The East African Legislative Assembly has approved plans to make Kiswahili its second official language. Previously, English was the language of choice which was not practical for countries such as Burundi that relies heavily on French. Member states that could be said to have Kiswahili deeply entrenched and widely used in everyday lives are Tanzania and Kenya. In other countries, it is only used sparingly by some communities. Kiswahili has been an official language of the East African Community (EAC) but hardly used in official communication. Is it time it began making inroads in the community, Beginning this academic year, Kiswahili will be one of the examinable subjects in school, but how prepared are the schools? Do we have enough teachers like our brothers and sisters in the east? Before the First World War, Rwanda, together with Tanzania and Burundi were part of German East Africa. The Language of communication was Kiswahili and its vestiges are still present in certain communities with large Muslim presence. So can “pure” Swahili be revived to do away with the corrupted version spoken here as well as eastern DRC and Burundi? In a region that has hundreds of languages, having Kiswahili as the common denominator would enhance unity in diversity, as is the case in Tanzania today. So, authorities should put more effort to make sure the language takes root as it is the key that opens the door to east African integration. Source: The New Times

MP Patricia Hajabakiga, a Rwandan member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has introduced a bill that will control the use, sale, manufacture and importation of polythene materials in the region. Hajabakiga who is the chairperson of EALA Rwanda Chapter said the rationale of the bill is “the protection of the environment” and to harmonize the practice in all five countries. “I moved a motion to seek leave from the Assembly to introduce the Bill seeking to regulate the use of Plastic materials in the EAC. Countries like Rwanda are advanced, Uganda has started implementation, Burundi already has a policy while Tanzania has announced that effective this year they will stop using them,” she told Sunday Times. “It is also important to note that the EAC Treaty in its article 112 provides that Partner States agree to cooperate and promote the biodegradable packaging material in order to arrest the degradation of our environment.” The Bill for an Act entitled East African Community Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016, once tabled in the near future, will have clauses clarifying what material is prohibited and exempted, as well as clarity of sanctions and penalties. The idea is that the Act will eventually apply to all types of polythene materials; with polythene, in this case, implying a synthetic industrial product with a low density composed of numerous chemical molecules of ethane with a chemical formula: CH2=CH2. As per the lawmakers current draft, the objectives of the Act will be to: establish a legal framework for...

Regional countries need to promote aquaculture because East Africans are not getting enough fish and the amount obtained from available natural water bodies is not enough. MP Christophe Bazivamo (Rwanda), who chairs the committee on agriculture, tourism and natural resources at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), said this earlier in the week as he presented the status of fisheries in the region. Aquaculture, the farming of water organisms, involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, as opposed to commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish. “Fish production is not adequate from natural waters to cater for high population growth in East African Community partner states. It is for this reason that aquaculture should be promoted,” said Bazivamo. Findings during the committee’s previous oversight activities revealed that even though fisheries are a source of protein to about 150 million people in the Community, per capita fish consumption is less than 10 kg per annum compared to World Health Organisation recommended per capita consumption of 25 kg per annum. Why focus on fish? Nutritionists say fish provides a good source of high quality protein and contains many vitamins and minerals. Dr Robert Kayanda, a regional fisheries expert, earlier informed the committee that latest per capita consumption studies for respective partner states are: Burundi 3.6 kilogrammes, Kenya 3.45 kilogrammes, Rwanda 2.3 kilogrammes, Uganda 10 kilogrammes and Tanzania 8 kilogrammes. Bazivamo, however, noted that low per capita fish consumption in the Community depends on several factors, including low production...

