Category Archives: East African Community News

EAC: The anti-islamist militia war in Somalia and Khartoum’s application for joining the Eac are expected to be top of the agenda of the Summit next week

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The war in Somalia and the Sudanese government application to join the East African Community are some of the top agenda to be placed on the table the forthcoming Summit of the Heads of State of the EAC in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The Summit, according to information emerging out of the Community at its headquarters in Arusha, has in its place full of complex issues that will determine the fate of the regional integration process.

The 13th Ordinary Summit is slated for November 2011 under the chairmanship of President Pierre Mkurunziza of Burundi,will be attended by all the regional presidents, and government sources in Nairobi have confirmed that President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya will be in attendance at the summit an take over as the next chairman.

Top among the issues on the agenda are the Somali war, admission of the Sudan to the EAC and the ongoing war against the Islamist Extremists Al-Shabaab militia in Somalia.

Other issues that the sources at Arusha say need the guidance of the Summit are the concerns and challenges of the political federation. Khartoum’s application to the EAC ahead of South Sudan –its arch-rival- is said to have the backing of Rwanda, but faces vehement opposition from Tanzania and Uganda.

Kenya and the current chair Burundi, were reserved during the recent EAC Council of Ministers crucial talks held in Arusha.

Kharoum’s lack of proximity with other EAC member states to allow for sharing of services is one of the factors cited by Tanzania and Uganda.

Kampala has also been uncomfortable with Khartoum over allegations that Sudan hosted the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army {LRA} that waged a two decade insurgency in northern Uganda.

Khartoum’s poor human rights record also featured prominently during the meeting. Others, however, are of the view that Sudan can only join the community after Southern Sudan, which shares borders with Kenya and Uganda.

But President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was of the opinion that a bigger trade bloc offers more opportunities to regional economies.”We should be looking at it positively even though we are aware there are problems associated with this expansion,” President Kagame said at a press briefing recently in Kigali.

Lawyers and members of legal fraternity and Human Rights group Centre, said the head of states must remind themselves about the description the EAC before deciding whether it is rational to accept Khartoum or not.

“If the EAC it is just is just a name, then any country like Germany,. Nigeria Libya or France and even Italy could one day join the community. I really don’t whether EAC would still retain its name and the same meaning,” argues Miriam Matinda a lawyer with the Legal and Human Right Center.

The head of Information and Publicity at the EAC Secretariat Richard Okoth Owora was non-committal whether the green light for the Khartoum’s application to join the bloc was imminent.

The EAC Heads of state will look into the issues of economic sanction against the warmongering Somali politicians

Observers and analysts were however, quick in saying that economic sanction against Somalia are inevitable taking into consideration the recent Al-Shabaab activities inside Kenya.

The continue lack of security in Somalia is a threat to peace and security, EAC Sect oral Council on Cooperation in Dense recently proposed sanctions against all Somali politicians.

“Lack of engagement in the Somali crisis could lead to instability in the whole of East Africa region. Accordingly, there is urgent need to galvanize solidarity and more resource or this cause,” The Sectoral Council report says.

A recent meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Arusha adopted the decision of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defense and forwarded the same to the Heads of state summit for consideration and guidance.

Though both EAC reports are silent on the form of sanctions to be meted out, sources say it will involve travel bans and probably a freeze on financial assets of politicians considered to be obstacles to the Somalia peace process.

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DRC: Letter to DRC President Joseph Kabila From Civil Society Representatives in LRA-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan

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From: Yona F Maro

20 civil society groups in northern Congo, Central African Republic,
and South Sudan write to President Joseph Kabila , calling his
attention to the ongoing atrocities committed by the Lord’s Resistance
Army (LRA) in Haut and Bas Uele districts of northern Congo, and the
neighboring regions of CAR and South Sudan.

This is not a letter from Human Rights Watch, but we believe it is
particularly powerful.

Dear President Joseph Kabila,

We, the civil society representatives of Haut and Bas Uele districts
in northern Democratic Republic of Congo, Western Equatoria State in
South Sudan, and Mbomou and Haut Mbomou prefectures of the Central
African Republic, write to call your attention to the ongoing
atrocities committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Haut and
Bas Uele districts of northern Congo, and the neighboring regions of
CAR and South Sudan.

In northern Congo, we have traversed an incredibly difficult period
since 2008, losing many innocent lives and being forced to flee from
our homes time and again. In total, the LRA has killed more than 2,400
civilians and abducted at least 3,400 others since September 2008.
Most of the victims were Congolese, and the attacks continue. Most
recently, the LRA has attacked the area around Bangadi, in Haut Uele
district, numerous times in the past several weeks, killing and
abducting civilians each time.

As we prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections in Congo,
we urge you to work together with United Nations peacekeepers and
other regional partners to help ensure that voters in northern Congo
are protected on election day and can safely access voting centers,
without the fear of an LRA attack.

We also urge you to recognize the LRA threat publicly and to cooperate
meaningfully with regional and international partners working to end
the LRA problem and protect civilians in our region.

We feel that our own governments have abandoned and forgotten us, and
it only discourages us further when we hear statements from our
elected leaders that the LRA is no longer a threat. In Congo, we were
particularly disheartened when we heard on the radio senior government
and military leaders denying the existence of the LRA – while at the
same time, those of us who live in LRA areas continue to suffer from
the LRA’s attacks.

We urge you to cease politicizing the LRA story and to stop denying
the group’s existence in Congo. Our sole interest is peace. Today, the
LRA is a regional problem and we must search for a regional solution.
Protecting populations in this remote area where the borders of all
three of our countries meet is possible only if the Congolese
government and military acknowledge the LRA threat, engage fully to
end the problem, and cooperate with other partners.

We are also greatly discouraged when soldiers of our own national
armies resort to killing, raping, and looting civilians, and are a
threat to the populations they’re supposed to protect. These abuses
must not be tolerated and those responsible for abuses should be held
to account. At the same time, we have noticed that our soldiers lack
communications equipment, transportation and ammunition. When the LRA
attacks, our soldiers are often forced to flee along with the
population.We urge you to ensure that the Congolese army deploys only
well-trained, well-equipped, and disciplined forces and commanding
officers to protect civilians in the LRA-affected areas.

We welcomed the announcement by the United States government to send
100 well-equipped military advisors to counter the Lord’s Resistance
Army (LRA) menace and help protect civilians, and we hope you will
work with them to ensure a more effective response to the LRA problem.

We can only truly rejoice when the LRA threat is over and when we hear
that Joseph Kony is no longer terrorizing our region. We have suffered
too much and we are tired of living in total insecurity – afraid to go
to our fields to farm and unsure when or where the rebels may surface
again. We don’t know whether our children who were abducted by the LRA
will ever come back home.

Your Excellency, please do what you can to end to these LRA atrocities
and to protect Congolese men, women, and children living in Haut and
Bas Uele districts. Our communities are traumatized, and we have never
before in our region experienced such levels of fear, loss, and
suffering. We want to end the LRA problem so we can finally return to
our normal lives.

