FuturePresident
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 9, 2010
- 321
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Tanzanian authorities have opened talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi for possibilities of creating a new economic and trade bloc.
This has emerged following the sidelining of Tanzania and Burundi by the other three member states of the East African regional bloc, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
Tanzania's minister for East Africa Cooperation Samuel Sitta Wednesday told parliament in Dodoma that Tanzania has been taking "a plan B".
"Economically it is sensible to work with DRC now because the country holds immense economic potential in the region," Sitta said.
Sitta said such other plans included the construction of a railway line from Uvinza in Kigoma Region to Msongati in order to connect the country with DRC.
Tanzania also looked at Burundi because it was cost-effective for the country's businessmen to use Dar es Salaam port instead of Mombasa port, he said.
POLITICAL FEDERATION
In the past few months, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have opted to forge ahead with a regional integration agenda in the absence of Tanzania and Burundi.
The three partners have reached a point of debating a protocol to speed up the formation of a political federation.
Some members of Tanzanian parliament on Tuesday pressured the government to either withdraw from EAC or talk with other neighbouring countries to establish another regional grouping or halt Tanzania engagement in the regional activities. (Xinhua)
Fireman • a day ago
Where is the HQ of EAC? Last time I checked it was in Arusha in TZ... right?
MusaK • 2 days ago
I like reading comments of people who have no clue why TZ got left behind. TZ is its own worst enemy. They have been dragging EAC for the last 10 years. Every time the EAC technical teams worked about modalities, the TZ team had nothing to offer and no commitments whatsoever. Eventually the three other countries decided to move on. Only God knows why TZ took the stand to delay the EAC. Better still, let them tell the rest of us. We can't talk for 100 years. At some point, life has to go on.-
Maombi Omk • 2 days ago
Congolese people, aspecially from East of Congo, are welcoming the partenership with Tanzania. We understand why Kenya is jealous over Tanzanian intervetion in Congo. We are welcoming you with open hands because you refused to side with Kenya supporting the two killer-leaders (kagame and Museveni) in terrorizing Eastern Congolese population. Karibuni Congo wa Tanzania. -
pkimani • 2 days ago
Let Tanzania choose its friends and let Kenya likewise choose its friends. And choices are often guided by the interests of each country. For several years, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have sought Tanzania's friendship in vain. Let us agree to part in peace while not forgetting that we cannot do without each other at some bilateral level. -
Steve S • 2 days ago
TZ has to choose, SADC or EAC, they have been dragging EAC behind while benefitting from SADC. We need to rope Ethiopia and Sudan into EAC and let TZ push for another body. We'll still trade anyway. -
George Jomo • 2 days ago
What about the many Kenyans who have invested or work TZ? Is the Jubilee government going to offer them an alternative means of livelihood.Or this new regional co-operation sidelining some EAC countries is a vehicle for the leaders concerned aimed at achieving selfish political interest at the expense of their citizenry? I smell a rat....
mchicha • 2 days ago
Kenya and Uganda need to find ways to keep Tanzania and Burundi in the Group. Add sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, and you have a powerful economic block.-
Peterg123 • 2 days ago
Tanaznia will never leave it's socialist hangover they got from drinking Nyerere's communist chang'aa.
karanja • 2 days ago
all in all its our Tanzanian brothers to loose,presidents come and go and time is past where leaders should hold their people on personal policies.you can have a big country with minerals,but without good policy on how to get your people out of poverty you wiil not feed them on soil.any way good luck.-
Njeru Mwirichia • 2 days ago
In the final analyses, maybe these independent regional blocks will merge and become huge trading blocks for the entire region (headed by their future presidents). That time, economies of scale and value addition will be at play. -
Williams • 2 days ago
TZ should just make the hard choice of either pledging their loyalty to EAC or SADC.
Papawilbe • 2 days ago
LOL I have in Tanzania and i must say they have a long way to go... A regional intergration would give them an advantage working with a war torn DRC isnt a strategic move, Tanzania would have gained with the influx of skilled manpower from its neighbours but they feel this is a hindrance to their citizens
- MSakata Rumba • 2 days ago
This marks the beginning of Tanzania's nightmares. DRC for the next long while will be an excuse of a nation, sad but the instability experienced over the decades won't just go away. Kenya and Uganda already have a better relationship with DRC; Burundi, what can Tanzania gain from them? - Not much, except nothing.Uganda and Kenya are a power in their own right; methinks that Tanzania sees Kenya and Uganda as witty and out to exploit it, which brings me to the national attitudes; Tanzania is plain lazy! Period. Kenya is hungry, just as Nyerere put it - a man-eat-man nation. Uganda is patient, ready to play second fiddle to Kenya but in the long run designs to return as the true pearl. Rwanda is like a beautiful girl, she will soon become the centre of focus in the region after it's makeup application. I wish I was in the shoes of Kikwete...
- Dandewa • 2 days ago
How far patient is one required to be if the girl you have been wooing seems uninterested with u?
Ug_Ug • 2 days ago
Who knows what Tz is suffering from, should please help to doctor her. The other day Ug and Tz struck a deal to build, at their common border, a hydro-power dam to serve both countries. Lately, all seems Tz has backed off. Ug will go alone, that Tz communities will leave on in darkness or will have to buy power fro Ug rather dearly.
Not long ago Ug, Rw , Bd and Tz were ready in a deal to foot the build-up of southern corridor - a rail / highway network from Dar to the 3 partner countries. Tz´s coid-blooted and clumsy reaction gave a subsequent birth to the coalition of the willing (COW), the northern corridor project – rail network from Mombasa to be extended up till Bujumbura (but Bd later backed off) now would only connect to Kigali. Ever since then Tz has been yammering mad around her, being side lined yet the project doesn't touch on a millimeter land of Tz.
Today Tz MPs are moaning about on the Ke´s project with Ethiopia and S. Sudan and yet they couldn't make their hands dirty on their own home projects. What should therefore Tz be suffering from, deficiency of project management? Who knows what Tz is suffering from, should please help to doctor her!!!
Tanzania seeks new partners outside EAC
KENYA WANAPONDA DUU...