..Tanzania haijaruhusu free movement of labour, na free access to land and settlement. in my opinion those two issues should be off the table. Tanzania should not compromise on that.
..pamoja na hayo serikali ya Tanzania has specified that professionals[ science teachers,...] frm EAC partners are welcome to come and work in our country.
..wa-Tanzania hawaogopi ushindani na hatupingi ushirikiano, lakini tunachokataa ni wezi, vibaka, majambazi, wafanya biashara haramu, wenye ukabila, na watu wasiokuwa na faida kwa nchi hii kujazana huku kwetu kutumia upenyo wa EAC.
NB:
..majuzi Tanzania imetoa uraia kwa wakimbizi wa Kirundi na Kisomali, but that was on our own terms. kwa hiyo, Wakenya na Wanyarwanda wanaotaka kuhamia huku Tanzania should be willing to do so on our terms.
Mkuu suala la "free movement of labour, goods and settlement/land" ndilo haswa msingi wa kuwepo kwa jumuiya ya EAC.
Haya yote yanashughulikiwa kwa muda na wajuzi wa mambo washayaona mapema wether we like or not.
Kwa kuwa yapo kwenye Mkataba wa Jumuiya (Treaty) na Itifaki Ya "Customs Union", itafika wakati yote yatatekelezwa ni suala la muda tu na kutthubutu kwa viongozi waliopo. Wenzetu wapo keen kuona haya yote yanatekelezwa kwa pamoja. Labour, people, goods and land...
President Museveni has always remarked that whereas the last East African Community collapsed in 1977, the spirit of East Africanism did not die. And in 1996, he, alongside the other heads of state, invigorated the negotiations for the East African Treaty of Cooperation that was signed on November 30, 1999.
Slowly, we have moved from the Customs Union (traveling across the region without need for visas), and the Common Market (where goods and services and labour will move freely), towards a monetary union and ultimately a political union.
Behind these historical achievements are numerous challenges, most notably the differences in constitutions and perceptions, but the call to unity demands that these be dealt with.
Part of the reason why the former East African Community collapsed was the ideological differences and inadequate involvement of the people in the decision making processes.
Today, ministers are working in consultation with stakeholders at much lower levels. Civil society organisations, the media and tertiary institutions, among others, are part of the consultative processes.
While speaking at the 15th Anniversary of the RPF in Kigali, Rwanda, President Museveni remarked that the decision for Rwanda and Burundi to join the East African Community is a vindication of the changes that have taken place in these countries, moving away from neocolonial parameters to Pan-Africanism.
He said these decisions taken together with the earlier decisions by the citizens of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, mean that potential exists for building a strategic centre of gravity in this part of Africa.
Those who see far are most elated to be part of this very significant historical process, he said.
The bigger news is that present border posts will in the end be abolished, but remain with countries neighbouring the region. The catch is that they too will be attracted to the benefits of integration.
The East African Community will also bring greater negotiating capacity. Today, the EAC is negotiating the EAC -European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EAC - EU- EPA) that presents huge trade opportunities with the biggest trading bloc in the world.
The biggest challenge is the mindset of some people regarding a full political federation; an ultimate goal which comes at a price. The recommendations included in the fast-tracking process need to be studied to agree on what model the federation process will take, necessitating a draft constitution.
The Observer - East Africa can now dare to dream
Kenya fetes EAC Common Market with work permit fee waiver
From left: Presidents Karume, Kibaki, Kagame and Ugandas deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya during the East African Community Investment Conference in July 2009. Photo/FILE
Kenyans will take at least two months before they can enjoy the freedom of movement envisaged under the East African Common Market protocol that comes into force on Thursday as the attorney-generals office burns the midnight oil to align the countrys laws with the demands of the trading bloc.
President Kibaki last evening ordered Attorney-General Amos Wako to draft and present to Parliament a miscellaneous amendment Bill that would effectively accord East Africans the benefits enjoyed by Kenyans, especially in terms of immigration, labour, customs, and education.
The President also directed the Immigration ministry to waive work permit fees charged on the citizens of Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania, saying it was a barrier to enjoyment of freedom of movement of workers.
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Rwanda and Kenya had earlier signed bilateral arrangements to waive the work permit fees.
It is my expectation that public servants charged with executing the Common Market especially those responsible for immigration, labour, customs and education, will facilitate the process rather than adopt a control attitude, the president said during the official launch of the protocol at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre last evening.
A survey conducted by the East African Business Council two weeks ago indicated that Tanzania still charges work permit fees of $50 for business people who hold national passports and $100 for holders of East African Passports.
The action by the president moves to resolve two issues work permits and conflicting legislative regimes that the private sector had identified as potential banana skins in implementing the protocol.
Businesses had called on the government to speed up regulatory and institutional reforms to make Kenyan products competitive in the region as a task force meant to recommend legal changes that would align national laws to the spirit of the protocol lagged behind schedule.
Under the protocol, member states have up to the end of August to ratify laws that give effect to the common market and the presidential directive is expected to hurry the ratification.
Unlike amendments to each specific Act, a miscellaneous bill allows various laws to be amended under the same motion, quickening the approval process substantially.
Mr Peter Munyiri, KCBs Deputy CEO in charge of group investments, said the implementation of the protocol would end the period of groping in the dark for firms doing business across the region.
The legal instrument will act as a catalyst to investment, encouraging investors to hunt for mega deals because we now have a clear dispute resolution mechanism, said Mr Munyiri.
The business community wants governments to speed up harmonisation of national laws to smoothen the flow of goods and services.
Kenyas EAC minister Amason Kingi, however, says it could take longer for the conflicting national laws to be harmonised to allow free movement of goods and services.
Implementing EACs common market is a process that will take some time to be felt across the region, Mr Kingi said.
