EALA lawmakers heap praise on Sezibera

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly have lauded the role played by the outgoing EAC secretary general, Dr Richard Sezibera, during his tenure of service to the Community
.

Among the regional lawmakers who moved a resolution, citing a number of achievements in programmes and projects of the EAC during the five year period (2011-2016), included Kenya’s Abubakar Ogle who was seconded by Tanzania’s Abdullah Mwinyi. The resolution received support from the whole House. 

Among the achievements credited to Sezibera is the recent introduction of the international EAC e-Passport, which the resolution terms a critical milestone in the integration dispensation.

The resolution also took cognisance of the fact that Dr Sezibera’s tenure saw the conclusion and ratification of the Monetary Union, which is the third pillar of integration. 

It also cited Dr Sezibera’s key role in spearheading the granting of financial and administrative autonomy to EALA and EACJ, thus laying the foundation for commencement of various amendments of the Treaty and the relevant EAC rules and regulations.

On matters of trade, the mover said the EAC Secretary General had sustained campaigns to ensure the realisation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) and that it had duly paid off.  Also laudable, a section of the resolution avers, is the EAC’s infrastructure programme which is 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 investment in energy.

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

In justifying the resolution, Abubakar Ogle hailed the EAC secretary general for the positive areas of integration but also added there were challenges as well during his tenure.

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

Contributing to the debate, Peter Mathuki said the outgoing EAC boss had made significant contribution towards strengthening the integration process. He remarked that the addition of the Republic of South Sudan in to the bloc was a key deliverable that was facilitated during the tenure of the outgoing secretary general.

 “We need to appreciate some of the facts while understanding that in any given scenario, one can encounter obstacles during the tour of duty,” Mathuki said.

Shyrose Bhanji noted:  “We have seen the reduction of NTBs and the Single Customs Territory (SCT) is also a reality.  We are also thankful for the developments such as the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) which have led to an increase in Intra-EAC Trade. We are thankful to Dr Sezibera and his team.”