{UAH} Tanzania sets terms for EAC

 

I find African politicians very narrow and at times very primitive.

To tinker with issues of the monetary union just like that goes against all basic rational thinking. How many research reports have been generated from credible institutions like Universities and labour Unions to inform and direct this project?

None!

Mention to me just ten East African economic and social science professors or research students and / or public debates that have produced any research article about the matter!

It is politicians who know it all!

Besides taxation that has also failed to be harmonised – since there is virtually no economic sectors, where we have common economic futures apart from; Unilever establishment, Bata shoes, the beer and soda industry.

That is all!

Firstly, Uganda unlike Kenya and Tanzania – has no basic industry at all and worse still function public sector!  A monetary union will drive Ugandans into total poverty, sending them out of all types of business. Kenya sugar is cheaper than Uganda produced sugar.

East African monetary union will be in addition to the money, NRM/A stole from Ugandans in its futile and primitive attempt to stem inflation which has now surpassed 1000% going by the price index in 1980.

The largest Uganda currency unit in 1980 was 100 shs now it 50'000 shs!

Kampala stock exchange is reflection of Uganda's position in East Africa. Rwanda which has a small stock exchange has very strong public investment, functioning public institutions and asocial behaviours are held at bay.

It implies Rwanda unlike Uganda can absorb the East African after shock properly since the state can come in and control the economy unlike Uganda where almost 90% of the economy is in unethically, immorally and primitively help in private hands in Uganda.

There is no native Ugandan who has a worthy business in Uganda including Wavamunno! Uganda is not a producer country but rather a consumer country.

Then state corruption and dysfunctional institutions, all this need to be fixed immediately. Moreover the economy must have at least > 60% socially controlled institutions or rather publicly run economic sector.

Otherwise, with stinking moral decay in Uganda – major investment companies will run to Kenya or Tanzanian. Indeed today, Uganda is a risk country and many investments have their offices in Nairobi though their investments are in Uganda!

These investment are moreover, not even investments but rather liaison offices just watching what is happening.

Kenyans will not allow their shilling to be weakened. It will certainly mean their total income goes down. To make Tanzanian shilling stronger will be killing off their nascent but ever growing industry. Nordic countries that invested heavily in Tanzania will disallow this to happen.

Secondly, and incidentally I have for the past five years interacted with adult teacher students from Kenya – three times a year. I am thoroughly shocked with ethnic animosity among Kenyans. I must say all this talk of East African Union must be toned down, otherwise we are bringing another serious social conflict where politicians will be getting fatter when people are killing themselves.

A kikuyu student does not want a Luo teacher to teach them and vice visa. A Luo lecturer will never agree that a Luo student can fail an exam. A Somali Kenyan will never allow the eating or sleeping habits of the rest native Kenyans. In fact they despise each other so much and so is the same with other social groups among Kenyans. Luos are blamed for eating fish and Kiisi do not eat posho that is for Kkuyu. It is thoroughly disturbing, if people identify themselves even with food they eat, in a foreign country like these Kenya students in Uganda!

I have not seen such open animosity among Rwandese, Ugandans, Sudanese or Tanzania students. But even among Tanzanian there is a simmering tendency at identity social structuring.

There is no unity in Kenya despite the long held feeling that when people speak one language - Swahili they are united. That is a wrong and invalid theory and now I have the evidence to it. The Luo, Kikuyu, the Somali, Kiisi and kalenjin all these people make first reference to their language and ethnic brothers and sisters.  

Now, in East Africa there are countries which have not had a wars at all. Why Uganda in particular is the one rushing this project also adds to our social, economic and political misery.

In my sociological evaluation, Uganda should not bank its security, economy and social welfare either on Rwanda, Southern Sudan, Congo or Tanzania. The economy can't be a rescue either but a catalyst for future total disintegration if not handled properly of Uganda and East Africa.

 Daniel Bwanika.

Senior Lecturer Urban Planing and Geography (www.siup.ac.ug)

Tanzania sets terms for EAC - National

By Dorothy Nakaweesi & Ismail Musa Ladu
Posted  Saturday, November 30  2013 at  02:00

Kampala-The tripartite arrangement, also known as the "coalition of the willing", involving Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, has emerged as one of the sticky issues the Council of EAC Ministers had to deal with as they considered the Monetary Union protocol.

The protocol is a document that sets the stage for an eventual phasing out of all the national currencies and the establishment of a single regional legal tender.

The protocol, however, has since been considered and signed by the Council of Ministers and it now awaits endorsement of the EAC Heads of State today.

Tanzania not happy
It is understood that Tanzania is particularly unhappy with the tripartite arrangement, describing it as a recipe for disaster. In its recommendation to the heads of state, Tanzania maintains that the tripartite arrangement poses the risk to disintegrate the community rather than integrate it.

And for that, Tanzania, has also, among others things, recommended that all the plans and infrastructural project that the three countries endorsed mid this year should be revised and given a regional appeal, rather than it appearing as an initiative of the "coalition of the willing".

In an Interview with Saturday Monitor, Mr Samuel Sitta, Tanzania's East African Cooperation Minister, said: "Our concern is that we should not have an integration process of three countries but all the five East African countries."

He said his country has further recommended that all such tripartite arrangements must be sanctioned by the Secretariat as opposed to individual partner states.
It was also recommended that single custom territory, easing of clearance of goods at the entry point will apply across the board and not just to the three countries—Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

Earlier, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Mr Richard Sezibera, and the Uganda State Minister for EAC Affairs, Mr Shem Bageine, said the "coalition of the willing" arrangement is a creation of the media and that all the partner states are in agreement, including application of the integration process.

Tanzania sets terms for EAC - National - monitor.co.ug

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Tanzania-sets-terms-for-EAC/-/688334/2093134/-/1io14h/-/index.html

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Bwanika Nakyesawa Luwero