Editor,

RE: "Hello South Sudan, welcome aboard this EAC vessel” (Sunday Times, March 6).

Good analysis Ssenyonga, I welcome the issue of South Sudan joining the East African block, but South Sudan people should stop mistreating foreigners in their country. We want foreigners to feel safe when in South Sudan. Every week there are cases of foreigners being murdered in South Sudan.

East Africa is a construction and as it continues to shrink into a global village, all aspects of life will be dynamic rather than static. 

East Africa is rich; it’s just matter of pooling all the resources and utilize them well. I think also President Magufili’s argument about extravagance should be supported among East African member states. 

But he should also join his friends from Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda who have made freedom of movement of people among these countries a reality and blessing.

I think the issue of Burundi political crisis should be approached with objectivity without massaging certain parties under guise of peace. 

Democracy is the realization of the majority’s fundamental human rights and protection of the minority’s human rights. 

The voice of the people of Burundi people should be respected.

The more the reality of the matter is put under the carpet, the more the East Africa will be doing a dis-service to the citizens of Burundi.

Henry Mapesa

Journalism lecturer Mount Kenya University Kigali campus.