TANZANIA YAZIDI KUBAGULIWA EAC- Kenya,Uganda,Rwanda na Burundi waanza kuandaa rasimu ya katiba ya shirikisho lao bila ya Tanzania.
Jenerali Aronda Nyakairima(kushoto) akikabidhiwa kazi ya
kuiwakilisha Uganda ktk kuandaa ya rasimu, kulia ni
Rais Yoweri Museven
Septemba 21,2013-Jumamosi.
MKUTANO wa maofisa waandamizi kutoka nchi za Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda na Burundi wa kuharakisha Shirikisho la Kisiasa la Afrika Mashariki, umekubaliana kuanza kuandaa Rasimu ya Katiba ya shirikisho hilo, bila kuishirikisha Tanzania.
Katika kuhakikisha hilo, ni sawa na vile ilivyokuwa kwa timu ya wataalamu walioandaa Itifaki ya Soko la Pamoja, timu ya kuandaa Rasimu ya Katiba ya shirikisho la kisiasa, itajumuisha wataalamu mbalimbali kutoka nchi zote tano wanachama wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (EAC).
Waziri wa Serikali za Mitaa wa Rwanda, James Musoni alisema baada ya mkutano wa mawaziri mjini Kampala mwishoni mwa wiki kuwa,“Tumekubaliana juu ya taratibu na jinsi ya kuhakikisha, ipo miongozo iliyowazi juu ya kuandaa rasimu hii ambayo hatimaye itafikia katika hatua ya mwisho ya kuundwa kwa shirikisho la kisiasa,”
Nao wakuu wa nchi za Rwanda, Kenya na Uganda, Juni mwaka huu, walikubaliana kuongeza kasi ya kufikia lengo la shirikisho la Afrika Mashariki.
Pia katika mkutano uliofanyika Mombasa, Kenya, Agosti mwaka huu, Burundi nayo iliunga mkono hatua hiyo ambayo pia inalenga kuimarisha miundombinu chakavu ndani ya kanda hiyo ya Afrika Mashariki.
Mkutano huo wa shirikisho la kisiasa ni wa kwanza wa aina yake, ambapo maofisa waandamizi kutoka Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi na Uganda wamehudhuria tangu kikao cha utatu kilichofanyika mjini Entebe, Uganda, Juni mwaka huu.
Mawaziri kutoka nchi mbalimbali wanachama wa EAC waliopewa dhamana ya maandalizi ya shirikisho la kisiasa, watatoa ripoti ya hatua iliyofikiwa mbele ya mkutano wa wakuu wa nchi za EAC, utakaofanyika Oktoba, mjini Kigali, Rwanda.Tanzania haimo katika mchakato wa shirikisho.
Nchi nne za EAC, zinatumia baadhi ya vipengele katika mtangamano wa Afrika Mashariki, ambavyo vinaeleza, baadhi ya wanachama ndani ya jumuiya wanaweza kwenda kasi zaidi kuliko wengine katika baadhi ya masuala yanayohusu mtangamano.
Mahakama ya Afrika ya Mashariki (EACJ), ilitoa uamuzi mwaka, 2009 kwamba hatua ya aina hii, inaendana sawia na mahitaji ya muafaka katika kufikia maamuzi ndani ya EAC.
Mwandishi: Margreth Itala.
Kwa Mujibu wa Wavuti moja ya Uganda "The Observer" Imeandika kuwa;
Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda to draft constitution
Tanzania left out of new fast-tracking effort
President Museveni has taken a big step towards fast tracking the federation of East Africa by appointing Gen Aronda Nyakairima to head a committee that will draft a constitution.
During the tri-lateral meetings between Museveni, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame in June and August in which ambitious infrastructure developments were mooted, the Ugandan leader was tasked to spearhead railway development and fast tracking the federation.
On his part, Kenyatta was assigned to spearhead electricity generation and distribution, as well as oil pipeline development. Kagame, on the other hand, was tasked with issues of customs, a single tourist visa, and an East African Community e-identity card.
The three leaders are to meet every two months to review progress, and that is why they met again in Mombasa last month, having met in Kampala in June. The next meeting is due in Kigali in October.
