In celebration of East-Africaness, the East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr Liberat Mfumukeko, on behalf of the Secretary-General, Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera, graced the official opening of the third Zinduka Festival held at Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania.
Meaning “re-awakening consciousness” in Kiswahili, Zinduka brings together participants from the fields of academia, social movements, civil society organisations, media, the business community, the EAC Secretariat and East African government bodies to engage in discussions regarding East African integration, to find collaborative measures to strengthen advocacy on EAC integration for sustainable development and to celebrate the region’s rich diversity.
Reiterating on the importance of integration, which is also the theme of this year’s Zinduka Festival, Mr Mfumukeko stressed on the need for more citizenry participation, adding that, “this is the only way that our collective dream can be realised. Popular ownership is the foundation for a secure and sustainable East African Community”.
The Zinduka Festival comes in time of EAC Day marked for November 30, 2015. With 15 years of integration already under her belt, the Community was in the forefront of the Customs Union in 2005, the Common Market in 2010, the signing of the Monetary Union Protocol in 2013, as well as continuous efforts in fast-tracking the process towards an East African Political Federation. In addition to this, in 2011, the EAC designed a Forum for the involvement of Civil Society and the Private Sector in the integration process.
“With women constituting over 60 percent of the EAC population, their role in boosting social and economic development of the Community and trade across the region cannot be overemphasised”, said Mr Mfumukeko. “Youth is another group that cannot be ignored. Many of our young people have brilliant and innovative ideas, and if we all should work together with them to create an environment where this potential can be fully tapped to drive growth and development”, he said.
The Zinduka Festival originated from the need for a people owned process envisaged in Article 127(3) and (4) of the EAC Treaty. Zinduka is a catalyst that compliments other ongoing as well as future efforts by state and non-state actors to build a sustainable EAC through active citizenry participation. The inaugural Festival was held between May 30 and June 1 2013 in Arusha.
The 16th edition of the East African Community Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition will take place from 30th November to 6th December 2015 at the Mnazi Mmoja Grounds in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The theme of the Exhibition is Buy Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) products, Build East Africa.
According to the EAC Principal Trade Officer (Internal) Mr Nduati wa Karanja, the theme portrays the role MSEs are expected to play in the growth and development of the region’s economies. Mr Karanja disclosed that so far 1,000 artisans had registered and confirmed their participation. The distribution of artisans who have so far confirmed participation according to the as follows: Burundi, 50; Kenya, 250; Rwanda, 100; Uganda, 80, and; the host, United Republic of Tanzania, 520.
The 16th EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Exhibition will be officially opened on 2nd December 2015. To participate in the Exhibition, exhibitors from Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda are required to register with the respective ministries of Trade and Industry, while those in Kenya must register with the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority.
In order to support promotion of the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi sector of the regional economy, the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Partner States and Confederation of Informal Sector Organisation East Africa (CISO-EA) has organised the annual exhibitions since 1999. The exhibitions have proved to be strategic avenues for promoting the sector’s products, transfer of technologies, and promotion of the regional integration process.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is calling on the region to concert its integration efforts and to address challenging issues notably insecurity, bad governance and corruption as it garners to realise the regional economic bloc’s Vision 2050.
The President’s remarks were delivered by the President of the Senate, Rt Hon. Bernard Makuza, at the commencement of the 3rd Meeting of the 4th Session of the 3rd Assembly at the Parliament of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda, this afternoon.
He reiterated that all East Africans must eradicate the “business as usual” mindset and strive towards progress of strengthening integration. “As legislators, we must ask questions and keep searching for solutions for and on behalf of our people. We must identify and address whatever may divert the progress of the Community, and ensure that there are no obstacles to our co-operation for integration. And to start with, procedures and processes governing Organs of the Community should not be themselves an obstacle to the growth of the Community”, Rt Hon. Makuza said.
Rt Hon. Makuza tasked the EAC to involve all the people in the integration process for the tangible benefits to be realised.
“It is indeed common sense that our people must be consulted and involved in each step of integration programs as much as possible. The fact of the matter is that, the cost of failing to involve people widely enough, ultimately is much higher than what is required to invest, for people’s participation in the decision-making processes”, Rt Hon. Makuza told the House.
He called on the EAC Partner States to speedily implement the Common Market Protocol saying the delay had caused citizens a number of opportunities.
Rt Hon. Makuza further hailed EALA for the attention it is paying to issues of natural resources, environment management, food security and rural development. He said that Rwanda had after the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, learnt vital lessons that essentially enabled the country to transform itself.