Yours sincerely,

1. Association africaine de défense des droits de l’homme
(ASADHO), Kinshasa, RDC
2. Association des victimes de la LRA, Obo, RCA
3. Association Zereda, Obo, RCA
4. Commission Diocésaine pour la Justice et la Paix (CDJP),
Dungu, Haut Uélé, RDC
5. Commission Diocésaine pour la Justice et la Paix (CDJP),
Duru, Haut Uélé, RDC
6. Commission Diocésaine pour la Justice et la Paix (CDJP),
Ngilima, Haut Uélé, RDC
7. Commission Paroissiale pour la Justice et la Paix (CPJP),
Bangadi, RDC
8. Communauté des Églises Évangéliques en Centrafrique (CEEC),
Zemio, RCA
9. ECS Nzara Diocese, Yambio, South Sudan
10. Justice and Peace Commission, Catholic Diocese of Tombura-
Yambio, South Sudan
11. Société civile d’Ango (SOCIDA), Bas Uélé, RDC
12. Société civile de Doruma, Haut Uélé, RDC
13. Société civile de Faradje, Haut Uélé, RDC
14. Société civile de la Chefferie Mopoy (SOCICOMO), Banda, Bas
Uélé, RDC
15. Société civile de Poko (SOCIPO), Bas Uélé, RDC
16. Solidarité et Assistance Intégrale aux Personnes Démunies
(SAIPED), Dungu, RDC
17. Traumatisme blessure du Cœur, Zemio, RCA
18. Union des Jeunes de Doruma pour le Loisirs (UJDL), Doruma,
Haut Uélé, RDC
19. Union of Journalists of South Sudan, Yambio, South Sudan
20. Unity Is Strength, Yambio, South Sudan

—
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EAC: Top Kenyan government officialsshrply differed publicly during the debate over the proposed banning of polythene use in EAC partner states

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

Reports emerging from the Northern Tanzanian City of Arushahas revealed how two senior government openly clashed last Friday as they debated whether Kenya should ban the use of polythene materials as is the case in the other East African Community partner states.

The bitter exchange involved the Permanent Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization Karanja Kibicho and his East African Community Kenyan colleague David Nalo.

It says each presented differing views during the public hearing on the EAC Polythene Material Control Bill 2011, which is currently being debated before the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA} in Arusha.

The Bill, which is the brainchild of Patricia Hajabakiga, an EALA member of parliament from Rwanda, seeks to provide a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment by prohibiting the manufacture, sale and importation and use of polythene materials.

The Bill is at the final stage of collecting views at EALA parliament in Arusha. Dr Kibicho said although the Bill means well, it might lead to closure of many firms if it is passed, which might ruin the local economy.”My argument should not be considered to mean I support the use of polythene, but rather my role is to promote industrialization and a law that will stifle industrialization should be reviewed to ensure it does not kill what we already have” ,Kibicho said.

But Kenya’s PS to the EAC David Nalo said the manufacturing sector has needless fear since the Bill only seeks to regulate the use of polythene and not plastics.

“Out of the numerous meetings I have chaired, the position of the Kenya government is that the Bill was not found to be against the EAC Treaty or Kenya’s Constitution. The Bill is not about plastics, which most of the manufacturers in Kenya are involved in, but rather the menace caused by polythene on the environment,” PS Nalo said.

However, the Bill is vehemently opposed by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers{KAM} whose stand is against the enactment of the Bill is its current form, saying it will affect more than 5,000 people in employment and affect tax remittance to the tune of Kshs 1.5 billion per year.

“Businesses in Kenya stand to lose investment worth over Kshs 43 billion if a Bill seeking to ban use of polythene material in the EAC is passed,” said betty Maina the KAM’s CEO.

Ms Maina said the Bill should be reviewed to ensure production of polythene material is not banned. Instead, EALA legislators should focus the Bill on encouraging correct consumer behavior since recycled plastic has many uses, including construction of roads and making of bottle tops.

“The Bill does not propose economically viable alternatives to the use of polythene packaging. It is naive to ban a useful product on basis of pollution, rather than regulate consumer behavior and conduct as is in the case of advanced economies such a the UK,”Ms Maina said.

But the mover of the motion, EALA’s Rwanda member Hajabakiga argued that the Bill is about managing waste rather than production of polythene materials.

In Rwanda we have banned the use of plastics and the effects are clear for all to see. Our capital City, Kigali is today one of the cleanest cities in the region partly because of the banning of use of polythene,” Hajabakiga said.

EAC partner states have up to 15th this month to finalize proposals on the Bill.

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EAC COUNTRIES WAIVE WORK PERMIT FEES TO RESIDENTS SEEKING TO WORK AND TO INVEST IN THE MEMBER STATES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Work permit fees for the East African citizens wishing to work or invest in member countries have been waived as required by the East African Community Common Market Protocol on free movement of labor and services in the region.

This is aimed at attracting skilled workers promoting investment, improving tourism and enhancing national security in the region.

According to Kenyan Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’, EAC citizens visiting Kenya will now be allowed to stop for a period of up to six months without restriction from the previous maximum three months they were initially allowed to stay.

“For the Kenyan traveling to the other EAC countries, they can now obtain their travel documents at a fee of USD 4 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Busia, Namanga, Lungalunga, Taveta and at Isebania border posts that are now open for 24hours,”said the Minister.

Only Rwanda and Kenya had a bilateral agreement on free movement of people, where citizens were issued with travel documents for duration of six months while for the other member states travel documents were issued for three months.

The work permit gives the employees the right to residence with members of his family in other country, unless the members are not East African citizens

“We are exploring the possibility of harmonizing of the national identity cards once Uganda and Tanzania starts issuing identity cards for the citizens to move freely across the region,” said the Minister. Only Kenya and Rwanda are currently using machine readable and electronic national identity cards as travel documents and Uganda is joining the two soon.”

The, “third generation” national identity cards and anticipated to be in operation next year will help identify the holder as dual citizens of their home country and of East African. The cards will reduce the clearance time at the borders to a maximum of three minutes.

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AFRICA: TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED FEARS THAT PLANS TO MERGE THE THREE MAJOR REGIONAL TRADING BLOCS IN EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA MAY RUNS INTO TROUBLE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

TOP government official have expressed fears and concern that plans to merge the three regional economic blocs into one East and Southern Africa bloc in order to establish a Free Trade Area might run into trouble due to logistics and mistrust between the partners.

It has been revealed that officials have warned that the merger plan is unlikely to be achieved in the targeted three years due to overlapping membership among the Southern African Development Community {SADC}.Other blocs in the plan are the East African Community{EAC} and the Common Market for East and Southern African Common Market {Comesa}

The Kenya’s Director of Economic Affairs Richard Sindiga has been quoted extensively by the influential EASTAFRICAN weekly latest edition as attributing mistrust; delays and lack of legal framework from the SADC partners have derailed negotiations on the harmonization process.

The three economic blocs brings together 26 countries with a market close to 600 million people with an estimated gross domestic product{GDP} of USD 624 billion, are pushing for a free trade area..

In June, the blocs agreed on a three phase’s road-map including a preparatory phase of between six months and one year. Phase one which was to start immediately would involve negotiations on the trading of goods and would take and would take place between 24 and 60 months.

The phase two of the agreement would address border-crossing and non-tariff barriers such as imports bans and permits that cuts into competitiveness. The last phase would deal with actual integration.

The EAC has a Customs Union while four out of the five EAC member states of Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda are also members of the Comesa and only Tanzania is a member of SADC. As for Comesa, eight of the members are in SADC.

“This arrangement, according to Richard Sindiga, Kenya Director of economic affairs, is hindering smooth trading within the region as it discourage investors and development partners because they find it cumbersome to deal with different policies governing various regions even when some of the are cross-cutting.”

Government officials are saying that 19 countries are already in a Free Trade Area with similar rules of origin, therefore it means effective negotiations will be between the five countries that are in SADC.

According to Mr Sindiga the main issue being negotiated are harmonization of the imported contents of goods to the more than 60 per cent of the cost, insurance and freight value of the cost of materials used in the production; value addition requirement; and change I tariff classifications.

Comesa and EAC both have similar criteria for export goods approved by the Council of Ministers ,as goods are subjected to 25 per cent value addition in Comesa and 35 per cent in EAC .SADC rules of origins are mostly product specific and change as stipulated in the Protocol.

