Reports Leo Odera Omolo
The planned political federation of Eastern African countries might be delayed owing to different application of democracy in some member states.
The fears and subsection surfaced this week at the end of the two days ninth extra-ordinary summit of head of states meeting in Dar Es Salaam.
Leaders in the fine East African nations in a stalled regional bloc admitted to broad concerns over the union with Uganda’s current unrest and a monetary union among the sticking points.
The presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi met in Dar Es Salaam on Tuesday to review the status of the East African Community, a regional economic and trade union similar to ones elsewhere in Africa.
The leaders said in a final statement, that the team tasked with finding out what their cities thought about the bloc had “identified fears, concerns and challenges. ”The statement, however, did not elaborate but simply said the team would draw up “concrete proposals on how to address th9se fears, concerns and challenges” before the next summit scheduled for November in Burundi.
A political federation would necessarily mean that members lose some degree of sovereignty and some diplomats worry that constitutional reform, in several countries, notably in Kenya, is complicating moves towards integration.
There are also concerns about the democratic credentials of some of the partners such as Uganda, said Tanzanian opposition leader and top economist Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba.
Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has n recent weeks clamped down on opposition protests tarnishing his democratic image. He has been in the forefront championing the formation of an East African Political Federation with one president, one single currency and shared mineral and other resources. Prof. Lipumba said, ”Our countries should first be democratized adding; “A leader who does not respect the constitution of hid country will not respect the constitution of the East Africa political federation.”
Those back tracking the political federation had set the year 2015 as the deadline for the birth of the much highlighted political federation of East African countries, though experts and political pundits have expressed doubt about the plans viability and political goodwill.
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