East African Federation (EAF) public Views

[TzPride]

Ndugu zangu wanajambo ninafuraha sana maana sasa watanzania wanaweka msimamo mzuri. Mijadala ya EAF sasa wabongo wengi wana kataa "fast tracking". Kweli wengi tunashindwa kuelewa nini hasa sababu ya fast tracking...ni kama unahamu na mtoto na kwa kuwa mkeo ni mjamzito basi unaharakisha afanyiwe operesheni kabla ya mda wa kuzaa hujafika ili wewe upate mtoto..je, hapo utapata mtoto au unataka mkosa?
Wabunge walijadili vizuri sana jambo hili mbele ya kamati ya Wangwe, wengi walitaka waambiwe kwa nini tuharakishe?
Cha kusikitisha ni kwamba leo nimeona taarifa kwenye chombo kimoja cha habari kuhusu serikali ikijibu maoni ya wabunge kwa kusema hayo maoni ni yao tu sio ya watu wanaowawakilisha. Siamini serikali yetu inataka tutumbukiza kwa nguvu EAF. Kama ni hivyo basi awamu hii ndo itakuwa awamu mbovu kuliko zote na historia itaihukumu.

Sitaki kupoteza Utanzania kwani hata Utanganyika uliniponyoka bila ridhaa yangu.

 

[Maxence Melo]

TzPride,

Hilo si kosa la Tz pekee... Even Uganda and Kenya. Our Parliaments have no say over the ruling governments!

Believe me or not; ila ukweli ni kuwa wabunge wote wa Afrika Mashariki wanapelekeshwa na wamesahau kuwa wao ndiyo nguzo kuu ya Serikali na ndiyo serikali yenyewe.

Hawana makucha. Wanaburuzwa? Sijui mimi labda Zitto atueleze. Kuna mambo mengine hata ukisikia unachoka kabisa. Sasa just imagine liwe ni Shirikisho la kisiasa!!! Hapo ujue ndo Muungano wa Kikwete, Mu7 & Kibaki and then wabunge wanaambiwa TAYARI nao wanapiga makofi kwa kwa kwa kwa tena kwa vicheko vya kebehi he he he he he!

Mungu ibariki Afrika!

 

[Dua]

JOHN KULEKANA
Daily News; Thursday,April 26, 2007 @00:03

FINANCE Minister Zakia Meghji has urged Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to work for macro-economic convergence to facilitate speedy integration in the region, including the envisaged establishment of a common monetary union and a single currency within the next 11 years.

"For attainment of these milestones, it is necessary to scale-up our efforts to deepen economic co-operation in the region and the key elements in the process are attainment of macroeconomic convergence, stability, harmonised exchange and payment system as well as liberalisation of current and capital accounts," Mrs Meghji said in her opening remarks at the 24th meeting of the Committee of SADC Central Bank Governors in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

SADC's Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) outlines that the region should have in place a free trade area by 2008, customs union by 2010, common market by 2015, monetary union by 2016 and single currency by 2018.

The minister said SADC countries had a bright future provided they worked together to tackle challenges that were likely to impede the region's vision of building a community of free people with shared prosperity.

Mrs Meghji challenged the governors as experts in monetary policies to provide the lead in the region's integration process, especially in the area of economic convergence.

"Where appropriate, this committee should not hesitate to advise us (governments) on how best SADC can achieve its objectives, after all, SADC is largely an economic agenda," the minister stressed.

The minister commended the committee for its contribution in development of various important agreements and protocols, including the Finance and Investment Protocol (FIP) that was signed by SADC heads of state and government in Maseru, Lesotho, in August, last year. She said so far 10 countries in SADC have already signed the protocol.

She said FIP was an important vehicle for the implementation of SADC's development plan.

She said she was aware that the committee was finalising the development of a model central bank bill for SADC and was harnessing capacity building programmes, including more utilisation of training institutions such as the Mwanza- based Bank of Tanzania (BoT) training institute.

SADC is a major regional body in Africa with a total population of over 230 million that accounts for almost one third of the population of the African continent. The combined gross domestic product (GDP) of SADC member states is more than 200 billion US dollars.