However, what has raised eyebrows is that this framework leaves out other members, Tanzania and Burundi, although the latter was represented in Mombasa. When Museveni was asked in June why Tanzania and Burundi were not represented in discussions about East Africa, he said they would be briefed.
Reliable sources have now told The Observer that Museveni wrote to his minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Nyakairima, on August 14, informing him that he had been selected to head the committee to fast-track the federation following consultations with Kenyatta and Kagame.
“I appointed you, after my agreement with their excellencies Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta, to chair the committee for the fast-tracking of the East African Federation,” Museveni reportedly wrote.
In so doing, Museveni executed his mandate in keeping with the communiqué issued at the end of the tri-lateral Kampala summit on June 25, where the three leaders agreed to set up “a committee to draft an EAC political federation framework that will be considered and discussed by all relevant parties.”
The Observer has further learnt that in Mombasa, Museveni, Kenyatta and Kagame reiterated their commitment to the Kampala communiqué, emphasizing the fast-tracking of the East African federation.
In his letter, Museveni instructs Aronda and his committee, whose other members we are yet to establish, to embark on drafting a constitution that shows the advantages of a larger, stronger East Africa.
Museveni wants the proposed constitution to stipulate how power and finances are to be shared between the federating states and the federal government, among other things. The president advised Aronda to utilise the resourcefulness of people like Prof Sam Tulya-Muhika, Uganda Revenue Authority Commissioner General Allen Kagina, and the Attorney General in executing his assignment.
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| Jenerali Aronda Nyakairima(kushoto) akikabidhiwa kazi ya kuiwakilisha Uganda ktk kuandaa ya rasimu, kulia ni Rais Yoweri Museven |
MKUTANO wa maofisa waandamizi kutoka nchi za Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda na Burundi wa kuharakisha Shirikisho la Kisiasa la Afrika Mashariki, umekubaliana kuanza kuandaa Rasimu ya Katiba ya shirikisho hilo, bila kuishirikisha Tanzania.
Katika kuhakikisha hilo, ni sawa na vile ilivyokuwa kwa timu ya wataalamu walioandaa Itifaki ya Soko la Pamoja, timu ya kuandaa Rasimu ya Katiba ya shirikisho la kisiasa, itajumuisha wataalamu mbalimbali kutoka nchi zote tano wanachama wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (EAC).
Waziri wa Serikali za Mitaa wa Rwanda, James Musoni alisema baada ya mkutano wa mawaziri mjini Kampala mwishoni mwa wiki kuwa,“Tumekubaliana juu ya taratibu na jinsi ya kuhakikisha, ipo miongozo iliyowazi juu ya kuandaa rasimu hii ambayo hatimaye itafikia katika hatua ya mwisho ya kuundwa kwa shirikisho la kisiasa,”
Nao wakuu wa nchi za Rwanda, Kenya na Uganda, Juni mwaka huu, walikubaliana kuongeza kasi ya kufikia lengo la shirikisho la Afrika Mashariki.
Pia katika mkutano uliofanyika Mombasa, Kenya, Agosti mwaka huu, Burundi nayo iliunga mkono hatua hiyo ambayo pia inalenga kuimarisha miundombinu chakavu ndani ya kanda hiyo ya Afrika Mashariki.
Mkutano huo wa shirikisho la kisiasa ni wa kwanza wa aina yake, ambapo maofisa waandamizi kutoka Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi na Uganda wamehudhuria tangu kikao cha utatu kilichofanyika mjini Entebe, Uganda, Juni mwaka huu.
Mawaziri kutoka nchi mbalimbali wanachama wa EAC waliopewa dhamana ya maandalizi ya shirikisho la kisiasa, watatoa ripoti ya hatua iliyofikiwa mbele ya mkutano wa wakuu wa nchi za EAC, utakaofanyika Oktoba, mjini Kigali, Rwanda.Tanzania haimo katika mchakato wa shirikisho.
Nchi nne za EAC, zinatumia baadhi ya vipengele katika mtangamano wa Afrika Mashariki, ambavyo vinaeleza, baadhi ya wanachama ndani ya jumuiya wanaweza kwenda kasi zaidi kuliko wengine katika baadhi ya masuala yanayohusu mtangamano.
