MPs say No to EA common market (Tanzania)
Florence Mugarula, The Citizen
April 19 2010
Some MPs have advised the government to abandon the East Africa Common Market idea for the time being and sort out its relations with other regional partners instead.
They made the suggestions here yesterday during a workshop to enlighten them on the EA Common Market protocol.
They cited Kenya as a country that showed hostility towards integration agenda by campaigning against the government's plans to sell part of its stock- pile of ivory.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) held recently in Doha rejected Tanzania's request on the ground that allowing any country to sell ivory for whatever reason could fuel poaching of elephants.
Yesterday’s workshop was held ahead of the tabling of the EA Com- mon Market Protocol in Parliament next week for ratification.
But MPs were categorical that Kenya's attitude had demonstrated that the much talked about brotherly relations between East Africans were based on utopian thinking.
However, some MPs urged that rejecting the EA Common Market based on the outcome of Doha conference would be illogical.
The minister for EAC, Dr Diodorus Kamara, told the lawmakers that President Jakaya Kikwete, alongside his counterparts in the region, had already signed the protocol, giving a green light to the countries to ratify the law.
He said it would be very unbecoming for MPs if they refused to agree to what the Head of State has assented to.
But Mr James Lembeli (Kahama- CCM) said more time was needed for
Tanzania to mull over the issue because the “system will only benefit other countries, especially Kenya.” “I am saying this because I know how our friends behave...
Kenya was in the frontline to campaign against us in Doha, what kind of common market will we have with such people?” he asked.
He said it was strange that Kenya was among countries that were pointing an accusing finger at Tanzania for condoning poaching while Kenya has fewer elephants than Tanzania.
Same East MP Anna Kilango Malecela (CCM) weighed in, saying Tanzania should push for a delay in implementation of Common Market for at least another ten years so that the country prepares better for it.
On Dr Kamala’s statement that the Protocol has been signed by the presidents, she said MPs have powers to reject anything sanctioned by the Head of State if they feel that it is not at par with national interest.
Ms Kilango added the common market was aiming at benefiting few countries and that the vivid example was clearly shown in Doha where all East African countries campaigned against Tanzania.
The deputy speaker, Ms Anna Makinda cited at lack good coordination, patriotism and extreme bureaucracy as major factors impeding Tanzanians from developing.
She said poor coordination among ministries and ministers
as well as other workers was a big problem that makes Tanzanians to miss the common idea when it comes on making arguments and decisions on national matters.
The Lulindi MP, Mr Suleimani Kumchaya, was also of the opin- ion that East Africa Common Mar- ket was impossible to implement at this stage because Tanzanians still needed to be educated on the arrangement.
“The whole World has wit- nessed Tanzania being ashamed by Kenya because of our ivory, we cannot allow Common Market under these circumstances, I think our friends do not think about this cooperation in the same context as us,” said Mr Kumchaya.
For his part, the Kongwa MP, Job Ndungai (CCM) expressed concern over what his colleagues were proposing.
Article at the following link:
http://thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/40-sunday-citizen-news/1455-mps-say-no-to-ea-common-market.html
