue said to be due to financial constraints.But the executive secretary oif the Association of Tanzania tour operators ang guide has assured the stakeholders that the matter would be resolved soon.
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EAC defense ministers sign peace and security pact to combat terror groups
Reports Leo Odera Omolo
The East African Community Defense ministers have signed a peace and security protocol that will see the five partner states of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi warning on peace and security threats, genocide and transnational crimes.
The move came in the background of reported increase in the activities of the Alqaeda supported Al-Shabaab terrorist group said to be slowly extending their infiltration and activities into the hitherto peaceful stable United Republic of Tanzania.
Ugandan defense Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga who is one of the signatories said by signing the agreement, partner states will cooperate on peace and security issues as well as collaborate with the international and regional security agencies.
“EAC member states will therefore be required to develop common measures program and strategies and enter into agreement for the effective implementation of the early warning mechanism ,”The Ugandan Minister added.
A recent report by the EAC head of Anti-Narcotic and human trafficking units indicated the drug dealers have penetrated the region transnational crime is the main challenge to peace and security in the region, a threat to one country is viewed as a threat to the whole region.
Article 24 also, of the EAC Treaty, states that a threat to one country is a threat to the whole of the region.
The objective of the protocol is to promote peace, security and stability within the region, and the good neighborliness.The protocol also states that partner states will manage and seek to resolve any conflict between two or more partner states,or within foreign countries, through peaceful means in consultation with the Security council of the African Union and the UN Security council any conflict
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Fishing business activities in lake Victoria has resumed in earnest after the dreadful water hyacinth weeds was blown off by current and strong winds
Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.
FISHING business activities has resumed in earnest after the current and strong winds swept away the water surface of Lake Victoria leaving it clean.
The stakeholders and those involved in fish mongering business as well as thousands of fishermen operating in the rake were on Wednesday this week seen preparing their boats and other fishing gear in readiness to re-deploy them on the lake.
The menace of the water hyacinth weeds did not only hampered the fishing activities, but also blockaded the water surface and even ships steamers and all vessels plying the region, especially those ferrying cargoes and shop-good between the eastern shore of Kisumu pier to neighboring countries like Uganda, Rwanda and Northern Tanzania had come to virtual the last seven months.
The worse hit areas were along the shorelines of the Nyanza Gulf {formerly Kivirondo Gulf covering Bondo, Rarieda, Seme, Kisumu, Nyando, Nyakach, Rachuonyo North and Homa-Bay.
The weed had blocked the lake water making the navigation of steamers and even fishing boats impossible. On two occasions, the government was urgently summoned to avail police helicopter to come to the rescue of fishermen whose boats were stranded in the lake for several days without food or water for drinks.
This happened near Soklo Island ,which is just located a few kilometers outside Homa-Bay town and in Karabondi area in Karachuonyo east.
The invasion of water hyacinth weeds in the last seven months had hampered the fishing activities and has sent the price of fish skyrocketing. Close to 50,000 fishermen are operating inside the Kenyan side of the second largest water mass, which is shared between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
A good number of fishermen had abandoned their trade and quit the trade in search of green pasture elsewhere. The fishing industry is the mainstay of the economy of the region, coming only second to sugar cane farming.
Experts say that there are close to 4000 fishing boats operating in Nyanza Province and the industry is supporting close to 3 million people, especially those living close to the shorelines of the lake.
The Kenyan fishing communities stretches from River Sio and Rwambwa areas Busia, Busia district and covered the widest area which included the two Nyakach, Nyando, Seme in Kisumu County , Raried and Asembo, Yimbo, Mageta Islands, Oyamo Island, in Uyoma peninsula in Siaya County and,,Gwassi, Mbita, Rachuonyo, Rangwe, in Homa-Bay County,and also small portion of Nyatie in Migori County.
Statistics recently made available by the fisheries department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment moderately indicated that Kenya is raking in Kshs 13 billion annually in foreign exchange as the results of its export of the highly prized Nile Perch filets to the Middle East, Japan, Israel, EU and the US.