Mahakama ya Afrika ya Mashariki (EACJ), ilitoa uamuzi mwaka, 2009 kwamba hatua ya aina hii, inaendana sawia na mahitaji ya muafaka katika kufikia maamuzi ndani ya EAC.
Mwandishi: Margreth Itala.
Kwa Mujibu wa Wavuti moja ya Uganda "The Observer" Imeandika kuwa;
Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda to draft constitution
Tanzania left out of new fast-tracking effort
President Museveni has taken a big step towards fast tracking the federation of East Africa by appointing Gen Aronda Nyakairima to head a committee that will draft a constitution.
During the tri-lateral meetings between Museveni, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame in June and August in which ambitious infrastructure developments were mooted, the Ugandan leader was tasked to spearhead railway development and fast tracking the federation.
On his part, Kenyatta was assigned to spearhead electricity generation and distribution, as well as oil pipeline development. Kagame, on the other hand, was tasked with issues of customs, a single tourist visa, and an East African Community e-identity card.
The three leaders are to meet every two months to review progress, and that is why they met again in Mombasa last month, having met in Kampala in June. The next meeting is due in Kigali in October.
However, what has raised eyebrows is that this framework leaves out other members, Tanzania and Burundi, although the latter was represented in Mombasa. When Museveni was asked in June why Tanzania and Burundi were not represented in discussions about East Africa, he said they would be briefed.
Reliable sources have now told The Observer that Museveni wrote to his minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Nyakairima, on August 14, informing him that he had been selected to head the committee to fast-track the federation following consultations with Kenyatta and Kagame.
“I appointed you, after my agreement with their excellencies Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta, to chair the committee for the fast-tracking of the East African Federation,” Museveni reportedly wrote.
In so doing, Museveni executed his mandate in keeping with the communiqué issued at the end of the tri-lateral Kampala summit on June 25, where the three leaders agreed to set up “a committee to draft an EAC political federation framework that will be considered and discussed by all relevant parties.”
The Observer has further learnt that in Mombasa, Museveni, Kenyatta and Kagame reiterated their commitment to the Kampala communiqué, emphasizing the fast-tracking of the East African federation.
In his letter, Museveni instructs Aronda and his committee, whose other members we are yet to establish, to embark on drafting a constitution that shows the advantages of a larger, stronger East Africa.
Museveni wants the proposed constitution to stipulate how power and finances are to be shared between the federating states and the federal government, among other things. The president advised Aronda to utilise the resourcefulness of people like Prof Sam Tulya-Muhika, Uganda Revenue Authority Commissioner General Allen Kagina, and the Attorney General in executing his assignment.
Tanzania, Burundi
The realisation that the trio of leaders is bent on pushing for the federation of East Africa with or without Tanzania has taken the region by surprise.
Analysts say the move could make or break the East African Community, arguing that it could either exert pressure on Tanzania to join or be left behind, or alienate Dar even further and possibly result in yet another break-up of the community just as differences between Idi Amin and Julius Nyerere did in 1977.
The three member states are said to be frustrated that Tanzania’s misgivings are holding back integration. In his letter, Museveni refers to 2004 when the idea of fast-tracking the federation was first mooted and put to East Africans in a survey.
According to the results, Tanzanians supported the federation of East Africa by 74.45% but when it came to the issue of fast-tracking, it was only 25.4%. In comparison, Uganda supported federation by 77.6% and fast tracking by 56.3%.
Kenya supported the federation by 69.9% and fast-tracking by 64.9%. Rwanda supported the federation by 91.2% and fast tracking by 87%. Burundi supported the federation by 63% and fast-tracking by 63.4%.
It was widely reported then that the little enthusiasm for fast-tracking the federation in Tanzania was borne out of concerns about the country’s land and minerals. Tanzania has more land and minerals than any other EA member state
According to Museveni, instead of being held hostage by one member (Tanzania), other members should have proceeded to draft a constitution since they all expressed support for fast-tracking the federation.