It currently has 14 member states, namely: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/page.php?id=6538

Angalau huku hakuna Muungano wa kisiasa na tumekwisha fanya mambo mengi pamoja na kunawafanya wakenya wawe na wasiwasi na soko lao hapa bongo.

 

[Maxence Melo]

Na ndo kunakotufaa!

Serious people and not hatred

 

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

Wana JF. nimeleta hii mada hapa kwani leo nilikuwa natembelea website ya Jeshi la polisi. Kwenye hii website http://www.policeforce.go.tz/muhtasari wa kesi za kusisimua.htm jeshi la polisi wameeleza vizuri kabisa madhara yanayosababishwa na Madawa haya ikiwa kama kupotea kwa nguvu kazi, uhalifu na hata kugharimu maisha. Ila kinachonishangaza nimeangalia kesi za toka mwaka 2001 kati ya kesi 10 ni kesi nne tuu zimetolewa hukumu na adhabu kali kabisa ni miaka 12. Naona hii adhabu haiwiani na kosa au na faida wanayopata wafanya biashara hawa na ndio maana Tanzania inakuwa ni njia ya kuyapitishia madawa haya na vijanaa wetu wengi wanaharibika uhalifu nao unaongezeka. Sasa hapa napata wasiwasi kama kweli serikali inatafanikiwa kushinda hii vita? Jambo lingine ambalo naomba wana JF wanieleweshe niwapi huwa hayo madawa yanapelekwa? Kila mara tunasikia madawa ya mamilioni yanakamatwa lakini sijawahi kusikia yanateketezwa au yanakopelekwa hii ni sawa na tunasikia polisi wamekamata au kuua majambazi lakini mali zilizo ibwa na pesa zilizoibwa sijui huwa inakuwa je. Pia sijajua Shwala zima la usalama wa raia kwa huu muungano wetu wa africa mashariki limewekwa vipi kwani matukio mengi ya uhalifu unakuta wahalifu wanashikiana mf. kutoka Kenya na Tanzania. nawasilisha Hoja.

 

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

mmmmh naombeni majibu kwa hili swala

 

[Ole]

The LRA's Joseph Kony is wanted by the ICC for war crimes

Uganda's government says it has agreed to rebel concessions to kick start stalled peace talks to end the 20 year civil war in the north of the country. But the power to drop international war crimes charges against the Lord's Resistance Army leadership is beyond its power, a spokesman told the BBC.

A northern MP says the warrants are a stumbling block to a final peace deal.
The negotiations have reopened in Juba, southern Sudan, three months after the rebel negotiators walked out. The chief mediator for the talks, south Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar says he is confident that things will be better this time.

"The leadership of the LRA recommitted his organisation to the peace process. The Ugandan government also committed itself for the peace talks so I think there is more optimism, there is seriousness in the current peace talks," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. Some 2m people have fled their homes and thousands of children have been abducted by the LRA during the civil conflict.

Accountability

The talks were officially reopened by former Mozambican President Joacim Chissano on Thursday morning. Ugandan minister for international relations says that concessions were made to the rebels as a "process of confidence building".

"The government of Uganda has decided to relent or support the process by accepting any conditions by the LRA that will create a amicable and confident atmosphere to proceed to peace talks," Henry Okello Oryem told the BBC.

Some of the concessions include:


The expansion of the mediation team to include Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique Rebel fighters to gather at a single assembly point - Ri-Kwangba in south Sudan - by the end of June, instead of the two locations originally agreed. An allowance increase for the LRA negotiation team. When the talks broke up in January both sides were on the brink of signing an agreement on the economic and social development of the north as well as the settlement of the region's thousands of displaced people.

The BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says once these issues have been dealt with the difficult issue of reconciliation and accountability will be on the agenda. LRA leader Joseph Kony and three of his top commanders are wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Jimmy Akena, Ugandan MP for Lira, who has attended the talks told the BBC's Swahili Service these arrest warrants were the main stumbling block to peace. But Uganda government spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye says this issue is something that cannot be dealt with now.

"My suggestion to the LRA leadership is to get on with the peace talks which will allow their fighters to return home," he told the BBC. "Once agreement has been reached it will be easy for both parties to go home and under our traditional ways could find ways of convincing the international community and ICC to drop the charges."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6596383.stm

Kwa muda wa miaka 20 Museveni ameshindwa kuweka amani nchini mwake sasa ataweza akiungana kwenye jumuiya? Walipa kodi WTZ na nchi zingine wataanza kulipia matatizo yao endapo tutajiunga.

