Removal of Ntbs Top Priority for EAC – President Kikwete Says EALA Appoints Select Committee to Look Into Genocidal Ideology
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ISSUE 12 APRIL 2015 Removal of NTBs top priority for EAC – President Kikwete says EALA appoints Select Committee to look into genocidal ideology LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE OVERSIGHT/BUDGET INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES EALA passes crucial Youth are key TZ Bunge passes EALA Streamlines its Bills at 4th and 5th stakeholders in the Taxation Bill governance instruments Meetings integration process SPEAKER’S CHAMBER ......................................................................................................................... 4 CLERK’S CHAMBER ............................................................................................................................. 5 6 12 President Kikwete delivers News Titbits state of EAC address in Bujumbura 14 EALA streamlines its governance instruments 8 Bujumbura hosts EALA 16 Summary of proceedings at the 4th and 5th meeting of the 3rd Assembly 10 We are back on track – EALA Speaker 18 EALA Pictorial 11 20 News from the Office of the Why the pillars of integration Speaker will unite East African countries ISSUE No. 12 APRIL 2015 2 22 Destination Mogadishu; Why EALA should be involved in regional security 24 ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hon Pierre- Celestin Rwigema – Chair Terrorism in the Hon Shy-Rose Bhanji – Vice Chairperson region: let us all Hon Hafsa Mossi – Member Hon Mike Sebalu – Member unite in halting Hon Dr. James Ndahiro – Member Al-Shabab Hon Saoli Ole Nkanae – Member Co-opted Mr. Richard Othieno Owora – Member Ms. Gloria Nakebu – Esiku – Member EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 26 Mr Kenneth Namboga Madete - Clerk, EALA My afternoon well EDITORIAL LEADER Mr. Bobi Odiko spent with H.E. Ben W. Mkapa EDITORIAL TEAM MEMBERS Ms. Aileen Mallya Mr. Florian Mutabazi CONTRIBUTORS Hon Celestine Kabahizi Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema Hon (Dr) Zziwa Nantongo Margaret Hon AbuBakr Ogle 28 Mr. Bobi Odiko Maria Ruhere Youth a key Mr. Sam Ogwal stakeholder for a better EAC DESIGN & LAYOUT Mr. Timothy Ojore PHOTOGRAPHY Mr. Abdul Mukhtar Mr. Justino Liwali DISCLAIMER: OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE NOT NECESSARILY Bujumbura session was busy – but EALA also welcomed on board THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER Hon Martin Ngoga ................................................................................30 Published by Briefs from the National Assemblies ....................................................32 The East African Legislative Assembly, East African Community Headquarters, EALA appoints select committee to look into genocide P.O. Box 1096, Arusha , Tanzania. and genocide ideology .........................................................................34 Tel: 255-27-2508240, Fax: 255-27-2503103 ONE PEOPLE, ONE DESTINY Web: www.eala.org 3 ISSUE No. 12 APRIL 2015 EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY DESK OF THE HON. SPEAKER Rt Hon Dan Fred Kidega elcome to the 12th Edition of the Bunge la must continuously look inwards towards addressing Afrika Mashariki. I take this opportunity to challenges that face integration. Wthank you all for the unequivocal support At the fulcrum is the lack of awareness of the rendered to the Assembly as it undertakes its mandate. benefits of integration by EAC citizens, the Non- Tariff This month, I mark 100 days in office and while at it, I Barriers and the need to speedily implement the wish to note the positive scorecard realized so far. Council decisions. While delivering the State of EAC As part of the renaissance of the Assembly, I Address to EALA in March 2015, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho proposed a three-pronged approach to re-invigorate Kikwete was emphatic that the days of the Non- Tariff the Assembly and to leverage its profile. Packed Barriers are over. I am pleased that one of the key therein were the finalization of backlog of Bills and Bills passed by EALA at that Sitting is the Elimination the quick enactment of new ones, re-construction of of the NTBs Bill, 2015, paving the way for complete EALA’s image and ensuring harmony and teamwork. annihilation of the NTBs. As you will see elsewhere, quite some progress It is our prayer that the Heads of State shall in the has been realized as we carry on with our resurgence shortest time possible assent to the Bill to enable strategy. At the January Plenary, we passed three Bills, citizens to benefit from unhindered movement of commuted six others to the relevant Committees and goods and persons. adopted three key Resolutions. At the March 2015 Inevitably, as we move along in the implementation Plenary in Bujumbura, Burundi, we again passed three of the pillars of integration which assume an Bills. The Assembly has also taken key steps by looking incremental approach, we shall inevitably have to inwards and in the process, adopted new Rules of grapple with challenges. This is very much part and Procedure for the House and Committees as well as a parcel of any development process. What is key code of conduct