Ladies & Gentlemen of the Press; Thank you for attending this media briefing called to notify you of the 4th Meeting of the 1st Session of the 3rd Assembly scheduled to take place at the Burundi National Assembly from today, until February 1st, 2013.
On behalf of the Assembly and on my own behalf, allow me to thank His Excellency, Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi, the Government and the citizens of the Republic of Burundi for accepting to host EALA. We thank His Excellency President Nkurunziza for accepting to address us on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013.
EALA appreciates the wise and able leadership of President Nkurunziza in steering the Republic of Burundi and ensuring it remains a committed Partner State in the EAC integration process.
We thank our host, the Speaker of the Burundi National Assembly, Rt. Hon Pie Ntavyohanyuma for granting us access to the Parliament and for extending to us the use of various facilities of the Burundi National Assembly to EALA for this Meeting. This is the first time that the 3rd Assembly is sitting in Burundi. Previously, the 2nd EALA has enjoyed the same opportunities, holding Sittings and various meetings in Burundi. For this, we remain eternally grateful to the Government, the public and the private sector for their unwavering support.
Since our inauguration on 5th June 2012, the Assembly has fully embarked on its mandate and is now fully engaged in implementing its mandate as enshrined in the Treaty of Legislation, Representation and Oversight. EALA has seven Standing Committees and the Members have been fully inducted and have started embarking on the oversight functions of the programs and projects of the EAC to ensure the Community enjoys the full benefits of these projects.
Over the two-weeks, the Assembly shall thus conduct the following business:
- receive and deliberate reports from Committees namely: the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on Climate change, the report on the workshop on Good Governance in Natural Resources and the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
- pose questions to the Council of Ministers, debate and adopt various Motions and Resolutions.
Beyond that, the 3rd Assembly shall endeavour to continue passing key and relevant legislation to integration. It is during our tenure that the region shall witness the entry of the Monetary Union by 30th November 2013 as indicated by the Summit which sat in Nairobi on 30th November 2012 in Nairobi and initial steps towards the Political Federation.
The Assembly is happy that the EAC and the citizens continue in their quest to strengthen the integration. The Assembly is committed to supporting the region by strengthen the existing pillars while overseeing the remaining anticipated hallmarks of integration.
The Assembly shall continue collaborating with the Council of Ministers and all other stakeholders in carrying out of our mandate as stipulated by the Treaty to ensure the economic bloc is strengthened. We are pleased that the Council of Ministers have prepared their legislative calendar and shall be initiating more Bills this time round.
Finally, I appeal to the media as the Fourth Estate to follow and cover our proceedings during this period and to disseminate the necessary information to the various publics thus propagating the regional integration process.
I thank you for listening to me.
END
BY RT. HON. (DR) MARGARET NANTONGO ZZIWA – SPEAKER EALA
January 20, 2013