 

[mikuki]

Mtoto wa mkulima hawa polisi hawana data! Mimi kuna kesi kibao nimeshadeal nazo za madawa ya kulevya.....Infact kuna jamaa wawili walipigwa miaka 30 pale High Court... I was involved kama amicus ! Kwa hiyo data hizo sio sahihi na ofcourse mwenyewe unajua nchi yetu tulivyo wazembe wa kukusanya data! Ila na Mahakama nayo iko slow saana!!! Labda serikali iamue kuajiri vijana wengi mahakimu na WAWEWEZESHE sio watawala kujilipa fresh harafu wanataka vijana tuwe wazalendo kwa kwenda kudeposit degree zetu vijijini kwa mshahara wa laki moja! Itakuwa ngumu kidogo hapo! Kama ni uzalendo tufanye wote, otherwise tutakuwa tunadanganyana kila siku na kuoneana!

Harafu what I can tell you from experience, hakuna watu wanaoharibu kesi kama Polisi Yaani wengi wao wako very incompetent especially wanapokutana na sophsicated laws zinazohusu mambo complex, maprosecutors kibao wamezoea kudeal na ujambazi wa mwaka 47! We unafikiri makosa kama cyber crimes, hizi narcotics, financial crimes...nyingi zinawashinda askari wetu kwa sababu either hawana elimu, elimu yao ndo ndogo au hawajajiendeleza kuendana na hali ya mabadiliko ya dunia! hii ukichanganya na some smart lawyers ambao wanajua kazi yao......watuhumiwa wengi wanaachiwa! kwa sababu ya poor prosecution au kukosekana ushahidi! Thats on professional level..ukiangalia na suala la rushwa...basi..ndo mambo yanaharibika kabisa.... Kwa hiyo tatizo ni kubwa than we may see or read in papers!

 

[Dua]

Arusha Times (Arusha)
NEWS
April 28, 2007
Posted to the web April 29, 2007

By Samson Waigwa
Arusha

Much hyped Fast-Tracking of the East African political federation is a failed move unless imposed against the wishes of most Tanzanians. The National Consultative Committee tasked to collect opinions of Tanzanians on fast-tracking of the East African political federation has so far found that an overwhelming majority are vehemently opposed to the idea.

It is estimated that about 80 per cent of those who have aired their views have rejected fast tracking as a way of realizing a political federation of the five East African countries - Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The Wangwe Commission is just about to wind up its task. Last week, Members of Parliament minced no words in expressing their views opposing the fast tracking move, some of them saying even seeking views is uncalled for and the consultative committee should be dissolved. They said the Tsh.2 billion being spent to seek views is a waste and should be channeled to fight HIV/AIDS.

The EAC headquarters in Arusha also has a deputy secretary general responsible for fast tracking the federation. "There is no need to speed up the process leading to a political federation. This should come automatically if we lay the foundation. You're squandering people's money. The funds should be used to fight HIV/AIDS, said Dr. Binilith Mahenge, Member of Parliament for Makete.

He noted amid approving applause from other MPs, that a sound foundation in economic integration was what was needed at the moment. Members of Parliament rejected the idea of fast tracking the East African political federation citing disparities in administration, education, economy and security in the EAC member states.

"Why do we want to fast-track this issue? May be our leaders will tell us, otherwise I don't see the reason why we should take this matter as an urgent one. MP for Mbozi East, Godfrey Zambi said security in Uganda and Kenya is a delicate issue and that it would be dangerous for a peaceful country like Tanzania to join countries dogged by civil strife.

He said that East African countries leaders were bulldozing the people on the whole issue of fast tracking. "We do not want to be bulldozed," he said. The MP however may not be right because President Kikwete had at the launch of the committee said that he would respect views and wishes of Tanzanians as far as fast tracking of the federation was concerned. If the president sticks to his words, then the writing is clear on the wall-there will be no fast tracking.

Dr. Chrisant Mzindakaya, MP for Kwela said EAC member states should concentrate on the yet shaky Customs Union and proposed Common Market instead of jumping to political federation which at the moment is beyond their league. Another MP, Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe backed him saying that it had earlier been planned that the process to a political federation would follow a logical sequence, entailing a Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union, etc.