The president says a draft constitution laying out how resources are to be shared could allay Tanzania’s fears and bring them on board.
“You can see, in four of the five East African countries, the majority favoured the idea of federation and fast-tracking it. In Tanzania, there was huge support for the idea of federation but less support for the idea of fast-tracking it because they pointed out that they had concerns about, I think, land and minerals, etc,” Museveni wrote, according to our source.
“Since the overwhelming majority of East Africans supported the idea of federation and, except for one partner state, they also supported the idea of fast-tracking, the next logical step should have been to appoint a committee to produce a draft East African constitution that could actually answer concerns of those members of the partner states,” Museveni argued.
While the EA Treaty provides for some members moving forward with integration as others catch up, the past history of the community, particularly its collapse in 1977, makes East Africans apprehensive.
“It is clear that the three states are moving, leaving out the other partner states,” says Dr Phillip Kasaija, a lecturer of International Law and Relations at Makerere University.
While Kasaija agrees that based on the principle of variable geometry as provided for in the EA Treaty, three willing partner states can move to integrate as they wait for others to catch up, he warns it would be a stillbirth in this case.
“For a political federation you need to build consensus. There is no need to rush,” Kasaija said, predicting that the future of the treaty is at risk.
Like Kasaija, Shem Bageine, the minister of state for East African Community Affairs, told journalists at the Media Centre early this week that the three leaders are allowed by the EAC Treaty to do what they are doing.
“What is taking place is consultation. No intentions of isolating any partner state and I can say that there is no decision that will be taken without the involvement of the five partner states,” he said.
Kasaija argues that for the good of the community there is need for other member states to address Tanzania’s concerns before proceeding.
“Tanzania wants the federation but its disagreement on land issues is a genuine concern,” he said.
However, land and minerals are not the only issues holding back Tanzania. Some regional leaders have long expressed concern that Tanzania cherishes its membership to the southern Africa bloc (SADC) more than EAC.
Moreover, the disagreement has been exacerbated by a diplomatic row between Tanzania and Rwanda over the security situation in DR Congo. While in Addis Ababa early this year, Jakaya Kikwete suggested that Rwanda should enter dialogue with rebels based in DRC, something that angered Kigali.
As tensions escalated, Tanzania expelled thousands of “illegal immigrants” from Rwanda and Uganda from its territory last month. With fighting flaring up again in eastern DR Congo, President Museveni last week convened a meeting of regional leaders during which Kagame and Kikwete came face-to-face for the first time since the row broke out and shook hands. It is not clear whether this meeting was enough to bury the hatchet.
According to Emmanuel Tayari, an international law analyst, the new development is largely a result of the conflicting national interest of Tanzania and Kenya, each of which wishes to boss the region.
“The nascent troika among Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda has to be understood outside the framework of the East Africa Community. The emerging ties among the three states underscore Kenya’s broad strategic interests in undermining the growing position of Tanzania as a rising economic giant in the region,” Tayari writes in an opinion published by The East African newspaper this week.
Tayari adds that the current Nairobi policy towards Uganda and Rwanda, in general, is largely motivated by Kenya’s competition with Tanzania as the doorway to the landlocked nations of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC.
“This is the open secret that the media, when analyzing the East African Community’s dynamics, have chosen to ignore,” he writes.
Tz Minister for EAC says "If they have all of a sudden chosen to isolate us, we wish them well!" http://t.co/ruBpLGgbbQ
The realisation that the trio of leaders is bent on pushing for the federation of East Africa with or without Tanzania has taken the region by surprise.
Analysts say the move could make or break the East African Community, arguing that it could either exert pressure on Tanzania to join or be left behind, or alienate Dar even further and possibly result in yet another break-up of the community just as differences between Idi Amin and Julius Nyerere did in 1977.
The three member states are said to be frustrated that Tanzania’s misgivings are holding back integration. In his letter, Museveni refers to 2004 when the idea of fast-tracking the federation was first mooted and put to East Africans in a survey.
According to the results, Tanzanians supported the federation of East Africa by 74.45% but when it came to the issue of fast-tracking, it was only 25.4%. In comparison, Uganda supported federation by 77.6% and fast tracking by 56.3%.