Residents of Nyanza Provnce, however, have appealed to the government to find the lasting solution to the menace of water hyacinth weeds.
It could be either removed by mechanized means or manually by hired youths the same way the Ugandan government has done.
A recent report released by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute revealed that the number of fishermen and fish landing sites in Nyanza Province has decreased and reduced drastically in a span of two years.
The report released in Kisumu two weeks ago indicated that fishing landing sites decreased from 324 in 2010 to 311 last year due to the menace caused by the water hyacinth on Lake Victoria.
It also send a warning signal about the dwindling stock of fish in the lake due to over-fishing, the use of illegal fishing methods
The problem is blamed squarely on lack of protection of fisheries resources and corruption by those assigned the duty of protecting it by the relevant Ministry.
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EAC community is working on single tourist passport and visa for people visiting the region
Reports Leo Odera Omolo
The East African Community {EAC} secretariat based in the northern Tanzanian city at Arusha has singled out tourist visa and common passport as its top priority projects to be implemented this year as the bloc battles to reverse credibility crisis over failed projects.
The EAC Secretary General Dr Richard Sozibera was last week quoted as saying that the EAC passport, the single tourist visa and liberalization of the airspace will boost free movement of people across the region, a promise that the bloc has fallen behind in achieving three years after signing the Common Market convention on people movement across the region.
“Frustration is growing among business executives from the member states over delays in pushing through key projects like opening up the region’s airspace, rolling out a single passport and visa and the elimination of the non-tariff tariff barriers {NTBs}, saying this was slowing trade and business envisaged by the protocol.
The implementation of the monetary union is among the 77 articles needed for the creation.
Observers, however, say the EAC technocrats will be judged by how they handle the integration process in 2013 after the delays experienced last year.
“While the five EAC partner states of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi had in principle agreed to remove NtbS BY November 2012 in the absence of a legally binding framework, little action was taken. The latest report from the EAC secretariat shows that while 35 NTBs were reported as unresolved, ten new NTBs emerged in 2012 alone.” said Dr Sozibera.
A source at the Arusha based secretariat of the EAC said the bloc has set a deadline of between March and June 2013 for the commencement of printing the new EAC passport.
On the single tariff visa, the EAC Principal Tourist Officer Shedrqack Mshauri was recently quoted by the local media as saying the delay were being caused by lack of consensus over visa for collection and revenue sharing model among the EAX partner states.
Ends
EAC: Food experts and analysts are meeting in Nairobi to deliberate on food security in East African region
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
FOOD experts and analysts drawn from Europe, Asia and the entire Eastern African region to deliberate on strategies that can be used to enhance food security in the region.
The Workshop organized and sponsored by the European Union and the East African Community {EAC} under the joint EU-Africa’s Strategies- will seek ways of strengthening the harmonization of the food hygiene management through training.
The four days workshop dubbed Regional workshop on harmonization of food security in Africa will take place between January 22-25.
The Arusha based secretariat of the EAC has stated that food safety can only be achieved through the application of reference framework and introduction of guidelines that will harmonize the management of food hygiene and enhance inter-regional trade and integration in Africa.
The delegates to the four days workshop will also deliberate on how to secure fertilizers with the AU Commission and other regional economic blocs such as the Comesa, Ecowas in order to demonstrate and apply the reference guidelines for harmonization food hygiene in Africa.
The EAC is currently in the process of implementing its food security action plan [2012 - 2015} and preparing to implement the regional SPS Protocols, which was recently approved the Community’s Council of Ministers and the EAC Summit.
The SPS measures will focus on plytosanitary measure and procedures for mammals, birds and bees.
Food security analysts in the region said last week that food security in Eastern Africa countries has improved as the number of people at risk of starvation declined by over one million.
Ends
East Afraca: Confusion over multiple memberships of EAC countries into several African trading blocs
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
IMPORTS into the East African Community countries from two key African trade blocs will continue to enjoying zero tariff for one more year.