"A political federation is formed by countries which already have national unity within themselves. Look ... Northern Uganda is ungovernable for 20 years now? Will it be governable within the East African federation umbrella?" he wondered. He said 100 per cent of his constituency members are opposed to speeding up the political federation process.

William Shelukindo, MP for Bumbuli said insatiable thirst for power and wealth is dangerous, implying that leaders who want to see the process speeded up are doing so for their own interests. He claimed that development of Arusha stalled during the former EAC existence. He said the town started developing again only after the collapse of the community in 1977. He did not elaborate his claims but Shelukindo was then the Regional Development Director for Arusha region.

Last week, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, Dr. Fortunatus Masha said that the whole process of collecting views of Tanzanians on the fast tracking of the East African political federation was illegal and unacceptable. The whole exercise, he said, is flawed because before the process to collect peoples views began there ought to have been a "White Paper" explaining in details what political federation is, its formation, mode of operation and social, political and economic benefits for the member states.

Hatishwi mtu lakini hao manyan'g** wanajua kwao ni wapi?

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

The biggest problem about this discussion is the lack of evidence in most of what the ant-EAC political federation are telling us, which necessarily amounts to shouting. For example, when a learned comrade Dr Harrison Mwakyembe tells us that 100 percent of his constituent members are opposed to the federation, when and how did he do a research to come up with these strongly worded comments?

And how can you substantiate William Shelukindo's comments that the fast tracking of the EAC is triggered by "insatiable thirst for [political] power"?

 

[Unregistered]

kadiri ya muono wangu ningependekeza kuwa Muungano wa Afrika mashariki usiende kasi hivi hasa katika kuziunganisha nchi hizo kisiasa kwani hicho ni kitu kisichowezekana.
Ni kitu kizuri sana kujiunganisha kiuchumi na kasiasa kila nchi ibaki huru na tuone kwanza huu muungano wa kiuchumi utatufikisha wapi.
Kitu kingine ni kwamba lazima tukubali kuwa wenzetu wa Kenye na Uganda wanatuzidi watanzania kwa ujanja na hivyo mwisho mwishoni kukiwa na HASARA kubwa basi ni sisi watnzania ndo tutakaoumia.

Mtanzania halisi na
Muumini kutoka CROATIA.

 

[Invisible]

You are welcome Unregistered;

Kutokana na kuwepo kwa spammers wengi nadhani utatuwia radhi muda si mrefu tutazuia posts kutoka kwa wale wasiojisajili kwani kuna usumbufu sana.

Aidha; nakushukuru kwa mawazo yako na naamini wahusika wameyasoma na yanafanyiwa kazi.

Karibu

 

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

Doubts over graft remain as Dar gets $190m aid

By KEVIN KELLY

Kenya's economic resurgence is helping to power the growth of its East African neighbours, the World Bank's country director for Tanzania and Uganda has said in an interview last week.

"The outlook does seem promising in all three countries," said Judy O'Connor, an Irish national who has worked at the World Bank for more than 30 years. "Tanzania and Uganda are definitely benefiting from the strength of Kenya's economy."

Speaking to The EastAfrican from Washington, Ms O'Connor offered the positive appraisals two days after the bank approved a $190 million anti-poverty initiative for Tanzania and a $42 million credit to support education improvements for Zanzibar.

The bank also last week approved a $150 million loan to spur construction of the Bujagali hydropower project in Uganda.

Ms O'Connor praised the recent economic performance of both Tanzania and Uganda, adding that the two countries are also attacking corruption and reducing poverty.

Tanzania has achieved 10 years of strong economic growth despite increases in oil prices and damage to the farming sector due to drought, Ms O'Connor noted.

Uganda's economic expansion has been even more robust than Tanzania's during the same period, she added, pointing out that Uganda has also had to withstand "energy shocks."

"The high cost of energy is really hurting Uganda's economy," Ms O'Connor said. She expressed hope that the World Bank's favourable review will encourage private investors to help develop Uganda's oil and mineral deposits as well as its hydropower resources.

With all three East African economies remaining vibrant, the bank is taking a gentler tack on governance issues that had drawn pointed criticism in the past.

