EAC gears up for assembly elections

Intergation:Term expires in June As the second term of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) comes to an end, national parliaments are busy preparing to elect new members to occupy the next regional Assembly.The current members’ term is expected to expire on June 5, 2012. Each member state will be required to nominate nine MPs for the 52-member assembly.For each representative, the five-year term is renewable once while the post of speaker is only one term, and rotated among member countries.In Rwanda, representatives are selected from various political parties, National Youth Council, and National women’s Council as well as from disabled groups.EALA is the legislative organ of the East African Community (EAC) established under article 9 of the treaty establishing the bloc. The Director of Communication and Public Outreach in Rwanda’s Parliament, Augustin Habimana, said that although the exact date for the election is not yet established, preparations were underway.“Elections were supposed to be held on April 14 but we realised that it would be on a weekend therefore new dates will be announced at a later date,” he said.Last week, however, a cabinet meeting approved the draft organic law repealing the current law that guides the procedures of electing new members of regional assembly and the draft is supposed to be tabled in parliament next week on Monday.“The law will be tabled in parliament for analysis. It will then be promulgated and passed”, Tharcisse Karugarama, Rwanda’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said.Pascal Bizimana Ruganintwari, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, had earlier said that although the new law will be passed, it will not change the normal procedures that have been guiding the elections. In Tanzania, elections are slated for April 17 and their clerk is expected to provide the conditions candidates will be obliged to observe for nomination within their parties before names are presented in the House for voting.In Kenya, parties have also started forwarding names of candidates.Rwanda’s current EALA member, Patricia Hajabakiga, said that for the last five years the Assembly has achieved a lot which will benefit the regional citizens.“During our tenure, we passed various laws like the Trans-boundary Management Bill, EAC Customs Act, EAC Inter-University Bill and many others,” she said. Regional law makers also visited all the borders in the region to assess the implementation of protocols, especially on the elimination of trade barriers.Hajabakiga moved a private members bill,the anti-polythene law, that seeks to control the use of polythene bags in the region and advocated for a total ban on plastics.When justifying her motion in Kampala, Hajabakiga informed the House that while plastics can be burned, they emit chemicals and the corresponding photo-degradation has consequential impact on humans and infrastructure. Countries such as Bangladesh, Botswana, Israel, Rwanda and France have enacted similar laws.Hajabakiga said Rwandan EALA members will hold a meeting that will be aired live on national television to inform Rwandans about their achievements and how the country has benefited.Christine Mukabunani, the president of PS Imberakuri, one of the political parties in the country mentioned that her party will also forward names of candidates.“We are ready to forward our candidates because we also need a representative from our party.” Francois Ngarambe, the Secretary General of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), said they are waiting for the new law to be passed by parliament before his party forwards its candidates.Political party representatives are elected by parliament. Other members of special interest groups including youth, women and persons with disabilities are elected through electoral colleges. Rwanda’s current representatives to the regional body are; Christophe Bazivamo, Valérie Nyirahabineza, Abdul Karim Harerimana, Straton Ndikuryera, Claire Kayirangwa, Dr Odette Nyiramirimo, Jacquéline Muhongayire, Dr. James Ndahiro, Patricia Hajabakiga.