When Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli took over the chairmanship of the East African Community, his first observation was that it was a leaking vessel – financially. He said his priority would be to curb wasteful spending that has characterized the institution ever since it was reestablished in 2000. It is one thing to be wasteful in the land of plenty but it is another when you waste what you don’t generate, when you are living on handouts as is the case with the EAC. This year’s budget has been revised slightly downwards by US$ 10 million from last year’s US$ 110 million, of which development partners contributed more than half the amount. What is so interesting in the reduction of the budget is that development partners cut down their aid by approximately the same amount; US$ 10 million, so the EAC had to adjust to address the shortfall. So, what does that tell you? The EAC could have done without the ten million in the first place. This year’s budget will be shared equally between member states and development partners. But why should it be so after 16 years of the EAC’s second lifespan? Does it mean that if development partners closed the tap the organization would cease to function? 100 million divided among five states its peanuts, to be honest. What better way for a nation to show its commitment to the community than coming up with $20 million? If member states took over the financial responsibilities of the EAC, would they condone wasteful spending of hard earned taxpayers’ money? Officials at the EAC waste because they can afford to. It is not their money and development partners are not complaining because having an indebted organization serves in their favour, they can call the shots when they feel like it
