KIGALI, RWANDA – Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame last week called on the East African Community (EAC) to strengthen integration efforts by addressing insecurity, bad governance and corruption in line with the regional economic bloc’s Vision 2050.
He reiterated that all East Africans must eradicate the ‘business as usual’ mind-set and strive towards progress of strengthening integration.  The President’s remarks were delivered by the President of the Rwanda Senate Bernard Makuza, at the opening of the 3rd Meeting of the 4th session of the third East African Legislative Assembly proceedings at the Parliament of Rwanda building in Kigali.
He said: “As legislators, we must ask questions and keep searching for solutions for and on behalf of our people.  We must identify and address whatever may divert the progress of the Community, and ensure that there are no obstacles to our cooperation for integration. And to start with, procedures and processes governing Organs of the Community should not be themselves an obstacle to the growth of the Community.”  
Up for debate last week were the EAC Forest Management and Protection Bill, 2015 – 2nd and 3rd reading; the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Bill, 2015 -2nd and 3rd Reading and finally the debate and adoption reports of various committees of the House. Makuza tasked the EAC to involve all the people in the integration process for the tangible benefits to be realized.  “It is indeed common sense that our people must be consulted and involved in each step of integration programs as much as possible. 
“The fact of the matter is that, the cost of failing to involve people widely enough, ultimately is much higher than what is required to invest, for people’s participation in the decision-making processes,”  Makuza told legislators. He called on the EAC Partner States to speedily fully implement the Common Market Protocol saying the delay had cost citizens a number of opportunities. However Makuza hailed EALA for the attention it is paying to issues of natural resources, environment management, food security and rural development. 
He said Rwanda had after the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, learnt vital lessons that essentially enabled the country to transform itself. He said unity, security and good governance were key for survival and sustainability as a nation and that Rwanda had remained committed to the EAC. He said the Rwandan Parliament had listened carefully to the will of the people regarding the country’s Constitutional Amendment.
“As legislators, there is no other voice to hear, other than our people’s will, both in decision-making and in accountability. People’s aspirations are the only argument against intimidations and prejudices. National sovereignty belongs to our people. We cannot afford to apologize for the very things that work for our people, and which make us stronger. This is the real expression of democracy,”  Makuza said.
The President of the Rwanda Senate further urged the Assembly to articulate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN in September this year, while placing people and the environment at the centre of the priorities. In his remarks, the EALA Speaker, Daniel F. Kidega said East Africans were interested in seeing more tangible benefits of integration through the various integration pillars.  
“With regards to the Customs Union, we are glad the Summit is pushing for the operationalization of the Single Customs Territory to streamline and enhance clearance of goods. The improvement at the Dar es Salaam and Mombasa ports will make both the Central and Northern Corridors attractive in terms of facilitation of trade,” Kidega said.
The Speaker said the Assembly, was concerned about what is taking place in the neighbouring Republic of Burundi. “Many lives have been lost, others maimed, peace disrupted, property damaged and the economy destabilized following the rapid escalation of violence and the instability over the last few months. The situation is worrying and could be dire and grave,”  Kidega said.  He said:  “I have recently had the opportunity of meeting with the President of the Senate of Burundi and called upon him to rally the country’s legislators to go above and beyond the call of duty in restoring stability.”
“As an Assembly, we have also debated on and passed the Report of the Goodwill Mission of EALA to the Burundi Refugees in Eastern Province of Rwanda and in Kigoma in the United Republic of Tanzania. Last week, the Assembly also received a petition from concerned East Africans keen to see the impasse resolved,” he said. Kidega said EALA was further keen to buttress the mode of assent of Bills. We are of the view that the region takes advantage of the Summit sittings which can create opportune moment for the Summit Members to exercise their mandate as stipulated under Article 6,.” Speaker Kidega said. The Speaker further rooted for sustained funding for the Community saying it was time for the EAC Partner States to seek alternative mechanisms for funding.
A number of Reports are also expected to be debated and adopted. In her remarks, the Speaker of the Rwanda Chamber of Deputies, Donatile Mukabalisa, hailed the existing relations between the Parliament of Rwanda and EALA.  She said Parliament of Rwanda had focused on the speedy harmonization of the country’s laws with those passed by EALA. She mentioned that Parliament of Rwanda was also readying itself for the Inter-Parliamentary Games’ Tournament on December 4 – 11 2015, which brings together EALA and National Assemblies.
Moving the vote of thanks, Dora Byamukama said the Assembly would deliberate on the presidential message and to find the mechanisms to implement the directives. She said the EAC was yearning for accelerated pace of implementation of laws to speed up integration in the EAC region.  She hailed the Secretary General of the EAC, Amb Dr Richard Sezibera for introducing the scorecard on Non-Tariff Barriers.
Source: East African Business Week

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