The country, Rt Hon. Makuza, added, understood that unity, security and good governance were key for survival and sustainability as a nation and that Rwanda had remained committed to the EAC.
He said Parliament of Rwanda had listened carefully to the will of the people regarding the country’s Constitutional Amendment.
“As legislators, there is no other voice to hear, other than our people’s will, both in decision-making and in accountability. People’s aspirations are the only argument against intimidations and prejudices. National sovereignty belongs to our people. We cannot afford to apologise for the very things that work for our people, and which make us stronger. This is the real expression of democracy”, Rt Hon. Makuza said.
The President of the Rwanda Senate further urged the Assembly to articulate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN in September this year, while placing people and the environment at the centre of the priorities.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the EALA, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega noted that East Africans were interested in seeing more tangible benefits of integration through the various integration pillars.
“With regards to the Customs Union, we are glad the Summit is pushing for the operationalisation of the Single Customs Territory to streamline and enhance clearance of goods. The improvement at the Dar es Salaam and Mombasa ports will make both the Central and Northern Corridors attractive in terms of facilitation of trade”, Rt Hon. Kidega said.
The Speaker said the Assembly, was concerned about what is taking place in the neighbouring Republic of Burundi.
“Many lives have been lost, others maimed, peace disrupted, property damaged and the economy destabilised following the rapid escalation of violence and the instability over the last few months. The situation is worrying and could be dire and grave”, Rt Hon. Kidega said.
“I have recently had the opportunity of meeting with the President of the Senate of Burundi and called upon him to rally the country’s legislators to go above and beyond the call of duty in restoring stability”, Speaker Kidega added.
“As an Assembly, we have also debated on and passed the Report of the Goodwill Mission of EALA to the Burundi Refugees in Eastern Province of Rwanda and in Kigoma in the United Republic of Tanzania. Last week, the Assembly also received a petition from concerned East Africans keen to see the impasse resolved”, he remarked.
Rt Hon. Kidega added that EALA was further keen to buttress the mode of assent of Bills.
“We are of the view that the region takes advantage of the Summit sittings which can create opportune moment for the Summit Members to exercise their mandate as stipulated under Article 63”, Speaker Kidega said.
The Speaker further rooted for sustained funding for the Community saying it was time for the EAC Partner States to seek alternative mechanisms for funding.
At the EALA Session, the following matters form notable business:
The EAC Forest Management and Protection Bill, 2015 - 2nd and 3rd Reading
The EAC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Bill, 2015 - 2nd and 3rd Reading
Debate and adopt Reports of various Committees of the House.
A number of Reports are also expected to be debated and adopted.
In her remarks, the Speaker of the Rwanda Chamber of Deputies, Rt Hon. Donatile Mukabalisa, hailed the existing relations between the Parliament of Rwanda and EALA. She said Parliament of Rwanda had focused on the speedy harmonisation of the country’s laws with those passed by EALA.
She mentioned that Parliament of Rwanda was also readying itself for the Inter-Parliamentary Games’ Tournament on 4-11th December 2015, which brings together EALA and National Assemblies.
Moving the vote of thanks, Hon. Dora Byamukama said the Assembly would deliberate on the message of H.E. Paul Kagame and to find the mechanisms to implement the directives.
Hon. Byamukama said the EAC was yearning for accelerated pace of implementation of laws to speed up integration in the EAC region. She hailed the Secretary-General of the EAC, Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera for introducing the scorecard on Non-Tariff Barriers.
Hon. Byamukama maintained that issues concerning human rights needed to be addressed as a matter of priority.
Representatives from the East African Community (EAC) Partner States, government officials, international development agencies and civil society organisations gathered in Arusha, Tanzania for a one-day workshop on Climate Change.
The Climate Change, Renewable Energies and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in East Africa - The Role of Climate Finance workshop, which was organised by the EAC, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and Tanzania Civil Society Forum on Climate Change (Forum CC).
Putting a spotlight on the current climate finance architecture and its opportunities for use in East Africa, the delegates looked at ways in which climate finance mechanisms can help boost the sustainable use of natural resources and renewable energy in the region, with an emphasis on the perspectives of the civil society.
Delivering the keynote address, the EAC Director for Productive Sectors, Mr Jean Baptiste Havugimana reiterated the effects of climate change on agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, fishing, wildlife and the health sector.
