EAC would be lightweight without Tanzania

[Geza Ulole]

[h=5]THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013[/h][h=1]EAC would be lightweight without Tanzania[/h]


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[h=3]In Summary[/h]

• It is doubtful that any meaningful cooperation is possible between Kenya and the other states, to the exclusion of this founder member.
• Truth be stated, Tanzania’s citizens find Kenya’s intense politics interesting but are far more respectful of its businesses. For that reason, no leader in Tanzania would place the idea of concluding a political federation as a serious platform for action and retain much public support.

East Africa Community

By Kwame Owino
More by this AuthorCitizens of the individual countries that make up the formal East African Community (EAC) are aware that relations between some member countries, political leaders and competing businesses within it are tense.

Upon noticing that once again, the leaders of Tanzania and Burundi were not in attendance during the commissioning of a new berth in Mombasa, many commentators wondered whether the region has finally decided that Tanzania was dispensable.

The recognition that port facilities serve multiple countries irrespective of the area of their location is laudable.

That notwithstanding, the nationalistic fervor that interpreted the absence of Tanzania as an “in your face” statement of irrelevance based on the closeness among of the leaders in attendance is wrong-headed. Plainly stated, Tanzania is indispensable to the EAC.

It is doubtful that any meaningful cooperation is possible between Kenya and the other states, to the exclusion of this founder member.

The conventional view that Tanzania is an impediment to fast tracking of integration through realization of the customs union and political federation are not justified. It is true that a number of critical decisions necessary for movement have not been concluded, but failure to make these are a reflection of the diplomatic deficiency of state partners than the intransigence of any one state.

The same concerns that arise within EAC regarding benefits of market access are often raised by trade diplomats at multilateral levels too. Why then would it be unreasonable for one member to deploy similar arguments at the EAC?

The EAC treaty bears explicit clauses about making the region peaceful and secure for citizens of all member states. And yet five years after the rise of security issue regarding an island on Lake Victoria, the twins of the EAC, Kenya and Uganda have not brought this to a conclusion.

That pace is not a reflection of true partnership yet and even if many observers are too polite to mention, it certainly does not escape the attention of a country concerned for its internal peace and not given to aggressive posture against neighbours.

That the EAC is Tanzania’s natural home for integration is clear to its leadership and that’s the reason that any patronizing postures are counter-productive. The claim that Tanzania sees its future in a southern African cluster would only be sensible if the EAC failed to achieve its objectives.

And because Tanzania’s people have the sovereign right to choose its preferred regional grouping, the onus is upon those who wish for quicker integration to justify that pace. It cannot be that Tanzania’s leadership is ignorant of its own interests. Just because the rest of the region waxes lyrical about “EAC patriotism” doesn’t mean that Tanzanians are unaware of that.

Truth be stated, Tanzania’s citizens find Kenya’s intense politics interesting but are far more respectful of its businesses. For that reason, no leader in Tanzania would place the idea of concluding a political federation as a serious platform for action and retain much public support.

The lesson from this is that the EAC is probably much further away from the formation of a political federation than its most enthusiastic political leaders realize. On this issue, Tanzania’s instincts on the reality of achievement are probably more accurate and honest.

The impasse that exists in moving the customs union forward is a real test of the diplomatic ability of the fast-movers. And for those who consider that the departure of Tanzania would clear the deck for deeper integration should understand that what would be left after this exit would be a very active but lightweight shell.

Tanzania’s departure would state more about the EAC than it would about Tanzania itself and that message would be damning. The active membership must get Tanzania in and thereafter look northwards to getting in Ethiopia too.
EAC would be lightweight without Tanzania - dot9 - nation.co.ke

 

[VUVUZELA]

Just like NAFTA without US

 

[Kishimbe wa Kishimbe]

Kenyans are becoming very good with the 'GOOD COP - BAD COP' psychological manoeuvres, but applying them to Bongo people is a little bit tricky, Especially after what has been happening recently in EA politico-economic landscape!

 

[Kimilidzo]

Kuna watu hapa Tanzania wanafikiri kuwa Rwanda, Burundi na DRC kupitisha mizigo yao Tanzania nchi hizo ndio zinazonufaika,, wakati ukweli ni kuwa Tanzania ndio inayonufaika kwa kupata extra revenue...

Hata muandishi wa hiyo makala ana mawazo kama hayo, but ukweli ni kuwa Tanzania ndio mtoa huduma, wahudumiwaji wakipungua mtoa huduma ndiye anayeathirika. Tanzania inatakiwa kuzitegemea sana nchi zinazoizunguka kama inataka kuongeza mapato na kuinua uchumi. It's business opportunity to have landlocked neighbors

 

[mhandisi_1]

Kuna watu hapa Tanzania wanafikiri kuwa Rwanda, Burundi na DRC kupitisha mizigo yao Tanzania nchi hizo ndio zinazonufaika,, wakati ukweli ni kuwa Tanzania ndio inayonufaika kwa kupata extra revenue...

