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

Uganda to host International Symposium and Exhibition on Agriculture Development in the EAC

 A 5-day International Symposium and Exhibition on Agricultural Development in the East African Community will be held 4-8 November 2013 at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda.

The event is being collaboratively organized by the EAC Secretariat, Kilimo Trust, Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), Uganda’s Ministries of East African Community Affairs (MEACA- Uganda), and that of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF- Uganda).

The theme of the Symposium and Exhibition is Agricultural Development in the EAC: lessons from the past 50 years and prospects for the future. Participants will be engaged in dialogue designed to enhance EAC regional integration in the agricultural sector through five major events: Youth in Agriculture (YiA) Workshop, Technical Symposium, a High Level Executive Roundtable, Exhibitions, and Special Seminars.

The Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social sectors at the EAC Secretariat Hon. Jesca Eriyo states that “the events of the week are designed to reflect on agriculture during the 50 years since all the EAC Partner States earned independence”.

Adding that “the event is also being held at a time when the continent’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is marking ten years of implementation.  Furthermore, it is only two years away from the target year (2015) for the EAC Partner States to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs).

Therefore, symposium, the YiA workshop, the seminars and the executive roundtable will provide an opportunity to evaluate progress, lessons, and prospects for the future – in relation to national efforts since independence, the 10 years of CAADP principles, as well as the international programmes driven by the MDGs”. 

“The aim is to articulate an EAC Regional Vision of Agriculture for the future as a modern and vibrant sector that fully takes advantage of the region’s endowment with resources (youthful population, arable land, water and now the realization of oil and gas) coupled with the ever increasing global demand for food and agricultural products” the EAC official affirms..

Participants  will engage the private sector in agriculture including farmers, leaders of farmer organizations and agribusiness players along agricultural value chains; government ministries and departments; national agricultural research organizations; universities, and extension service providers; international and regional development organizations supporting agriculture in the EAC Region; civil society organizations; youth in agriculture among other practitioners in the agricultural sector.

EAC to organize the second edition of the East African Higher Education  Forum

The Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA), East African Business Council (EABC), East African Development Bank (EADB) and the East African Community (EAC) are jointly organizing the second edition of the East African Higher Education Forum 2013 slated for 24^th – 26^th October 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Themed: “Bridging the Academia and the Private Sector through Engagement with the Public Sector”, the Forum will bring together higher education managers, researchers, the business community, and policy makers from EAC Partner States to deliberate on the role of universities in fostering regional integration and the development of knowledge-based economies in the East African Community, through forging linkages with the business community.

The main objective of the Forum is to provide a convergence platform for higher education, the business community and the public sector to discuss and strategize on how to develop effective higher education systems in East Africa that would be linked to industry, for the promotion of sustainable socio-economic development and East Africa’s regional integration.

The Forum is expected to establish collaboration between universities and the business community for the region’s sustainable socio-economic development through enhanced industrial performance and investments in higher education and promoting the development of skills and competence-based curricula, building consensus on developing a common higher education area for East Africa, mainstreaming the relevance of university-generated knowledge and human resources for the well being of the general society, and strengthening excellence of universities by developing strategically focused curricula and research.

Relevant institutions in the EAC Partner States, EAC Secretariat, Heads of Higher Education Institutions, national commissions and councils for higher education, and national commissions and councils for science and technology in the Partner States, international organizations, NGOs, academicians, students, and private individuals are expected to attend.

As part of the Forum events, students, academic staff in universities, research institutions as well as the private sector in the region will exhibit their brilliant ideas in business development and strategic innovations. Exhibitors will also show case the practical aspects of their operations, products and achievements as a way of promoting and enhancing academia and private sector partnerships.

The First edition of the East African Higher Education Forum was held 24th – 26th October 2012 in Arusha, Tanzania. At the end of this Forum, resolutions focused on consolidating the IUCEA and EABC partnership by providing sustainability mechanisms. In this regard, EABC and IUCEA developed a medium term plan of action to guide implementation of the resolutions and recommendations, to be undertaken under the auspices of EAC.

Among the items in the plan of action agreed upon was to organize a regional academia and private sector partnership forum and exhibitions on an annual basis, on rotation among the EAC Partner States.