With effect from January 1, 2013 imports from the Common Market for East and Southern Africa {Comesa} and the Southern African Development Community [Sadc] will continue enjoying preferential treatment courtesy of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004 which expired on December 30, 2012.
The chair person of the EAC Council of ministers Shem Bqrgeine recently moved to have the Bill amended as the EAC is yet to complete the negotiation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area [FTA] which would establish a market of 525 million people with an output of the USD One Trillion.
The TFTA is a grouping of 27 countries members of the Common Market for Eastern and southern Africa [Comesa}, and the Southern African Development Community [Sadc.
The Tripartite arrangement is expected to remove intra-regional trade distortions in the three regional groups of Customs, EAC and SADC.
Last month, EAC member states said the common external tariff will take effect in 2013.
The five member states signed a protocol establishing the EAC Customs Union and the Common External Trade [CET] in 2005.
The delay in establishing the CET and a single customs territory is hindering the free movement of goods, capital and people across member country borders, even though the common market protocol was officially launched in 2010.
However, the harmonization of trade deals between the EAC member countries remained complicated as long as countries belong to several different economic blocs.
BURUNDI FOR EXAMPLE IS A MEMBER OF Comesa, FTA, EAC the Comesa Free Trade Area {FTA}, the EAC and the Economic Community of Central African States {ECCAS], Kenya is a member of Comesa,Comesa FTA, EAC and IGAD, Rwanda is a member of Comesa,Comesa FTA, EAC and ECCAs,Tanzania is a member of SADC AND eac WHILE Uganda is a member of Comesa,Comesa FTA,EAC and IGAD.
This means that partner states apply different external tariff because of their membership in the different trade blocs.
According to the provisions of the EAC Customs management Act 2004, goods imported by the EAC partner states under Comesa and Sadc attract preferential tariff treatment as proscribed in each of the member states legislation.
For example, Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda charge tariff on all imports from SADC member countries, because they do not have a trade arrangement with the bloc. However, all SADC countries that are members of the Comesa are accorded preferential tariff treatment under the Comesa and EAc arrangement.
The issue of multiple membership is pushing up operational costs for business in East Africa. It is understood that the region’s business community is paying heavily, and losing money as a result of multiple membership because in some countries within the EAC when they ought to pay less in trade tariff, they are forced to pay more.
For instance, while Tanzania is trading with SADC using the rules of origins, goods imported from Sadc into Kenya, Rwandfa, Burundi and Uganda have to be charged according to EAC member countries, apart from Tanzania are 4xempted from an external tariff.
Ends
LAKE VICTORIA BASIN COMMISSION TO ENSURE LAKE SAFETY .
Fishermen on a fishing expedition in Lake Victoria's Kenyan side.
By Dickens Wasonga.
According to maritime experts, an estimated 5000 people drown in Lake Victoria annually as risks of navigating through the lake waters persists. These are people who perish in the lake while either using it for transport or on fishing expedition.
Addressing journalists from Kisumu during a special media briefing organized by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission last week in Kakamega town to give a report on achievements by the commission since 2006 , the LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Canisius Kanangire said the trend was worrying EAC member countries and revealed that efforts to reverse it were already being enhanced.
The LVBC boss said bad weather, unstable boats, over loading, lack of safety gadgets and poor seamanship amongst others are some of the reasons being attributed by maritime authorities as being behind the increasing cases of accidents within the world's second largest fresh water lake.
However all is not lost . Lake Victoria Basin Commission which was established 6 years ago by the EAC member’s states to promote and facilitate sustainable utilization of the natural resources within the basin has embarked on the implementation of an ambitious four year strategic plan which amongst other measures will address safety of the lake.
Already the East African Legislative Assembly that draws its membership from the five EAC partner states has enacted Lake Victoria Transport Act which will soon be fully operational zed to help in regulating navigation and shipping laws to be jointly applied by the member states in order to improve safety within lake Victoria.