Hata muandishi wa hiyo makala ana mawazo kama hayo, but ukweli ni kuwa Tanzania ndio mtoa huduma, wahudumiwaji wakipungua mtoa huduma ndiye anayeathirika. Tanzania inatakiwa kuzitegemea sana nchi zinazoizunguka kama inataka kuongeza mapato na kuinua uchumi. It's business opportunity to have landlocked neighbors

Tunatakiwa kupanga maendeleo ya nchi yetu bila kuyafungamanisha na nchi jirani. Nchi ya Tanzania ni kubwa sana na uchumi wake ni mkubwa sana, kama tu tukitambua tukaacha maneno na kufanya kazi tutakuta kuwa reli na barabara na bandari zetu hazitoshi kuuhudumia uchumi wa ndani. Tunashukuru Mungu aliyetupa ukanda mkubwa wa pwani kwa hiyo tunaweza kuwa na bandari nzuri na tukatoa huduma kwa nchi jirani. But the economical potential of Tanzania is not only on transit revenues.

Kwa hiyo Watanzania wenzangu tusikubali kuwanyenyekea watu wenye nia ya kuchukua ardhi yetu na rasilimali nyingine kwa kivuli cha muungano wa kisiasa wa EAC. Sisi tupange mambo yetu tukiangalia maslahi ya Taifa kwanza, na hata hayo mahusiano na jirani zetu NI LAZIMA YAWE NA MASLAHI

 

[cyberspace]

Tunatakiwa kupanga maendeleo ya nchi yetu bila kuyafungamanisha na nchi jirani. Nchi ya Tanzania ni kubwa sana na uchumi wake ni mkubwa sana, kama tu tukitambua tukaacha maneno na kufanya kazi tutakuta kuwa reli na barabara na bandari zetu hazitoshi kuuhudumia uchumi wa ndani. Tunashukuru Mungu aliyetupa ukanda mkubwa wa pwani kwa hiyo tunaweza kuwa na bandari nzuri na tukatoa huduma kwa nchi jirani. But the economical potential of Tanzania is not only on transit revenues.

Kwa hiyo Watanzania wenzangu tusikubali kuwanyenyekea watu wenye nia ya kuchukua ardhi yetu na rasilimali nyingine kwa kivuli cha muungano wa kisiasa wa EAC. Sisi tupange mambo yetu tukiangalia maslahi ya Taifa kwanza, na hata hayo mahusiano na jirani zetu NI LAZIMA YAWE NA MASLAHI

Well said, naunga mkono hoja

 

[Tango73]

Tunatakiwa kupanga maendeleo ya nchi yetu bila kuyafungamanisha na nchi jirani. Nchi ya Tanzania ni kubwa sana na uchumi wake ni mkubwa sana, kama tu tukitambua tukaacha maneno na kufanya kazi tutakuta kuwa reli na barabara na bandari zetu hazitoshi kuuhudumia uchumi wa ndani. Tunashukuru Mungu aliyetupa ukanda mkubwa wa pwani kwa hiyo tunaweza kuwa na bandari nzuri na tukatoa huduma kwa nchi jirani. But the economical potential of Tanzania is not only on transit revenues.

Kwa hiyo Watanzania wenzangu tusikubali kuwanyenyekea watu wenye nia ya kuchukua ardhi yetu na rasilimali nyingine kwa kivuli cha muungano wa kisiasa wa EAC. Sisi tupange mambo yetu tukiangalia maslahi ya Taifa kwanza, na hata hayo mahusiano na jirani zetu NI LAZIMA YAWE NA MASLAHI

Kenya huwezi kupata ardhi. Uganda huwezi kupata ardhi! Rwanda na burundi nako ardhi ni ya kubanana na milima ni mingi. Ila hayo yote yanapatikana Tanzania pekee. tutajikuta kama yaliyowakuta wakazi wa buzwagi !

 

[cyberspace]

Kuna watu hapa Tanzania wanafikiri kuwa Rwanda, Burundi na DRC kupitisha mizigo yao Tanzania nchi hizo ndio zinazonufaika,, wakati ukweli ni kuwa Tanzania ndio inayonufaika kwa kupata extra revenue...

Hata muandishi wa hiyo makala ana mawazo kama hayo, but ukweli ni kuwa Tanzania ndio mtoa huduma, wahudumiwaji wakipungua mtoa huduma ndiye anayeathirika. Tanzania inatakiwa kuzitegemea sana nchi zinazoizunguka kama inataka kuongeza mapato na kuinua uchumi. It's business opportunity to have landlocked neighbors

Kiswahili chako kina ukakasi kidogo !! angalia maneno haya " wahudumiwaji" , "muandishi" nk. Je wewe si wale haramu kweli ?

 

[cyberspace]

Kenya huwezi kupata ardhi. Uganda huwezi kupata ardhi! Rwanda na burundi nako ardhi ni ya kubanana na milima ni mingi. Ila hayo yote yanapatikana Tanzania pekee. tutajikuta kama yaliyowakuta wakazi wa buzwagi !

Well said, tell them, tell them.