The establishment of East African Monetary Institute (EAMI) has reportedly been postponed. This implies that the EAC aspiration for a single currency may not be realised upon expiry of 10-year roadmap towards a single currency in the year 2024. The postponement has been occasioned by lack of resources. Establishment of the EAMI is precursor to the institution of the East African Central Bank, without which the East African Monetary Unit may not take flight. Tongues are incriminatingly already wagging: Is the EAC single currency really viable, even necessary, especially in light of the lessons we are gleaning from the imminent British exit (Brexit) from the European Union, or the near exit of Greece (Grexit) last year when it wallowed in debilitating debt and seeking bailout? First, Britain’s lesson with the Pound Sterling is that a country may be a member of a highly integrated regional community and yet not be part of a single currency and thrive. But the larger lesson lies in the complications Brexit is posing about what it will mean for labour and free movement guaranteed under the Schengen arrangement, notably what to do with EU citizens living and working in Britain and vice versa – if, and when, Brexit is legally operationalised. Indeed, Brexit has become something of a rallying cry for far-right political parties across Europe that is threatening to tear apart the EU project. Britain may have done well with the Pound Sterling. But the socio-economic and political costs of Brexit to the EU...

By Lydia Shekighenda As the Vice-President of Total East Africa, Mr Javier Rielo, assured President John Magufuli that preparations for the construction of the 1,410-kilometre oil pipeline from Lake Albert in Uganda to Tanga Port in Tanzania are in good progress, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has shown interest in using the facility. Mr Rielo made the assurance in Dar es Salaam yesterday when he met with President Magufuli to brief him on the progress of work on the construction of the pipeline. He said that his company is determined to ensure that the project is successfully implemented. The construction of the pipeline, with the capacity of transporting 200,000 barrels per day, will provide 1,500 direct employment and 20,000 indirect employments. Speaking after receiving the report, President Magufuli said he believed the project will be of great benefit to Tanzania, Uganda, Total Company and neighbouring countries. He assured Mr Rielo of his government's cooperation in implementing the project despite Tanzania's geographical position being one of the advantages for the project. Meanwhile, the DR Congo government has shown interest in using the pipeline for transporting its crude oil. DRC Minister In-charge of Hydrocarbons, Mr Ngoi Mukena, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that his country has discovered a lot of oil and preferred to use the crude oil pipeline because the area where the oil has been found is close to it. "I believe that if my country will succeed in using the pipeline, it will be beneficial to both countries...

By Appolonia Uwanziga Women involved in informal cross-border trade on the Rwanda-Uganda border at Gatuna have called for more sensitisation on tax policies and the opportunities presented by the regional market. Aline Muhawenimana, a trader at Gatuna border, said; "Informal cross-border traders still need assistance on the existing tax and trade regulations to be able to formalise their operations." Muhawenimana said many cross-border women traders do not understand these policies, which affects their businesses. She added that though there are incentives they can benefit from, cross-border women traders do not know how to access or are not aware of such benefits or projects. "Some of us who are in the process of formalising our operations and we are beginning to benefit. For instance, we are no longer harassed and the security and safety of our goods is assured, which has enhanced our profits," said Muhawenimana in an interview with The New Times on Wednesday She said free movement of people, goods and services under the single customs territory along the Northern Corridor has improved trade among border communities and hence boosted household earnings. "We are happy that we have sustainable sources of income that has improved our livelihoods," she said. According to Jane Bayera, the chairperson of the Gatuna Crossborder Co-operative, more needs to be done to educate cross-border women traders about trade policies. Meanwhile, Bayera said women traders participate in initiatives aimed at improving the business environment along the Northern Corridor, including identification of non-tariff barriers at customs posts,...

Burundi’s recent decision to ban cross-border trade with Rwanda again came to the fore on Tuesday as members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) sat in Arusha, Tanzania. The lawmakers supported a motion moved by Ugandan representative Bernard Mulengani, seeking the Assembly’s quick intervention to thwart what he termed as a ‘critical situation’ that can deteriorate and hamper the broader EAC integration agenda. Mulengani took to the floor under Article 13 of the Rules of Procedure to adjourn debate on other matters so as to debate issues of public interest. Granted, he then particularly requested the House to discuss what he described as urgent issues of governance to the bloc. According to Mulengani, partner states may have misunderstandings but going to the extent of restricting cross-border trade breaches the EAC Treaty and the Common Market Protocol, which guarantee free movement of people, services, labour and capital. The lawmakers noted that the latest developments require immediate attention. Speaker Daniel Kidega asserted that the Assembly would play its part and pronounce itself on the critical matters raised by Mulengani. Kidega said: “We shall not allow the Community to go into auto-pilot. There is leadership in the Community. The various committees please take up this matter as raised here.” The Speaker assigned the respective House committees to immediately delve into the matters and report back before the end of the current sitting or, at the very latest, in the next. Banning of cross-border trade, a matter concerning trade and movement of citizens...

