JuaKali
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 14, 2007
- 776
- 118
Early this week the Minister for East Africa Cooperation, Dr Diodorus Kamala, was forced to deny reports that Tanzania had made a U-turn in its position on the rights of residency and access to land by nationals of other East African Community partner states in the current common market talks.
The latest round where the matter about softening Tanzania's position arose was in Bujumbura earlier this month.
Tanzania had in pre-Burundi negotiations indicated that it was opposed to having landless or jobless nationals from other EAC countries. It ruled out acquisition of land and settling in the country unconditionally. But reports said that in the Bujumbura talks, on the basis of an EAC secretariat briefing, Tanzania altered its position on the two issues.
In this instance, Tanzania has been sending mixed messages on its position in the EAC-CM negotiations and this brings to the fore questions about the competence of both the Tanzanian negotiating team and the relevant ministry charged with coordinating EAC affairs. The country is now perceived to being lukewarm in the EAC-CM negotiations and such flip-flopping in its stances further damages its image in EAC.
The Government should seriously look into the issue and ensure that both the EAC ministry and the negotiation team are organised and with competent personnel who can handle negotiations professionally for the betterment of the country and the region as a whole.
TheCitizen Newspaper
The latest round where the matter about softening Tanzania's position arose was in Bujumbura earlier this month.
Tanzania had in pre-Burundi negotiations indicated that it was opposed to having landless or jobless nationals from other EAC countries. It ruled out acquisition of land and settling in the country unconditionally. But reports said that in the Bujumbura talks, on the basis of an EAC secretariat briefing, Tanzania altered its position on the two issues.
In this instance, Tanzania has been sending mixed messages on its position in the EAC-CM negotiations and this brings to the fore questions about the competence of both the Tanzanian negotiating team and the relevant ministry charged with coordinating EAC affairs. The country is now perceived to being lukewarm in the EAC-CM negotiations and such flip-flopping in its stances further damages its image in EAC.
The Government should seriously look into the issue and ensure that both the EAC ministry and the negotiation team are organised and with competent personnel who can handle negotiations professionally for the betterment of the country and the region as a whole.
TheCitizen Newspaper
