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East Africa: Why EAC is Clamoring for Referendum
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East African Business Week (Kampala)
ANALYSIS
17 March 2008
Posted to the web 17 March 2008
Bobi Odiko
Interesting news filtered in from Rwanda and Burundi recently as the Council of Ministers congregated here in Arusha for its routine get together meetings to assess developments at the EAC.
Reports from Kigali indicate that over 8 million inhabitants of the country are busy preparing themselves for a referendum on the East African political federation. A similar exercise was done in the original three Partner States sometime last year. In the move exhibited as a tick for regional integration, Rwanda is reportedly enthusiastic over the issue giving a nod to the process.
To set the ball rolling, a task force constituting of various stakeholders including academia, youth and civil society among others, is going through the rigors of preparation. Indeed, a positive score would only boost the EAC and perhaps re-open discussions and urge to fast-track.
Next door in Bujumbura, parliament held elections to identify its representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly. By press time, there was some debate with political parties querying the efficacy of the process. Although not much is clear yet, it is understood that procedures were not followed to the letter which is subject to Article 50 of the Treaty establishing the East African Community. The said article dictates modalities with regards to elections of parliamentarians to the Arusha based August House.
Despite what seems to be a minor setback in the Burundi electioneering process, the two activities were magnanimous in that both portrayed and rightly so, the fact that EAC is coming of age, and that Partner States are coming to terms with the realization of their interdependence.
Rwanda and Burundi - the two new kids on the block joined the regional bloc recently when the Summit assented to their entry into the EAC. Both countries - which bring with them an additional 15 million people into the EAC market, are eager to quickly begin to enjoy the benefits of EAC while reaping the fruits.
At the same time, they present the region with another opportunity to spread out its web further into the greater lakes region. This could not take place at a better time following the recent Inter Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC) meeting in Nairobi in which representatives of COMESA, EAC and IGAD undertook to put in place measures leading to a conglomeration of the three blocs.
Of importance now is for the EAC to adhere to the Treaty establishing its very existence. The fact that all Partner States are committed to the process is very positive. Indeed if the size of the delegations congregating at the Arusha International Conference Centre to discuss the future of the EAC is anything to go by, then the bloc is going to succeed.
Ambassador Juma Mwapachu and his lieutenants need to keep the fire burning at all times. A host of other stakeholders are likewise interested in keeping the EAC alive. The Private Sector want "business without borders" soon realized for example. The legal fraternity which coalesces around the East Africa Law Society (EALS) is likewise committed to ensuring access to just law, good governance and constitutionalism as well as a mandate and interest in the advancement, and protection of human rights for all in East Africa and beyond.
EALS has moved a notch higher by engaging in hosting the East African Civil Society fora annually in an unparallel initiative to inform and educate the civil society on the importance of the Community.
EAC recently developed a new logo as part of the re-branding project. A host of other programmes are envisaged in a move that will see the Community endear itself to many.
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However, despite the many goodies planned up its sleeves, EAC must take into consideration the challenges it faces - the biggest one of all being perception, which is more historical in nature.
Granted, the breakaway of the original Community left a scar in the face of the region's inhabitants but this should now be water under the bridge. Instead, EAC needs to take on seriously, the arduous task of strengthening its pillars.
The writer comments on socio-economic issues and is based in Arusha
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