Mr Havugimana said that the EAC has initiated regional climate finance readiness activities that aim at having the EAC Secretariat and the East African Development Bank accredited as Regional Implementing Entities to the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund so as to directly access international climate change financing for the mitigation of climate change.
“The acceleration of human-induced changes in the climate system, including sea level rise, with negative implications and projections for the African continent”, said Mr Havugimana.
He said that the adverse impacts of climate change were a major challenge to socio-economic development in East Africa due to the region’s heavy dependence on natural resources which are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
“The impacts affect key economic drivers such as water resources, agriculture, energy, transport, health, forestry, wildlife, land and infrastructure, and disaster risk management, among other things”, said Mr Havugimana.
Speaking at the forum, Mr Jackson Muro, the Director of the Tanzania Civil Society Forum for Climate Change, cited the drastic change in weather patterns in East Africa as one negative effect of climate change.
“In Tanzania, for example, rainfall has become less predictable and droughts have become both frequent in occurrence and last longer compared to a few years back. Sea levels are rising at an alarming pace and several parts of the coastal region are at risk of being submerged like Pangani town in Tanga. There are already some parts that are now completely under the sea as is the case of Mazwe Island near Pangani”, Mr Muro said.
“In many parts of Tanzania, temperature has increased by about 0.2 to 0.6 degrees Centigrade for the past 30 years. The impact of increased temperatures is evidenced by the fast decline of snow on Mount Kilimanjaro and other mountains in the region”, he added.
The EAC Secretariat was officially accredited as an observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by the 18th Conference of Parties (COP18) in Doha, Qatar. Since then, the EAC has been playing a key role in the international climate change policy discourse through providing leadership on regional climate change policy setting and mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and mitigation in regional integration programmes, projects and other initiatives in accordance with the EAC Climate Change Policy adopted by the EAC Heads of State in April 2011.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat over the weekend sensitised over 100 members of the Kenya Railway Golf Club during the EAC Golf Tournament in Nairobi, Kenya.
A one-day tournament organised by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)-Kenya Chapter and sponsored by the EAC Secretariat attracted over 100 golfers and other invited guests.
The EAC Golf Tournament tournament which was being held for the first time was part of an outreach programme for the Secretariat to members of the Kenya Railways Golf Club in Nairobi.
Addressing the golfers who had participated during the presentation of the awards to the winners, Kenyan EALA MP Hon. Peter Mathuki urged members of the Kenya Railway Golf Club to embrace the spirit of regional integration, adding that the people of East Africa shared a common destiny.
Hon. Mathuki who represented the Speaker of EALA, Right Hon. Daniel Kidega, as the Chief Guest informed the Club that the EAC has recorded major milestones towards integration including the successful implementation of the EAC Single Customs Territory along the Northern Corridor which has resulted into the speedy delivery of cargo from Mombasa to Kigali, a development likely to reduce the cost of doing business in the region.
Under the EAC Single Customs Territory, which came into effect on 1st June 2014, importers can now clear their goods at the points of entry with revenues being collected at a single point, in this case, the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. The revenues are then submitted to the destination Partner States.
The legislator said that sports activities across the continent had brought individuals and communities together by highlighting the commonalities among them and at the same time, bridging the cultural or ethnic differences.
The EAC Secretariat used the tournament to sensitise on the progress being made in the regional integration process by the Partner States in various sectors.
The East African Court of Justice Appellate Division on 20th November 2015 gave an advisory opinion filed on 15th April 2015 by the Secretary-General of the EAC on behalf of the Council of Ministers of the EAC. The request was filed pursuant to Article 14(4) and 36 of the Treaty and Rule 75 of the EACJ Rules of Procedure.
The request sought an opinion as to whether or not the words “forfeit” and “withdraw”, appearing respectively in Article 67(2) of the EAC Treaty and Rule 96(3) of the EAC Staff Rules and Regulation 2006, in effect amount to the same thing.
The gist of the matter that led to the rise of the inquiry is that Rwanda as a Partner State of the Community, nominated its national (Mr Alloys Mutabingwa) for appointment as EAC Deputy Secretary-General by the Summit of EAC Heads of State. Mr Mutabingwa was duly appointed in that position on 29th July 2009 for a term of three (3) years; however, on 29th April 2011 before the expiry of his term, Rwanda nominated Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera (another Rwandan national) for the appointment by the Summit as Secretary-General of the Community for a term of five (5) years. By virtue of Article 67(2) of the Treaty, “upon appointment of the Secretary-General, the Partner State from which he or she is appointed shall forfeit the post of Deputy Secretary-General”.