High level negotiation with South Sudan to join the Community is set for 7 - 8 November in Arusha

The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera has disclosed that the meeting of the High Level Negotiations Team with the Republic of South Sudan to join the Community is scheduled to take place 7-8 November 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania to commence its work, and determine its rules of procedure and programme.

At its 27^th Meeting held on 31 August 2013, the EAC Council of Ministers approved the proposed process of handling the negotiations with the Republic of South Sudan to join the East African Community; established a High Level Negotiation Team; directed the Partner States to nominate three (3) Members to the High Level Negotiation Team by 30 September 2013; and directed the Secretariat to thereafter convene a meeting of the High Level Negotiation Team to start the negotiations with the Republic of South Sudan.

A visit of a High Level Mission of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan is also expected at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania in early November 2013.

The Negotiation process is expected to be structured in three (3) phases namely; technical negotiations involving technical experts from the EAC (i.e. the three nominees from each Partner State) and the Republic of South Sudan; second phase will involve Permanent/Principal Secretaries to consider recommendations from the technical phase and recommend to an appropriate Ministerial Negotiations. The third phase will be at the Ministerial level. Each of these phased negotiations will systematically feed into each other.

 EAC in cooperation with GIZ to organize basic training in regional integration for Journalist in Kampala, Uganda

 The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat is organizing a three-day basic training for journalists in the Partner States on regional reporting 25-27 November, 2013, according to the EAC Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Owora Richard Othieno.

He said the training, which is to heighten public awareness on the activities and programmes of the EAC, is organized in collaboration with the German International Agency (GIZ) is to conduct a basic journalist training on EAC regional integration reporting from 25th to 27th November 2013 in Kampala, Uganda. Twenty selected journalists, four from each Partner State, will attend the three-day special training.

“This training is part of a broader media training intervention to enhance the journalist’s quality and quantity of reporting on the EAC integration agenda and aims at enhancing journalists ‘understanding of the concept of regional integration in general and of the history, organs, institutions and policies of the EAC,’’ said Owora.

Since the programme was initiated in 2011, over 70 media practitioners, editors, script writers and photographers have benefited from the programme.

The training will precede the EAC-EABC Media Summit and Award Gala Dinner on 28 November, 2013 in Kampala. The trained journalists will be offered a rare opportunity to attend the annual Media Summit, EAC Council of Ministers and the Summit of Heads of State and are expected to increase the visibility of the EAC events scheduled in Uganda.

The training, according to the EAC official, is to open to all active journalists in print or electronic media and on line publications.

The training is part of continuous efforts of the EAC Secretariat to enable journalists in the region to share the best practices in disseminating regional integration information and empowering the media to report as accurately and widely as possible as well as increase the pool of trained journalists on the EAC Integration agenda.

The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organization of the Republics of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Burundi with its Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. 

The EAC's vision is a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and politically united East Africa; and the Mission is to widen and deepen economic, political, social and culture integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa. With a population of over 140 million and growing, the media plays a critical role in communicating EAC and bringing out the news to the world.

While every EAC citizen has the ability to spread the message of East African integration, not all citizens have the luxury the media has: The access to be in regional frontline of happenings. The people of EAC continue to depend on the media’s curiosity, persistence and integrity to communicate the message and spirit of East African integration. As such, the media should continue to enhance the quality and professionalism of reporting.

GIZ In the spirit of partnership, GIZ supports people and societies in developing, transition and industrialized countries in shaping their own futures and improving living conditions. Established on 1 January 2011, it brings together under one roof the long-standing expertise of the Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED) GmbH (German Development Service), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH (German Technical Cooperation) and InWEnt – Capacity Building International, Germany.

As a federally owned enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ is also engaged in international education work around the globe. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries worldwide.

EALA to hold Plenary in Bujumbura next week

President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi expected to address..

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is expected to resume business next week by holding its Plenary Session in Bujumbura, Burundi. The Plenary which takes place from October 20^th  2013, through to November 2^nd, 2013 is the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Third Assembly.
 
President Pierre Nkurunziza is expected to address a Special Sitting on Tuesday, October 22^nd, 2013 at the Burundi National Assembly.

The Assembly will be presided by the Speaker, Rt. Hon (Dr) Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, shall during the two-week period discuss matters of legislative business and the sitting expects to receive and debate reports of the Committees of EALA and pose questions to the Council of Ministers, debate Bills, and adopt Motions and Resolutions.

