Now Kenya endorses Common Market Protocol

[Smatta]

Cyanika post between Uganda and Rwanda. The regional borders will be opened once the Common Market Protocol is implemented Picture by Morgan Mbabazi
By Catherine Riungu




Kenya has finally ratified the East African Common Market Protocol, signalling its readiness for the July deadline for free movement of people and goods across the region.




Tanzania was the first in the bloc to ratify the agreement, clearing doubts over its commitment to the deal.

Rwanda, which has been the most flexible in opening its borders to its partners in the East African Community has also approved it, and is awaiting parliament’s nod to sign in into law.

In the absence of a regional constitution, EAC Treaty matters have to be referred to regional jurisdictions for ratification, although plans are underway to craft a cross-border legal system.

Since the Common Market Protocol was signed in November last year and July 2010 set as the deadline to implement the concept, it was expected that EAC member states would have ratified it by end of April.The approval by the Cabinet came just weeks after EAC-related ministries prepared a Cabinet memo to seek a nod to ratify the document which is also expected to trigger other legal reforms that will prepare the country for the common market.

“An approval by the Cabinet gives the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the power to inform the EAC secretariat that Kenya has agreed to the provisions of the Common Market Protocol,” EAC Permanent Secretary, David Nalo, said.

Each of the five EAC countries has up to July this year to deposit a copy of the ratified Common Market Protocol with the Secretariat.The protocol’s implementation will open the region’s borders for easy movement of labour, capital, goods and services within member states.

“The protocol will affect the existing national laws and partner states have been asked to comply with its provisions,” Peter Munya, EAC Assistant Minister, told journalist last week at a Common Market sensitisation meeting.

The EAC Ministry has already established a task force headed by Justice Stewart Madzayo to audit the national laws and recommend reforms that are needed to weed out parts that conflict with the provisions of the protocol.

The task force is expected to detail how the current national laws limit movement of labour and capital markets and give recommendation on the nature of the required administrative and legal reforms.

Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ has indicated that Kenya will eliminate work permits for all regional citizens, following in the footsteps of Rwanda that pioneered the move three years ago.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has been pushing for a single tourist visa to promote the region as a single attraction. Other such calls are for the speedy conclusion of the ongoing study on a uniform academic standards across the region.

The East African Community is developing a common strategy to address food security and climate change.
The strategy will be embodied in two policy documents — Food Security Action Plan and the Climate Change Policy — that will be presented to the heads of state at a special summit later this month in Arusha.

Already, the drafts have been ratified by the East African Legislative Assembly and were reviewed at the recently held Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin and the multisectoral meeting on Food Security and Climate Change in Kisumu.

Now, the documents have been passed on to the partner states for review and eventual forwarding to the EAC Secretariat for consolidation as they await ratification.


This is great news right?

 

[Rufiji]

Our neighbors to the north are plainly hypocrites when it comes to implementations! They are always picking and choose what will work to their advantages. Please read the article below to have a glimpse of what am talking about