“Many companies operating in the region finds the threshold of 35 per cent value addition to attain,” said Director Sindiga, adding that up to 20 per cent of member surveyed with the East and Southern African region find the value added origin conferring a criteria a problem.’

“Thus creates an environment if uncertainty and inconvenience for business as it implies rules can change abruptly, an aspect that discourages the smooth flow of trade among the member countries”. Sindiga adds.

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EAC Ministers lift ban on staff recruitment and shelves the environmental Bill

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Reports Leo Odra Omolo

More than 20 new professional staff will be hired by the East African Community at its Arusha-based secretariat after the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA} relaxed its decision not to recruit any more workers issued a year ago.

The freeze on recruitment followed a request by Rwanda and Burundi to be integrated fully by filling employment positions as the other partner states.

The matter has been pending for review by the Council of Ministers, according to a Kenyan Assistant Minister to the EAC Peter Munya, there have been divergent views among the partner states on the way the EAC staff should be appointed.

“Some member states feel it should be on the merit system while other feels we should use the quota system so that each member state is equally represented,” said Munya says both the quota and merit system should be applied for Rwanda and Burundi.

At the same time plans by the EAC partner states to harmonize their environment laws have suffered a setback after Ministers disagreed over a new bill.

The EAC Council of Ministers last week asked the EALA to adjourn debate on the EAC Trans-boundary Ecosystems Management Bill, 2010 to November this year.

On the staff recruitment, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania dominate staff members at EAC since they are the original members of the community.

However, EAC Deputy Secretary General {Finance} Dr Julius Rotich, said of the 21 vacant positions advertised to be filled by Burundi and Rwanda in 2007/2008, only one-principal transport economist-was not filled as there was no specialist from the two countries.

“This was the Council of Ministers decision as a way of integrating them into the EAC as both countries were still new in the bloc,” said Dr Rotich.

Rwanda’s East African Community Minister Monique Mukaruliza said that the adoption of a quota system to recruit staff for the bloc is crucial and beneficial to all member states.”We have not had an appropriate mechanism of recruiting people to work at the EAC, if the quota system is adopted, the recruitment of staff will be fair to all partner states as part the EAC treaty, she said.

Under the quota system, recruitment of staff is based on the principle of equity and gender balance without compromising merit.

The EAC secretariat, according to reports, recently undertook a comparative survey of staff recruitment including the Common Market for Eastern Africa and Southern African Development Community and the Economic Community of West African States to assess the use of the quota system and identify what is applicable in the region.

The coordinating Committee of Permanent Secretary recommended that the quota system be adopted.

As far as the environmental bill is concerned, EAC nations are in the league of countries that are headed for an environmental implosion caused by pollution, environmentalists and policy makers said.

The take-up of electronic gadgetry, for example, is rising quickly among the EAC population without proper mechanism to dispose of obsolete devices, posing a challenge for policymakers to devise a common environmental law.

The chairperson of the Council of Ministers Hafsa Mossi said placing transboundary ecosystems under the management of the EAC the Bill goes against the Common Market Protocol that has placed land as a resource under individual partner states control.

“There are mixed composition in the Bill that are likely to give rise to conflicts of interests and lack of consensus in decision making, much as the Community is people centered and private sector driven,” noted Ms Mossi The minister feels they need at least a month to review the Bill and analyze critical issues that arose from it.

Kenya’s Assistant Minister to the EAC Peter Munya, the Bills fail to define a clear mandate between the existing institutions notably the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and the new commission – East African Trans – Boundary Economic Commission-reflected in the Bill.

Munya said that the proposed Bill, which would include the private sector and civil society, was designed to be in a public domain institutions that would be accountable to the Council of Ministers.

The Bill, does not cater for transnational issues that arise when one partner state seeks to engage in a development project on a transboundary project ecosystem which may be considered a threat to the environment by a neighboring partner,” he said., Hafsa Mossi of the EAC Council of Minister said.

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EAC forces and US military exerts are conducting joint exercise in Zanzibar in readiness to combat the terrorists threats in the region

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

As precaution step to keep the terrorists infiltration on check, member states of the East African Community in collaboration with the American military experts launched a joint exercises in Zanzibar,Tanzania.

The joint exercise which was launched last Friday comes in the wake of complex that facing the region, including terrorism, piracy and natural disasters and calamities.

The East African Community may have a fundamentally development vision, it is a fact, however, that peace and security are the prerequisite for social and economic development, Tanzania’s deputy secretary general {Planning and Infrastructure}Dr Enos Bukuku said during the launching of the exercise ceremony held at Chukweni Military Center in the northern town of Arusha.

The official noted that various threats facing East Africa, the partner states have a collective responsibility to ensure the region is secure.

Also involved in the joint military exercise code named ”Natural Fire 11”,which brought together more than 300 personnel from the region, are officers the United States Africa Command {USAFRCOME} ,whose head of contingent, Brigadier General James Owns, emphasized the need to have a more stable and secure East Africa.

“This collaboration between the EAC defense forces and the US is another positive step towards a more stable and secure region. Let us ensure that what is gained here will have a lasting impact on the ability of our militaries to respond to complex challenges we face today and in the future,’ he implored in a speech made available to the newsmen.

Tanzania’s Minister for Defense and National Service Dr Hussein Mwinyi flagged of the command post exercise, hailing the EAC partner states continued cooperation in defense.

Dr Mwinyi also called for the speedy creation of a framework for cooperating with partners such as USAFRICOM.

“Peace, security and stability are the lynchpins for accelerating socio-economic development,” Dr Mwinyi asserted, adding;”It is this regard that the EAC partner states recognized that collective defense enhance regional peace and security.”

The Minister heaped a lot of praise to the US government calling it “ a good friend and strategic partner.”,

However, the Minister stressed that any assistance should complement EAC efforts, adding that defense cooperation with the bloc’s partners needs to be clearly structured.

The joint military exercise sees to develop the capability of EAC defense forces to respond quickly and efficiently to complex security challenges.

The exercise aims to enhance cooperation between the defense forces, civil authorities and international organizations.

The Zanzibar will focus on peace support operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, counter terrorism and counter piracy. It ends on Wednesday this week.

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EAC: EALA MPS will soon be directly elected by the voters in their respective counties before being sent to the EAC

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

It was revealed during the just conclude two days conference attended by delegates representing political parties in the East African Community’s partner states that a recommendation that the EALA MPs should be directly by the voters in their respective countries.

Kenya’s Assistant Minister for the East African Community Affairs Peter Munya disclosed during the press briefing that members of the East African Legislative Assembly will soon be directly elected if a proposal to amend the EAC Treaty is adopted.

A major recommendation that has been made to make the EAC stronger is to have its legislators at the EALA elected by the people in their respective countries.

“This will not only take us close to the political federation, but will also create legitimacy. It will allow the people to own the regional integration process as opposed to the current situation where political parties nominate the EALA MPs. The political parties based on their majority representation I their respective Parliament nominates and appoints the EALA MPs.

Earlier in his address the Prime Minister Raila Odinga had urged the delegates representing political parties in Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda to promote regional integration.

Odinga who is also the party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement also asked political parties to form regional units based on ideologies rather than personality based outfits.

The PM emphasized the need for political parties to capture in their manifestos the regional integration agenda.

“We must work together towards the collaborations across the national boundaries to realize our objectives.”No nation let alone any political party is an island in today’s global world,” said the PM.

He told the political parties in the region said to be numbering about 158 registered within the EAC member states that they must embrace the regional integration process. And at the same time they must uphold democratic principles.

