Wabunge wamecharuka!
Go slow on federation, MPs caution
2007-04-22 10:45:29
By Juma Thomas, Dodoma
Members of parliament yesterday rejected the idea of
fast tracking the East African political federation citing disparities in administration, education,economy and security in the member states as some of the areas that need to be harmonised before the people are asked to join the federation.
Giving their views on the fast tracking of East Africa Federation to the committee charged with collecting views on the fast tracking the federation, the legislators said for instance that while Kenya and Tanzania`s constitutions provide for time limit for the presidency, Uganda recently changed the constitution to remove time limit for the presidency.
Godfrey Zambi (Mbozi East) said although the idea of joining the federation is good because it can enable the countries to develop economically, he is worried that the process is being taken too fast.
``Why do we want to fast track this issue? Maybe the leaders will tell us. Otherwise I don`t see the reason why we should take this issue as an emergence one,`` he said.
He said member countries need to have common identity before they join the federation.``We must have one language. Kenya and Uganda speak English and we speak Kiswahili. Unless we have one national language, the federation will not succeed,`` he added.
Zambi also said security in Uganda and Kenya is delicate, adding that it would be dangerous for a peaceful country like Tanzania to join countries troubled with civil strife.
He said the leaders of the East African countries were bulldozing the people on the whole issue of fast tracking the federation. ``We do not want to be bulldozed. The people should be educated on the political federation first,`` he said.
Dr Chrisant Mzindakaya (Kwela) said that EAC member states should for now concentrate on customs union and common markets instead of jumping to the political federation.
Dr Mzindakaya said political federation should wait until when the member states are ready.
``The people I am representing say there is no need to fast track the federation. They want more time before we talk of the federation,`` Dr Mzindakaya said.
He wondered how poor countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda can talk of federation only few years after they joined the East African community, while the giants in the European Union have not thought of the federation yet.
``Sometimes I am made to think that maybe our neighbours want the federation in order to enjoy our natural resources-minerals, national parks, good land and so on,`` he said.
William Shellukindo (Bumbuli) warned Tanzanians to be careful on fast tracking the federation because he said the whole issue involves surrendering the country`s sovereignty.
Hamad Rashid (Wawi) said it was wrong to ask people whether they want to fast track the federation when they have not been asked whether they want the federation.
``Wananchi should have been asked first if they want to join the federation and not whether the federation should be fast tracked,`` he said.
``We are wasting tax payers` money on the issue which wananchi are not fully conversant with. The leaders have already decided to have the federation so why waste our money to ask people about the federation,`` he said.
Festus Limbu (Magu Urban) said the issue of political federation should come during the sixth phase government.
``We should not rush to the political federation. We should first improve our micro economy before thinking of macro economy,`` he said, adding our problem is not to have single president.
Chacha Wangwe (Tarime) commended the president for appointing Prof Samwel Wangwe to head the committee, citing him as a hardworking man.
He however said that Prof. Wangwe is being misused because the work he is doing will not yield good results.
``This committee should have worked on educating people on the federation rather than collecting their views on the fast tracking,`` he said.
The Mp said he supported the idea of joining the federation because his people who live on the border of Kenya and Tanzania have been benefiting from Kenya.
Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (Kyela) warned the government not to tamper with peace and tranquility the people have been enjoying by fast tracking the federation to join countries troubled with civil war.
``Principles of natural justice demand that no person should become a judge of his own cause. So sitting presidents should not be allowed to vie for the EAC political federation,`` he said, adding, ``this is because maybe the leaders are bulldozing us in the hope that they will become presidents.`` T
The Chairman of the Committee Prof. Wangwe said his committee was charged to collect views on the fast tracking of the federation and not whether the country should join the federation.
``This is what I have been asked to do. Maybe later the people will be asked whether they want to join the federation,`` he said.
· SOURCE: SUNDAY OBSERVER
Go slow on federation, MPs caution
2007-04-22 10:45:29
By Juma Thomas, Dodoma
Members of parliament yesterday rejected the idea of
fast tracking the East African political federation citing disparities in administration, education,economy and security in the member states as some of the areas that need to be harmonised before the people are asked to join the federation.
Giving their views on the fast tracking of East Africa Federation to the committee charged with collecting views on the fast tracking the federation, the legislators said for instance that while Kenya and Tanzania`s constitutions provide for time limit for the presidency, Uganda recently changed the constitution to remove time limit for the presidency.
Godfrey Zambi (Mbozi East) said although the idea of joining the federation is good because it can enable the countries to develop economically, he is worried that the process is being taken too fast.
``Why do we want to fast track this issue? Maybe the leaders will tell us. Otherwise I don`t see the reason why we should take this issue as an emergence one,`` he said.
He said member countries need to have common identity before they join the federation.``We must have one language. Kenya and Uganda speak English and we speak Kiswahili. Unless we have one national language, the federation will not succeed,`` he added.
Zambi also said security in Uganda and Kenya is delicate, adding that it would be dangerous for a peaceful country like Tanzania to join countries troubled with civil strife.
He said the leaders of the East African countries were bulldozing the people on the whole issue of fast tracking the federation. ``We do not want to be bulldozed. The people should be educated on the political federation first,`` he said.
Dr Chrisant Mzindakaya (Kwela) said that EAC member states should for now concentrate on customs union and common markets instead of jumping to the political federation.
Dr Mzindakaya said political federation should wait until when the member states are ready.
``The people I am representing say there is no need to fast track the federation. They want more time before we talk of the federation,`` Dr Mzindakaya said.
He wondered how poor countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda can talk of federation only few years after they joined the East African community, while the giants in the European Union have not thought of the federation yet.
``Sometimes I am made to think that maybe our neighbours want the federation in order to enjoy our natural resources-minerals, national parks, good land and so on,`` he said.
William Shellukindo (Bumbuli) warned Tanzanians to be careful on fast tracking the federation because he said the whole issue involves surrendering the country`s sovereignty.
Hamad Rashid (Wawi) said it was wrong to ask people whether they want to fast track the federation when they have not been asked whether they want the federation.
``Wananchi should have been asked first if they want to join the federation and not whether the federation should be fast tracked,`` he said.
``We are wasting tax payers` money on the issue which wananchi are not fully conversant with. The leaders have already decided to have the federation so why waste our money to ask people about the federation,`` he said.
Festus Limbu (Magu Urban) said the issue of political federation should come during the sixth phase government.
``We should not rush to the political federation. We should first improve our micro economy before thinking of macro economy,`` he said, adding our problem is not to have single president.
Chacha Wangwe (Tarime) commended the president for appointing Prof Samwel Wangwe to head the committee, citing him as a hardworking man.
He however said that Prof. Wangwe is being misused because the work he is doing will not yield good results.
``This committee should have worked on educating people on the federation rather than collecting their views on the fast tracking,`` he said.
The Mp said he supported the idea of joining the federation because his people who live on the border of Kenya and Tanzania have been benefiting from Kenya.
Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (Kyela) warned the government not to tamper with peace and tranquility the people have been enjoying by fast tracking the federation to join countries troubled with civil war.
``Principles of natural justice demand that no person should become a judge of his own cause. So sitting presidents should not be allowed to vie for the EAC political federation,`` he said, adding, ``this is because maybe the leaders are bulldozing us in the hope that they will become presidents.`` T
The Chairman of the Committee Prof. Wangwe said his committee was charged to collect views on the fast tracking of the federation and not whether the country should join the federation.
``This is what I have been asked to do. Maybe later the people will be asked whether they want to join the federation,`` he said.
· SOURCE: SUNDAY OBSERVER