The new East African Community (EAC) secretary general, Mr Liberat Mfumukeko, has reiterated his determination to cut down expenditure in the regional organisation. He has so far managed to save substantially from travel expenses and he says he is now targeting procurement as another area in which the EAC can cut down cost immensely. The new EAC boss' dream is to save $6 million in the current financial year, which is commendable thing, given that the regional body's budget is largely dependent on donors. Being cost conscious would impress donors and they would for sure be more committed, for they would see that what they give is well spent. While austerity at the EAC secretariat is laudable, we hasten to add that it would have been more praiseworthy if this would be translated into more profitable EAC entailing people-centred undertakings. The regional body was established to serve as a vehicle to bring together East African people. In that regard, any initiative taken by the secretariat or other EAC organ should aim to ensure this goal is achieved. Therefore, as Mr Mfumukeko and his team at the secretariat work hard to run a cost conscious EAC, they should also focus their efforts to making the regional body effectively save this region's citizens. Making the EAC people-centred is the best way to ensure we have a strong and vibrant regional bloc. If the EAC citizen feel attached to their organisation, it won't require much effort wooing them to wholly support it. There...

Nairobi — Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday asked Tanzania and Burundi to waive work permit charges in the spirit of East Africa Community (EAC) of allowing free movement of people and goods. President Kenyatta said the dream of a borderless East Africa would be realised if all partner states honoured an EAC Heads of State summit deal that sanctioned free movement of people, goods, services as well as capital. "My government provides free work permits to all East Africans and we urge other partner states to do the same," said President Kenyatta in a speech read on his behalf by Labour Services and EAC Affairs cabinet secretary Phyllis Kandie at the official opening ceremony of the East Africa Business and Entrepreneurship Conference and Exhibition in Nairobi. Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have since waived the work permits but Tanzania and Burundi are yet to ratify the deal. The deal also allows research, law, architectural and real estate firms from sister countries to offer cross-border services. The move also saw single visas for foreign tourists introduced with hotels, tours and travel agencies now allowed to offer cross border services. The cost of permits in Tanzania ranges between $6 (Sh12000) and $3,000 (Sh6.3 million). In Burundi, it ranges between $60 and $84. The East African Common Market Protocol which was ratified in 2010 provides for free movement of workers but the governments have retained the permits on policy, health and security concerns. President Uhuru Kenyatta also called on partner states to look...

RAPID growing transport sector has led others to drive growth high in the second quarter of this year but the largest contribution came from the agricultural sector. The transport sector recorded 30.6 per cent growth in the second quarter up from 9.4 per cent in the first quarter to drive growth of the second quarter to 7.9 per cent which has put the nation firmly on course to meet the 2016 growth targets of 7.2 per cent. According to Central Bank Governor, Prof Benno Ndulu, growth in the transport sector was boosted by an increased railway transportation after upgrading of the railway infrastructure and fleet modernisation in the Tanzania Railway Limited (TRL). Growth in the transport sector was also due to a significant increase of transit cargo volume from Dar es Salaam port to neighbouring landlocked countries of Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, and Uganda contrary to widespread speculations that transit cargo had declined. He said transit cargo volume to Rwanda had increased by 17.5 per cent, and Uganda by 22.3 per cent, Malawi (14 per cent), Burundi (4.8 per cent) and Zambia (3.7 per cent). Other key drivers included mining which posted 20.5 per cent growth in the second quarter compared to 11.2 per cent in the first quarter, communication which grew 12.6 per cent in the second quarter up from 11.8 per cent in the first quarter and finance and insurance sector which had grown by 12.5 per cent in the second quarter from 10 per cent in the...

