Posted in Press Release
EALA yesterday afternoon administered the Oath of Allegiance to Hon. Amb. Augustine Phillip Mahiga, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, East African, Regional and International Co-operation in the United Republic of Tanzania as the Sitting commenced in Dar es Salaam.
Amb. Dr Mahiga is now an ex-officio Member of the Assembly.
The Oath of Allegiance to the House was administered by the Clerk of EALA, before the EALA Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega.
Hon. Amb. Mahiga took the oath in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. The Rules of Procedure say in part that: “No Member can sit or participate in the proceedings of the House until the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Treaty is taken”.
Rule 5(5) specifically states that “when a Member first attends to take his or her seat other than at the first sitting of a new House, he or she shall be brought to the table by two Members and presented by them to the Speaker who shall then administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance”.
The Minister was ushered into the House by Hon. Adam Kimbisa and Hon. Angela Daisy Kizigha.
Under Article 48 of the EAC Treaty, ex-officio Members of EALA consist of Ministers responsible for East African Affairs from the Partner States.
Under the same provision, the Assistant Minister, Deputy Minister or Minister of State may only participate in the meetings of the Assembly when the substantive Minister responsible for East African Community Affairs is unable to participate.
Hon. Amb. Mahiga, was appointed Minister by President John Pombe Magufuli in the cabinet named in December 2015. Prior to his appointment, Hon. Amb. Dr Mahiga, a diplomat, served as the Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations. He was also the UNHCR Representative to Italy, Republic of Malta and Republic of San Marino. Between the years 1994 to 1998, Ambassador Mahiga served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Chief of Mission in New Delhi, India. He has also served as Chief of Mission in Monrovia, Liberia.
Amb. Mahiga was appointed by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to the rank of Ambassador while on secondment to the UNHCR. He rose into public service from the world of academia. Amb. Mahiga was once a Senior Lecturer in International Affairs and Regional Co-operation at the University of Dar es Salaam, a post he held from 1975-1977.
Amb. Mahiga earned a Bachelor of Arts (Education) at the University of East Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He earned his Master of Arts degree at the University of Toronto as well as a Ph.D. in International Relations from the same institution.
Posted in Press Release
The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Rt Hon. Majaliwa, Kassim Majaliwa delivered the State of EAC Address at the commencement of the 5th Meeting of the 4th Session of the 3rd Assembly in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Rt Hon. Majaliwa delivered the Speech on behalf of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, who is also the Chair of the Summit of EAC Heads of State.
The remarks, gave a score-card on a number of areas related to the pillars of integration.
On the Customs Union, the Prime Minister noted the consolidated gains of the Single Customs Territory which initially commenced in 2014 on a pilot basis along the Northern and Central corridors. He cited this was realized through the finalization of key operational instruments entailing revision of business manuals, development of M&E tool framework, deployment of staff and revision of enforcement framework.
Rt Hon. Majaliwa remarked that the Community had adopted the use of One Stop Business Posts (OSBPs) as a trade facilitation concept to minimize delays at the border posts and on the major corridors in the region. He informed the House that out of the 15 borders earmarked to operate as OSBPs, 7 had been completed and 4 others were operating as OSBPs using bilateral agreements.
"The seven are Gasenyi/Nemba, Ruhwa, Lunga Lunga/HoroHoro, Holili/Taveta, Isebania/Sirari, Kagitumba/Mirama Hills and Rusumo," Rt Hon. Majaliwa said.
The Prime Minister remarked that intra-EAC Trade was expected to register phenomenal increase in the next few years.
"Trade is now at 23%, over and above intra-African Trade figure of 12%. "There has been a 300% increase in the value of trade from 2 Billion USD in 2005 to 6 Billion USD in 2014," Rt. Hon Majaliwa said.
"These numbers coupled with the combined GDP of 110.3 Billion makes our region a formidable trading bloc", he added.
The Prime Minister stated that the Business community in the region had established a Code of Conduct which he said, would check on corruption. Rt Hon. Majaliwa thus hailed the East African Business Council (EABC) for signing commitments to the ethical business standards to guide collaboration between various stakeholders in promoting trade.
He urged the region to push for total removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs). "We all admit that we have done well in eliminating tariff related barriers, we must resolve to do away with the remaining ones," Rt Hon. Majaliwa added, citing the examples of removal of various roadblocks in the region.