Ms O'Connor said the Kikwete administration is making "remarkable progress" in combating corruption while President Yoweri Museveni's government "is doing quite a bit" to build institutional capacity to fight graft.

Control over corruption has not advanced in Uganda to the extent that the World Bank had hoped, she said. But added that Uganda still scores better than many African countries on a corruption index compiled by the bank.

"The government is starting to put some teeth into its efforts to ensure accountability," Ms O'Connor said in regard to Uganda. "We would like to see more of those teeth."

She expressed almost unconditional approval of Tanzania's anti-corruption initiatives. Graft does remain a problem, Ms O'Connor acknowledged, adding, however, that "many aspects of the problem are being addressed."

She cited greater freedom of the press in Tanzania as an important factor in fighting corruption.

"There has been support from the top - from President Kikwete and senior officials - for the press to be more investigative," Ms O'Connor said.

Impressive economic growth rates are beginning to alleviate poverty in both countries that she monitors and advises, she added.

Some rural areas of Tanzania "are doing a lot better than others, depending on how well connected they are to markets," she observed. In Uganda, she said, the nationwide poverty rate has fallen to about 31 per cent in the past few years, which she termed "a significant improvement."

Ms O'Connor expressed reluctance to comment on political conditions in either Tanzania or Uganda, noting that the World Bank has "a mandate not to go into the political sphere."

But in response to a question about growing ethnic tensions in Uganda, she said she hopes "one would not use a single event to see a trend." Animosity toward Ugandans of Asian descent does, however, constitute "a potential issue that has to be understood and dealt with," Ms O'Connor added.

She also suggested that strains between Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland be effectively addressed.

"We see positive signs there," she said. "The two leaders do seem committed to resolving tensions."

The World Bank will encourage Tanzania in the coming months to focus on education, infrastructure and energy, Ms O'Connor said.

"We want to see attention given to the quality as well as to quantity of education," she declared.

Tanzania should also give priority to transportation projects that will improve linkages between the country's interior and its Indian Ocean ports, she said.

"With greater private investment," she added, "the country will have a more reliable energy supply."

Source: http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/News300407.htm

 

[Unregistered]

Rwanda joins EAC in June (The New Times)
May 01, 2007 at 07:44 AM


REGIONAL COOPERATION - The East African Community Secretariat plans to formally admit Rwanda in the regional bloc on June 18 in Kampala during the 9th Heads of State Summit, The New Times has learnt. The ceremony, where Rwanda is expected to be given full membership status in the regional economic bloc, including voting rights, comes weeks before July 1st which the Community had set last year.

The date of accession was announced over the weekend by Beatrice Kiraso, the Deputy Secretary General of the EAC in charge of fast-tracking the political federation, during the East African Media Summit at the Grand Regency Hotel in Nairobi, attended by media owners, media chief executives and journalists from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

With Rwanda and Burundi's expected admission, the region's domestic market will grow to 120 million.

The business community in the region, who attended the summit, said that the market and resources in the five countries were enough to spur economic development and make the region a business hub.

The head of EAC directorate of corporate communications and public affairs, Magaga A lot, urged the country and people of East Africa to unite if they were to enjoy the potentials, drawing comparison to the United States.

"We see an effusion of expression of admiration for the United States of America, not anything else, but the United States of America's stupendous wealth and awesome power.

Indeed about every East African I meet on the streets today just to go to the United States."
"But the Unites States is not endowed with all that more natural resources," he argued, than East Africa, in terms of population , land mass, minerals, forests, fresh water than east Africa.
Rwanda applied to join the East African economic bloc in 1996, while Burundi followed suit three years later.

Rwanda joins the EAC after Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania launched a customs union, now preparing for a single market and a unified currency, before finally forging a political federation between 2010 and 2013.

Last year, during Rwanda's admission, President Paul Kagame was quoted describing the entrance of his country and Burundi into EAC as a historic decision and an important landmark in his country's history.

Political gurus in the region peg Rwanda and Burundi admission into EAC to the current peace and stability the two countries are enjoying. It is argued that, if the two countries were not stable, their application to join EAC would have been turned down.

The two countries are the first French-speaking members, now making the bloc bilingual.