By Syriacus Buguzi Dar es Salaam — For a tourist seeking direction through websites of major tour firms on "How to get to the Selous Game Reserve," there is one most reliable option--taking a flight. A road trip is suggested too, but there is little mention of train travel, despite the presence of a railway line leading to the game reserve. Yet, even the recommended road safari, which would have been a good option for sightseers, comes with a discouraging caution that says, "The trip (by road) is bumpy and uncomfortable and will take a full day." In that case, most visitors rely on the package of flights from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Zanzibar. Despite being expensive, an air safari is the quickest way to the famous Selous--one of the largest faunal reserves of the world, located in the south of Tanzania. However, the demand for reliable ground transportation to the game by railway line is now slowly gaining momentum, as the government embarks on mega plans to revive the Tanzania Zambia Railway (Tazara) and make it more commercially viable. Recently, as Tazara commemorated its 40th anniversary, the corporation arranged a trial trip to the game reserve by train, taking on board journalists, Chinese government representatives, students and top public officials in the transportation sector. Tazara's deputy managing director Betram Kiswaga who was on the expedition, said, "We organised a train ride to Selous Game Reserve, to prove to people on board that there is great potential for tourism...

Farmers in Zanzibar and manufacturers will sigh with relief after a pledge by TradeMark Africa to facilitate entry of their products to the East Africa regional market. The multi-donor funded trade agency pledged to help Zanzibar exports become competitive in the region and form part of Tanzania's exports to the East African Community (EAC) market. The TMA Country Director, Mr John Ulanga, made the promise to the Zanzibar Minister for Trade, Industry and Marketing, Ms Amina Salum Ally, who visited TMA offices in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. Mr Ulanga said TMA would work on the request from the Zanzibar government to help products from Isles get access to the regional market. She asked TMA to promote Zanzibar products to Tanzania Mainland and other East African countries. She said Zanzibar products must be consumed as products from Tanzania once they enter into East African and International markets. The TMA boss said his office would work on the matter and make sure Zanzibar participates in various trade and business activities in East Africa. This would entail among other things building capacity of entrepreneurs. Recently TMA offered 200bn/- to Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) and Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (ZNCCIA) for building capacity among its people. We hail this new development as an important step in the right direction as it will help Zanzibar enjoy the benefit of the regional organisation by eventually make optimal use of opportunities availed in the regional market for...

PRIORITY AGENDA: Members of the Tanzania Cluster of the Central Corridor met mid this year to evaluate the implementation of previous recommendations in order to facilitate transport and trade along the Central Corridor. COURTESY PHOTO   DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA - The government has repeated its stated goal to strengthen the Central Corridor by rehabilitating roads and building a standard gauge railway after putting aside Tsh.4.8 trillion (just over $2 billion) in the 2016/2017 national budget.  On completion these projects are expected to foster among other things export of agriculture products, increase tourism, trade and create employment opportunities in the region. Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the 7th East & Central Africa Roads & Rail Infrastructure summit last week in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Works, Transport & Communication Prof. Makame Mbarawa said the government is ready to develop its infrastructure network system to stimulate trade in the regional integration of the East African Community (EAC). “The government plans to revamp its infrastructure system by identifying key areas that connects us with neighboring states especially land locked countries, it is a high time for the private sector to take part in these development projects through Public Private Partnership (PPP),” he said. Professor Mbarawa noted that there are also plans to inject approximately $2.2 billion in the upgrading of the Dar es Salaam to Chalinze up to Sumbawanga to Nakanazi as part of the fifth phase government in spiraling the central corridor routes. “As for the reconstruction of...

Tankers at Busia border. Cases of highway robbers targeting transporters are on the rise. PHOTO | FILE  Inspector- General Joseph Boinnet has deployed at least 200 police officers to work with the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) in escorting cargo along the Northern Corridor. KTA chief executive Alfayo Otuke said the lobby group would next week meet the security agencies to plan on how to provide security for cargo. “This follows rampant cases of cargo theft and incidents hitting a notch higher...sometimes turning fatal besides losing cargo to highway criminals. “This situation has seen some transporters re-routing to Tanzania,” he said. Mr Boinnet’s move comes in the wake of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s order last month that he sets up a unit that will secure cargo along the corridor. The President, concerned about theft of cargo along the trade route, said the government would not tolerate theft of transit goods and asked the Inspector General to create a police unit charged with the responsibility of ensuring that cargo reached the borders safely. “Our neighbours are complaining that Kenyans are stealing their goods and we cannot accept this to be the status quo. “Action will be taken against those who think that Mombasa port and the Northern Corridor will be a place where our neighbour’s goods are going to be stolen,” he said at the commissioning of Mombasa port’s phase one of the second container terminal. Yesterday, Mr Otuke said lobby group would work closely with the police to ensure that cargo reached...