Odinga blamed the founding fathers of African independence of failing for failing to uphold democratic principles that the constitutions provided.

“After independence the founding fathers of African independence began arguing that multipartyism – the West Minster style was an alien to African tradition. The EAC states, he added, now had the opportunity to reverse the trend of authoritarianism in a bid to lit their citizens out of abject poverty.

“Just as the EAC must embrace political parties, so must political parties must embrace the integration process.”

The East African Legislative Assembly sits in Arusha, Tanzania which is also the host of the EAC ‘s secretariat.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of fast tracking of the political federation Ms Beatrice Kiraso said bringing together of political parties from the EAC partner states is one step of attaining a common stand on issues affecting the regional integration process.

“The matter has come up a number of times and we hope the treaty will be amended to accommodate it,” said Ms Kiraso .

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Kenya & Uganda: Investigate without peril: How to support investigative journalism in East Africa?

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from Yona Maro

Investigative journalism distinguishes itself from regular journalism by its depth and subject matter, often involving crime, political corruption or corporate wrongdoing. It can play an essential role in a country’s governance by keeping corporations and government accountable. However, the political and economic environment in some regions of the world present specific challenges for investigative journalists: countries that score low on governance and transparency present particular risks and underline the need to build investigative journalism capacity. This Brief analyses the obstacles to investigative journalism in the East African region, focusing on Kenya and Uganda, and discusses what can be done to help address these barriers.
http://www.cmi.no/publications/file/4125-investigate-without-peril.pdf
—
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http://worldngojobs.blogspot.com/ Nafasi za Kazi Kimataifa

East African Countries are sceptical about rushing to recognize new Libya rulers

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

EAST African Countries have adopted conflicting positions on the developments in Libya with some still reluctant an refusing to recognize the ruling National Transitional Council [NTC}.

While Kenya and Tanzania have declined to recognize the Transitional Council, Rwanda has given it full support.

In Kenya where the regime of the ousted Col Muamor El-Gadhafi has massive investment in hotels, oil already retailing firm, opinion seems divided over whether to recognize the NTC or not.

Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Mwangi Thuita was last week quoted as arguing that the NTC by its name is transitional, and as a matter of policy Kenyan does not recognize regime but states.

But the immediate former Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. George Saitoti recently stated that Kenya was willing to work with the NTC to stabilize the North African country.

Earlier Prime Minister Raila Odinga had urged the deposed Libyan leader Muamor Gadhafi to surrender power unconditionally..

Libya owns a good number of businesses worth billions of dollar in Kenya, including petroleum company Oilibya and the prestigious Laico Regency Hotel.

It is not only Kenya in a delaying but also neighboring Uganda, where Gadhafi invested heavily including building a chain of modern Muslim Mosques all over the country.

The Libya Arab Foreign Investment Company own a 49 per cent stake in the Uganda National Housing and construction Company, 69 per cent in Uganda Teleco Ltd and 99 per cent in Tropical Bank.

S far, Kampala has taken no position on Libya, though prior to the revolt in that country which began in February this year diplomatic relations between Gadhafi and President Yoweri Museveni had gone sour. This followed complaint rose by Ugandan government that Libya was encouraging traditional monarchs and traditional rulers as opposed the Uganda national policy. Gadhafi had even made an attempt of calling for a meeting of the traditional rulers from all over Africa for a meeting in Kampala without prior knowledge of the government.

Tanzania on its part has followed the African Union script, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Coopertion Benard Membe maintaining that Tanzania would recognize the group only once it formally formed a government.

Rwanda has, however, pledged unequivocal support for the NTC with Prime Minister Benard Makoza calling for the establishment of an exclusive and democratic government in Libya.It has also urged AU to play a much more proactive role in a democratic and peaceful transition in Libya.

It has been all quiet on the sides of the Burundi another member of the East African Community.

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Kenya: WHO WILL SAVE OUR CHILDREN FROM SINS OF THE FLESH AND DRUG ABUSE?

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Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News
from ouko joachim omolo

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAKURU-KENYA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
NAKURU WORKSHOP TAKE-4

Rev Fr Richard Quinn, MM, Blessed John Paul II Evangelizing Parish Teams Spiritual Director is hosting more than fifty participants in a workshop which begins today through Sunday at Nakuru St Mary’s Catholic Pastoral Center.

The workshop whose aim is to promote and protect African family values will attract married couples, youth, University and College students with Kenyatta University representing the majority.

As Regional News already reported, this year the focus is going to be mainly on our youth and children-how parents, teachers, churches and mentors can assist them maintain and embrace these values-how they can desist from dangers that negate these values among others.

In Europe, US and developed countries the secularism has taken over the family values-that is why they prefer to marry same sex-youths in these countries are confused, they do not know who turn to for help and guidance.

In Spain some Roman Catholic priests are using the youth to protest against Pope Benedict XVI visit-a chemistry student working as a volunteer for the pope’s visit to Madrid was arrested on suspicion of planning a gas attack targeting protesters opposed to the pontiff’s stay.

Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive today for a nearly four-day visit to celebrate World Youth Day. Thousands of protesters railing against his visit marched Wednesday through central Madrid to the central Sol plaza, where they have held months of demonstrations against the government’s anti-austerity policies.

The workshop is coming at the time fear is spreading in Tanzania that some six religious leaders are recruiting youth in drug trafficking deals. According to Inspector General of Police Mr Mwema, legal action awaits the six religious leaders who confessed to being involved in drug trafficking. The clerics made the confession before the Ethics Committee for Religious Leaders and Community Privileges last month.
Mr Mwema according to media report made the remarks in answer to a question by a journalist who sought to know the position of the police on the clerics who have admitted being involved in the trade in illicit drugs and are involving youth. The clerics report says made the surprise confession after they were interrogated by the police, pleading for protection for fear of losing face before their followers.

Existing laws and systems provide for stringent punitive measures against all those involved in illicit drugs, regardless of whether the suspects are religious leaders, journalists, doctors, political party leaders or police officers.

Roman Catholic Cardinal Polycarp Pengo on Sunday demanded that the government name religious leaders it said were involved in drug trafficking, referring to President Jakaya Kikwete’s allegations that some religious leaders were involved in the illicit trade.

President Kikwete who was speaking at the ordination of Mbinga Catholic Bishop John Ndimbo, said some clerics had been involving young Tanzanians in the business, by helping them to acquire passports to facilitate their travels during drugs peddling.

Although this is the third time the cardinal has publicly challenged the authorities to reveal the names of the drug culprits, in 2009 the Vatican removed from office Bishop Jakob Koda of Same Catholic Diocese in Kilimanjaro region for alleged violation of church moral teachings.

While the Vatican did not elaborate on what type of violation of moral teachings of the church, local press reported quoted bishop Koda to have accused another unnamed bishop of engineering his ouster, alleging that he was a Freemason member whose movement is identified with drugs and were involving young people in the deal.

The Vatican Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania Archbishop Joseph Chennoth was quoted to have told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam that Bishop Koda has now been ‘advised to take time for rest, reflection and personal study.

The committee’s Chairman, Rev William Mwamalanga of the Pentecostal Church of Tanzania was reported to have said that the full list includes 18 prominent business people and politicians “but all names will be submitted to the anti-narcotics unit”.

It is easier for young people to peddle on the drugs given that Tanzania is still being used as a transit route for illicit drugs despite the ongoing international campaign to stop the spread of narcotics.

A Kenyan woman has been arrested in Dar es Salaam just few months ago for possession of three kilogrammes of heroin worth millions of shillings. Rebecca Wanjiku, 48 was apprehended at the Ubungo upcountry bus terminal in the city allegedly in the process of trying to transport the narcotics to South Africa.