States blocking trade in the region to face punishment



The East African Community Council of Ministers has agreed on the principle of invoking sanctions against member states that are not doing enough to eliminate non-tariff barriers
Regular assessments of partner states will be conducted and sanctions will be slapped on those that fail or refuse to downsize NTBs soon after the Summit gives its greenlight to the proposal.
Last week, at the 3rd EAC Investment Conference in Kampala, there was intensive lobbying by the East African Business Council and senior officials from Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi to have the proposal endorsed.
“We shall create something like a matrix under which each country’s NTBs will be identified and registered. And after we have carried out other assessments and those NTBs have not been eliminated, action must be taken,” said Aston Kajara, Uganda’s Investment Minister.
The proposal was reportedly fronted by ministers from the five EAC members from different sectors of the economy, especially trade and investment, and was taken up and approved by the Council of Ministers last month. By last Friday, the Heads of State were expected to have endorsed it.
“We have agreed to enforce sanctions against those partner states that are non-compliant. A team of experts is studying the Treaty to see how enforcement should be done. The position for all these years has been that we should eliminate the non-trade barriers in the region to create a favourable trading and investment market. It’s time to act on it” Mr Kajara said.
Some partner states accuse Kenya of being quick to sign onto decisions but dragging its feet when it comes to actual elimination of NTBs.
“We invariably agree with the Kenyans on these issues but they never implement them,” said Mr Kajara.
Verification
The executive director of the Tanzania Investment Centre, Emmanuel Ole Naiko, added that Kenya always insists on verifying the standards of goods from Tanzania even after the traders have shown proof that they have been cleared by Dar es Salaam.
“This is contrary to what we agreed,” the Tanzanian official said.
NTBs include both trade-restricting measures (quotas, technical barriers and others) and trade-promoting measures (export subsidies). In their application, NTBs are increasingly raising market access concerns at both global and regional levels.
The Investment Conference, attended by at least 2,000 delegates, was themed, “EAC Common Market: The Preferred Investment Destination.” It discussed how the region can attract more valuable investments, and elimination of NTBs was a key item.
As part of a process to eliminate NTBs, the East African Business Council last week also recommended to the heads of state that all visa fees for EAC citizens be scrapped, partners states adopt a regional transit bond similar to the one used by Comesa and that the region harmonise and simplify trade documentation and procedures in order to facilitate easier movement of goods within the Community.
“We have decided that we now need a political voice since without the backing of the Summit there seems to be no progress in reducing or elimination of NTBs,” said Agatha Nderitu, executive director of the Business Council.
The EABC study findings show that NTBs evolve around business registration and licensing, Customs procedures, police roadblocks, road axle regulations and control, and standards and certification requirements. On average, Kenyan businesses were more affected than their counterparts in Tanzania and Uganda.
NTBs, poor infrastructure and inadequate and expensive power have lately driven firms out of East Africa to more favourable markets.
For instance, transport costs as a share of value of exports are estimated to be as high as 48 per cent for EAC countries compared with 9 per cent in developed countries and 17 per cent in Zambia. EAC production costs are 5-10 times higher than those of the region’s competitors.

 

[moyo]

This is a good move,so its up to individual East African to ensure than this works to his or her own advantage.Our brothers in the south should stop mourning and rise up to the challenge,

 

[Jammu Africa]

This is a good move,so its up to individual East African to ensure than this works to his or her own advantage.Our brothers in the south should stop mourning and rise up to the challenge,

It is happening everywhere, people are coming and joining hands and so making
meaningful blocks .

At first, i got the feelings that many Tanzanians were against this great idea.

But the truth is that many east Africans are very excited about this and only a few 'elites'
who have no connections to reality, are the one who seems to be against this great and
unavoidable way of doing things.

I'm an African and believe that one day, Africa shall be one and that day, is when people
in the world shall take us serious.

 

[Mwana wa Mungu]

who cares about this?

 

[Koba]

Rwanda opens up to East Africans

Lydia Shekighenda

Rwanda has opened itself up further to nationals of the other four East African Community partner states wishing to get employed there, announcing that they no longer need to have work permits.
The gesture is primarily meant to expedite all the more the movement of people, goods and services in those countries – Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda.
Rwanda's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, told Tanzanian journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday that she saw the scrapping of the permits strengthening the cordial relations between and among EAC partner states "and portray our country as the peaceful and friendly place that it is".
"Rwanda is still commonly depicted as a place where genocide routinely takes place but the truth is that the country is a far cry from what it was in 1994. It has long moved from the genocide and ethnic divisions," she said.
The minister explained that the Paul Kagame government has taken drastic measures to end ethnic and sectarian violence and strife, adding that anybody can live in peace in Rwanda regardless of his or her ethnicity.
"My government has decided to scrap the work permit requirement for the people of East African countries who come to work in Rwanda. Therefore, all Tanzanians wishing to come to work in Rwanda are welcomed," she said, noting that the policy change is with effect from the beginning of this year.
Meanwhile, minister Mushikiwabo described Information and Communication Technology as one of the pillars of the development of nations across the globe.
She went on to call upon Tanzanian youth to go for ICT "because it is a confirmed pillar of development and employment in today's globalised economy".
Commenting on the recent suspension of two newspapers in her country, she said press freedom was guaranteed in Rwanda but observance of professional ethics was a must.
"The government cannot tolerate newspapers violating media and social ethics with impunity, including endorsing or instigating violence in the country," she noted.
"The suspension of the two newspapers should not be taken as evidence of violation of press freedom. The government did so to prevent further breaches of the peace," she added.
Mushikiwabo's Finance and Economic Planning counterpart, John Rwangombwa, meanwhile told the journalists that Rwanda's economy has been growing at an average of 8 per cent in the past decade.
He gave the factors that triggered the tremendous growth as including "the desire to change and believe in accountability".
"We are committed to making sure that the little at our disposal is utilised accordingly and there is no misuse of government resources," he added.
The minister explained that they had engaged a wide range and rich mix of strategies and tactics in fighting corruption, the most notable including the setting up of institutions to ensure accountability.
He gave the example of the efforts made to strengthen the office of the Controller and Auditor General, saying any suspicious practices or tendencies are passed on to the Prosecutor General for investigations and prosecutions where necessary.
The minister said the 20th World Economic Forum being held in Dar es Salaam was an opportunity for sharing experiences and best practices for the good of the social and economic development of African nations.
"This in an important meeting for networking and marketing Africa to the world so that we can attract more foreign investors," he noted.
"The coming together of hundreds of people from across the world will help us as African leaders to share experiences and build confidence by understanding what we need to help our countries develop," he added.