BY KABONA ESIARA IN NAIROBI

 

[Mkenya]

We mourn on behalf of passengers on board the fatefull Flight. Tafadhali tuziweke tofauti zetu aside.

Kenya Airways Jet With 114 Aboard Missing in Africa (Update1)

By Carli Lourens and Eric Ombok

May 5 (Bloomberg) -- Kenya Airways, Africa's second-largest carrier, said a passenger plane with 114 people on board went missing today after taking off from Douala, Cameroon, on a flight to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Cameroon's civil aviation authority picked up a distress signal from the Boeing 737-800 aircraft off the country's west coast and sent a rescue team at 11:05 a.m. Cameroon time, said Kenya Airways Managing Director Titus Naikuni.

The airplane was traveling from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, with a stopover in Cameroon and had been due to arrive in Nairobi at 6:15 a.m. local time. The passengers include 34 Cameroonians, 15 Indians, 7 South Africans, 6 Chinese, 6 Nigerians, 5 British and one U.S. national, Naikuni told reporters in Nairobi today.

Naikuni couldn't confirm an Agence France-Presse report that the plane had crashed and been located. The report cited an unidentified government official for the information. Only national civil aviation authorities can release such information, Naikuni said.

CNN cited a Cameroon radio station as saying the plane crashed near the town of Niete, in the south of the country.

The aircraft is six months old, Naikuni said. He didn't release the credentials of the pilot. Earlier, the airline had said in a statement that there were 115 passengers on board.

Enquiries about flight KQ 507 can be directed to an international passenger information center at +27-11-207-1100, Kenya Airways said.

The airline, which flies to 30 destinations in Africa and 25 cities worldwide, said it will hold another press briefing at 3 p.m. Nairobi time.

 

[Ole]

Mkenya

Hiyo habari ipo hapa kwenye thread iliyofunguliwa kabla unaweza kuchangia huko:

http://www.jamboforums.com/showthread.php?p=33989#post33989

 

[Dua]

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
NEWS
9 May 2007
Posted to the web 8 May 2007

Nyakundi Nyamboga
Nairobi

Kenya suffered yet another humiliation when other East African Community partner states declined to support what is seen as a bid to defeat a court judgement. Uganda and Tanzania refused to be persuaded by Kenya's interpretation of the East African Court of Justice a judgment that outlawed its nine nominees to the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala).

The Government said the decision would only affect nominations made prior to the March 30 judgement. Kenya also took the position that its list of nominees to Eala would only be nullified by way of an election petition, which must be filed and determined by the High Court. The Arusha court had found that contrary to Article 50 of the community treaty, Kenya did not elect its nominees.

The article provides: "The National Assembly of each partner state shall elect, not from among its members, nine members of the assembly ." The court also found that Kenya Election Rules 2001 infringe Article 50 and declared them null and void. Narc partners, Liberal Democratic Party, National Alliance Party, Democratic Party and Ford-Kenya differed on their nominees.
'Nominees list submitted still stand'

In October, last year, 11 MPs led by Prof Anyang' Nyong'o, sought to bar the swearing in of nominees on the grounds that they had not been elected, and that the country did not have election rules compliant to the treaty. The applicants demanded the reinstatement of Narc nominees whose names were proposed and endorsed by Parliament but were later dropped.

The list of nine members that was eventually sent to Arusha included Ms Safina Sungu Kwekwe, Ms Catherine Ngime Kimura, Mr Clarkson Otieno Karan and Mr Augustino Lotodo Chemonges - who had replaced the original nominees, Ms Yvonne Khamati, Mr Ochieng' Mbeo, Ms Rose Waruhiu and Mr Fidelis Nguli. Each partner brought its own names, but the Government side amended the list. Kanu had three members; Mr Abdirahman Hathar Abdi, Mrs Sarah Godana and Mr Christopher Nakuleu. Ford People, which was entitled to one seat, had nominated a former MP for South Mugirango, Mr Reuben Oyondi.

And at three meetings in Arusha last week attended by Attorney General, Mr Amos Wako, and East African Community minister, Mr John Koech, Kenya reiterated this position: "It is important to note that the East African Court of Justice, in refusing to order that Kenya repeat its nomination and election process and that Kenya be granted an extension of time to submit its nominees implied that the nominees list submitted still stands unless or until an appropriate order from a Kenyan court is served stopping it".

