Kuelekea Shirikisho la kisiasa la Afrika Mashariki, tumejifunza nini from #Brexit?

[Cicero]

We need the monetary union to facilitate free trade but if we only have a monetary union and not a political union the problems Europe is facing will dawn on EAC and we will have another collapse. A monetary union alone according to one don (and I will lift that report here), has the effect of market fundamentalism of transferring wealth from small economies to bigger economies. A good political federation will be the one now too ensure that benefits of the Union are shared out equitably in the federation like through a revenue sharing formular.

Britain's main problem like you have listed there is that it does not have a constitution that limited the powers of a foreign body like EU. That is why the public felt that things that should be left alone for Britain to determine were being determined in Brussels and not in London. They could not go to the same European court and seek to take their country back so they chose a referendum.

The federation should have revenue sources for it to share revenues (vertical apportionment of revenues from the federal government to the state governments). I cannot imagine what the federal government's sources of revenue will be. Maybe they will borrow from the Tanzanian union? Time will tell.
Another approach could also be horizontal apportionment between the member states themselves. I find this option much harder to achieve. Imagine one state GIVING scarce money to another!
Someone proposed that instead we should split the states into 'EAC regions' and then share revenues in that manner. Like they do in the EU. Instead of saying country A is poorer than country B (which could hurt the recipient country's ego and inflate that of the donor country), we should say region A is poorer than region B.

 

[IAfrika]

This is a long read. In it you will find a presentation on market fundamentalism.


The East African Federation: Challenges for the Future.

 

[IAfrika]

The federation should have revenue sources for it to share revenues (vertical apportionment of revenues from the federal government to the state governments). I cannot imagine what the federal government's sources of revenue will be. Maybe they will borrow from the Tanzanian union? Time will tell.
Another approach could also be horizontal apportionment between the member states themselves. I find this option much harder to achieve. Imagine one state GIVING scarce money to another!
Someone proposed that instead we should split the states into 'EAC regions' and then share revenues in that manner. Like they do in the EU. Instead of saying country A is poorer than country B (which could hurt the recipient country's ego and inflate that of the donor country), we should say region A is poorer than region B.

Revenues to fund the governments will form a big borne of contention. But once each government has been given its source of revenue lets say Income tax, corporate tax, import and export tax goes to the Federal government VAT and property tax is given to states the question will be now how to share revenues between Federal government and State governments and then among state governments. The best approach would be the Germany or the Nigerian approach of using a formula that has been enacted in the constitution. Like we can have Federal government because it has the lions share of sources of revenue, keeping 40% of its revenues and then the 60% is shared among the states using a costitutional formula that is based on their population e.g if a country has 42% of residents in EA it is given 42% of revenues set aside for states to offer services like healthcare and education to those residence. That way we will avoid stigmatisation of the smaller economies where they will be seen to mooch and just receive handouts from bigger economies. But the one revenue sharing approach we should avoid is the DRC one drafted by the French where it says provinces share revenue with the national government by keeping 60% of revenues at the source. Basically saying that you are on your own especially if your province does not have mineral resources you will be condemned to poverty.

 

[Bavaria]

I have negative feelings with how we exercise politics within member countries. Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have dictatorship regimes. Kenya is politically vulnerable, S. Sudan is on fire.
Having a monetary union with a single currency will distabilize the economies.
We can't have a stable economy if our countries aren't in peace. Peace and Tranquility is the key determinant of the future EAC. We need the true democracy with member states. Otherwise, we have to pause and reflect what have been achieved and the challenges we face. We need not to rush.

 

[Bavaria]

The future with EAC is very bright. Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibout and DRC will join sooner.

 

[Cicero]

I have negative feelings with how we exercise politics within member countries. Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have dictatorship regimes. Kenya is politically vulnerable, S. Sudan is on fire.
Having a monetary union with a single currency will distabilize the economies.
We can't have a stable economy if our countries aren't in peace. Peace and Tranquility is the key determinant of the future EAC. We need the true democracy with member states. Otherwise, we have to pause and reflect what have been achieved and the challenges we face. We need not to rush.

Some choose to view the federation of East Africa as a remedy to the ill that you mentioned. I dont believe those 'dictators' will survive in a federated east africa.

 

[Bavaria]

Some choose to view the federation of East Africa as a remedy to the ill that you mentioned. I dont believe those 'dictators' will survive in a federated east africa.

Museven said prior to the federal establishment. He wants to be the first president.

 

[IAfrika]

Museven said prior to the federal establishment. He wants to be the first president.

