East African Federation (EAF) public Views

[Abdulhalim]

Okay, I get your point. But then again, it's obvious that the common mwananchi is going not to benefit directly, the process will be gradual. That's how economies work. For instance, when markets are opened, that means that traders are able to go directly to the market and sell their products (this case applies to both tangible commodities and services). A country like Tanzania is very rich with natural resources (well, even skilled personnel exist) in abundance. So what really matters is the policies and strategy that will be put to ensure that traders are not deprived. So, saying that the masses will not benefit at all is not true.
Secondly, as i have said, it will depend on the policies that your country will have on foreign investors that will gauge how much you benefit. I believe EAF will largely be focusing on EA countries, so that does not affect other foreign investors in any way, as in they can invest whether EAF exists or not (because that is what is happening currently).

You can remain optimistic, I don't blame you.

But for me I don't subscribe to blind optimism. I can't accept the notion that the common mwananchi will beenfit without showing how or when or in which part of the process? I have pointed some issues which seems valid to this point. One of them is that in Tz, the private sector is in dogs level. Small scale manufacturing , medium and micro economy is pathetic. We are importing even chopsticks and furniture!! You can say it is a problem of policy, but it is more that that. Traders are busy importing used cars and machineries, mitumba na madudu mengine, hizi ni substandards goods which suits the purchasing power of our poor masses.

Nataka kusema ni kwamba Tz like many other developing countries, we are not there yet in the situation where our economy can rely solely on free trade. Lazima watu waanze kwene grassroots kuwa na kuwa na strong middle class, small business na kujaza bidhaa local kwa masoko ya ndani KWANZA. Top down approach will never do it. Hizo foreign investment haziwezi kusaidia watu wetu na mfano nimetoa wa madini. We have more than a decade of experience. We had countless failed foreign investments, mind you those people were even given tax holidays ili watu-exploit vizuri zaidi! Lakini hali ya kipato is still bad bad bad.

We can't afford random opening of our markets hata kwene bidhaa za vyakula (wakati tupo na ardhi ya kutosha na kuweza kufanya umwagiliaji) na mambo mengine madogomadogo ambayo ni rahisi tu ku-produce locally. Masoko yanatakiwa yafunguliwe tu kwene bidhaa zile ambazo bado tuko nyuma kitechologia kuzitengeneza kama electronics, heavy machineries and the likes.

Developed countries are very good in close monitoring the balance between imports and exports. No country can develop without finding that balance,applying this top-down approaches will make Tz to become a permanent consumer and playground for other coutry to run into. People tend to forget that in Tz lots of people do not pay taxes. Sasa wakapoondoa au kupunguza tarrifs kwene imports ina maana funding kwene development will suffer, na atakayefaidika ni importer (pengine a local national) na manufacturer (wa nje), yaani ni sawa na case ya street beggar kugawana mkate wake na mtu mwingine asiye na shida..This is so lame.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

You can remain optimistic, I don't blame you.

But for me I don't subscribe to blind optimism. I can't accept the notion that the common mwananchi will beenfit without showing how or when or in which part of the process? I have pointed some issues which seems valid to this point. One of them is that in Tz, the private sector is in dogs level. Small scale manufacturing , medium and micro economy is pathetic. We are importing even chopsticks and furniture!! You can say it is a problem of policy, but it is more that that. Traders are busy importing used cars and machineries, mitumba na madudu mengine, hizi ni substandards goods which suits the purchasing power of our poor masses.

Nataka kusema ni kwamba Tz like many other developing countries, we are not there yet in the situation where our economy can rely solely on free trade. Lazima watu waanze kwene grassroots kuwa na kuwa na strong middle class, small business na kujaza bidhaa local kwa masoko ya ndani KWANZA. Top down approach will never do it. Hizo foreign investment haziwezi kusaidia watu wetu na mfano nimetoa wa madini. We have more than a decade of experience. We had countless failed foreign investments, mind you those people were even given tax holidays ili watu-exploit vizuri zaidi! Lakini hali ya kipato is still bad bad bad.

