Assembly has a key role to play within the framework of the EAC Treaty. President Jakaya Kikwete late Wednesday held cordial talks with the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa at State House, Dar es Salaam.
The President urged EALA to carry on its mandate within the framework of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC by concentrating its scope on areas of co-operation as agreed upon by the Partner States.
The President was however categorical that despite ceding sovereignty, Partner States still have a say in certain matters within their jurisdiction. Citing the EAC Trans boundary Ecosystems Bill which was passed by EALA last year, the Head of State said matters of Ecosystem touch on resources which were pertinent to the respective Partner State(s).
‘We have discussed the Bill at Cabinet here and I am hard-pressed to assent to it’, the President remarked, hinting that a Resolution moved by EALA to that effect would have been a more plausible option.
The President further called for closer collaboration between the EALA and the Council of Ministers so as to enrich the law making process. The Head of State said he fully supports the mandate of the legislators as recognized under the provisions of Article 59.
‘Your Members have the powers to introduce Private Members Bills to the House and I see no need to scrap the same. However, such Bills must be compliant with the Treaty’, he noted. Last week, EALA at its Sitting in Nairobi passed a Resolution urging the Partner States not to amend the Article that offers it an opportunity to introduce Private Members’ Bills to the Assembly.
President Kikwete congratulated the Speaker for her recent election and hailed EALA for successes realized so far. ‘We as Members of the Summit shall continue to support the 3rd Assembly so that it can take integration forward’, he added.
Rt. Hon Zziwa informed the President that the Assembly was committed to ensuring the region realizes the full benefits of integration and appreciated his continuous support in that regard.
The Speaker noted that EALA would strengthen linkages and collaborate more closely with the National Assemblies.
‘Your Excellency, we were recently challenged by the Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State President Mwai Kibaki during the last Session in Nairobi to explore avenues of holding joint sessions with the sister Parliaments. We shall seriously consider the same”, the Speaker informed the President.
Present at the meeting were EALA Members, Hon Abdullah Mwinyi, Hon Angela Charles Kizigha and Mr. Kayyabukama T. Kiliba, Deputy Director, Department of Political Defence and Security at the Ministry of East African Co-operation, United Republic of Tanzania.
-Ends-
For more information, contact
Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly,
Tel: +255-27-2508240,
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036.
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org,
Web: https://www.eala.org
