President Nkurunziza launches EALA strategic plan

At the opening of the 2^nd Meeting of the 2^nd Session of the 3^rd Assembly yesterday, President Pierre Nkurunziza also launched the EALA Strategic Plan (2013-2018) in a colourful ceremony at the Burundi National Assembly.  

The President urged the Assembly to re-double its efforts in the next five years as the EAC consolidates on the gains already realized.   The President lauded EALA for anchoring the Strategic Plan on people-centredness and reiterated the need for citizens to be the core and centre stage of the process.

“The main achievements and lessons learnt in the last five years have no doubt played a fundamental role in helping EALA to develop and embrace its strategies for the future. The next five years should thus see the Assembly become more innovative, proactive and focused towards ensuring it remains on the cutting edge of regional integration” he noted.

 The President challenged EALA to rise to the occasion and serve the region more emphatically.

 “The process of formulation and completion of the Strategic Plan by the 3^rd Assembly is therefore only just the beginning.  The real work starts now.  The real test comes in the implementation of the set objectives”, the Head of State said.

 The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa noted that the formulation of the Strategic Plan was an all-inclusive process involving the EALA Commission, Members, staff and other stakeholders.

The Strategic Plan has six main strategic issues were the EALA’s main Administrative Autonomy, Capacity and Efficiency, negotiations for the EAC Pillars of integration and EALA’s Corporate image, institutional status, growth and development.

The other strategic plans are capacity building in regional Parliamentary Practices, effective, sustainable and Results-oriented communication and sensitization on EAC integration and robust and effective Monitoring and Evaluation.

 The Strategic Plan is expected to be financed over the next five years to the tune of over USD 118,000.   The finances shall be sourced from the EAC as well as development partners.

 The formulation of the Strategic Plan which is the second such Plan for the Assembly was supported by the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA) and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).  The WFD has further agreed to support the publication of a pocket friendly and popular version.

 The President goes for a handshake with the EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa after the successful launch of the Strategic Plan

Burundi President Nkurunziza opens EALA Plerinary in Bujumbura

The Republic of Burundi’s Head of State, H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza today opened the 2^nd Meeting of the 2^nd Session of the 3^rd East African Legislative Assembly in Bujumbura, Burundi.

President Nkurunziza was emphatic that a time had come to fully embrace the philosophy of ‘One People, One Destiny’ so that the integration agenda becomes fully realized. He called on EALA Members to come up with bankable resolutions that make a difference to the People of the region.

The President noted that the Monetary Union Protocol was on the verge of been signed at the next Summit and further called on the Partner States to accelerate realization of the Political Federation. 

“I do believe that we can accelerate the Political Federation to which the Burundian population and those from other Partner States have overwhelmingly responded positively to”, President Nkurunziza remarked.

The Head of State called for the full and speedy implementation of the Common Market Protocol to enable citizens to enjoy the mutual benefits.  “ We should also ensure the best practices of the Partner States are shared”, he said, noting that Burundi had carried a wide sensitization programme in the entire country.

The President remarked that Burundi was honoured to host EALA once again, noting that - it provided an opportunity for citizens to closely follow up and comprehend on the activities of EALA.

“I want to commend EALA for the decision to rotate the plenaries to enable citizens become more aware of the mandate of the Assembly”, he remarked.

The President hailed the EALA Members for the Community Initiative carried out in Cibitoke District when EALA visited Burundi last year. “The people of Cibitoke have sent me back to request you to visit the stadium which is on the verge of completion. I welcome you for a football time at an appropriate time” he said.

In her welcome remarks, the Speaker of the EALA, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa noted that the Assembly was taking place at an irreversible time in the regional integration process.  She noted the envisaged entry of the Monetary Union as key in the integration process.

“We are pleased that the Summit shall be signing the Monetary Union, the third tier in the process.  The people of East Africa have patiently waited.  We remain confident that after years and months of complex negotiations and board room trade-ins, the people of East Africa look forward to a single currency”, the Speaker remarked.

The Speaker urged Partner States to review their domestic laws to conform to the commitments and undertakings made in the Common Market Protocol.

“We need to deliver on the promises we made to citizens including the machine readable cards, mobility of workers and harmonization of benefits”, Speaker Zziwa added.    She hailed the Partner States for rolling out the National Implementation Committee in respect to a directive from the EAC Council of Ministers.

The Speaker further noted that the Customs Union had led to significant increase in intra-regional trade. In 2011, intra-regional trade rose by 23% of the total values of exports according to the World Banks’ Doing Business Report of 2012.

Rt. Hon Zziwa shared the scorecard of EALA so far to an attentive audience.  She cited, inter-alia, the passage of 4 key Bills (One Stop Border Post Bill, 2012, EAC Vehicle Load Control Bill, 2012, EAC Appropriation Bill, 2012 and the EAC Public Holidays Bill, 2013), 5 Reports and 8 Resolutions – all key to integration dispensation.

The Speaker of the Burundi National Assembly, Rt. Hon Pie Ntavyohanyuma underscored the need to address cross border crime and terrorism.  “It is important for stakeholders to work together collectively to stem terrorism”, he remarked, while commiserating with the Republic of Kenya following the attack on the Nairobi Westgate Mall.

Rt. Hon Ntavyohanyuma called for closer collaboration between the EALA and the Burundi National Assembly in line with Article 49 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC.

 Moving the vote of thanks, Hon Dan Kidega noted that Burundi had progressed following the leadership of President Nkurunziza.   President Nkurunziza is not only a leader par excellence, but a mediator who has brought Burundi from the precipice of war to a united country.  

He said Burundi had a gallant army that was now serving in Somalia, Chad, Haiti and soon, Mali.  The EALA Member further hailed the health care system which he noted provided free medical healthcare to expectant mothers.

  H.E Pierre Nkurunziza arrives to address EALA at the Bujumbura National Assembly Chambers