The Federal government will be voted for by the people of EA. Museveni can only be the President of EA if he is voted for by East African public. Even though the EA heads of state prefer a rotational presidency among themselves, I think the EA public will want a universal suffrage vote for the leader of East Africa.

 

[Bavaria]

The Federal government will be voted for by the people of EA. Museveni can only be the President of EA if he is voted for by East African public. Even though the EA heads of state prefer a rotational presidency among themselves, I think the EA public will want a universal suffrage vote for the leader of East Africa.

If you are to vote for the federation's president among the current serving. Whom would you choose?

 

[Livale]

I don't wholly support a single currency adoption and doing away with local currencies. In the event of a global financial crisis, States will lack maneuvering space and be hit hard. Look at what happened to Greece, Spain, Italy etc. We could have a single currency but allow each state to keep its own currency. Trade between member states, between citizens of different states should be via the federal currency whereas that between citizens of a state can be via local state currency or the federal currency. In the event of a crisis, monetary policies such as withholding or selling dollars locally or even printing money can be an option to States for reducing effects of the crisis.

If you are to vote for the federation's president among the current serving. Whom would you choose?

I'd rather have kagame now. He does know how to improve the situation of a nation and I'm certain he won't be able to quash the Democratic aspirations of the federation since the 2 most populous states, Tanzania and Kenya being accustomed to much freedom and having removed oppressive regimes before won't stomach that. They'll keep him in check.

 

[Cicero]

If you are to vote for the federation's president among the current serving. Whom would you choose?

Hahahaaaa......isn't it obvious!

 

[Cicero]

I don't wholly support a single currency adoption and doing away with local currencies. In the event of a global financial crisis, States will lack maneuvering space and be hit hard. Look at what happened to Greece, Spain, Italy etc. We could have a single currency but allow each state to keep its own currency. Trade between member states, between citizens of different states should be via the federal currency whereas that between citizens of a state can be via local state currency or the federal currency. In the event of a crisis, monetary policies such as withholding or selling dollars locally or even printing money can be an option to States for reducing effects of the crisis.


I'd rather have kagame now. He does know how to improve the situation of a nation and I'm certain he won't be able to quash the Democratic aspirations of the federation since the 2 most populous states, Tanzania and Kenya being accustomed to much freedom and having removed oppressive regimes before won't stomach that. They'll keep him in check.

Kagame will not survive a day as federal president. Not with the close scrutiny that he will be subjected to, something that i dare say he is not used to.
We'll need a nation-building leader, one that'll nurture the new state institutions instead of quashing them and creating a cult like following around himself!

 

[Cicero]

The future with EAC is very bright. Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibout and DRC will join sooner.

And Somalia.

 

[Bavaria]

And Somalia.

Somalia? Hell NO.
We should rethink the S. Sudan membership.
Chaos over chaos.

 

[Bavaria]

Hahahaaaa......isn't it obvious!

IDK. Give me the answer.

 

[Bavaria]

I don't wholly support a single currency adoption and doing away with local currencies. In the event of a global financial crisis, States will lack maneuvering space and be hit hard. Look at what happened to Greece, Spain, Italy etc. We could have a single currency but allow each state to keep its own currency. Trade between member states, between citizens of different states should be via the federal currency whereas that between citizens of a state can be via local state currency or the federal currency. In the event of a crisis, monetary policies such as withholding or selling dollars locally or even printing money can be an option to States for reducing effects of the crisis.


I'd rather have kagame now. He does know how to improve the situation of a nation and I'm certain he won't be able to quash the Democratic aspirations of the federation since the 2 most populous states, Tanzania and Kenya being accustomed to much freedom and having removed oppressive regimes before won't stomach that. They'll keep him in check.

I still believe in a single currency federation, but we are not stable.
Currently, i don't see the leader among all countries. They all have extreme flaws to torrelate.
Kagame, Museveni and Nkuruzinza have issues with consitution. Kenyatta is from a tribalistic nation. Magufuli's leadership is not recomended.
Kikwete may be regardless his past leadership.

 

[Cicero]

There's a trend here. Everyone is afraid of something he/she feels will be detrimental to his country. Look at Kenyans saying no to the monetary union coz they know they have a stronger currency. Tanzanians are opposed to free movement of people and are quick to point out the undemocratic tendencies in some of our neighbours, because we imagine we are the richest (in terms of untapped opportunities and resources) and the most democratic.
The federation offers an opportunity to throw all our strengths and weaknesses in one pot and come up with something hopefully stronger and better!