Global warming could create substantial economic damage in agriculture, a new study conducted by a team of scientists of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research finds. Around the globe, climate change threatens agricultural productivity, forcing up food prices. While financial gains and losses differ between consumers and producers across the regions, bottom line is that consumers in general will likely have to pay more for the same basket of food. As the additional expenditure for consumers outweighs producers' gains, increasing net economic losses will occur in the agriculture and food sector towards the end of the century. However, economic losses could be limited to 0.3 percent of global GDP - depending on agricultural trade policies. "Agriculture is very sensitive to climate change - even a small increase of global mean temperatures can have significant effects on regional crop yields, affecting both the profitability of agricultural production and the share of income spent on food", lead author Miodrag Stevanovi? says. "Our study quantifies economic impacts and analyses the role of international trade as an adaptation measure. We find that economic losses in agriculture could add up to the annual amount of roughly 0.8 percent of global GDP at the end of the century with a very restricted trade regime. As small as this percentage sounds, it actually translates to losses of 2.5 trillion US Dollars and is comparably higher for regions with limited agricultural resources with respect to growing agricultural demand, for example the Middle East, Africa and India. In...

Rwanda will next month’s September host the first he Global African Investment Summit COMESA and government of Rwanda, a statement from the organisers indicates. The summit is expected to attract over 1,000 public and private sector leaders representing US$200 billion of funds and with an interest in the investment, trade and business opportunities arising in the region. Delegates include African heads of states, government ministers and senior officials, chief executive officers who will gather to transact on project opportunities and deploy investment. According to the organizers, the forum provides an opportunity for the delegates to discuss the key challenges and opportunities surrounding a variety of business sectors including tech, energy and infrastructure. The summit will be the first edition of the Global African Investment Summit of COMESA and will be hosted at the Kigali Convention Center (KCC). According to the latest figures from the World Bank, the African continent has become the second most attractive investment destination, with foreign investment hitting a record $60 billion dollars, leading Africa to be referred to as the new China. Key on the agenda is expected to be the tripartite arrangement of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) that was launched last year. The arrangement is aimed at driving intra- African trade by creating the continent’s largest trading block, with 26 countries, a combined GDP nearing $1.2 trillion, and a market of close to 620 million consumers. Established in October 2014,...

Tullow Oil workers at a drilling rig in Turkana. Tullow struck Kenya’s first oil in the northwest region of in Lokichar in 2012, and followed it with a string of other finds. PHOTO | FILE  IN SUMMARY Tullow Oil will initially produce 2,000 barrels of crude oil per day and have stocks ready for export in June 2017. Kenya plans to have the oil transported by road from Turkana to Eldoret for onward delivery by train to the port of Mombasa. British oil firm Tullow on Wednesday raised Kenya’s hopes of becoming an oil exporting country after it officially announced plans to start producing oil from Turkana in March next year. Tullow Oil chief operating officer Paul McDade told President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Nairobi that it will initially produce 2,000 barrels of crude oil per day and have stocks ready for export in June 2017. The announcement is in line with State House’s plan to have the oil transported by road from Turkana to Eldoret for onward delivery by train to the port of Mombasa — a distance of 1,089 kilometres. “Following President Kenyatta’s directive that exportation of Kenya’s first oil be expedited, Tullow Oil has this afternoon confirmed that it will start oil production in March next year,” a statement from State House said. Tullow’s count of the Turkana oil reserves so far stands at 750 million barrels — which is considered commercially viable at the current prices of $50 (Sh5,050) a barrel. One barrel is equivalent...