EALA hails ex-EAC chief Sezibera for good leadership

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly have lauded the role played by the outgoing EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, for the great service rendered during his tenure of service to the Community.

 

Supporting a motion moved Kenyan member AbuBakr Ogle and seconded by Tanzanian member Abdullah Mwinyi, they said the outgoing secretary general had made a lot of achievements in the programmes and projects undertaken by EAC during his five-year tenure (2011-2016).

 

One of the cited achievements is the introduction of the international EAC e-passport, which they said was a critical milestone in the integration dispensation.

 

His tenure also saw the conclusion and ratification of a Monetary Union, which is the third pillar of integration.

 

They also cited Dr Sezibera’s key role in spearheading the granting of financial and administrative autonomy to the EALA and the EA Court of Justice, thus laying the foundation to commencement of various amendments to the EAC treaty and relevant rules and regulations.

 

On matters of trade, the mover said the EAC Secretary General had sustained campaigns to ensure the realization of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) and that it had duly paid off.

 

Also laudable was the EAC infrastructure programme which was set to spur development in the region, apart from other parts of the continent in terms of competitiveness, thus laying the Standard Railway Gauge and making unprecedented advances in investments in energy.

 

In order to ensure people centeredness, the Secretary General was instrumental in establishing and sustaining a quarterly secretary general’s forum with the private sector.

 

The motion hailed Sezibera for the positive areas of integration but added that there were also challenges during his tenure.

 

He remarked that the incoming secretary general was taking over at a critical time for the Community.