We can't afford random opening of our markets hata kwene bidhaa za vyakula (wakati tupo na ardhi ya kutosha na kuweza kufanya umwagiliaji) na mambo mengine madogomadogo ambayo ni rahisi tu ku-produce locally. Masoko yanatakiwa yafunguliwe tu kwene bidhaa zile ambazo bado tuko nyuma kitechologia kuzitengeneza kama electronics, heavy machineries and the likes.

Developed countries are very good in close monitoring the balance between imports and exports. No country can develop without finding that balance,applying this top-down approaches will make Tz to become a permanent consumer and playground for other coutry to run into. People tend to forget that in Tz lots of people do not pay taxes. Sasa wakapoondoa au kupunguza tarrifs kwene imports ina maana funding kwene development will suffer, na atakayefaidika ni importer (pengine a local national) na manufacturer (wa nje), yaani ni sawa na case ya street beggar kugawana mkate wake na mtu mwingine asiye na shida..This is so lame.

Mkuu,

Now you are talking and I like this maana jana ilikua matusi tu mtindo mmoja!
Huu ushirikiano kwa jinsi wakenya wanavyowaandama watanzania utajua wana lao jambo.

Blind optimism verses cautious calculations...take your pick.

Swadaktaa.

 

[Abdulhalim]

Mkuu,

Now you are talking and I like this maana jana ilikua matusi tu mtindo mmoja!
Huu ushirikiano kwa jinsi wakenya wanavyowaandama watanzania utajua wana lao jambo.

Blind optimism verses cautious calculations...take your pick.

Swadaktaa.

Sawa Abuu, nimekupata. Unajua hii forum inaharibiwa na watu fulani fulani kwa kusudi kabisa. Kama kule kwenye jukwaa la siasa kuna watu wanasema kuna mapandikizi huenda kweli hata huku watu wamechomekwa ili kuhakikisha hakuna cha maana kinachoongelewa..ili nia na madhumuni iwe kwamba at the end of the day no information or knowledge is shared or conveyed.

Cheers.

 

[RealDeal]

You can remain optimistic, I don't blame you.

But for me I don't subscribe to blind optimism. I can't accept the notion that the common mwananchi will beenfit without showing how or when or in which part of the process? I have pointed some issues which seems valid to this point. One of them is that in Tz, the private sector is in dogs level. Small scale manufacturing , medium and micro economy is pathetic. We are importing even chopsticks and furniture!! You can say it is a problem of policy, but it is more that that. Traders are busy importing used cars and machineries, mitumba na madudu mengine, hizi ni substandards goods which suits the purchasing power of our poor masses.

Nataka kusema ni kwamba Tz like many other developing countries, we are not there yet in the situation where our economy can rely solely on free trade. Lazima watu waanze kwene grassroots kuwa na kuwa na strong middle class, small business na kujaza bidhaa local kwa masoko ya ndani KWANZA. Top down approach will never do it. Hizo foreign investment haziwezi kusaidia watu wetu na mfano nimetoa wa madini. We have more than a decade of experience. We had countless failed foreign investments, mind you those people were even given tax holidays ili watu-exploit vizuri zaidi! Lakini hali ya kipato is still bad bad bad.

We can't afford random opening of our markets hata kwene bidhaa za vyakula (wakati tupo na ardhi ya kutosha na kuweza kufanya umwagiliaji) na mambo mengine madogomadogo ambayo ni rahisi tu ku-produce locally. Masoko yanatakiwa yafunguliwe tu kwene bidhaa zile ambazo bado tuko nyuma kitechologia kuzitengeneza kama electronics, heavy machineries and the likes.

