EALA at SADC Parliamentary Forum Sitting in Luanda

Posted in Press Release

…calls for its transformation to regional Assembly

East African Legislative Assembly, Luanda, Angola: 26 June, 2018: EALA is rooting for its Southern African counterpart, the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), to speedily transform itself in to a regional Parliament so that it may effectively address the needs of its constituents.

Delivering a goodwill message from the EALA Speaker at the 43^rd Plenary of the SADC-PF, which commenced yesterday morning in Luanda, Angola, EALA Member, Hon Fatuma Ibrahim Ali rooted for the SADC-PF transformation into a Legislative Assembly, saying it was good for the SADC region and for Africa.

“Evidently, Africa needs strong institutions at this point in time and in the future to steer her to the much-cherished unity and prosperity of a united continent. EALA would like to fully associate itself with the SADC-PF towards looking into all aspects relating to the establishment of a regional Parliament”, Hon Fatuma Ali said.

“We believe that together, we can transform Regional Economic Communities (RECs) into one United African bloc in the near future for the common good of all people of Africa. Our co-operation should therefore be seen as building blocks from which we can draw vital lessons”, the legislator added.

Hon Ali further hailed the recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Kigali, Rwanda, saying it would go the extra mile in boosting intra-African trade and in enhancing the region’s industrial content. “Essentially, the Continent must as a necessity, remove all Non-Tariff Barriers on goods and related to services, to smoothen the mega-regional trade agreement, promote development and spur industrialization”, Hon Fatuma said.

The 43^rd Plenary Session of SADC-PF, runs through from June 20^th until July 1^st, 2018 under the theme: Deepening SADC Economic Integration through Industrialisation – the Role of Parliament. In attendance at the Plenary is Hon Mathias Kasamba, EALA Member and Chair of the Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources Committee as well as Senior Public Relations Officer, Bobi Odiko.

Addressing the participants, the President of the Republic of Angola, H.E. João Manuel Goncalves Lourenço reiterated his country’s commitment to the ideals of regional integration in the Southern African region. President Lourenço termed good governance, pace, security and competitiveness as key goals and attributes the SADC region should and must pursue.   The President maintained the necessity of economic prosperity of the 14 Member State bloc and rallied on all countries to seek self-introspection. President Lourenco, himself a former Member of SADC-PF said his country had pioneered the establishment of SADC in 1992 and underscored the support of the Summit of Heads of State of SADC.

On his part, Hon Helio de Jesus Pina Sanches, the representative of the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), said the continent was looking forward to a time when there is total free movement of persons. Hon Sanches commended the efforts realized by SADC-PF so far as transforming itself in to a regional Parliament is concerned.

The SADC-PF is hoping to transform itself in to a regional Parliament with legislative powers as anticipated under Article 8 of its Constitution.   At the moment, SADC-PF is an Advisory caucus of Parliamentarians who are constituted from the 14 Member States.   EALA is currently the only regional Assembly in the African continent with legislative powers. The Assembly has to date enacted over 70 pieces of legislation, many of which are currently undergoing assent by the EAC Heads of State Summit.

- ENDS -

For more information, please contact:

Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org
Web: www.eala.org

About the East African Legislative Assembly:

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives, through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

EAC Secretary General concludes working visit to Diplomatic Missions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Posted in Press Release

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 25th  June, 2018: The EAC Secretary General Amb Liberat Mfumukeko over the weekend concluded his working visit to the different Diplomatic Missions in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

The first visit was at the Chinese Embassy where he met Counsellor Lin Zhiyong, Economic and Business representative of China. The two  officials  had a lengthy discussion on the status of integration, projects supported by China in the region and new areas of cooperation among other things.

Counsellor Zhiyong  called for  EAC to take advantage of existing opportunities to export EAC-made products to the Chinese market and extended an invitation to EAC to attend the “China International Import Expo” which will take place in November 2018 in Shanghai. The two officials  agreed that a seminar will soon be held to define the areas of cooperation between EAC and China.

At the US Embassy, the Secretary General met Dr. Inmi K. Patterson, Charge d’Affaires.  Ms Patterson decried the low awareness about EAC and the progress of integration. She emphasized on the need for information sharing especially on the investment climate as well as  EAC countries to make it easy for inter-regional Trade.

Ms  Patterson pledged her support to the ongoing discussions between EAC and the US Corporate Council on Africa to enhance trade and partnerships between US and EAC private sector actors.

Amb Mfumukeko concluded his missions by visiting the Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, H.E Masaharu Yoshida. The Secretary General  briefed  Amb. Yoshida on the progress of key infrastructure projects supported by the government of Japan.

Oh his part, Amb. Yoshida invited Secretary General  to Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD VII) 2019 meeting in Yokohama. He  advised that it will be strategic for EAC to participate.

H.E Yoshida informed Secretary General of the African Business Education Initiative for Youth which  aimed at providing youths in Africa with opportunities to study at Japanese universities as well as to intern at Japanese enterprises in order to foster sustainable and sound industrial development in Africa.

In all the visits, the Secretary General reiterated on the need for partnership in implementation of the 5th EAC Development Strategy and  briefed the missions on the status of integration.

Amb Mfumukeko appealed to the missions to consider supporting regional programs in addition to their bilateral support to countries.

During the three meetings it was agreed that  the EAC need  to improve on the business climate, eliminate non-tariff barriers and design a way of sharing investment information in a timely manner as well as  regular meetings for exchange information.

The Secretary General was accompanied by  by the Director of Infrastructure, Dr. Eng. Kamugisha Kazaura and the Chef de Cabinet, Dr. James Njagu.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified