{The East African Community secretary General Dr. Richard Sezibera has indicated interventions he is making to calm down the Tanzania complains about being sidelined by Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda in various meetings of the East Africa Community (EAC).}
In a statement yesterday, Dr Sezibera urged East Africans not to be unduly alarmed because the challenges are being addressed and will be further considered by the Council of Ministers at its 28th Meeting scheduled for 28th November 2013 and make recommendations to the Summit.
“The Republic of Burundi and the United Republic of Tanzania have made public their concerns regarding the meetings held by the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda during a number of meetings at Heads of State level.”
“There have also been persistent press reports including misrepresentations on the matter,” the secretary general asserted, noting that he has been in consultations with the five Partner States on the current state of affairs.
He said during the 19th meeting to ministers responsible for East African Community affairs, “the ministers in a spirit of consolidating and strengthening East African integration exchanged views on progress occasioned by the tripartite meetings and the challenges that have arisen.”
The Partner States committed themselves to implement the protocols on the Common Market and the Customs Union, and in particular laying the requisite infrastructure, and pushing for a removal of barriers to the free movement of goods, services and people.
The Guardian reported that while Minister Sitta had expressed his wariness in Parliament over the state of affairs in the EAC, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Good Governance), George Mkuchika, yesterday pledged Tanzania’s commitment in taking every necessary action in order to see to it that the East African Community is strengthened.
Mkuchika made the commitment in the sectoral council of ministers meeting in Bujumbura on Friday, reiterating “the commitment of the United Republic of Tanzania in the realization of the EAC objectives and principles enshrined in the Treaty.”
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