Good Afternoon and thank you for attending this Media briefing called to inform you and the East African citizens of the progress/activities of EALA since we arrived here in Bujumbura on October 20th, 2013 for the 2nd Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 3rd Assembly. I wish to bring to your attention the following developments:
1. H.E. President Pierre Nkurunziza opened the Plenary Meeting on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. In his remarks, President Nkurunziza was emphatic that a time had come to fully embrace the philosophy of ‘One People, One Destiny’ so that the integration agenda becomes fully operational and realized. He called on EALA Members to come up with bankable resolutions and solutions that make a difference to the People of the region. The President noted that the Monetary Union Protocol would be signed at the next Summit (scheduled for November 30, 2013) and further called on the Partner States to accelerate realization of the Political Federation.
The President cited a number of challenges as the integration process progresses and called on Partner States to resolve the outstanding issues. He cited the need to fully implement the Common Market in particular including emphasis on the free movement of people, labour and services, which he mentioned, are yet to be fully or evenly implemented across the region.
President Nkurunziza also told the EAC to strengthen peace and security in the region. He further recognised the principle of rotation as key in the integration process.
The President hailed the EALA Members for the Community Initiative carried out in Cibitoke District when EALA visited Burundi last year and once again invited Members to participate in Community works during their stay in Burundi.
The President’s speech was in our view, progressive and it set the momentum for the Plenary.
2. EALA was also privileged to have President Pierre Nkurunziza launch the Strategic Plan (2013-2018). The President lauded EALA for anchoring the Strategic Plan on people-centredness and reiterated the need for citizens to be at the core and centre stage of the process. The Strategic Plan has six core activities:
1. EALA’s main Administrative Autonomy, Capacity and Efficiency.
2. Negotiations for the EAC Pillars of integration.
3. EALA’s Corporate image, institutional status, growth and development.
4. Capacity building in regional Parliamentary Practices.
5. Effective, sustainable and Results-oriented communication and sensitization on EAC integration.
6. Robust and effective Monitoring and Evaluation.
3. In line with the President’s request to participate in Community work (Ibikorwa Rusangi), EALA Members visited the Kirera University in Gitega Province on October 26, 2013 where we joined the 2nd Vice President, H.E. Gervais Rufyikiri and citizens in Community work. EALA Members inspected the University whose construction is on the verge of completion and which has been built solely through contributions from the Community. Education is of absolute importance to regional integration and we believe it would set us apart and play a role in transforming the EAC. It is thus important for all to benefit from education. It is commendable that the Government is taking education very seriously.
I must add that my Members and I were very impressed by the initiative and we would be happy to see it replicated in the other Partner States. The visit also took us to the Karera Falls and to the historic Source du Nil in Rutovu.
This tour was a key part of our Sitting in Bujumbura since it enabled Members to be informed and also places EALA at a vantage position when it comes to legislation, oversight and representation and when strengthening collaboration with the citizens of Burundi.
4. EALA also benefited from a crucial Seminar on Peace and Security. We were privileged to meet with the Deputy Executive Director and the Management team of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). The seminar was informative and worthwhile. We thank the ICGLR for their effective participation and for keeping us informed of the current status. The case of Children’s plight in conflict prone area also came up. The Invisible Children, whom we also met recently in Arusha, also presented a petition to the ICGLR and the same has been considered.
5. In terms of the actual Sitting, the following were realized:
Two key Reports were passed:
a) Report of the Nanyuki (VII) Seminar (Inter-Parliamentary Relations seminar) was tabled and adopted. The Report was a culmination of a two day series held in Entebbe, Uganda on June 10-11, 2013. The theme of the Nanyuki VII was “Promoting a People-Centred and Market driven East Africa – the Missing Link in the EAC integration”
As contained in the report, EALA urged the Council of Ministers to promote Kiswahili language as the lingua franca of the Community as per Article 131 of the EAC Treaty so that it may uphold East Africanness as an entity. During the debate, we were pleased to get confirmation from the Chair of Council of their intention to promote Kiswahili in the entire region. The Report as presented in the House further identified specific roles for specific stakeholders including academia, media and civil society as well as the Private Sector, Gender and Youth.
b) Report of the Committee of Accounts on the Audited Accounts for the EAC. The report presented the challenges that the EAC Organs and Institutions are facing and sought to offer a number of recommendations to the Council of Ministers. Such included the internal controls and accounting systems, review of ICTs and integrated systems and human resource management.
6. The Assembly moved 3 Resolutions. These are:
a) Motion for the Resolution urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to defer the criminal cases against the President and the Deputy President of Kenya
b) A motion for the Resolution of the Assembly to condole with the Government and the People of Kenya over the loss of lives in the tragic Westgate Mall attack and urging the EAC Council of Ministers to expedite the establishment and ratification of a mechanism for effective implementation of decisions made in areas of peace and security.
c) A Resolution to mark the International Day of Democracy on September 15, 2013.
7. EALA further granted two of its Members leave to introduce Private Members’ Bill. The Bills set to be introduced are the East African Community Cooperatives Bill, 2013 and the East African Community Cross Border Legal Practice Bill, 2013.
8. The Speaker on her part, held the following discussions:
a) received a delegation of Parliamentarians from Uganda (Committee of the East African Community) who were in Bujumbura on a one week tour to familiarise themselves with the activities of EALA and on the oversight activities of the Committees of EALA. The Committee also sat through the Plenary.
b) met with representatives of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I thank you for your kind attention. I shall now take some questions.
Rt. Hon (Dr) Margaret Nantongo Zziwa
SPEAKER