Mr Liberat Mfumukeko, the East African Community secretary- general. PHOTO | COURTESY IN SUMMARY EAC secretary-general Liberat Mfumukeko on Monday said that the free movement of people, goods, services and capital will continue to be a top priority during his tenure. Integration of East Africa Community member states is set to make considerable progress over the next five years following renewed push by the secretariat to a create borderless regional market. EAC secretary-general Liberat Mfumukeko on Monday said that the free movement of people, goods, services and capital will continue to be a top priority during his tenure. “You are aware that in three out of the five countries in EAC, their respective citizens can enter and exit their territories using their IDs. I am sure that shortly this will be the norm in all the countries after the process of ensuring this is complete. I also wish to inform you that come 2017, the international East African electronic passport will be in use,” he said. Kenyan, Uganda and Rwanda governments provide free work permit to all East Africans, Mr Mfumukeko said, adding that he will continue pushing Tanzania and Rwanda to adopt the East African Common Market Protocol which was ratified in 2010 and provides for free movement of workers. The cost of a work permit in Tanzania ranges between Sh525 and Sh262,500 ($6 and $3,000) and in Burundi from Sh5,250 and Sh7,350 ($60 and $84). Free movement of labour across member States will open-up new job opportunities for...

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim came together on 7 October to argue that the benefits of trade must be spread more widely. They were taking part in a joint event entitled “Making Trade an Engine of Growth for All”, held at the IMF’s headquarters in Washington D.C. The three leaders also discussed the importance of making the credible and balanced case for trade. The Director-General said: “While I believe that trade is essential for economic growth and development around the world, I also believe that trade is imperfect. Despite the overall gains it delivers, it can have negative effects in some parts of the economy and those effects can have a big impact on some people’s lives. We have a responsibility to reflect on this and to respond. “We have to work harder to ensure that the benefits of trade are more widely shared. We also need a clearer analysis of the challenges before us so that we can tailor our response. The charge often levelled against trade is that it sends jobs overseas, particularly in manufacturing. Trade can indeed cause this kind of displacement, and we need to respond to it. But actually trade is a relatively minor cause of job losses. The evidence shows that well over 80% of job losses in advanced economies are not due to trade, but to increased productivity through technology and innovation. “So we need to be clear-eyed about the...

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday asked Tanzania and Burundi to waive work permit charges in the spirit of East Africa Community (EAC) of allowing free movement of people and goods. President Kenyatta said the dream of a borderless East Africa would be realised if all partner states honoured an EAC Heads of State summit deal that sanctioned free movement of people, goods, services as well as capital. “My government provides free work permits to all East Africans and we urge other partner states to do the same,” said President Kenyatta in a speech read on his behalf by Labour Services and EAC Affairs Cabinet secretary Phyllis Kandie at the official opening ceremony of the East Africa Business and Entrepreneurship Conference and Exhibition. Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have since waived the work permits but Tanzania and Burundi are yet to ratify the deal. The deal also allows research, law, architectural and real estate firms from sister countries to offer cross-border services. The move also saw single visas for foreign tourists introduced with hotels, tours and travel agencies now allowed to offer cross border services. The cost of a permit in Tanzania ranges between Sh525 and Sh262,500 ($6 and $3,000). In Burundi, it ranges from Sh5,250 and Sh7,350 ($60 and $84). READ: Eala joins calls for uniform removal of work permit fees The East African Common Market Protocol which was ratified in 2010 provides for free movement of workers but the governments have retained the permits on policy, health and security concerns....