THE GUARDIAN

 

[The Quonquerer]

Rwanda opens up to East Africans

Lydia Shekighenda

Rwanda has opened itself up further to nationals of the other four East African Community partner states wishing to get employed there, announcing that they no longer need to have work permits.
The gesture is primarily meant to expedite all the more the movement of people, goods and services in those countries – Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda.
Rwanda's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, told Tanzanian journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday that she saw the scrapping of the permits strengthening the cordial relations between and among EAC partner states "and portray our country as the peaceful and friendly place that it is".
"Rwanda is still commonly depicted as a place where genocide routinely takes place but the truth is that the country is a far cry from what it was in 1994. It has long moved from the genocide and ethnic divisions," she said.
The minister explained that the Paul Kagame government has taken drastic measures to end ethnic and sectarian violence and strife, adding that anybody can live in peace in Rwanda regardless of his or her ethnicity.
"My government has decided to scrap the work permit requirement for the people of East African countries who come to work in Rwanda. Therefore, all Tanzanians wishing to come to work in Rwanda are welcomed," she said, noting that the policy change is with effect from the beginning of this year.
Meanwhile, minister Mushikiwabo described Information and Communication Technology as one of the pillars of the development of nations across the globe.
She went on to call upon Tanzanian youth to go for ICT "because it is a confirmed pillar of development and employment in today's globalised economy".
Commenting on the recent suspension of two newspapers in her country, she said press freedom was guaranteed in Rwanda but observance of professional ethics was a must.
"The government cannot tolerate newspapers violating media and social ethics with impunity, including endorsing or instigating violence in the country," she noted.
"The suspension of the two newspapers should not be taken as evidence of violation of press freedom. The government did so to prevent further breaches of the peace," she added.
Mushikiwabo's Finance and Economic Planning counterpart, John Rwangombwa, meanwhile told the journalists that Rwanda's economy has been growing at an average of 8 per cent in the past decade.
He gave the factors that triggered the tremendous growth as including "the desire to change and believe in accountability".
"We are committed to making sure that the little at our disposal is utilised accordingly and there is no misuse of government resources," he added.
The minister explained that they had engaged a wide range and rich mix of strategies and tactics in fighting corruption, the most notable including the setting up of institutions to ensure accountability.
He gave the example of the efforts made to strengthen the office of the Controller and Auditor General, saying any suspicious practices or tendencies are passed on to the Prosecutor General for investigations and prosecutions where necessary.
The minister said the 20th World Economic Forum being held in Dar es Salaam was an opportunity for sharing experiences and best practices for the good of the social and economic development of African nations.
"This in an important meeting for networking and marketing Africa to the world so that we can attract more foreign investors," he noted.
"The coming together of hundreds of people from across the world will help us as African leaders to share experiences and build confidence by understanding what we need to help our countries develop," he added.


THE GUARDIAN

The so called neighbors want to come to heaven (Tanzania), and they want Tanzanians to go to their hells (their fukid up countries). Ndugu watanzania, msidanganyike, SAA YA UKOMBOZI NI SASA. Kuingia msituni ni lazima, ikiwa tutachhuzwa na hawa "viongozi' uchwara. MSIINGIE MKENGE JAMAAANI..msituni hata Ben atakuja, hata Wacha1 atakuwepo...SAWA SAWAAAAAAAAAA? Hii inaitwa, a concession which is a non concession, mtu nakukaribisha kufanya kazi wakati akijua hazipo, na mbaya zaidi hata ukiipata nakuletea ubaguzi. Ubaguzi wa hawa majirani zetu mnaujua? Wakae kwao..na kipande cha ardhi halambi mtu..wamefulia haooo. Nilikuwa kwao juzi, wanajenga kwenye milima mikali sana mpaka mtu anaweza akaporomoka..hii janja ya nyani ili tuuvae mkenge. HATUDANGANYIKI (wALE WENYE AKILI). Baada ya kujua kuwa Koba ni scholl drop out, na baada ya kujua kuwa anatetea ufiraji kuhalalishwa..i no longer take him serious...anaweza kusema chochote, and we are lucky he is not even a Tanzanian! Ni jambo la kushukuru Mungu.