Last year controversial Jamaican Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal sneaked to Kenya via Tanzania border. It demonstrates how easy it is to pass Tanzanian border without being noticed. Kenyan officials said al-Faisal travelled from Nigeria through Angola, Malawi, Swaziland, Mozambique and Tanzania by road before entering Kenya.

According to a report made available to The Express Newspaper by the International Narcotics Board, illicit drugs for abuse have been passing through Tanzanian entry points unabated. The report said that Tanzania was a good centre for drugs in transit to other African and world countries where consumption is much higher. It said other African nations notable for drug trafficking are Mozambique, Kenya and South Africa.

While delivering homily during the AMECEA meeting in Nairobi, Kenya last month, Cardinal Pengo admitted that devil worship had taken root in the Catholic Church, wondering why this could take place in the holy church of Christ.

When devil worshipping was very rampant in Kenya in the 1990s, it was reported that young people were involved for sexual orgies. The report said they drunk human blood, used sex as spiritual climax. Young people were asked to strip naked at night in dark rooms so that adults could have sexual orgies with them.

The report further alleged that they were introducing the worship in boarding schools where students were promised to be assisted financially if they accepted to join the practice and introduce it to other students.

Daily Nation reported on June 6, 2010 that when Philip Onyancha was a Form One student at Kenyatta Mahiga High School in Nyeri, then President Daniel arap Moi appointed a commission to inquire into devil worship in Kenya.

At that time, the country was throbbing with claims of widespread devil worship with some reports linking the practice to people in high places. The commission headed by Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima, was appointed in March 1995 when Onyancha was in his first term in secondary school. Onyancha claimed to have killed 17 people.

The team had been established to investigate whether there were devil worship cults in Kenya and whether they were linked to drug abuse and other anti-social activities. The report was not made public until 1999 when the Nation published parts of the findings that had been selectively released to religious organizations.

“Devil worshippers are usually wealthy and prominent people who drive expensive cars. Some of them own large commercial enterprises,” the report claimed in parts.
The report said devil worshippers use their wealth to attract new members and gave graphic details of initiation rites including eating human flesh and licking blood.

In the case of Onyancha, his former teachers at Kenyatta Mahiga said he was a bright student for the first two years, but his performance declined in the final two. It is not clear if the school made any effort to investigate the cause. The report said some satanists had even infiltrated the Kenya Students Christian Fellowship to recruit members.

Some of the devil worship rituals in the commission’s report include: human sacrifice, drinking human blood, eating human flesh, nudity of the participants in the ritual, incantations in unintelligible language, sexual abuse, especially of children; black magic, narcotic drugs and presence of snakes. Body parts such as tongues, eyes and limbs are also used in the rituals.

In Tanzania 25 people with albinism have been reportedly murdered since March. Albinos are targeted for body parts that are used in witchcraft. The latest victim was a seven-month-old baby. He was mutilated on the orders of a witchdoctor peddling the belief that potions made from an albino’s legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person rich. There are estimated to be about 17,000 albino people living in Tanzania. They lack pigment in their skin and appear pale.

It is very unfortunate that all the abuses are targeted on youth and children. Today for example, the sex abuse cases which were initially a problem only for national bishops’ conferences, particularly in the United States, Ireland and Germany, have merged into a crisis for the entire Catholic Church, Africa included.
People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
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Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

RUMOURS AND MYTHS OF LAND GRABBING IN EASTERN AFRICA

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from ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011

You wonder why for example, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda could just give away Mabira forest for foreign private investors when he knows very well that it is a rain forest, even after he was advised not to give-away the forest land as he would be acting against Article 237(2) of the Constitution and Section 44(1) of the Land Act cap. 227.

Not only that, Mr Museveni knows very well that Mabira was gazetted as a Central Forest Reserve under legal notice No. 87 of 1932 as an area of 29,592 hectares and that in legal notice No. 41 of 1948, the forest reserve was re-gazetted, expanding to an area of 30,003 hectares.

All the same Museveni has justified the sale of forests, saying it opens more land for industrialisation, despite the fact that Environmentalists and the local people have protested the proposal to give the foreigner investor, Mehta Group 5,000 hectares of Mabira forest to cultivate sugarcane.

You also wonder why retired Presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former prime ministers Frederick Sumaye and John Malecela, ex-CCM secretary general Philip Mangula and former cabinet minister Iddi Simba could just wake up one morning and make people landless by grabbing their lands.

This brings us to the big question as to why many foreign investors target Africa. A friend of mine told me the other day that Africa is being targeted because ‘African farmland prices are the lowest in the world’ and ‘it is the last frontier’. That is why many African leaders, and foreign investors, peddle the myth that there is a vast amount of vacant, unused land, owned by no one – and hence available to outsiders.

As Tanzanian shadow minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Ms Halima Mdee (Kawe-Chadema), warns, that unless the government controlled the allocation of vast tracts of land to a few powerful individuals, it was creating a “ticking time bomb.”

Land disputes between investors and wananchi may she warns may cause bloodletting. Politicians had acquired big chunks of land that was earmarked for Wami villagers in Morogoro Region with former presidents Mwinyi acquiring 2,000 hectares and Mkapa 1,000 hectares, Mr Sumaye has 500 hectares, former cabinet minister Hassan Ngwilizi, who is now Mlalo MP (CCM) 100 hectares, Mr Malecela 100 and Mr Mangula 2,000 hectares.

Surprisingly all these hectares of land had not yet been developed except 1,000 hectares belonging to Mr Mkapa. According to the shadow minister,14,437 hectares of paddy fields at Mbarali and 18,425 paddy farms at Kapunga in Mbeya, which catered for 30,000 villagers from 10 villages had been allocated to a businessman and a CCM member.

The minister who tabled the motion in the parliament recently said the government dubiously allocated the paddy fields to Mbeya CCM chairman Nawab Mulla and businessman Jeetu Patel also known as Jayantkumar Chandubhai Patel. She said they acquired the land at giveaway prices.

Others include two companies — Agrisoil Energy and Serengeti Advisors Ltd — owned by Mr Iddi Simba, a former minister for Industry and Trade, acquired a 99-year-lease for 80,317 hectares at Lugufu and 219,800 hectares at Mishamo in Rukwa Region and Coast and Mara regions where the government has allocated big chunks of land to politicians, businessmen and investors as.

It is not only that, the Village Land Act No 5 of 1999 had to be amended to allow investors and developers to directly negotiate with farmers or villagers in acquiring any plot according to a senior official of ActionAid Tanzania.

Under the village Land Act there are provisions that empower the President to declare and transfer village land to reserved land. This may happen as a result of advice that the President may receive from Local Government Authority in that particular area.

In Kenya, Ugandans living on the Migingo Islands are in panic following a heavy deployment of Kenyan administration officers near a contested island. Kenya sent over 50 officers on Monday to the island ready for war should Museveni insist of taking away the Island.

But why did President Kibaki take that long to claim back the Island? While details have emerged that despite Uganda President Yoweri Museveni’s feigning ignorance about the dispute, the combined force of Uganda Peoples Defence Air Force (UPDAF), Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) marines, and police involved had his full backing, rumour has it that Kibaku gave the Island as a token after Museveni had helped him with soldiers to shoot Raila’s supporters in Nyanza during the post election violence.

It is also rumoured that Uganda, which caught Kenya off-guard over the Migingo saga, is now keen on “reclaiming” the island by intercepting any Kenyan military activity near the island. That is probably why Kenya has decided to send its troop should Museveni’s uniform men and women attack Kenyan fishermen.

