ZANZIBAR - The Deputy Secretary General of the East Africa Community (Political Federation), Beatrice Kiraso, has called for the formation of a sectoral council on political affairs, underscoring that its absence affects the region’s political integration agenda.

 Kiraso made the remarks, yesterday, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, during the opening of a two-day ministerial meeting to discuss a draft EAC protocol on good governance.

"Political issues are not given the attention they deserve; decisions are taken hurriedly, reports are not discussed, sometimes they are thrown out on grounds that we don’t understand,” the EAC official told the meeting.

"When they are discussed, it is with a lot of emotion. The absence of a specific sectoral council on political affairs causes delayed consideration and adoption of recommendations made by different sectors.”

If put in place, this will mean that all agencies and ministries in partner states, that handle matters related to good governance will have a particular platform at the regional level.

Kiraso called on the Ministers to make appropriate recommendations that will promote good governance in the region.

"The future of political integration lies in your hands. Much as we are saying this a people centred integration, it is to a large extent government led, and you are the policymaking organ of the community,” she said.

Kiraso said that the EAC has developed a draft bill of rights which she said is now undergoing consultations at national levels.

The Ministers kicked off the meeting yesterday by reviewing different articles of the draft protocol before it is presented to the EAC Council of Ministers next month for consideration.

Ends.