EALA chief slams non complying states

The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Abdirahin Abdi, has condemned regional member countries that have up to now failed to fully implement the agreed upon protocols of the Common Market and Customs Union.He observed that ever since the two protocols were signed, partner states have not demonstrated seriousness in implementation, something the speaker termed as cheating the regional citizens.Abdi made the remarks in an interview with The New Times yesterday after paying a courtesy call on Senate president, Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo.“Partner states are not doing what we agreed upon. They have not harmonised their national laws and this is cheating the East African people and the whole integration process,” he noted.“It’s important that member countries commit themselves on what we agreed otherwise we shall not achieve our main integration purposes”.He further pointed out that Rwanda has tried to implement the protocols and amended national laws to align with the EAC Protocol on free movement of people, labour and services.According to a new immigration law introduced in Rwanda, EAC citizens can visit it for a period of six months without a visa. It also facilitates foreigners wishing to work or reside in the country.The law further stipulates that investors in sectors such as agriculture, ICT, animal husbandry, mining, hospitality industry, manufacturing and other sectors are issued with a three-year temporary resident permit as an incentive.It’s said that due to poor implementation of the Common Market protocol, the business community has been hampered as traders still continue to complain about existing trade barriers

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EALA chief slams non complying states