Public reactions to the EA Common Market

Kayonza/Rwamagana/Ngoma - The public, across several districts in the Eastern Province, recently reacted to the launch of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market, According to Sunday Times’s mini-survey in the districts of Kayonza, Rwamagana and Ngoma, small scale traders expressed happiness with Common Marke. Immaculate Nyiramatama, 52, a retailer in Rwamagana trading centre, said that the fact that trade and flow of goods is now free, will actually benefit businesspersons across the region. The experienced trader dealing in food stuffs said that the increase in goods is not a threat to her business, but a blessing. ‘We are actually going to benefit from the increase of goods from East Africa…for example, business people in Nairobi will use us to sell their huge merchandise at a profit. One only needs to be smart,’ she noted. Augustin Habimana who deals in a variety of merchandise in Kayonza expressed great satisfaction with the new development. He said that the reduction of prices in general, will be to the advantage of the small traders. ‘If I was using Rwf 5 million to buy my stock, I will need less money to buy the same stock, hence doubling my capital. The overall meaning is that I will increase turn over.’ ‘The more goods you sell the more profit you earn. So, we are set to benefit from the common market.’ Chantal Mukangarambe, who imports clothes and other goods from Tanzania and Uganda, told this paper that traders should be ready to make profits and losses. She said that the common market is going to increase competition and only those able to adapt will survive. ‘The free movement of goods and traders is healthy, but I am afraid those businesspersons not competent enough will be phased out,’ she warned. Meanwhile, consumers received the common market news with happiness, after some food prices immediately dropped. Alex Karekezi, a primary school teacher in Rukara sector of Kayonza district said that whenever food prices fall, the common man benefits. ‘I don’t deal in any business apart from teaching, so you can imagine my happiness when rice prices fall, for instance, from Rwf 800 to Rwf 500 a kilo,’ he happily noted. E.A Common Market Protocol, which was signed by all the five partner states of the region in Arusha on November 20, came into effect on July 1, 2010. Ends