The Assembly is also expected to hold a meeting with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to review the state of conflict matters in the region. 

The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 52, of whom 45 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and seven ex-official members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).

The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters.  The enactment of legislation of the Community is effected by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States.  EALA has to date passed over 50 pieces of legislation.

EAC-GIZ to organize training on Conflict Sensitive Journalism for media practitioners from EAC Partners States

The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in collaboration with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) has organized training on Conflict Sensitive Journalism for media practitioners from EAC Partner States,  8^th -12^th November, 2013, in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The training is aimed at increasing awareness on conflict sensitive reporting and to nurture media practitioners who are able to contribute to peace-building efforts and resolution mechanisms in the region. The trained journalists  are expected to  act as catalysts among other media practitioners, on raising awareness of conflict sensitive reporting and able to drive the region’s peace and security objective as stipulated in the EAC Treaty.

‘’The training will enhance the capacity of journalists in the EAC countries on reporting on conflict-sensitive topics and related issues,’’ according to EAC Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Mr Owora Richard Othieno.

He added that the training would be attended by selected 30 journalists and editors. ‘’This is a unique training opportunity for journalists and editors in East Africa,’’ he added.

The training will precede the 2^nd EAC Conference on Peace and Security themed “Promoting a Culture of Dialogue and Tolerance for Conflict Prevention and Peaceful Co- existence” In Bujumbura 13^th - 15^th November, 2013. The trained journalists will be offered an opportunity to attend the conference and are expected to give wide coverage of the event.

The training is part of continuous efforts of the EAC Secretariat to enable journalists in the region to share the best practices and empowering the media to report as accurately and widely as possible in the regional integration process.

In addition, the training will also enable journalists to do networking with their colleagues in the region and as well as create a database of journalists knowledgeable and trained in conflict-sensitive journalism.

 EAC Director for trade passes on.

The Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera today announced the passing on of Dr. Flora Mndeme Musonda, former Director of Trade at the EAC Secretariat. Dr. Musonda passed on at around noon on Tuesday 15 October 2013 at Saint Thomas Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania.

“On behalf of the EAC Management, staff and the entire Community, I join Dr. Musonda’s family in mourning the death of one of the first Directors at the EAC Secretariat.” reads part of the Statement posted to the staff by the Secretary General.

Dr. Musonda was appointed Director of Trade at the EAC Secretariat in 2005. Before joining the East African Community, Dr. Flora Musonda was a Senior Research Fellow at the reputable Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A PhD holder, Dr. Musonda specialized in international trade, development issues and regional integration. She completed her doctorate in Sweden in 1992. She worked at the COMESA Secretariat where she coordinated a regional integration research programme. At the same time she lectured at the University of Zambia in international trade among other subjects.

In the process to revive the EAC, Dr. Musonda was part of the Team of Experts who helped mold the idea into the Treaty, which was signed in 1999. She was part of the Tanzanian Negotiating Team and from time to time she was called upon to explain some theoretical and practical issues of regional integration to the members.

She undertook a tariff harmonization study with World Bank, which helped in the negotiating efforts for the EAC.

While at the ESRF, Dr. Musonda participated in formulating the 1^st EAC Development Strategy (1997-2000) and the 2^nd EAC Development Strategy (2001-2005). These Development Strategies focused on the implementation of the Treaty, implementation of regional projects and programmes; institutional development; and, most significantly, the launching in January 2005 of the East African Community Customs Union, which is the entry point of the Community.

In 2002, the regional academicians in recognizing her work in regional integration nominated her name and she was offered a chance to be a Visiting Professor at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. While there, she wrote a book on Regional Integration Efforts in Africa with reference to the East African Community. The book is with the publishers.

She was heavily involved in many other integration studies and globalization issues and back-stopped the Ministry of Industries and Trade on trade policy issues, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Helsinki process and EAC Customs and Trade issues. She was involved in several television talk-shows about regional integration and EAC and also was a prominent figure in regional and international conferences.

At the EAC Secretariat, Dr. Musonda was in charge of the Trade Directorate that deals with Internal and External/Export promotion; WTO issues; standardization, quality assurance, metrology and testing for goods and services produced and traded within the EAC; COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite; EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement; and EAC-US Trade and Investment Partnership.

