The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) in charge of Political Federation, Beatrice Kiraso, has called for intensified efforts to fight corruption among partner States, saying this is in line with achieving objectives of the Common market Protocol.

Speaking at a meeting of heads of anti-corruption, ethics and Integrity authorities held in Arusha on Friday, Kiraso said that the recently signed Common Market Protocol will heighten regional socio-economic activities and stressed ethics and integrity in order to achieve the set objectives.

‘’This stage [Common Market] is the backbone of our integration as it will facilitate free movement of persons, goods, services, capital as well as rights of residence and establishment,” the EAC official said

"It is a requirement, therefore, to establish regional institutional framework to deal with the challenges of these freedoms and increased economic activity,’’ she added

Anti-corruption, Ethics and Integrity is among the four pillars of the EAC good governance framework which is one of the initiatives to lay a firm foundation for the EAC political federation.

Corruption, she noted, has negative impact on all aspects of integration as it impedes investments, trade, movement of capital and persons.

"It is directly related to poor service delivery and no doubt enhances poverty levels in our region,’’ she added.
She urged the authorities to consolidate the national efforts on the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance ‘’to create an environment that is attractive to foreign and regional investors so as to bolster the benefits of integration.’’

The EAC fundamental principles stipulated in the EAC treaty include good governance, adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, and equal opportunities.

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