Kenya supported the federation by 69.9% and fast-tracking by 64.9%. Rwanda supported the federation by 91.2% and fast tracking by 87%. Burundi supported the federation by 63% and fast-tracking by 63.4%.
It was widely reported then that the little enthusiasm for fast-tracking the federation in Tanzania was borne out of concerns about the country’s land and minerals. Tanzania has more land and minerals than any other EA member state
According to Museveni, instead of being held hostage by one member (Tanzania), other members should have proceeded to draft a constitution since they all expressed support for fast-tracking the federation.
The president says a draft constitution laying out how resources are to be shared could allay Tanzania’s fears and bring them on board.
“You can see, in four of the five East African countries, the majority favoured the idea of federation and fast-tracking it. In Tanzania, there was huge support for the idea of federation but less support for the idea of fast-tracking it because they pointed out that they had concerns about, I think, land and minerals, etc,” Museveni wrote, according to our source.
“Since the overwhelming majority of East Africans supported the idea of federation and, except for one partner state, they also supported the idea of fast-tracking, the next logical step should have been to appoint a committee to produce a draft East African constitution that could actually answer concerns of those members of the partner states,” Museveni argued.
While the EA Treaty provides for some members moving forward with integration as others catch up, the past history of the community, particularly its collapse in 1977, makes East Africans apprehensive.
“It is clear that the three states are moving, leaving out the other partner states,” says Dr Phillip Kasaija, a lecturer of International Law and Relations at Makerere University.
While Kasaija agrees that based on the principle of variable geometry as provided for in the EA Treaty, three willing partner states can move to integrate as they wait for others to catch up, he warns it would be a stillbirth in this case.
“For a political federation you need to build consensus. There is no need to rush,” Kasaija said, predicting that the future of the treaty is at risk.
Like Kasaija, Shem Bageine, the minister of state for East African Community Affairs, told journalists at the Media Centre early this week that the three leaders are allowed by the EAC Treaty to do what they are doing.
“What is taking place is consultation. No intentions of isolating any partner state and I can say that there is no decision that will be taken without the involvement of the five partner states,” he said.
Kasaija argues that for the good of the community there is need for other member states to address Tanzania’s concerns before proceeding.
Kasaija argues that for the good of the community there is need for other member states to address Tanzania’s concerns before proceeding.
“Tanzania wants the federation but its disagreement on land issues is a genuine concern,” he said.
However, land and minerals are not the only issues holding back Tanzania. Some regional leaders have long expressed concern that Tanzania cherishes its membership to the southern Africa bloc (SADC) more than EAC.
However, land and minerals are not the only issues holding back Tanzania. Some regional leaders have long expressed concern that Tanzania cherishes its membership to the southern Africa bloc (SADC) more than EAC.
Moreover, the disagreement has been exacerbated by a diplomatic row between Tanzania and Rwanda over the security situation in DR Congo. While in Addis Ababa early this year, Jakaya Kikwete suggested that Rwanda should enter dialogue with rebels based in DRC, something that angered Kigali.
As tensions escalated, Tanzania expelled thousands of “illegal immigrants” from Rwanda and Uganda from its territory last month. With fighting flaring up again in eastern DR Congo, President Museveni last week convened a meeting of regional leaders during which Kagame and Kikwete came face-to-face for the first time since the row broke out and shook hands. It is not clear whether this meeting was enough to bury the hatchet.
According to Emmanuel Tayari, an international law analyst, the new development is largely a result of the conflicting national interest of Tanzania and Kenya, each of which wishes to boss the region.
“The nascent troika among Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda has to be understood outside the framework of the East Africa Community. The emerging ties among the three states underscore Kenya’s broad strategic interests in undermining the growing position of Tanzania as a rising economic giant in the region,” Tayari writes in an opinion published by The East African newspaper this week.
Tayari adds that the current Nairobi policy towards Uganda and Rwanda, in general, is largely motivated by Kenya’s competition with Tanzania as the doorway to the landlocked nations of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC.
“This is the open secret that the media, when analyzing the East African Community’s dynamics, have chosen to ignore,” he writes.