On Infrastructure, the Prime Minister remarked that Partner States were actively engaged in the Standard Gauge Railway with Republic of Kenya having completed coverage of about 200 km out of 472 km of formation as of September last year.
On the Common Market, the Prime Minister gave an account of achievements realized in the Partner States to date. He remarked that Republic of Burundi now recognizes the academic qualifications, experiences obtained, licenses and certifications obtained for the workers from other EAC Partner States.
The United Republic of Tanzania on its part, has issued a total of 3,222 simplified Certificates of Origin were issued as at June 2015 as compared to 2,355 certificates issued in 2014. In Kenya, the Prime Minister said development of an SMS based NTBs Reporting System to facilitate reporting and subsequent elimination of NTBs had been initiated.
The Republic of Rwanda, the Prime Minister added, had eliminated all Non-Tariff Barriers and further harmonized demographic and social statistics for undertaking agricultural surveys and census. All the initiatives he added, were geared towards enhancing the Common Market Protocol. In Uganda, the value of goods from other Partner States accorded zero-tariff treatment grew by 9% while 360 EAC standards on traded goods had been adopted and were in application.
He however lamented that the region continued to face challenges, citing delay of issuance of electronic Certificate of Origin which were yet to be adopted regionally, and the need to fastrack the completion of the Annex on Mutual Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications. The Prime Minister was further categorical that the slow pace of harmonization of national laws into the EAC context hampered implementation of the commitments.
On democracy, peace and security, the Rt Hon. Prime Minister urged the EAC to subscribe to the ideals as tenets for progress.
"I am happy that as I address this House, the region is peaceful, secure and stable," he said. "Let the elections be credible, free and fair which abide and respect the Constitutions", he added.
The Prime Minister lauded the Speaker for EALA's continued role in legislation, oversight and representation and urged the Assembly to double its efforts in sensitization of the publics.
In his welcoming remarks, the Speaker of the EALA, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega remarked that EAC integration process was stronger given the commitment of various stakeholders in the process.
He however urged the EAC to instill quick interventions with regards to the Common Market Protocol. He said there was need to move faster and ensure free movement of persons as well as the rights to residence.
"As politicians we feel the tenets of the Common Market Protocol have not been fully met over the last five years. A sticking area concerns that of free movement of persons and the rights to residence. The East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC) and the East African Employers Organisation (EAEO) did petition EALA on the matter, of which was debated and passed by the House", Rt Hon. Kidega said.
The Speaker hailed the United Republic of Tanzania for its commitment to harmonising work and resident permits as well as the necessary fees in line with providing preferential treatment to the citizens of the EAC Partner States. He remarked that the Republics of Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda had already abolished work permit fees and introduced inter-state passes and that the move encouraged workers to move freely in search of opportunities.
Rt Hon. Kidega hailed the Summit of the EAC Heads of State for the significant announcements made at the 17th Summit of the EAC Heads of State held last week in Arusha, Tanzania. He welcomed the entry of the Republic of South Sudan to the EAC fold and said EALA looked forward to welcoming the legislators.
The EALA Speaker also lauded the Heads of State for launching the EAC International e-Passport. The e-Passport which replaces national and EAC Passports takes effect in January 2017.
He remarked that Tanzania had continued to realise progress and congratulated the new leadership.
"In the first 100 days of H.E. Dr Magufuli's leadership, the country has realized major transformation. Revenue collection has doubled from Tshs 900 Billion to average of Tshs 1.4 Trillion per month, while you have similarly enhanced efficiency in service delivery in government institutions. Further to this, we are appreciative of the Government's desire and the renewed spirit to tackle and fight corruption head on", Rt Hon. Kidega said.
Speaker of Parliament of Tanzania Rt Hon. Job Ndugai, said the region was looking forward to inclusion of the new Legislators from the Republic of South Sudan and it would enlarge the bloc. He further urged the EALA to be bold as it plays its rightful place in the integration process.
The State of EAC Address is delivered annually to the EALA by the Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State. The State of EAC Address sets the momentum and impetus for the integration process by reflecting on general policies that relate to the Community's progress while outlining the strategic challenges which require attention.
The novelty of the State of EAC Address dates back to the year 2008 when H.E. President Yoweri Museveni made the first inaugural Address to this Assembly in Arusha.
During the two week Sitting, EALA shall debate on the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Bill, 2012, EAC Bill on Persons with Disabilities, 2015 and the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill. The Assembly is also to consider, debate and approve various Reports of Committees of EALA.