for Members. however is the effort with which the players commit In its quest to enhance outreach, we have also to the process. recently conducted community engagements with the On a sad note, the ugly face of terror again surfaced youths, workers and the employers. This is the first in in the region where almost 150 innocent young stars’ a series of comprehensive engagements we hope to dreams were cut short by the callous acts of terrorists at continuously undertake. the Garissa University College in Kenya. I must confess, EALA remains dedicated to realising its mandate as I am one of those who has never comprehended the underlined in the Treaty for the Establishment of the actual intentions of terrorists and what they intend to EAC. I am upbeat about the on-going EAC institutional achieve through such acts. review and the zeal with which the integration path is I call upon our Governments to scale up efforts taking. Stronger and effective Organs and Institutions in combating terrorism. My sincere condolences go of the Community will help deliver the region to to the families, friends and the entire people of East the ‘Promised Land’. At the same time, the region Africa for the tragic losses of our children. ISSUE No. 12 APRIL 2015 4 EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OFFICE OF THE CLERK Mr. Kenneth Namboga Madete reetings to all our readers and a very warm terms of numbers and ideas. EALA intends to enhance welcome once again to the 12th edition of closer collaboration with the National Assemblies to Gyour esteemed magazine - the Bunge La Afrika ensure deliberations that take place at EALA percolate Mashariki. into the Partner States. In this edition, we highlight a number of articles It is anticipated that the full operationalization of and briefs about the Sittings held in Arusha, Tanzania Article 65 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the and Bujumbura, Burundi respectively, as well as a EAC by all concerned shall enable the full realization of number of other activities of the Assembly during the this noble objective. last quarter – January –March, 2015. As the life of the 3rd Assembly, continues, we re- The 3rd Assembly is now at its halfway mark, in its dedicate our time to effectively serving East Africans to journey of service to the citizens of the region. The realise the vision of the founding fathers of integration Assembly continues to implement its Strategic Plan through the hallmark anchored on legislation, with the overarching theme of a ‘People-Centred oversight, representation and appropriation of the Approach to Widening and Deepening of the EAC Community’s budget. integration process. We shall further do our level best to leverage EALA is committed to liaise and to closely collaborate sensitisation and awareness creation programmes to with Organs and Institutions of the Community, the ensure that all stakeholders in the integration process Private Sector, Civil Society and all others in fulfilment appreciate and continue to be beneficiaries of the of the bloc’s operational principle of being people- integration process. centred. We remain hopeful that through our hard work, Just recently, as you will see elsewhere in the we shall contribute to assist the region realize the Newsletter, EALA received petitions from the youth prospects of growth and solid development. and the workers, both of whom, continue to make I welcome you to this specific edition of the Bunge significant contribution to the integration process in Magazine and hope that you shall find it pleasurable. 5 ISSUE No. 12 APRIL 2015 EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY LEAD STORY President Kikwete delivers state of EAC address in Bujumbura …Tells region to rid itself of NTBs and “nationalistic tendencies” in approach to integration H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete signs the visitors book in Bujumbura, Burundi as the Speaker, Rt. Hon Daniel F. Kidega (seated) and the Clerk to EALA, Mr. Kenneth Madete look on he President of the United Republic of Tanzania, from 3 to zero along the central corridor and they would and Chair of EAC Heads of State H.E. Jakaya Mrisho introduce weigh in motion technology. TKikwete delivered the State of EAC Address on The President informed the House that one such March 19th, 2015 in Bujumbura, Burundi. weighbridge was already installed in Vigwaza with The salient point of H.E. Kikwete’s address another two on the way to Manyoni and was on the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers Nyakahura on the central corridor. with the Chair affirming the need “I am told with the current to spare no efforts in ridding the On the Common improvements alone, for a container region of the barriers to spur the Market pillar, the Head to move from the port of Dar es integration process. of State lamented Salaam to Kigali it takes 3 days “The progress made so far, at over its slow progress from the previous 8 days. It takes the ports of Mombasa and Dar which he said was 3 1/2 days to Bujumbura from the es Salaam and, on the Northern discouraging to the previous 8 days”, the President Corridor with regard to road blocks EAC citizens. reiterated. shows that it is possible to eliminate The President noted that improved these non-tariff barriers.