Also said that with that forfeiture Mr Mutabingwa’s contract was brought to an end, exactly 12 months before due date of its expiry. Upon that premature end of Mr Mtabingwa’s contract of employment, the Community, as the employer, compensated him in an amount equivalent to his full remuneration package for the 12 months balance of his contract.
In doing so the Community based itself on the authority of Rule 96(3) of the Staff Rules which provide, “where a Partner State withdraws one of its Executive staff before the expiry of contract, the individual shall be compensated the full remuneration package he or she would have received if he / she had served the entire period of the running contract. The funds paid by the Community shall be reimbursed by the concerned Partner State”.
Further, it was stated that the State practice of the Community regarding similar withdrawals in the past notably in 2001 and 2006, when Uganda and Tanzania respectively reimbursed the Community upon withdrawal of their respective Deputy Secretaries-General. Consequently, upon its payment of the above full compensation to Mr Mutabingwa, the Community Secretariat requested Rwanda to reimburse to the Community the amount of that compensation.
Rwanda declined to make the requested reimbursement, on the basis that the matter did not fall within the ambit of Rule 96(3) and additionally, contended that there is no clear established state practice in this regard. Confronted with the impasse, the Council of Ministers took a decision at its 29th extra ordinary meeting of 23rd-28th August 2014 to seek the Court’s Advisory Opinion on the matter.
Specifically, the Council sought an opinion on whether “forfeiture” of the position of Deputy Secretary-General under Article 67(2) of the Treaty for purpose of making way for an incoming Secretary-General from the same Partner State is in effect “withdrawal” of such Deputy Secretary-General.
The Court in its ruling said that, forfeiture of the position of the Deputy Secretary-General pursuant to Article 67(2) of the Treaty is a function and consequence imposed by automatic operation of law - without the free will or choice of the Partner State concerned. Withdrawal of Deputy Secretaries-General from their position by a Partner State of which the DSG is a national, for purposes of making way for an incoming Secretary-General of the same Partner State, though contemplated under Rule 96(3) of the Staff Rules and Regulations, 2006 of the Community, would in its application be a function and result of the free will and choice of the Partner State involved. To that extent, that function offends and is clearly inconsistent with and contrary to the objectives and purpose of the Treaty, in particular concerning the principle of rotation in Article 67(1) and (2) of the Treaty.
The Court further ruled that, given the inconsistency between the Treaty and the Staff Rules, which are made pursuant to the provisions of Articles 14(3) (g) and 70 of the same Treaty, the Staff Rules must to the extent of the inconsistency yield to the primacy of the provision of the Treaty.
It further ruled that, the “practise” whereby two Partner States have in the past refunded to the Secretariat of the Community the compensation paid to two former Deputy Secretaries-General of their nationality for premature termination of their tenure (in order to give way to the incoming Secretaries-General of the same nationality), has not as yet developed to trigger objective recognition under international law as an “established state practice”.
It is at best only a developing practice. At worst, any emerging “practise” from the past two precedents of Uganda and Tanzania has been fatally wounded and may well be on its way to becoming inchoate (unclear) if not comatose (exhausted).
Again, the Court added that of the three precedents signifying the alleged “practise”, the first Uganda’s was effected prior to the 2006 Staff Rules and therefore lacked any legal basis at all, the third Rwanda’s has been plainly challenged and openly disputed by the Partner State concerned.
That leaves Tanzania as the lone practise. Therefore, no legitimate basis to hold this as a valid practise of the Partner States of the EAC. Accordingly, it is quite evident that this so called practise cannot be taken into account for purposes of interpreting or applying Article 67(2) of the EAC Treaty and Rule 96(3) of the EAC Staff Rules and Regulations.
The Court also said that to avoid the latent friction between Article 67(2) of the Treaty and Rule 96(3) of the Staff Rules and Regulations, the two need formal, adequate and appropriate harmonisation by the competent organs and authorities of the Community.
The Federal Republic of Germany has so far given the East African Community (EAC) over 213 million euros in grants for the Community’s regional integration initiatives.
Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said the money had been invested in education, health and infrastructure projects, among other sectors.
Dr Steinmeier said that his country would continue its support for the EAC which he said was on the right track in terms of economic and political integration.
Dr Steinmeier said there was no global blueprint for regional integration, adding that the EU was currently grappling with the refugee crisis brought about by the conflict in Syria and the Greek financial crisis.