In a confidential memo availed to the press and written by the Ugandan Inspector-General of Police Edward Kale Kayihura, a copy of which was in their possession, the Ugandan Government claims that Kenya had initially agreed that Migingo was Ugandan territory. This confirms the rumour that it was given as a token.

While the two governments agreed that the current status of the island, namely that it is Ugandan territory according to the memo be maintained, according to media report it is on this premise that Migingo was in Uganda that Museveni launched the February 20 rapid assault to “reclaim” it from Kenya Administration Police “aggressors” on sovereign Ugandan territory.

Some Kenyans have even expressed fear that Museveni, like Amin, could lay claim to Kenya up to Naivasha with his recently acquired air power. Just like Kibaki has been silence over Migingo dispute for long, some of these Kenyans think there is anything much Kibaki could do about it if Museveni decides to take up to Naivasha.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
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omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

eac leaders in talks to focus on energy shortage, air, roads and water transport system for the future

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

ENERGY shortage and poor road, air and water transport will be the key agenda at a crucial East African Community meeting schedule for next month.

The EAC 4th development strategy meeting will also discuss food shortage agriculture, industry, manufacturing and tourism.

A draft, seen as the most ambitious of all plans by the bloc also aims to transform the master plans I key productive areas in action.

Information emerging from the Arusha based secretariat of the EAC says the Secretary General Dr Richard Sezibera while addressing Minister for the Community affairs from the five member state last week disclosed that the would place major focus on the development of Lake Victoria basin as well as rich farmland and fishing shores of Lake Tanganyika.

“The successful implementation of the strategy {2011-2016} shall stimulate investments, promote employment and growth and, on the whole lead to increased diversification and major transformation of the region’s economy,” Dr Sezibera pointed out.

The last week meeting considered he progress made by the regional bloc in the statistics sector to facilitate planning and decision making. It was decided that from now on, the region should consider observing the Africa Statistics Day on November 18 of every year.

The Community ministers further noted that progress was being made on the establishment and maintenance of a web-based statistics database and the program on harmonization of statistics in priority areas.

Addressing, the meeting which was held at the Arusha International Conference Center {AICC}, chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers Ms Hafsa Mossi decried the slow pace of integration.

“We must own up to the fact that our region is not yet cohesive for integrative enough”

Ms Mossi who is Burundi’s Minister for the EAC Affairs, said despite indicators of stable economic growth, the Eastern African region was still riddled with serious problems, citing the raging famine in Kenya and the horn of Africa, the problems of piracy in the Indian Ocean, the terrorist infiltration and threats posed by Somalia and the “energy deficit, which has intensified”.

The Minister went on” It is in times of crisis that regional integration is best tested and it is in the ways and means by which we stand together and forestall or roll back such crises that we should give true meaning and justification of belonging together in a regional bloc.” He said.

Ends

EAC: Fear of losing sovereignty by EAC member countries is what is derailing the creation of an East African political federation

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

ALTHOUGH member countries of the East African Community celebrate the first anniversary of the Common Market, fresh fears have emerged that have threatened to delay the integration process.

A report by a team of experts hired by the EAC to track the emerging challenges particularly seem to point an accusing fingers at Tanzania for her “slowness “in conforming to the ideals of the integration agenda.

According to a report, negative sentiments used loosely against others have negatively impacted on the environment for integration agenda.

Tanzanians, for instances are concern for what they see as aggressive nature of their neighbors, especially Kenyans” the report reads if part. Burundi has complained that Tanzanians only pay lip service to the promise of liberalizing the movement of people across their shared borders.

Tanzanians are also said to be afraid that their country risks being infected with ethnicity problems that characterize politics of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Furthermore, a lack of harmony and a common standard in the education system in the region is seen as predisposing of citizens of some countries to exploitation of regional employment opportunities than their neighbors.

“The fears is particularly of Kenyans and Ugandans over running regional labor market,” the report notes.

“There are also concerns that citizens of some states now dominate the labor market, partly because of an advantage of speaking English. There are also concerns among some Tanzanians that the envisioned political federation will affect their close relationship with the Southern African Development Community {SADC} countries such as Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, and Angola.

As far as the monetary union, the creation of a single currency in the region is raising eye brows.

Experts from Kenya and Uganda have already raised the alert over rushing to a single currency urging the EAC to delay the process,” the report reads.

The two countries fear the legal requirements of a full transfer of monetary sovereignty to the regional level are likely to expose their countries financial sectors to external shocks.

And in as far as the 24-hour border opening program is concerned, fears have emerged about conflicting implementation. For instance, while vehicle crossing from Uganda into Rwanda are now getting cleared within 45 minutes for cargo and 30 minutes for buses, the gains are diminished when the same reach the Burundi border which is still operating a day time crossing regime.

“The community around Kenya-Tanzania and Tanzania-Burundi border felt that their freedom of movement and trade rights under the customs union is curtailed by partner state officers manning the borders,” the report adds.

Security concerns are also emerging with massive arrival into transit through East Africa nationals of Somalia, DRC Congo and Ethiopia. This has seen an increase in small arms related crimes in the region.

“Fears abound that greater integration may spread the problems originating from these countries of the EAC,’ the report says.

The report further notes that emergence of politically connected gangs such a the outlawed Mungiki and Bagdad Boys known to be operating in Kenya pose a serious to the proposed federation which is projected to be founded on the rule of law.

In addition, poor management of electoral competition in the recent past has dampened the regional stability and democratic consolidation that had started to gain root.

“The impasse among political parties in the run up to 2010 Burundi election and worse post-election violence following the disputed 2007 Kenya election caused some doubt as to whether management of internal electoral competition has reached the level of maturity to allow for region-wide political and electoral competition, “ the report says.

Ends

EAC is working on a unifying constitution to speed up the proposed political federation of East Africa

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

The East African Community secretariat is in the process of drafting a new constitution to guide the roll out of the proposed political federation.

Information emerging from the Arusha based secretariat says the EAC plans to table its recommendations for the proposed constitution at the forthcoming November East African heads of states summit.

“Governments across the region have been slow in setting in motion structures for the political federation,” says the report.

“While we are talking of a political federation in the EAC, we are bushy fighting on ethnic ground in our countries,” a Kenyan outspoken MP Martha Karua told members of the East African Legislative Assembly during their just concluded symposium held in Arusha two weeks ago.

The Kenya legislator added,” There are fears that will spill into region thereby slowing the integration process.”

The drafting new constitution for the proposed federation is expected o start once the East African Monetary Union protocol is signed and ratified by all the member countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

“National political parties are also said to be mum over political integration. look at their manifestos, there is nowhere were they mention political integration,” said Ms Beatrice Kiraso,th EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of the back tracking political federation at the EAC headquarters.

She added that a genuine political federation cannot run along side with five different constitutions.”

It has also been reported that the EAC has adopted a draft protocol or good governance seeking to push for democratic elections and peaceful transitions potentially saving the region from recurring political instability.

The five countries have agreed to put in place mechanisms for the appointment of electoral management team to curb rising allegations of bungled elections.

Recent elections, for example in Kenya and Uganda, were marred by the allegations of partisan electoral commissions.

If passed by the East African Legislative Assembly, the draft sanctions regional citizens to question the manner I which each person are appointed.

All member states will also be required to establish adequate legal and institutional framework in finance management system to combat corruption across the region.

In the year 2010, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission said it was handling cases worth USD 0.3 billions lost through graft annually highlighting the uphill task it faces in holding to account more involve in graft. The stolen money was estimated to be able to run parliament, the education and medical services ministries for a year, excluding the hundreds of millions spent on investigations by the anti-corruption commission.

Uganda had set aside a budget of USD 120 million to fight corruption figure that shot up to more than USD 217 million with the difference ending up in Ministers pockets. Such cases will now be taken and tried at the regional level.

Each country, according to an article appearing I the current edition of the influential weekly, the EASTAFRICAN will now follow uniform mechanisms for appointment of judges to promote a fair justice system across the region, while in earlier cases where presidents would appoint judges.

Kenya has already fallen into line with the public vetting of its current Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and the Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza.

Members agreed to establish regional mechanism for election observers and evaluation when member countries would ply a regional role during elections in the region.

The much flawed elections in Kenya in 2007 was the source mayhem that claimed the lives of close to 1500 people and saw close to 350,000 internally displaced people violently evicted from their homes and thrown into temporary refugee camps in their own country.

The East African Court of Justice will also have a mandate to handle cases related to human rights abuse earlier deferred to the Hague based ICC.

The Deputy Secretary General In Charge f political federation at the Arusha based EAC secretariat Ms Beatrice Kiraso was recently quoted as having urged EAC member countries to finalize the process of extending jurisdictions of the East African Curt of Justice.

“We cannot continue to look to the ICC when we have the EACJ, which can serve as a middle ground between national political judiciary mechanisms and international ones,” Ms Kiraso said during a ministerial meeting in Zanzibar.

Ends

THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBER STATES SET TO ESTABLISH CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE TO TRAIN ITS PERSONNEL IN VARIOUS FIELDS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Member states of the five countries of the East African Community are set to pick centers of excellence to train a pool of human capital to aid I the regional bloc’s integration.

Reports emerging from the Arusha based secretariat of the community disclosed the proposed centers will focus on training human capital in several fields across the region.

The exercise is set to rekindle memories of the old days when Makerere University, University of Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam University were still constituent colleges of the then University of East Africa.

The system that was so vibrant in the 1960 and 1970s saw most engineers in the region trained in Nairobi, lawyers in Dar Es Salaam and doctors at Makerere in Kampala.

The report says that Ms Immaculate Mpemberane from Burundi, led a team of five regional assessors drawn from each of the five EAC states on an evidence based assessment exercise to establish whether the institutions that applied to be considered meet the required threshold.

“A candidate institution must have proper infrastructure and adequate staffing levels among other things to qualify, according to the Principal Officer in the Ugandan Ministry of Eat African Affairs Salvadore Amutenda said “The proposed centers of excellence are necessary because the community cannot fund all institutions in the region to meet the required regional standards of personnel needs.@ she said adding, the team would present a report of their findings to the East African Community Sectoral Council of ministers of Education that would then make a final decision.

From Uganda, Makerere University College of Agricultural and Enviromental Sciences,National Agricultural Research Organization,Uganda Industrial Research Institute and Nakawa Vocational Training Institute were shortlisted for assessment.

In Kenya, University of Nairobi’s College of Health Science, Kenya Institute of Education, Kenya Marine and fisheries research Institute, Bomas of Kenya and Rift Valley Institute of Technology were shortlisted.

In Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam marine Institute in Zanzibar,Taasisi ya Sanaa na Utamaduni-Bagamoyo, Dr Es Salaam Marine Institute, Mwaka Wildlife Unstitute and Moshi University Collage of Cooperative and Business Studies were short-listed. While Rwanda had Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Tumba College of Technology, Institute of Scietific and Technological Research, Rwanda National Examination Council and Rwanda Museum, Heritage and Cultural Center. However assessors opinion was tat Mwaka Wildlife Institute ,Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies and Rwanda Museum, Heritage and Cultural Center, were not assessed due to time and financial constraints, says Amatenda, adding that selection exercise will occur in phases and institutions that miss out in the first phase will get the opportunity in the subsequent phases.

Ends

Four partner states in the EAC region to relax travelling documents to members of the EAC

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Report By Leo Odera Omolo.

Four partner states o the East African Community have resolved that national identity cards issued to the citizens by member states can now be used officially as the inter-states travelling documents instead of passports.

From now onward citizens of the four countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi can use their national identity cards as the recognized official travelling documents in the region.

Information emerging from the Arusha-based secretariat of the EAC says the four nations are in the process of issuing electronic identity cards that will be used as travelling documents. The EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera made the disclosed of the decision by the four states during an address to the just concluded symposium of the East African Legislative Assembly MPs.

The symposium was held to mark the tenth anniversary of the EALA, the political umbrella of the community.

Among the principal speakers at the workshop was the retired President f Kenya Daniel Arap Moi who urged the partners states to hasten the creation f the pliticalfederati0n so as to harmonize the regional integration The seminar brought together close to 300 experts, professional and academicians from the region who gathered in Arusha to brain storm on several contentious issues affecting Africa’s most vibrant and successful economic bloc.

“I am informed that Kenya is making arrangement to issue the electronic identity cards to its national by September this year, ”said Dr Sezibera, adding Tanzania has n t made the decision yet, but he urged Dar Es Salaam to do so in order to harmonize travelling documents that will enable free movement of people as provided in the Common Market Protocol.

Dr Sezibera also stated that though the East African Passports should be an international travelling document it uses was rather cumbersome for the citizens of the region.

The Secretary-General was responding to the various issues raised by the EAlA MPs during the symposium.

Other requirements for free movement of persons across the EAC border include a single tourism visa.

He speaker f the EALA Abdirahaman Abdi raised the issue passports having to be stamped so many times a s one moves within EAC states occasioning the need to fast-track the issuing of travelling documents acceptable for use in the region.

“People must have travelling documents that will not be stamped at the point of entry or exit,” says the Speaker.

The Common Market is yet o be fully operationalised as some of the requirements are not yet in place. Electron8ic readable cards is one of the documents EAC partners states are required to issue to their citizens to facilitate the four freedom in the region-free movement of people, goods, services and capital.

Meanwhile an expert has advised the EAC partner states that they will have write a constitution to oversee the implementation of the much touted political federation of East African states.

The Deputy Secretary General Ms Beatrice Kirasi one of the brain behind the Community’s successes while addressing the EALS workshop held specifically to disseminate findings of a study conducted on key areas of the federation. She said this was one of the major proposals made by experts to oversee the operation of the regional economic bloc.

“Existing individual EAC states national constitutions have very little regional integration issues.”We have proposed the drafting of an EAC constitution that will have to be negotiated to oversee the political federation after adoption of a monetary union,” she said.

The proposed EAC constitution will accommodate those of the five EAC partner states, she said, adding that a number of constitutional provisions in existing individual EAC member states would be retained under the political federation. Kiraso said that the election of presidents in the EAC member states would be retained under the political federation.

Kiraso said the views recorded during the workshop would be presented to the EAC Heads of state summit to chat the way forward before the end of the year.

Presenting a paper entitled “A comparative Study on the Structure and Functioning of Federation, a Kenyan scholar Prof Tom Ojienda who is also a Commissioner in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission said there are a number of convergences and divergences in the five constitutions of the EAC member states {Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi} that can be harmonized to drive the process.

“The executive, judiciary and legislative framework in the EAC are similar in a number of ways including election of presidents and MPs. However, there is divergence on the terms that the president is expected to serve,”

In the four of the five EAC member states, namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, the constitution allow the president to serve foe two terms or fixed periods. In Uganda the number of terms for the president is unlimited,” he said, adding that this will have o be harmonized in the long run.

A scientist at the Dodoma University and a leading Kenyan scholar Prof Amukwa Anangwe was among hose who presented papers for debate and studies during the workshop. The latter is also a former Cabinet in the Ministry of Health.