Amongst a raft of measures, the commission’s four year strategic plan also seeks to establish 16 search and rescue stations around the lake. Out of the 16 stations, 3 will be on the Kenyan side, 8 in Tanzania and 5 in Uganda. The allocation , according to LVBC was pegged on the size of the lake each member country occupies.
The stations will also serve as training centers where people can learn about maritime safety among them the fishermen many of whom have perished in the lake waters in the past. The commission is also in the process of putting in place a maritime telecommunication network which is set to cover the lake surface as well as the entire shoreline.
Towards this end an emergency number 110, which can be used for search and rescue services in Lake Victoria by anyone in distress has also been adopted for use by the national regulatory authorities of each of the EAC states.
According to the LVBC Maritime Communication and Safety on Lake Victoria project coordinator Eng. Vincent Hagono, a pilot emergency response control and positioning center has already been launched and tested in Kampala Uganda in the network that will cover over 80 per cent of the fishing areas of the lake.
Eng. Hagono said phase one of the project that seeks to ensure safety in the lake started three years ago at a cost of 20 million US dollars while its second phase will require additional 10 million US dollars to complete.
LVBC , headquartered in Kisumu Kenya is facilitating and promoting the implementation of a number of key community driven projects executed by various state actors in each member state amongst them, water supply and sanitation projects, protection of water catchment areas, income generating activities which in the end should aid it in its vision of having a prosperous population living in a healthy and a sustainably managed environment .
Currently the commission which receives 90% of its funding from the World Bank is headed by Dr. Canisius Kanangire of Rwanda as its Executive Secretary and has a staff of 60 people drawn from across the EAC partners’ states. It plans to build a state of the art offices in Kisumu where the host country Kenya has donated 2.5 hectares piece of land for the project.
ENDS.
THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HAS ADMITTED SOUTH SUDAN AS ITS SIXTH MEMBER AS PRESIDENT MUSEVENI BECOME THE NEW OF COMMUNITY NEW CHAIRMAN FOR 2013.
From: Arrum Tidi
News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Kaguta of Uganda is the newest chairman of the East African Community {EAC} for the next one year.
Museveni takes over from President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya who had been heading the regional economic bloc for the last one year.
Kibaki handed over the chairmanship to his Ugandan counter-part during the 14 extraordinary summits of the Heads of State of the East African Community which was held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi last Friday. The meeting which was attended by the Presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi took place at the Kenyatta International Conference {KICC}, Nairobi.
The change over is in accordance with the article 12 of the East African Community Treaty that stipulates that the tenure of the EAC chairperson of the summit be held for one year on rotation among the partner states.
President Kibaki took over the chairmanship from President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi in November last year.
Among the far-reaching issues tackled by the Heads of States of the EAC last weekend was the deliberation and acceptance of the South Sudan, which has been pushing hard to join the enlarged regional bloc.
The election of President Museveni was in accordance with the Article 12 of the EAC Treaty, that stipulates that the chairperson of the EAC be held for one year among the five partner states on rotation. President Kibaki took over from President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burindi in November last year.
Among the far-reaching decision arrived at the last weekend summit in Nairobi include the acceptance of the South Sudan membership of the East African Community. The application by the Juba regime went a notch high when the heads of state and governments of the East African Community approved verification for the Juba regime to join the fast growing regional economic bloc. There has been persistent by South Sudan to join the now enlarged regional economic bloc.
The last week’s approval of the South Sudan membership to the EAC, now bring the number of countries partner states to a total six. They included Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rawanda and Burundi.
The presidents in attendance were Kibaki {Kenya}Yoweri Museveni {Uganda},Jakaya Kikwete {Tanzania} Paul Kagame {Rwanda} and Pierre Nkrunziza of Burundi.
Earlier fears had persisted about South Sudan security and personal safety of the nationals of its immediate neighbors Kenyan Uganda following reports that several Kenyan businessmen and professionals operating in its capital of juba have died mysteriously in the hands if those suspected to be members of South Sudan poorly trained security personnel. The county is still said to have yet to organize its judiciary system and proper police authorities to ensure that justice is done to the families most of those Kenyans and Ugandan who have lost their lives while working and living in South Sudan.