“Integration is not a fair weather project. Germany would not be where it is today without economic co-operation with the rest of Europe. I can say that the 60 years of European co-operation has been a success story”, he said.
The Minister said it was up to the EAC Partner States to prioritise the areas of co-operation amongst them. He said Germany was keen on increasing its co-operation with the EAC, especially in such areas as vocational training, education and technology transfer.
Dr Steinmeier was addressing journalists at the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania after he held bilateral talks with the EAC Secretary-General, Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera.
The Minister urged the African Union and the EAC to expedite resolving the ongoing conflict in Burundi to prevent a spillover effect into neighbouring states. He expressed hope that the views and concerns of all parties in the Burundian conflict including the diaspora would be incorporated in the peace talks.
On economic growth in Africa and the EAC, Dr Steinmeier said it was disturbing that the perceived benefits from encouraging economic growth figures were not trickling down to the majority of the population especially those who live in the rural areas in terms of employment opportunities and poverty reduction.
In his remarks, Dr Sezibera thanked Germany for its generous assistance which had enabled the EAC to record significant successes including the realisation of the Customs Union, Common Market and commitments to support the attainment of the East African Monetary Union.
Dr Sezibera disclosed that intra-EAC trade had grown from 10 per cent a few years ago to more than 26 per cent at the moment.
The Secretary-General said EAC was deeply interested in penetrating the German market, which he described as large and vibrant, adding that the region also wanted to benefit from technology transfer from Europe’s largest economy.
On economic growth and efforts to address poverty, Dr Sezibera said the priority for the EAC in terms of employment was to rethink training in the region.
“Our focus is on vocational training and whether entrants into the job market have the right skills. We are also involving our agro-processing industries on how to expand manufacturing to a level that can create more jobs”, said the Secretary-General.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will on Sunday, 22nd November 2015 pay a working visit to the East African Community (EAC) Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania from 1.00PM.
The Minister, who will be accompanied by members of the German business community, will hold bilateral talks with the Secretary-General of the EAC, Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera.
The two leaders will then brief the press at the EAC Media Centre.
Shortly after the briefing, both the Minister and the Secretary-General will proceed to jointly address the East African-German Business Roundtable, jointly hosted by the EAC Secretariat, the East African Business Council and the Federal Foreign Office.
Civil Society Organisations in the EAC have petitioned the regional Assembly to urgently undertake specified number of actions within its mandate to contain the situation in the Republic of Burundi.
Representatives of the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) and the East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum (EACSOF) on Monday afternoon presented a petition to EALA Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega at a brief ceremony at the Speaker’s Chambers in Arusha.
The Civil Society representatives are petitioning EALA among other things to make strong recommendation to the Summit of EAC Heads of State that the Republic of Burundi should not assume the rotating Chairmanship of the EAC until it resolves the political, human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country.
The petitioners further urge the House to call upon the Chair of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union to take concrete steps towards preventing Burundi from descending into genocide or mass atrocities. Such measures the petition says, include, enhancing the numbers and capacity of the Human Rights monitors and Military monitors deployed to the country. They further call for the sanctions regime of the African Union to be activated.
The petition avers that EALA or a relevant Committee within, should immediately call for a public hearing in Arusha, Tanzania, that would welcome Burundian and East African citizens to testify to the occurrences in the country and to suggest proposals for resolution to the crisis.
In addition to PALU (Principal Petitioner) and EACSOF, the Atrocities Watch Africa, Centre for Citizens’ Participation on the African Union, East Africa Law Society and the Kituo Cha Katiba append their signatures to the petition.
The petition states that there have been numerous reports of cases of assassinations, extra-judicial and arbitrary killings of over 130 persons and wants EALA to condemn what it terms arbitrary killings as well as the inordinate use of force by the police, security officials and members of a youth wing group, Imbonerakure.
The petitioners say that although the authorities in Burundi have ordered investigations into the killings, no single case has been concluded, citing the murder of the former head of intelligence Services, General Adolphe Nshimirimana.
“More recently, the arbitrary killing of the son of the eminent and award winning Human Rights Defender, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, who is himself under recovery after been shot, for which no investigations have been done, despite statements by the Government condemning the killings”, a section of the Petition reads.
The petitioners, in addition, call on EALA to request the African Union to intervene in the political and humanitarian crisis citing its comprehensive and far-reaching legal and institutional framework that includes the Constitutive Act of the African Union, 2000 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights amongst others.