Ends

East Africa food crisis: 10 million in danger

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from Yona Maro

Droughts across East Africa have put huge swathes of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopian and Somaliland at the point of collapse, leaving an estimated 10 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid. As rainfall is now less and less predictable and families in the region are seeing their precious livestock perish, their sole meal may be a meagre helping of boiled beans or a soup made from cooking oil. Most days, they will go without.

Sabria (pictured) is 15 and has to stay home from school to help care for her hungry siblings. Her mother told us:
“We go to bed hungry every night. I sing for the small ones, when they are crying, but they always end up crying themselves to sleep. Water has become a problem because it is expensive to fill our jerry cans. We don’t wash anymore. We drink all the water we get, and it is still not enough.”

http://www.actionaid.org.uk/102929/news.html

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East Africa: The testimony of genocide against Luo people of Ethiopia

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From: Judy Miriga

The testimony of genocide against Luo people of Ethiopia

Uploaded by LuoTelevision on Nov 26, 2009

The testimony of massacres against the people of Anyuak: part of a wider extermination policy against defenceless and innocent people. A similar trend is happening in Acholi

The lands on the eastern and southern part of Ethiopia were Luo before the arrival of the Hebrew Solomon (Jerusalem) Crown. The lands are part of Southern Sudan, northern, central and southern Uganda, as well as the lands around the shores of Lake Victoria, all of which made/make up the country and nation known as LUOLAND. What the? people who live in those lands speak is called LUO LANGUAGE and the people are LUO.

olundahh 1 year ago
Evil is in the heart of a man who? diminishes his own humanity through his hatred of others.
throbule 1 year ago
00:18 mele Zenawi = ethiopias prime minister/president.. he is a semitic north ethiopian murderer and a cowards and he is responsible for the genocides of the darker natives like the Anuaks of south ethiopia and? the Ogaden-Somalians of east ethiopia the Somalian Ogaden region and many other ethnic cleansing..
CushiticSomalianMale 1 year ago

Ethiopian Genocide was to eliminate all Anyuak. No selection

Uploaded by Freedom4Anyuak on Mar 17, 2010

Odola Lero is singing about the impact of December 13, 2003 in Anyuak community worldwide. The message is the Anyuak must unite and continue to be united. His powerful messages is to strengthen the community, the families who lost loved ones. Any Anyuak has a role to play by contributing to the well being of our people.

March to Stop Genocide and Dictatorship in Ethiopia/Africa Gaining Momentum

Uploaded by solidaritymovement on Sep 15, 2009

On Sunday, September 13, 2009, many Ethiopians and others gathered in front of the US Capitol building to bring attention to the ongoing genocide and other human rights crimes being perpetrated against the people of Ethiopia by the repressive authoritarian government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The event was a success and we believe it will lead to many new opportunities. One of these will be the possibility of working together in collaboration to map out a strategic plan for the future
It was a historic event in that so many different groups, who have never come together before, were present. The crowd reflected the enthusiasm of this milestone as they came together not only from one group or one ethnicity, but as a mix of many, all with the same goal of bringing about an inclusive civil society in Ethiopia where justice, individual rights, the rule of law and opportunity would be based on being a citizen of Ethiopia rather than on tribalism, cronyism or elitism.

Ethiopian Genocide

Uploaded by AdamWrightHollywood on Jan 19, 2010

About the ethiopian Genocide

Uploader Comments (Freedom4Anyuak)

Freedom4Anyuak
He sing with all his strength and he meant alot for this moment. For sure we the? people need direction and ask where, what and when we shall overcome the odds that lay a head of us.
Dislike•Flag 1 year ago Like•Reply

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die4ethio
Anyuak must unite to build a better Ethiopia. TPLF well be eliminated soon.?
Dislike•Flag 1 week ago Like•Reply

Nykaw1
ANYUAK?
Dislike•Flag 3 months ago Like•Reply

yoniii
@CushiticSomalianMale LOL, desperate Somalis trying to divide us like their own divided war-thorn country… Ethiopia, with it’s federal system, is enjoying more freedom for all of it’s beautiful people than ever before. We are stronger than ever before in history AND Somalilanders and soon Puntlanders will be much more Pro-Ethiopia and against the ARAB-SLAVES South Somalis..
1 LOVE, 1 AFRICA, UNITY AND STRENGTH? is the Future, not your destructive behavior.
Dislike•Flag 8 months ago Like•Reply

manyok99
that’s a good song with meaning behind it even? if I don’t understand Anyuak dialect.keep it up bro.
Dislike•Flag 10 months ago Like•Reply

1993melymely
i wish i could understad what he is saying exactly. it sounds nice?
Dislike•Flag 11 months ago Like•Reply

RIBS29
ANYUAK 4 Reall?
Dislike•Flag 1 year ago Like•Reply

RIBS29
Wawwweee Look This Guy? How he`s act , damma I love tha song , Every day when i
Weak Up I listend this song I don`t know why , i Really i don`t understand what the guy singing But i have a principle Music is an international Language ,,,, By The Way I Love Freedome of ANYUAK
Dislike•Flag 1 year ago Like•Reply

liya2010
i dont? know what you saying, but nice music!
Dislike•Flag 1 year ago Like•Reply 2 people like this

CuteHabeshaGirl
@Freedom4Anyuak I mean if you? can write out the lyrics that would be great (translation). Please include it in the side information box. If this man has a message then we should all understand it. Thank you
Dislike•Flag 1 year ago Like•Reply

TheSurvivors2003
I don’t know when Ethiopia will focus on nation building than nation destruction??? People are suffering and nobody? can deny that so why can the rulers understand that???

Tanzania: Following a visit by Secretary of State Clinton Washington is injecting money into energy and infrastructure projects in Tanzania

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

The recent tour of Tanzania by the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Washington is injecting at least USD 206 million into energy projects in that country that will help boost the country’s power generation.

The money will be used to construct and rehabilitate 24 power sub-stations as will as install a new 100MW sub-marine power cable between the mainland and Zanzibar

The financing is part of deal of a USD 698 million grants extended to Tanzania in 2008 under the Millennium

Challenge Corporation to fund water, energy and infrastructure projects in Tanzania.

During her cent visit to Dar Es Salaam, Clinton said the success of the project will mean Tanzania can cut the present power crisis by over half and boost the country’s economic growth.

“The future of Tanzania depends on the availability of a reliable power service,” she said.

The power shortage has triggered rationing and pushed up the cost of production in the manufacturing sector.

The government plans to spend Tshs 4.7 trillion {USD 2.96 billion under a five year development program that end in 2015 to boost electricity output from 1,000MW to 2,780MW.

An American energy firm Symbion Power LLC will construct a 100MW plant at Ubungo in Dar Es Salaam and another 60MW in the lakeside northwestern City of Mwanza.

The CEO of Symbion Power Paul Hinks was quoted in the local media has government has entrusted his firm with almost USD 100 worth of electrification work across Tanzania.

Energy and Mineral Minister William Ngeleja also disclosed that talks were underway between Pan-African, TANESCO and Petroleum Development Corporation to increase gas supply from 90 million cubic feet to one million cubic feet to meet the rising demand.

“One gas unit produces 15 MW and additional supply from Symbion will step up this to 75MW,”the Minister added.

Symbion Powr management said last week it had signed an interim agreement with Tanesco to sell power to the state-owned utility. The company charges a rate of USD 4.99 per kilowatt hour.

Symbion Power and Pick Electronic Corporation based in Mount Airy, North Carolina, won a contract of USD 110 million and USD 18 million respectively, from the Millennium Challenge and Corporation account to build a sub-station and extend electricity distribution in Tanzania,the us Embassy said in its website.

Early this year Tanzania started the construction and expansion of nearly2,88o kilometers of the national power grid after it acquired USD 65 million from the MCC account.

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