Developed countries are very good in close monitoring the balance between imports and exports. No country can develop without finding that balance,applying this top-down approaches will make Tz to become a permanent consumer and playground for other coutry to run into. People tend to forget that in Tz lots of people do not pay taxes. Sasa wakapoondoa au kupunguza tarrifs kwene imports ina maana funding kwene development will suffer, na atakayefaidika ni importer (pengine a local national) na manufacturer (wa nje), yaani ni sawa na case ya street beggar kugawana mkate wake na mtu mwingine asiye na shida..This is so lame.

Lemme break it down further.

A free trade agreement is a pact between countries or areas in which they both agree to lift most or all tariffs, quotas, special fees and taxes, and other barriers to trade between the entities.
The purpose of free trade agreements is to allow faster and more business between the countries/areas, which should benefit both.


The underlying economic theory of free trade agreements is that of "comparative advantage," which originated in an 1817 from a certain economist from Britain. His book is entitled "On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation"



Put simply, the "theory of comparative advantage " postulates that that in a free marketplace, each country/area will ultimately specialize in that activity where it has comparative advantage (i.e. natural resources, skilled artisans, agriculture-friendly weather, etc.). Like in your case TZ is invincible in natural resources and the latter.

The result should be that all parties to the pact will increase their income.

In your sentiments, i don't find solid excuses, because i don't think industries are just built in a flash. For a country like TZ, it would take full re-structuring to be able to produce or rather manufacture own goods and sell the goods to your own market. It would not be applicable. Even in Kenya, most of the goods manufactured are exported, we don't consume them by our own self. So, simply, manufactured goods need consumers, esp. foreign so as to benefit a country's economy. So, i believe you get what i mean when i say re-structuring is inevitable. Currently, our east African countries face adverse balance of trade. This is mainly because of the export-import between the countries.
BTW, don't say that TZ will turn into a consumer country while you forget that you are the primary producers.

 

[nomasana]

Lemme break it down further.

A free trade agreement is a pact between countries or areas in which they both agree to lift most or all tariffs, quotas, special fees and taxes, and other barriers to trade between the entities.
The purpose of free trade agreements is to allow faster and more business between the countries/areas, which should benefit both.


The underlying economic theory of free trade agreements is that of "comparative advantage," which originated in an 1817 from a certain economist from Britain. His book is entitled "On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation"



Put simply, the "theory of comparative advantage " postulates that that in a free marketplace, each country/area will ultimately specialize in that activity where it has comparative advantage (i.e. natural resources, skilled artisans, agriculture-friendly weather, etc.). Like in your case TZ is invincible in natural resources and the latter.

The result should be that all parties to the pact will increase their income.

In your sentiments, i don't find solid excuses, because i don't think industries are just built in a flash. For a country like TZ, it would take full re-structuring to be able to produce or rather manufacture own goods and sell the goods to your own market. It would not be applicable. Even in Kenya, most of the goods manufactured are exported, we don't consume them by our own self. So, simply, manufactured goods need consumers, esp. foreign so as to benefit a country's economy. So, i believe you get what i mean when i say re-structuring is inevitable. Currently, our east African countries face adverse balance of trade. This is mainly because of the export-import between the countries.
BTW, don't say that TZ will turn into a consumer country while you forget that you are the primary producers.

SIO KWA UBAYA LAKINI ABDULHAIM HAS BEEN GIVEN A LESSON. realdeal you are trully the real deal

 

[Abdulhalim]

Lemme break it down further.

A free trade agreement is a pact between countries or areas in which they both agree to lift most or all tariffs, quotas, special fees and taxes, and other barriers to trade between the entities.
The purpose of free trade agreements is to allow faster and more business between the countries/areas, which should benefit both.


The underlying economic theory of free trade agreements is that of "comparative advantage," which originated in an 1817 from a certain economist from Britain. His book is entitled "On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation"

Put simply, the "theory of comparative advantage " postulates that that in a free marketplace, each country/area will ultimately specialize in that activity where it has comparative advantage (i.e. natural resources, skilled artisans, agriculture-friendly weather, etc.). Like in your case TZ is invincible in natural resources and the latter.