The petition acknowledges the measures taken by various Organs and Institutions of the EAC since the crisis started in February this year. They include three Extra-Ordinary Summits by the EAC Heads of State held on Burundi which took place on 13 May 2015, 31 May 2015 and 6 June 2015 – the latter of which appointed the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to mediate in the crisis.
EAC citizens, including some of the petitioners, filed a case before the East African Court of Justice in Reference No. 2 of 2015: East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum (EACSOF) vs. The Attorney General of Burundi and 2 Others. According to the petitioners, the case requests the Court to ascertain whether the President of Burundi could lawfully run for a third term, in light of the relevant provisions of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi (Arusha Accord) of 2000 and the Burundi Constitution of 2005.
The Reference No. 2 of 2015 was filed with an application for interim injunction whose citation is Application No. 5 of 2015 (Arising from Reference No. 2 of 2015) The East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum (EACSOF) Vs The Attorney General of the Republic of Burundi and 2 Others. The application sought to injunct the elections of Burundi pending hearing and determination of the Reference. The Application was heard on 20th July 2015 and a Ruling was delivered on the same day denying the grant of an injunction.
“The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on its part, participated in the joint East African Community (EAC) Observation Mission to the Burundi Elections, though it is yet to deploy its mandate and powers, under the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, to the deepening political, human rights and humanitarian crisis in Burundi”, a section of the petition states.
The petitioners reiterate speedy responses to the situation in Burundi.
“Should the above measures not bear fruit within the next one month, EALA should call for suspension of the Burundi Government from both the EAC and the AU”, the petition affirms in conclusion.
Under Rule 86 of the EALA Rules of Procedure, any citizen of the Partner States, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Partner State shall have the right to address, individually or in association with other citizens or persons, a petition to the Assembly on a matter which comes within the Community’s fields of activities and which affects him, her or it directly.
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) shall hold its sitting in Kigali, Rwanda, next week. The Plenary, which takes place from Monday, 22nd November 2015 to Friday, 4th December 2015, is the Third Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Third Assembly.
The Assembly is to be presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega. Top on the agenda during the two week period is the Special sitting expected to be addressed by the President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame.
Two key Bills on the cards at the EALA meeting are the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Bill 2013 and the EAC Forestry Management Bill 2014.
The EAC Forestry Management Bill 2014 seeks to promote the development, protection, conservation, sustainable management and use of the forests in the Community especially trans-boundary forests ecosystems, in the interest of present and future generations.
It further wants to espouse the scientific, cultural and socio-economic values of forests and harmonise national forest laws.
The Assembly adjourned debate on the Forest Management and Protection Bill, 2014 at its last Sitting in Nairobi in October 2015. The adjournment at Committee stage followed the successful Motion for the same, tabled by the Chair of EAC Council of Ministers, Hon. Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, seeking for more time to enable the United Republic of Tanzania to make input.
Hon. Dr Mwakyembe then informed the House that the United Republic of Tanzania was expected to go to the polls in October and that it was necessary for the debate to be put on hold until such time that a new Government is in place to effectively enable the Partner State to make its input.
The EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Bill 2013, on its part, seeks to provide a legal framework for intervention and assistance for people affected by Climate Change and natural-related hazards and to protect the natural environment through integration of comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction and management practices in the EAC.
Debate on the Bill, moved for second reading in August 2013, was halted following a request by the Council of Ministers to consult and consider its policy implications. The EAC Ministers’ further called for the taking over of the Bill for appropriate amendment and re-introduction as a Council of Ministers’ Bill. At the same time, the move was to allow for pursuit of the ratification of the EAC Protocol on Peace and Security which among other objectives, provides for co-operation in DRR management and crisis response.
During the Plenary Sittings, the House is also expected to receive and to debate on a number of reports. They include that of the Committee on Accounts for the Audited Financial Statements of EAC for the Financial Year ended 30th June 2014 and the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources report on the sensitisation workshop on standards by the African Organisation of Standardisation.
The Report of the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment on the on-spot assessment of One-Stop Border Posts in the EAC is also expected to be tabled and debated.
In addition, the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges shall table its Report on the implementation of Resolutions and Questions of the Assembly and Council commitments.
EALA sittings are held under the principle of rotation in line with Article 55 of the EAC Treaty. Its last sitting took place in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2015. EALA meets at least once in every year at its headquarter in Arusha, Tanzania.
