Lawmakers seek quicker EAC political union

Rwandan Members of Parliament have urged the East African Community Partner States to quicken the process of transforming the bloc into a Political Federation for citizens to reap the benefits of economic integration. The views were expressed in the lawmakers’ consultative meeting with a team of EAC Secretariat working on a draft protocol on good governance. The good governance protocol is expected to support some on-going initiatives like the EAC Electoral Support program, activities of the Chief Justices’ forum, empowerment of Human Rights agencies and promotion of equal opportunities. “The Rwanda Members of Parliament while recognizing the status of integration, regretted that the Political Federation was not brought forward to quicken economic integration,” reads a statement from EAC. The consultations are targeting committees which deal with issues of good governance and accountability. The meeting follows a similar one that was held in Bujumbura, Burundi and attended by parliamentarians from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi. Rwandan lawmakers did not attend the meeting since they were on recess. According to the a statement of the EAC, the EAC Good Governance Framework provides for standardized and harmonized laws and policies in the areas of human rights, anti-corruption, electoral processes, justice and rule of law. “It has enabled meetings of those agencies from all Partner States to meet, share experiences and agree on best practices,” reads the statement. Members of Parliament expressed their enthusiasm to receive regular briefs on the progress of EAC integration, demanding that the people they represent have the right to know and be part of the process. The Council of Ministers and Summit of Heads of State will take a firm and bold decision to allow a constitution-making process to begin, so that there is clarity on the mode, structures and power distribution in the proposed Political Federation. Ends

National

Lawmakers seek quicker EAC political union