She was part of the Team of Experts on the US-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership, which comprises four elements namely: a regional investment treaty; a trade facilitation agreement; trade capacity building assistance; and a commercial dialogue.

She was a strong believer in the role of trade and investment as a critical engine for broad economic growth for the EAC region.

Under her leadership, Parts F and G of the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Customs Union, which deals with Export Promotion Schemes and Special Economic Zones, are being implemented.  A list of harmonized Export processing Zones (EPZ) exemptions was reviewed and the EAC Council of Ministers adopted the EAC Model Export Processing Zones Operational Manual.

She was part of the WTO Trade Policy Review Team for EAC in Geneva, Switzerland in 2012 during which EAC Partner States trade and related policies were examined and evaluated with the objective of contributing to improving adherence by all Members of the WTO to rules, disciplines and commitments made under the WTO Agreements and by achieving greater transparency in, and understanding of, the trade policies and practices of WTO Members.

All WTO members commended the EAC Partner States and the EAC Secretariat for the remarkable achievement and the EAC continuous integration efforts after the last Trade Policy review held in 2006, particularly considering the global financial crisis since 2008. It was noted respective national vision plan and the EAC effort towards the single market and monetary union.

Dr. Musonda was part of the Team negotiating the establishment of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) that takes into account EAC interests in accordance with the decision of the 2^nd COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Summit of Heads of State. 

Dr. Musonda was also part of the EAC Experts on the EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations.

Dr. Musonda played a critical role in the establishment of the EAC–US Commercial Dialogue. The Commercial Dialogue is a consultative mechanism for a private – public sector dialogue on commerce between the EAC and the US through which both Parties will work to advance private sector priorities that would strengthen their trade and investment relationship.

Indeed, a meeting of the EAC and US Technical Officials was held from 17^th to 20^th April 2013 in Arusha where both Parties discussed each of the four elements of the Partnership. Both Parties agreed to share information on investment regimes and on trade facilitation.

     The late Dr. Flora Mndeme Musonda, former Director of Trade at the EAC Secretariat.

2nd EAC Secretary General’s Forum for private sector, Civil Society & other interest groups Kicks-off in Nairobi.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Hon.Phyllis Kandie has underscored the importance of holding regular dialogue with private sector ,civil society and other interest groups  in order to get their views and expectations on the various stages of  regional integration.

Successful integration, Hon. Kandie said, presumes solid support by the citizens of the participating partner states.  “Such support is based on the availability of full and complete information on all areas of integration. Lack of such information  often undermines the good policy intentions,” she said 7th October, 2013 when opening the 2nd EAC Secretary General’s Consultative Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hon.Kandie noted that the EAC is now recognized as one of the fastest growing economies in the world due to the strong intra-EAC trade, adding that the bloc was now working on developing legal binding mechanisms.

In his key note remarks, the EAC Secretary General Amb Richard Sezibera challenged the civil society and private sector to strengthen cross-border alliances and networks with like-minded organizations in order to fulfill the collective mission of building a unified and prosperous East Africa.

“Our collective sense of mission should be to work towards a fully integrated East Africa with all East Africans living in harmony with each other, an East Africa whose overriding agenda is the improvement of the living conditions of its people, ”Amb. Sezibera told about 150 attentive delegates.

He also noted that there were challenges in building a united East Africa but were being managed through continued political will and the public/private sector support in the region.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Jesca Eriyo, commended the efforts made by the private sector, civil society and other interest  groups to push the integration agenda.

She added that successful regional integration would require solid support by the citizens of the participating states. The EAC-SG’s Consultative Dialogue Framework(EAC-SGCDF) provides platform for regular dialogue between the EAC Secretary General and the private sector ,civil society and other interest groups on how to improve the EAC integration process for the faster development of the region and mutual benefit of the EAC citizens.

The forum aims at increasing the participation of the private sector, civil society and other interest groups in EAC policy formulation and decision-making processes. As a result of such forums, it is expected that citizens of the Community will achieve a higher level of awareness on matters of regional integration and increasingly take ownership of the process.

The theme for the meeting is: “The EAC We Want.”

The forum is attended by about 150 representatives of the governments of EAC partner states, private sector, civil society, academia, members of the East African Legislative Assembly, judges of the East African Court of Justice, members of national parliaments, media and the EAC Secretariat, among others.