The government has said that it is against rushing
into an East African political federation despite pressure from member
states and is calling instead for more efforts to strengthen the
region’s integration pillars.
The pillars for integration of the East African Community states which have been ratified and are under implementation are the Customs Union, Common Market and Monetary Union.
Addressing a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday on the ongoing situation in the region Minister for East African Corporation, Samuel Sitta said: “Tanzania acknowledges the importance of integration; however time is needed to deal with the regional pillars first.”
The minister said the community should work on the shortfalls in its Common Market, Customs Union and subsequently the Monetary Union, before rushing into political federation, if it is keen in ensuring a strong and stable community.
“We have expertise in this field, he said noting: “Experience also shows that countries such as Egypt, Libya and Syria which attempted to rush into the political federation failed to maintain the status amicably.”
According to the minister, section 7 (e) of the EAC treaty mandates two or three member states to apply the so called “variable geometry principle” in regional integration whereby some of the members within the community can move faster than others on some matters.
He expressed disappointment that the three states of Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda hosted meetings for the adoption of the political federation without involving Tanzania or the EAC Secretariat based in Arusha.
“We’re surprised that these countries want the political federation draft be produced by October, 15 this year. They also want the national identity cards to replace the use of passports for travel in the region and a single visa to be in place by January next year.
“We cannot rush into such integration,” he said.
Sitta detailed further that there were a number of things that required full commitment and involvement of the benefiting countries and that their implementation also depended on the agreement from the parties.
He cited the expansion of the railway from Isaka in Tanzania to Rusumo in Rwanda and that of Iviza to Burundi border saying, the government could not also rush into constructing such an expensive infrastructure without agreeing whether the benefitting country will use Tanzanian ports.
Sitta clarified that each member state had appointed a federation committee to survey, analyse and come up with recommendations on the political federation model, which will be discussed during the Head of States summit scheduled for November this year in Arusha.
The minister said the countries willing to proceed to the next stage should do so without counting on the involvement of Tanzania, adding: “…we will join them at a time they are stable.”
Meanwhile the Minister called on Regional Commissioners, Police Commanders and Heads of Immigrations currently implementing the Operation ‘Kimbunga’ to observe human rights principles.
According to the minister, executers the President Jakaya Kikwete’s directive to repatriate illegal immigrants needed to consider fundamental human rights and international laws.
“The president had good intention yes, but while repatriating these people we need to give them room to explain their origins and family backgrounds,” he said.
Sitta informed the newsmakers that he had received two letters from the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Rwanda and Burundi claiming of poor treatments given to their nations.
“…this among other things has been putting our country on a spotlight, thus people can easily justify that we deserve to be isolated in the integration,” he explained pointing out that he was planning to join the repatriation campaign along Burundi boarder later this month.
The pillars for integration of the East African Community states which have been ratified and are under implementation are the Customs Union, Common Market and Monetary Union.
Addressing a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday on the ongoing situation in the region Minister for East African Corporation, Samuel Sitta said: “Tanzania acknowledges the importance of integration; however time is needed to deal with the regional pillars first.”
The minister said the community should work on the shortfalls in its Common Market, Customs Union and subsequently the Monetary Union, before rushing into political federation, if it is keen in ensuring a strong and stable community.
“We have expertise in this field, he said noting: “Experience also shows that countries such as Egypt, Libya and Syria which attempted to rush into the political federation failed to maintain the status amicably.”
According to the minister, section 7 (e) of the EAC treaty mandates two or three member states to apply the so called “variable geometry principle” in regional integration whereby some of the members within the community can move faster than others on some matters.
He expressed disappointment that the three states of Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda hosted meetings for the adoption of the political federation without involving Tanzania or the EAC Secretariat based in Arusha.
“We’re surprised that these countries want the political federation draft be produced by October, 15 this year. They also want the national identity cards to replace the use of passports for travel in the region and a single visa to be in place by January next year.
“We cannot rush into such integration,” he said.
Sitta detailed further that there were a number of things that required full commitment and involvement of the benefiting countries and that their implementation also depended on the agreement from the parties.
He cited the expansion of the railway from Isaka in Tanzania to Rusumo in Rwanda and that of Iviza to Burundi border saying, the government could not also rush into constructing such an expensive infrastructure without agreeing whether the benefitting country will use Tanzanian ports.
Sitta clarified that each member state had appointed a federation committee to survey, analyse and come up with recommendations on the political federation model, which will be discussed during the Head of States summit scheduled for November this year in Arusha.
The minister said the countries willing to proceed to the next stage should do so without counting on the involvement of Tanzania, adding: “…we will join them at a time they are stable.”
Meanwhile the Minister called on Regional Commissioners, Police Commanders and Heads of Immigrations currently implementing the Operation ‘Kimbunga’ to observe human rights principles.
According to the minister, executers the President Jakaya Kikwete’s directive to repatriate illegal immigrants needed to consider fundamental human rights and international laws.
“The president had good intention yes, but while repatriating these people we need to give them room to explain their origins and family backgrounds,” he said.
Sitta informed the newsmakers that he had received two letters from the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Rwanda and Burundi claiming of poor treatments given to their nations.
“…this among other things has been putting our country on a spotlight, thus people can easily justify that we deserve to be isolated in the integration,” he explained pointing out that he was planning to join the repatriation campaign along Burundi boarder later this month.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
