The former Secretary General East African Community (EAC) Amanya Mushega said African leaders are to blame for the restrictions on free movements of people.

"When genocide took place here nobody would dare cross to Kabale or into Burundi, you can imagine how we respect these bounderies. Unless something is done by Africans themselves to transcend bounderies, Africa is likely to remain in a miserable state,” he said.

Mushega was presenting a paper on regional integration and citizenship in the Great Lakes region during a community chapter symposium organised by the Rwanda Centre for Strategic studies recently at Hotel Novotel.

He lashed out at African leaders saying that they are largely to blame for the disunity that emanated from boundaries demarcated by colonialists.

He described the colonial demarcations as ‘prison walls’ that only create situations of anarchy, plunder and harassment by leaders who should instead protect the lives of the people they lead.

He said that in spite of donor aid enjoyed by African countries over the last 40 years of independence, nothing much had been achieved in raising the standards of living of the people.

Mushega added that regional integration through the EAC will ensure sustainable growth and development among partner states due to a bigger market in place.     

On how the region can attract a large investment base, Mushega urged African leaders to emphasis teaching of science related subject, saying that a country can’t attract investors unless a skilled labourforce is in place. 

Different speakers who included Clifford Bernath, the Director of community outreach at the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies and Oscar Kimanuka, the Director General of Rwanda Information Office underscored the vital role the media play s in contributing to national development.

They said that more investigative journalism that can lead to national development should be conducted and should be governed by principles like objectivity and accuracy.

Other speakers at the highly attended symposium included Maj. Gen Karenzi Karake a Division Commander in the Rwanda Defense Forces and Dr Charles Gasarasi, a lecturer at the National University of Rwanda. Ends