The regional civil society is calling for closing of ranks and further collaboration with the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in a bid to strengthen integration. Consequently, the stakeholders are keen to establish formal linkages with the Assembly, a move that shall further popularize integration, East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum (EACSOF) Executive Director, Dr. Martin Mwondha has said.
The EACSOF Chief Executive yesterday led representatives of key regional organizations in paying a courtesy call on the EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Dr Margaret Nantongo Zziwa at the Speaker’s Chambers.
EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Zziwa reiterated EALA’s approach on people centredness as a precursor to integration and said the Assembly would take its sensitization activities a notch higher.
“Our new Strategic Plan (2013-2018) is anchored on a people centred approach and we as an Assembly are keen to scale up sensitization and to get the support of all the citizens in the Partner States”, she remarked.
The meeting was attended by East African Business Council (EABC) Executive Director, Andrew Luzze Kaggwa, Acting Executive Director of the Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS Services Organisations (EANNASO), Julius Sabuni, Brenda Dosio, Programme Officer, East Africa Law Society (EALS) and Moshi Patrick, Communications Officer, EACSOF.
Speaking at the meeting, the EABC Executive Director remarked that consultation was vital when enacting legislation and challenged EALA to cast its net wider.
“Integration at all times shall be people centred and private sector driven. I appeal to EALA to engage us more. As the business community, we feel the Assembly could have engaged us further before enacting key Bills such as the East African Community Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2012 and even the East African Community One Stop Border Post (OSBP), Bill, 2012”, Luzze remarked.
At the same time, the civil society would like the preservation of Article 59 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC which affords EALA an opportunity to move Private Members Bills’ terming it, an avenue that strengthens democratic space and avails inclusivity in the legislation making process.
On his part, the EANNASO boss urged the parties to constantly share information saying the collaboration between EAC and non-state actors would popularise integration.
Brenda Dosio, Programme Officer at EALS termed partnership vital to the integration dispensation.
“As EALS, we are supportive of the key pieces of legislation the Assembly has passed. We are particularly keen on the EAC Cross-Border Legal Practice Bill, 2014, which the Assembly introduced in January this year”, Ms Dosio added.
The Bill seeks to operationalise Article 76 of the Treaty providing for free movement of labour, goods, services capital and the rights to establishment. It also takes into cognizance the mutual recognition of the academic and professional qualifications of the legal fraternity.
Article 5 of the Treaty envisages a People-Centred integration. In this regard, EALA and other stakeholders need to enhance involvement of the people in deciding on the matters of the Community.
Analysts also deem it important for the Assembly to be in tandem with the needs of the people through structured interface.
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 Arusha, Tanzania.