 

[eliakeem]

The so called neighbors want to come to heaven (Tanzania), and they want Tanzanians to go to their hells (their fukid up countries). Ndugu watanzania, msidanganyike, SAA YA UKOMBOZI NI SASA. Kuingia msituni ni lazima, ikiwa tutachhuzwa na hawa "viongozi' uchwara. MSIINGIE MKENGE JAMAAANI..msituni hata Ben atakuja, hata Wacha1 atakuwepo...SAWA SAWAAAAAAAAAA? Hii inaitwa, a concession which is a non concession, mtu nakukaribisha kufanya kazi wakati akijua hazipo, na mbaya zaidi hata ukiipata nakuletea ubaguzi. Ubaguzi wa hawa majirani zetu mnaujua? Wakae kwao..na kipande cha ardhi halambi mtu..wamefulia haooo. Nilikuwa kwao juzi, wanajenga kwenye milima mikali sana mpaka mtu anaweza akaporomoka..hii janja ya nyani ili tuuvae mkenge. HATUDANGANYIKI (wALE WENYE AKILI). Baada ya kujua kuwa Koba ni scholl drop out, na baada ya kujua kuwa anatetea ufiraji kuhalalishwa..i no longer take him serious...anaweza kusema chochote, and we are lucky he is not even a Tanzanian! Ni jambo la kushukuru Mungu.

Sasa inabidi tukutane ili tujadili kuhusu hili, maana mengi tumeongea, sasa ni vitendo tu. Nikija home nitakutafuta.

 

[Aza]

who cares about this?

definitly mdau!

i said so too,let them, let us, let us all,life is living

 

[Smatta]

The so called neighbors want to come to heaven (Tanzania), and they want Tanzanians to go to their hells (their fukid up countries). Ndugu watanzania, msidanganyike, SAA YA UKOMBOZI NI SASA. Kuingia msituni ni lazima, ikiwa tutachhuzwa na hawa "viongozi' uchwara. MSIINGIE MKENGE JAMAAANI..msituni hata Ben atakuja, hata Wacha1 atakuwepo...SAWA SAWAAAAAAAAAA? Hii inaitwa, a concession which is a non concession, mtu nakukaribisha kufanya kazi wakati akijua hazipo, na mbaya zaidi hata ukiipata nakuletea ubaguzi. Ubaguzi wa hawa majirani zetu mnaujua? Wakae kwao..na kipande cha ardhi halambi mtu..wamefulia haooo. Nilikuwa kwao juzi, wanajenga kwenye milima mikali sana mpaka mtu anaweza akaporomoka..hii janja ya nyani ili tuuvae mkenge. HATUDANGANYIKI (wALE WENYE AKILI). Baada ya kujua kuwa Koba ni scholl drop out, na baada ya kujua kuwa anatetea ufiraji kuhalalishwa..i no longer take him serious...anaweza kusema chochote, and we are lucky he is not even a Tanzanian! Ni jambo la kushukuru Mungu.

Tehehehehe.. lollerskates...Get real bro, stop lying to yourself, how many people do you think will support you on the ground in real life, how many people can put their lives, the lives of their children and their properties at risk just because of the paranoia that you are so easy peddle through this site. Ben, Wacha1, Eliakeem, Kanyabwoya, Mtoto wa Mungu, Geza Ulole are all internet soldiers, no balls whatsoever to cause anyone any harm especially at large scale which involves planning before execution... its so easy to tell a punk by how easily he throws his threats and encourages other people to fight his battles, real men don't do that son, guess you dint have a father figure to tell you this when you were still young. If you THINK you are man enough, give me a hala next time you are in Nairobi and you'll get to know the difference between a Kenyan and a Tanzania, we eat pieces of sh*t like you for breakfast up in this city. ukija kuwa mpole tu, ujeuri wacha hapa kwenye Forum.

 

[Smatta]

Sasa inabidi tukutane ili tujadili kuhusu hili, maana mengi tumeongea, sasa ni vitendo tu. Nikija home nitakutafuta.

Na wewe rudi shule uchukue ka digri kako ka India, uwache kubebea wahindi ma boksi for peanuts, If you are real men, ongeeni inbox mwache vitisho hapa kwa mada..