The summit resolved that the East African Community Council of Ministers should start negotiations at the verification work.
The Ministers were also told that they should explore this for the EAC to work constructively with the Somalia, A communique issued on behalf of the Summit by the EAC Secretary General Dr Richard Sozibera said in part. get in touch with Somalia,a country which is urgently still entangled in the chains of political turmoil to verify its application for consideration by the EAC for its membership.
of the Heads of States, which held at the plenary hall at the Kenyatta International Conferee center {KICC} in Nairobi on 28-29
The EAC summit also expressed its support or Burundi’s membership of the British Commonwealth and also supported Rwanda admission to the U Security Council.
The summit also supported regional efforts being undertaken under the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region under the chairmanship of President Museveni to ensure peace in the DRC Congo’s northern Kivu region.
President Museveni who chaired the Great Lakes Conference blamed ideological disorientation. support private sector, poor infrastructure and discovery of oil and gas and other minerals would ensure development in less than 50 years.
Museveni said there is enough market for goods produced in EAC countries and the improved infrastructure.
He promised that he would continue to fight myopic by parasitic and civil servants.
ends
THE CHANCES OF KENYA JOINING THE LEAGUES OF THE AFRICAN OIL PRODUCING NATIONS IS BOOSTED BY THE DISCOVERY OF THE SECOND OIL WELL BY THE TULLOW OIL PLC.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
Kenya, an African nation whose economic mainstay has for many year depended largely on agriculture with no sign of mineral resources is now edged close to joining the league of the oil producing nations following the latest announcement made by the Tullow, the British oil exploration company that it has made more discovery of substantial oil deposits at a second well in the Northern part of the country.
Long regarded by the big explorers, as frontier market, the second discovery by Tullow is now expected to generate ever greater interest in oil exploration in the country-even as companies are expected to start drilling early next year.
Tullow said in a statement that the discovery was made following successful drilling of the new well to the intended depth of 3,250 meters.
According to the announcement the well also holds potential for more oil that will be established once the planned testing to determine the exact amounts of oil in the well is complete. The tests are scheduled to take place in the next two months.
The British oil firm announced that the Twiga South-1 exploration well has encountered 30 meters of neat oil pay with further potential to be assessed on test. A series of flow tests will now be conducted on the well over the 4-8 weeks’” read Tullow’s statement in part.
While making the announcement, the company also said that it will be going back to its first well,Ngamia-1 located on Block 10818 in Turkana County where it made its first discovery in March this year, f to carry out tests in order to establish the quantities of deposits at the well.
Drilling at the Ngamia-1 well was suspended mid this year following what the oil exploration firm Tullow PLC termed as an encounter with an unexpected rock, structure that prevented further drilling at the well.
At the time of the suspension, Tullow announced that it had encountered 143 meters of net oil pay at the well with data indicating that the well could be holding more potential should it b dug to the full depth.
So far Tullow Oil Plc has drilled three wells in Kenya including the Paipai well located on Block 10A whose results are expected by the end of the year. Of the three, two have ended up in discovery.
Since the March announcement that Kenya had struck oil, the country’s oil exploration space have generated interest from leading international oil exploration firms with the data from the Ministry of Energy showing that all the 47 blocks have already been licensed to the various exploration companies.
The demand for licenses to explore in the local oil blocks has also been accelerated by the announcement of a discovery of natural gas in Block 1.8 in Lamu Basin by Apache Corporation which operates the block jointly with Origin Energy Pan-continental Oil and Gas and Tullow Kenya B.V.
However, in just 24 hours after making the announcement, Apache Corp came under the spotlight following what the Energy Ministry termed as malpractice in making its discovery public by the failure to adequately brief the government of the natural gas find before making the announcement.
The announcement by Tullow earlier this week now placed Kenya closer to becoming an oil producing nation which is hoped to provide great relief to the strained current a count and ease fuel-based inflation that has thrived as a result of a huge oil import bill.
