EASTERN PROVINCE
 
NGOMA — Rwandans have been urged to work hard if they are to reap benefits from the East African Community. The call was made by Vincent Gatete, an official of Rwanda Revenue Authority, on Thursday, while addressing district leaders at the district head quarters.

He said citizens should have same target and desist from things which might breed hatred, in order to reap benefits from the five-member country’s bloc.

Gatete, who also serves on the East African project team, urged residents to carry out extensive production for a big East African market.

The meeting meant to discuss the East African Community Customs Union was also attended by sector executive secretaries, heads of cooperative societies among other.

The customs union stipulates uniform tariffs on commodities from outside the East African Community, same laws governing member countries’ borders, scrapping of VAT on commodities from member countries among others.

He noted that the original three-member bloc collapsed because member countries (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) had different ideologies and disagreed on equitable sharing of the benefits among other factors.

Customs union, common market, monetary union, political federation and procedure of withdrawal are some of the things that would create a strong bond between  the current EAC members, Gatete said.

Some of the benefits Gatete noted that Rwanda would reap from the five-member bloc are: big market, skills that foster good business cooperation, investors from member countries, and cooperation in solving problems affecting borders.

Others include opening free route for land locked members and the removal of tariffs on commodities originating from member countries.

"But to achieve all these, Rwandans need to work hard to compete favorably with other East African member countries,” Gatete said.

Infant industries compared to other member countries, low literacy levels due to the country’s history, low quality products are some of the challenges he noted, that Rwanda is and might contend with in future if citizens don’t put in much effort in whatever they are doing.

"This is why leaders should endeavor to explain to residents the benefits of Rwanda joining the East African Community, but these benefits will not be achieved unless people work hard.” Gatete stressed.

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