The result should be that all parties to the pact will increase their income.

Does this rings the bell? Ok sio issue kivile.

In your sentiments, i don't find solid excuses, because i don't think industries are just built in a flash. For a country like TZ, it would take full re-structuring to be able to produce or rather manufacture own goods and sell the goods to your own market. It would not be applicable. Even in Kenya, most of the goods manufactured are exported, we don't consume them by our own self. So, simply, manufactured goods need consumers, esp. foreign so as to benefit a country's economy. So, i believe you get what i mean when i say re-structuring is inevitable. Currently, our east African countries face adverse balance of trade. This is mainly because of the export-import between the countries.
BTW, don't say that TZ will turn into a consumer country while you forget that you are the primary producers.

Nimeeleza issue za uzalishaji kwa nchi husika kwene micro economies kwamba ni kama chicken and egg problem. Huwezi uka-encourage strong micro economy while the local market is flooded with foreign goods and products. How and when are these homegrown producers gonna have their legs firmly grounded and stand with their own feet? Does not add up..isn't it?

Huwezi pia ukaondoa tarrifs, taxes au fees kwene bidhaa au hudumna kutoka nje ukategemea ku-benefit wakati wewe huuzi nje, watakaofaidika ni hao waingizaji and the financing will suffer bcoz of less tax collection.

Pia nimeeleza pia hakuna gvt forces za ku-inititiate mkakati maalum kuweka basis za micro-economy, na serikali inaishia kuruka kimanga kila siku na kusukumia sekta binafsi (ambayo ni weak and not well-structured and protected) na wawekezaji wa nje (ambao matunda yao ni kidogo sana kwa locals zaidi ya kuchuma na kuondoka, achilia mbali utapeli na ufekifeki mwingine). No affordable loans na mbaya zaidi na serikali na yenyewe imeenda kukopa hukohuko kwenye mabenki ya ndani.

Pia serikali iko weak kwene kuweka misingi mizuri ya balance baina ya imports na exports. Hii ni muhimu sana kwa taifa lolote, huwezi ukaendelea kama unatumia kwa kiasi kikubwa bila kuuza nje. Kwa taarifa look for developed countries on how big their exports surpass their imports then u will understand why they are rich and they will continue to be rich.

Could all of these issues be addressed satisfactorily by EAC ? now convince me!

 

[Abdulhalim]

sio kwa ubaya lakini abdulhaim has been given a lesson. Realdeal you are trully the real deal

xcuse you? Soma majibu hapo juu.Mnaleta copy & paste zisizo na kichwa wala miguu bila ku-acknowldge source.

Kwanza hatushindani hapa, au unazania tupo kwene Zian challenge? Mijitu mingine bana, aaarrghh!

 

[nomasana]

xcuse you? Soma majibu hapo juu.Mnaleta copy & paste zisizo na kichwa wala miguu bila ku-acknowldge source.

Kwanza hatushindani hapa, au unazania tupo kwene Zian challenge? Mijitu mingine bana, aaarrghh!

your frustration is my entertainment. fact is, real deal just schooled your dumba$$.

 

[Abdulhalim]

your frustration is my entertainment. fact is, real deal just schooled your dumba$$.

Endelea kujijaza upepo. I no longer engage into exchange with a people with ZERO INPUT. Talk to the hand.

 

[nomasana]

Endelea kujijaza upepo. I no longer engage into exchange with a people with ZERO INPUT. Talk to the hand.

yeah you better shut up because the more u post stuff here the more your stupidity gets exposed by realdeal.

 

[Abdulhalim]

yeah you better shut up because the more u post stuff here the more your stupidity gets exposed by realdeal.

Unfortunately, you will continue to see my 'stupidity' when I tackle real issues sio needling mnazofanya. NOW PANIC..lol

 

[PatPending]

The East African Common Market Protocol comes into effect this Thursday. Whilst the merits of the scheme of things are all too evident, the demerits of it are also very real and worth to take into serious consideration.