Meanwhile newspaper reports emerging from the Ugandan capital, Kampala say the future of Tullow Oil Plc in Uganda still hangs in the balance, as the Irish Oil prospecting firm is reported widely to be temporarily frustrated by the lack of progress on arriving at “a final investment decision” about whether to build an oil pipeline or a refinery.
As senior company official was last week quoted by the newspaper as saying “ Our program for appraisals is complete and the development mean we either pump crude oil or refine it, so there is currently not much work in the field.”
Despite the company’s overall spokesman George Casenove stating in an e-mail response that “Tullow is not planning to exit Uganda and has stated repeatedly that it is committed to Uganda for the longer term,” several well placed sources in the oil industry say the lack of movement on the issue is causing the company to internally consider its exit options, reported the influential Nairobi based weekly publication, the EASTAFRICAN.
‘This is informed by the protracted nature of the disagreement between the oil companies and the government of Uganda on whether crude of refined products are the best way to commercialise oil production in Uganda”, the paper adds.
“Unlike the two other oil companies in Uganda-France’s total and China’s CNOOC, both giants - Tullow does not have the financial resources to play out a prolonged waiting game. According to its interim management statement released on November 14, Tullow says together with its partners, it has presented ‘a joint development plan” to President Museveni. This plan was presented in July, almost four months ago. This plan emphasizes a crude-pipeline option while the Ugandan government prefers a medium sized refinery to begin with..
Consequently, no tangible agreement has been reached ‘We can’t agree on anything,” a senior official of Tullow Oil who requested for his anonymity said.
Other sources the Ugandan capital is a buzz with the word that the industry players have put together a rebuttal of the official document that the Uganda government is relying on in pursuing its refinery option.
Ends
South Sudan bid to join the regional trading bloc is to be deliberated upon in Nairobi by regional leaders late this month
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
The Africa’s newest independence state of South Sudan’s bid to join the regional trading bloc will feature prominently at this year’s final East African Community Council of Minister meeting that kicks off in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi from November 19 - to 24.
The decision the Council of Ministers make will then be presented to the Heads of State Summit slated for November 28 in the same venue.
During the last extraordinary summit held in Tanzania in April, the heads of state directed the Council of Ministers to come up with a verification report by November regarding South Sudan request to join the regional bloc.
The presidents had expressed concern about the then conflict between the newly independent South Sudan and its former rule from the north, the Sudan, and urged leaders of the two countries to return to the negotiating table for a peaceful resolution.
According to an article, which is appearing in the current issue of the influential weekly, the EASTAFRICAN, Tanzania is expected to give its final decision on the admissibility of South Sudan to the EAC following its request in the last Council of Ministers held in Bujumbura in August, that it needed more time for consultation.
Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya gave their consent based on the EAC Verification Committee Report presented to them earlier.
Among the issues that guided their decision are that south Sudan had established mechanisms for ratifications, the and access to international treaties, the country had acceded to UN and AU charters, it had also has been admitted to several regional and international organizations such as IGAD, Nile Basin Initiative and UNESCO.
The heads of states will also be required to make a decision on the jurisdiction 0f the E.A Court of Justice to cover, among others crimes against humanity.
The E.AC J’s extension of jurisdiction came up following pressure piled on Kenya early in the year not to allow four of its citizens facing charges for crimes against humanity to be tried before the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
The heads of states then ordered that the treaty establishing the E.A.J be amended an d that EAC Council of Ministers considers the matter and present the report at the Summit.
They will also be required to make a final ruling on proposals to setup a single customs territory in the region, a common external tariff structure and rules at origin in the community.
Also other related reports originating from the EAC secretariat in Arusha says that Tanzania face regional protest over its proposal to amend the East African Community Treaty. The member state is seeking to overhaul the regional body’s lawmaking process.
The Tanzanian government has been pushing to broaden the role of the EAC Council of Ministers as representatives of partner states in the Community’s legislative process.It also wants the provision that empowers the Council to initiate and submit Bills to the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA] amended.