Uganda proposed that Kenya revises impugned rules. It urged Uganda and Tanzania to share its view that "all the elected members to the Eala should be sworn in and the assembly constituted immediately". However, Uganda said it would be unlawful "to swear in the very individuals whose selection has been found to be in contravention of the treaty". Uganda denied the judgement was advisory and observed that even at national level, "a judgement of this nature invariably automatically annuls the challenged election and leads to fresh elections".

As a way forward, it proposed that Kenya revises the impugned rules and thereafter select its representatives. Tanzania too observed that the judgement is binding on all partner states. It proposed that Kenya implements the judgement in accordance with Article 38 (3) of the treaty.
At the meetings held between May 2 and May 4, Mr Freddie Ruhindi, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs and also the deputy attorney general represented Uganda.

Impasse referred to heads of state meeting

Tanzania's Minister for East African Co-operation, Eriya Kategaya, also attended. The council of ministers referred the impasse to the heads of state meeting to be held in Kampala on June 18. It remains to be seen whether President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete will defy the positions taken by their representatives and back President Kibaki.

A five-judge Bench led by the court's president, Mr Justice Moijo ole Keiwua of Kenya, kicked off the controversy after it overturned the nominations on March 30. Other judges were Mr Justice Mulenga, Mr Justice Augustino Ramadhani, Mr Justice Kasanga Mulwa and Mr Justice Harold Nsekela.
Nominated MP, Mr Mututla Kilonzo, led a team of lawyers from Nairobi, who included Mr Otiende Amollo, Ms Judy Sijenyi and Mr Eugene Wamalwa.
Deputy solicitor general, Ms Muthoni Kimani and Mr Antony Ombwayo represented the State.

We are here for a rough ride.

 

[Frank K]

Rwanda joins EAC in June (The New Times)
May 01, 2007 at 07:44 AM


REGIONAL COOPERATION - The East African Community Secretariat plans to formally admit Rwanda in the regional bloc on June 18 in Kampala during the 9th Heads of State Summit, The New Times has learnt. The ceremony, where Rwanda is expected to be given full membership status in the regional economic bloc, including voting rights, comes weeks before July 1st which the Community had set last year.

The date of accession was announced over the weekend by Beatrice Kiraso, the Deputy Secretary General of the EAC in charge of fast-tracking the political federation, during the East African Media Summit at the Grand Regency Hotel in Nairobi, attended by media owners, media chief executives and journalists from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

With Rwanda and Burundi's expected admission, the region's domestic market will grow to 120 million.

The business community in the region, who attended the summit, said that the market and resources in the five countries were enough to spur economic development and make the region a business hub.

The head of EAC directorate of corporate communications and public affairs, Magaga A lot, urged the country and people of East Africa to unite if they were to enjoy the potentials, drawing comparison to the United States.

"We see an effusion of expression of admiration for the United States of America, not anything else, but the United States of America's stupendous wealth and awesome power.

Indeed about every East African I meet on the streets today just to go to the United States."
"But the Unites States is not endowed with all that more natural resources," he argued, than East Africa, in terms of population , land mass, minerals, forests, fresh water than east Africa.
Rwanda applied to join the East African economic bloc in 1996, while Burundi followed suit three years later.

Rwanda joins the EAC after Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania launched a customs union, now preparing for a single market and a unified currency, before finally forging a political federation between 2010 and 2013.

Last year, during Rwanda's admission, President Paul Kagame was quoted describing the entrance of his country and Burundi into EAC as a historic decision and an important landmark in his country's history.

Political gurus in the region peg Rwanda and Burundi admission into EAC to the current peace and stability the two countries are enjoying. It is argued that, if the two countries were not stable, their application to join EAC would have been turned down.

The two countries are the first French-speaking members, now making the bloc bilingual.

BY KABONA ESIARA IN NAIROBI

Tanzania: Arbitrary Ejection of Refugees Upsets Rights Group


Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)

8 May 2007
Posted to the web 8 May 2007

Bujumbura

A global human rights watchdog today accused Tanzania of violating international law by expelling people of Rwandan and Burundian origin.

In a letter to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Human Rights Watch also said state security forces were committing abuses against the foreigners.

