Posted in Press Release
EALA this week commenced the third round of sensitization in the Partner States with legislators targeting various stakeholders in outreach.
The sensitization activities, been carried out by the EALA local Chapters in the Partner States, commenced on October 28th, 2016, and shall run over the next ten days. The sensitization is anchored on the theme: “EAC Integration Agenda: Accessing the gains.”
The sensitization programmes target Parliamentarians, youth groups, representatives of the business community and local government authorities. Other groups include government officials, students and media in the respective Partner States.
In Rwanda, the EALA Chapter is scheduled to tour the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) Liaison Office as well as the Rwanda Standards Board to hold discussions with the stakeholders. Also on the cards are visits to the Nemba One Stop Border Post on the Rwanda/Burundi border as well as a tour to the Rusumo One Stop Border Post bordering Rwanda and Tanzania and at Gatuna on the Rwanda/Uganda frontier.
The Uganda Chapter on its part, has a date with students at the Kyambogo University on Wednesday this week and later on with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. Yesterday, the Chapter was expected to hold talks with the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. They shall also visit the Uganda Heart Institute which is an EAC Centre of Excellence and hold public hearings on four Bills before the House, according to a Program availed to the Public Relations Office. The Bills are the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016, EAC Prohibition of Female and Genital Mutilation Bill, 2016, the EAC Whistle Blower Protection Bill, 2016 and the EAC Retirement Benefits for Specified Heads of Organs Bill, 2016.
In Burundi, the EALA Chapter was expected to commence their activities with courtesy calls on the President of the Burundi National Assembly and the Minister for EAC Affairs before heading to Muyinga Province. There, the Chapter will meet with the Governor then proceed to the Kobero One Stop Border Post. Business communities living at the border are expected to benefit from a visit where discussions on the benefits of integration shall take centre stage. The EALA Burundi Chapter is then heading to Ngozi Province to meet with stakeholders. It shall also take the opportunity to hold public hearings on Bills before the House.
The Chapter in Tanzania also commenced the sensitization activities with a tour of the Immigration Department in Dar es Salaam. The program also includes a courtesy call on the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Secretary General and EALA Speaker Emeritus, Rt Hon Abdulrahman Kinana, as well as sensitisation of different stakeholders in the coastal areas of Dar, Tanga and the environs. The Chapter led by Hon Makongoro Nyerere, will also visit the border post of HoroHoro, which neighbours that of Lunga-Lunga on the Kenyan side. The Chapter hopes to undertake joint sensitization with citizens who reside on both sides of the borders.
In Kenya, EALA shall visit Government authorities including courtesy calls on the Immigration department and its parent Ministry of Internal and Co-ordination of National Government. The Members are also expected to touch base with private sector representatives including blue chip conglomerate, Safaricom and the healthcare providers, AAR. Other consultative meetings with parastatal bodies will include Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Communications Authority of Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service. A number of consultations will be held with regards to the pending Bills in the House.
This is the third phase of the outreach programme following a successful phases held in the Partner States in April and June 2016. The activities hope to sensitise EAC citizens on the overall integration process and to promote liaison with key stakeholders in the process.
The outreach programmes also hope to keep the EAC populace informed on the role of EALA in the integration process and to enhance interaction between the Private Sector and the Civil Society.
Sensitization is a key component of EALA’s work. The EALA Strategic Plan (2013-2018) envisages a people-centered approach to widening and deepening of the integration agenda.
Posted in Press Release
EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega yesterday paid a courtesy call on the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Facilitator of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue, H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa, in Dar es Salaam.
Discussions centred on peace and security in the region with H.E. Mkapa ascertaining the region had no option but to ensure tranquil is sustained for its progress and development.
H.E. Mkapa reiterated the need for the Partner States and the Community to stand by each other and to harness the strengths in order for the bloc to progressively move forward.
H.E. Mkapa said the Inter-Burundi dialogue remained a priority of the EAC, stating his intention to separately meet in the coming week with the Chair of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, H.E. Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli and the Mediator of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue, President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Museveni for further consultations.
The Facilitator, H.E. Mkapa expressed hope that the Dialogue process would bring all Burundians to a common understanding that will result in peace, democracy and prosperity in the country.
On his part, the EALA Speaker said that the EAC had a fundamental role to ensure sustenance of peace in all the Partner States. He remarked that Burundi was showing signs of tranquility, but added that there was increasing need to re-integrate all its citizens.
The Speaker reiterated that one of the issues that underpin integration is that of finding solutions to the problems that may bedevil the Partner States, which he termed as “part of enhancing the bonds of sisterhood”.
He lauded the Summit of EAC Heads of State for recently directing that additional resources geared towards the Inter-Burundi Dialogue be availed. He informed H.E. Mkapa the Assembly was eager and keen to debate and approve a Supplementary Budget on the same.
The Speaker said EALA would also dispatch a team of Members from two Committees, Committee on Trade and Investments and that of Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution to the border of Burundi and Rwanda to investigate on claims of restriction of goods and movement of persons at the border-point.