INADEQUATE sensitization of the masses remains a barrier to the citizens of East Africa enjoying the full benefits of the integration, a senior official has said.
“Popularising the integration process through wider and in-depth sensitization is still a challenge,” said Beatrice Kiraso, the East African Community (EAC) deputy secretary general in charge of political federation in an interview.
Kiraso said the process is on-going to ensure that there is political will for the “integration process in general but political federation in particular.”
Massive sensitization is a major prerequisite that the secretariat may be overlooking because come July, it will not be completely open doors for everyone, every worker and everyone’s capital.
As Kiraso explained, there may be some limitations thus the need to avoid shocking the region’s citizens or raising their expectations so high.
“The key principle of non discrimination will apply but limits could be imposed based on public policy, public security or public health,” she said.
In the exclusive interview in this edition, Business Vision illustrates some of the requirements for citizens wishing to move their skills, capital as well as settle across the partner states without any hindrance.
Kiraso said EAC partner states are going to amend any legal barriers as the region prepares to embrace free movement of labour, capital and services starting July 2010.
On the free movement of capital, Tanzania and Burundi are yet to open up their capital accounts that is supposed to further quicken the processes.
“Tanzania and Burundi committed themselves to progressively open up their capital accounts from 2010 to 2015,” said Kiraso.
On the timetable of the political federation, Kiraso said the previously stipulated year of 2015 as the year when there would be one regional government has not been agreed upon.
“It may be earlier or later, but what’s important is that the on-going process ensures that a firm foundation is laid by harmonising EAC partner states’ policy, legislation and institutional capacity,” said Kiraso.