Since May 2006, Tanzania has sent back some 15,000 persons to Rwanda and several thousand more to Burundi, the group said.

"Tanzania has the right to expel people who are illegally within its territory, but it must assess cases individually," said Alison des Forges, senior Africa advisor at Human Rights Watch. "Arbitrary expulsion of people based on their national origin is a serious violation of international law."

According to HRW, the Tanzanian government says the operation is aimed at reducing the number of illegal immigrants in the country, but Tanzanian officials have also expelled naturalized Tanzanian citizens, registered refugees living in refugee camps, and persons who have an apparently valid claim to asylum but reside outside of camps.

Some have lived in Tanzania for decades or were born there and have never lived elsewhere. According to Tanzanian officials, the operation is targeting a total of 60,000 persons of Rwandan origin and an as yet unspecified number of persons of Burundian origin, HRW said.

Relevant Links

Central Africa
East Africa
Tanzania
Refugees and Displacement
Human Rights
Burundi
Rwanda


According to accounts gathered by organisation, Tanzanian soldiers, police and militia have beaten and threatened people they wanted to expel and have looted and destroyed their property. In some places, these roundups have resulted in parents being separated from children, including infants being separated from their mothers. In addition, police have confiscated and destroyed documents proving that the targeted persons were naturalized Tanzanian citizens.

The Tanzanian government failed to provide adequate warning of the expulsion to Rwanda and Burundi or to humanitarian agencies, thus hampering the prompt delivery of assistance to the new arrivals. Many of those expelled now live in misery and are short of food, firewood and shelter.

HRW urged President Kikwete to ensure that all persons at risk of expulsion are screened procedurally, ideally in conjunction with staff of the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR). Those identified by legitimate screening as not being legal residents of Tanzania should be returned to their countries of origin in dignity.

 

[Ole]

Frank K

Do you have a letter from Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC) to President George Bush about his inhuman treatment to Mexicans. could you share that with us?

http://www.jamboforums.com/showthread.php?t=2771&page=3

 

[Ole]

Government Denies Rights Violations

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
9 May 2007
Posted to the web 9 May 2007
Dar Es Salaam

Tanzanian authorities have denied accusations by a human rights agency that their expulsion of refugees and immigrants from neighbouring countries amounts to a violation of human rights.

"It is true that repatriation of refugees from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] and Rwanda has been carried out by the government for several months. But that was being done on a voluntary basis," Joseph Mungai, the Home Affairs Minister, said on Wednesday.

The minister said the exercise was being carried out under agreements between Tanzania, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the respective governments, so that only those who had expressed their willingness to return home were being assisted in that endeavour.

Mungai, however, said some of the refugees were not ready to return. He said officials from the governments of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, accompanied by the UNHCR, had visited several camps to persuade the refugees to return home after the return of peace to their respective countries.

"I have personally visited several refugee camps to explain the situation," he said. The minister, however, said there were hundreds of thousands of refugees outside the camps who had lived in Tanzania for a very long time.

"These people do not have refugee status and according to the law, they have to leave the country or obtain legal status either through naturalisation or by securing a resident permit," he said.

The minister admitted that illegal immigrants were sent home, but noted that legal procedures were adhered to during their transportation along with their property. "The door is open for those with complaints about loss of property or unfair treatment," the minister stressed.

Treatment of refugees under fire

The New York-based agency Human Rights Watch (HRW) had earlier in the week written to President Jakaya Kikwete criticising his government's treatment of refugees and illegal immigrants.

"According to testimony received by Human Rights Watch researchers, some expelled persons were threatened, beaten and saw their property looted by Tanzanian officials, soldiers, and police officers or by militia groups acting with the apparent compliance of government officials.

"The expelled persons - including some who were recognised as refugees and others who were naturalised Tanzanian citizens - were driven from their homes without any semblance of legal procedure.

"It is urgent that you take action to prevent such ill-treatment in the coming months, especially since Tanzania has announced its intention to send tens of thousands more persons across the borders into Rwanda and Burundi," read the letter.

"All individuals claiming refugee status in Tanzania are protected under international law from ill-treatment and forced return to their countries of origin, pending determination of their claim," HRW added.

The organisation called for an investigation of the authorities responsible for violating the rights of the expelled persons, saying they should be held accountable.

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]