https://www.facebook.com/felo.mg.3It is always said that be part of the process and gain from it. Is Tanzania ready for this? This is a question that member states of the EAC must be deeply pondering about. The commitment of the country towards regional integration is at question with Tanzania always 'crying' of being left out of the integration process.
But then where does the problem lie? Is it not long overdue since the signing of the East African Community protocol in 2010. One core issue is that the countries are not fast enough to make sure that the national laws conform with the EAC treaty. Why the sluggish move? Are members not ready to clinch on the gains or is it a case of who bells the cat first?
Tanzania on its part has been accused of its apparent fear of commitment towards the treaty. It is quite unfortunate that even though Tanzania occupies almost half of the landmass of EAC, it was not represented in the signing of Single Customs Duty in Kigali, Rwanda. This then raises the crucial question as to whether the signing of the treaty was done behind their back or they were not just ready. The Tanzania government purporting that the signing of the treaty was done benind their back is quite malicious, outright lie and just a scape goat towards this important commitment for the prosperity of the region.
In his own words, the Tanzania's Minister for East African Co-operation claims that they are not sitting pretty in the region. I would remind him that East Africans do not need countries that sit pretty but those that work and ready to move the region to better levels.
I can't wait to see a region that prospers in its economy, a region that I would move freely without being asked work permits or visas. I would emphatically reiterate the words of the Secretary General EAC, dilly-dallying with integration misses the point.
Why should we then be interested in plucking the fruits of regional integration than concentrate on growing the tree? Tanzania need to be told this
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FELIX KWANZU IS THE SECRETARY GENERAL ECOSA (ECONOMICS STUDENTS ASSOCIATION) UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI.