Tanzania wants the Council to be allowed to approve Bills together with EALA. The proposed amendments first moved in January, have sharply divided an EAC member state which further complicates the region’s integration process.
The Tanzanian government also wants the Council a role created in the regional law-making process for national parliaments. This change would see a Bill introduced to EALA also sent clerks to the national assemblies of partner states for deliberations. The national assemblies shall within a period of three months provide their comments through the clerk, who will then table them before EALA and the Council of Ministers for consideration.
Sources in Arusha say Tanzania’s contentious proposal have divided the partner states into three groups; Rwanda and Burundi are against the proposal, Uganda is partly in support of the move, while Kenya has been silent on the matter.
Rwanda’s Minister for EAC Affairs Monica Mukuruliza said her country does not support Tanzania’s proposals.He Tanzanian counter-part Samuel Sitta defended the proposal, arguing that they would provide for a more workable mechanism where the process of initialing private members Bill becomes more consultative.
”Our idea is not to trim the powers of EALA as is widely misunderstood, but rather to make the process of initialing Bills more consultative would, which would minimize the number of Bills not being assented by E.A.C heads of states,’’ said Minister Sitta.
Critics say Tanzania proposal could cripple the separation of powers among EAC organs. ”The proposals, if passed, would defeat the very proposals of having, EALA as a regional lawmaking body as it would basically become a rubber stamp for the Council’s decisions.” The bid as a direct assault on EALA’s only arena of original and exclusive jurisdiction.
The proposed amendments have prompted EALA to pass a resolution asking EAC member states to reject Tanzania’s proposals. Such a move would fetter the independence of the assembly and in effect sends a negative signal to the community,”said EALA to pass from Rwanda Patricia Hajabakiga.
Ganda said national assemblies should not be involved in the EAC legislative e process.
Ends
TO DEMONSTRATE ITS TOTAL COMMITMENT TO THE REGIONAL COOPERATION TANZANIA HAS ESTABLISHED THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY DESKS IN ALL KEY GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
In order to demonstrate its total commitment to the regional economic cooperation, the Tanzania government has established an East African Community desk in all its 142 outlaying administrative districts across the country to inform its citizens on the existing opportunities in the regional bloc.
According to information emerging from Arusha based secretariat of the EAC, the desks will be manned by state officers an will have sufficient information about trade and investment, policies, immigration, taxation and regulatory frameworks I each of the five member country.
The Tanzanian Minister or the East African Community Affairs Samuel Sitta, the decision the decision was taken after the government learnt that the majority of citizens know very little about the bloc.
‘Each local council will have an EAC desk manned by competent people with crucial information on new developments in the regional bloc,” Minister Sitta said when this when met with member of the East African Business Community and local leaders at Halili border town last week.
The Minister said the campaign would be implemented by the government in collaboration with Trade Mark East Africa [TMEA} a non-profit making organization.
He explained that each desk officer will have a lap-top with all the necessary information that will meet the demand of opportunity seekers and queries by member of the public on various aspects of EAC integration including education and banks.
“The desks will also have newsletters, brochures and other documents with vital information about the operations and functions of the EAC,’ he said.
Lack of information on available business opportunity in the region has seen farmers incur loses on gains, which could have been sold in countries experiencing food deficit.
‘Farmers in the Southern Highland regions of Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, Ruvuma and Rukwa often produce surplus food that could be sold to the EAC member countries, some o which are experiencing perennial acute shortage of food gains,” said the Minister.
He added, ” Very few Tanzanians know about the EAC and its potential for doing business’, lamented Allan Nswila at a consultant at a forum organized recently in Arusha by the business community.
It was noted that cross border traders consult the East African Business Council on opportunity in the region.
Sitta met with Kenyan counterpart Musa Sirma in Taveta Town which stands on the bored to Kenya and Tanzania to address the traders on trade barriers between the two the countries.
The Tanzanian Minister and his Kenyan colleague also discussed how to implement the Common Market Protocol and fast track the movement of goods,
ends
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