I am attaching some documents on the Protocol for us to revise. Personally I am in favour of the common market BUT I recognize that a lot of very sensitive issues and concerns still need to be addressed by GoT. Active civil action IS needed to pressure the government into doing this sio maneno maneno tu

 

[Invisible]

​

June 30, 2010
By Sarah McGregor - Bloomberg

The five-nation East African Community will declare a common market tomorrow, leading to the creation of a free trade zone over the next few years and ultimately enabling them to forge a political federation.

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, now in a customs union, will probably take as many as five years to enact the legislation and regulations required to put the common market protocols into effect, said Amos Kimunya, Kenya’s trade minister, in a speech broadcast on Nairobi-based NTV today.

“What is happening on the first of July is official recognition,” he said. “I believe by 2015 all the barriers will be collapsed and East Africans will be able to move freely.”

The common market protocol, signed on Nov. 20 by all EAC heads of state, will expand the bloc’s five-year-old customs union to enable the free movement of people, capital and services and abolish import duties. The EAC encompasses 126.6 million people with a combined gross domestic product of $73 billion and aims to adopt a shared currency by 2012.

The bloc was founded by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 1999, to boost regional trade after a previous decade-long free trade effort failed in 1977. Rwanda and Burundi joined in 2007.

Mixed Success

A customs union that began Jan. 1, 2005, was the EAC’s first concrete step to strengthen trade ties. It established a common external tariff, an identical tax applied to a list of imports from outside the bloc, and allowed duty-free regional trade with the exception of Kenya, the largest economy.

The accord’s success has been mixed. Intra-regional trade, as a proportion of the bloc’s total trade, fell to 8.4 percent in 2008 from 11 percent in 2005, according to data compiled by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.

The region’s poor roads, cumbersome customs procedures and unreliable energy supplies are impediments to cross-border trade that can’t be solved overnight, Christopher Onyango, a trade analyst with the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, said by e-mail.

There has also been disagreement over adjustments to the common external tariff to protect nascent industry, Onyango said. “The concern is that such benefits appear to have triggered an increasing trend by partner states to abuse the provisions,” he said. “This is likely to distort fair trade.”

July 1 is the day that the “serious work” starts, EAC Secretary General Juma Mwapachu said, according to an e-mailed statement on June 24. Remaining tasks include the five nations agreeing to remove restrictions in the aviation industry and the elimination of work permits for job-seekers within the bloc, he said.

Tanzania must also relax foreign exchange rules to allow citizens to invest in the capital markets of partner countries.

“Come July the hard part begins,” Peter Kiuluku, Executive Director of the Arusha, Tanzania-based Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa, said in an e-mailed response to questions. “There are no short cuts to fast track a complex process. Expect pace setters and laggards.”

--Editors: Philip Sanders, Karl Maier

 

[nomasana]

smatta and i have been preaching this to you for months now.

this EAC is happening whether some of yall like it or not. instead of whinning some of you should get on with it because you cant stop this EAC train.

 

[Abdulhalim]

smatta and i have been preaching this to you for months now.

this EAC is happening whether some of yall like it or not. instead of whinning some of you should get on with it because you cant stop this EAC train.

Wewe wasema..

 

[PakaJimmy]

Na elimu kwa jamii juu ya hili itatolewa katika kipindi hiki?....au ni whether we like or not!

 

[Bourgeoisie]

Na elimu kwa jamii juu ya hili itatolewa katika kipindi hiki?....au ni whether we like or not!

Too late, tayari soko la pamoja limeanza na inavyoonekana jamii ya watu walio wengi hawajui chochote juu ya hili. Mtazamo wangu ni kwamba jamii ilitakiwa kuelimishwa kabla ya utendaje na wala si mtu kuelemishwa kutokana na makosa atakayokuwa ametenda! Ni mtazamo tu.

 

[RealDeal]

well, Finally.

 

[Kamaka]

Have we prepared?

 

[Smatta]

Its about time