Hurdles to E.A. political federation-One East Africa

As the integration of the East African Community moves to advanced stages, there remain sticky issues which have sparked off some fears.Some political analysts have predicted that these fears of the unknown could scuttle the process if not handled by the leadership early enough. There are two schools of thought on the proposed political federation. One school of thought favours the progressive integration process while the other argues political federation should be fast tracked.

There are East Africans who think that the community is not peoplecentred but a club of politicians who are taking hasty road maps because they want to benefit from it. Renowned scholar, Prof. Mahmood Mamdani contends that having a monetary union before a political federation is responsible for the chaos in the Eurozone-especially in Greecebecause of what he called “market fundamentalism.”

The EAC Secretary General Dr. Richard Sezibera says it is a more or less incontrovertible argument that the determination of regional issues and the pace of the integration process… would be more expeditious if they were conducted within an enabling, strong and viable political framework. He sees the political federation as both a means and end to realisation of the aspirations of the East Africans. “Let’s face it. With some reservations here and there, the East African people want political federation,” he told an EA Legislative Assembly symposium last year.

Indeed, East Africans support a political federation. The fears they raise is not in opposition to, but those requiring urgent attention for sustainable and beneficial federation. Of all the known regional integration models in the world including European Union and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), only the EAC has solemnly bound itself in a treaty to move into a political federation.

Partner states had anticipated realising a political federation this year and electing one president by next year. This would entail having a federal government, Parliament and president.However an attempt to fast track political federation, which is the fourth pillar in the integration process, has raised fears about the commitment of the member states.

A workshop on political federation in Arusha, Tanzania last year clearly put the matter on spot light. Speaker after speaker lamented how the integration process was leader-led and driven by the Secretariat staff in Arusha and not the grassroots people. Perhaps this was captured more succinctly by Speaker of Uganda Parliament Rebecca Kadaga who noted that, “transforming the EAC into a political federation requires careful and involving process, with the citizens fully involved and with continued political will and more resources.”

Former Kenyan president Daniel Arap Moi also remarked, “Sometimes we find ourselves dragging our feet on issues like a common currency, or customs union because we are scared by the change.” With a population of over 133 million people, Moi sees the potential of EA becoming a bigger entity with more opportunities openings for the young people.

Under the Common market protocol, there is a planned free movement of goods, labour, services and capital as well as rights of residence. East Africans would have the right to leave or enter and reside in a partner state for purpose of employment, business or provision of services. In this regard, all jobs within the EAC, with the exception of jobs in the public service, shall be open for competition to all the EAC citizens.

But to be able to get employment in any partner state, EAC will put in place a system to recognise the educational and professional qualifications of the citizens. Partner states will also have to abolish work permit fees. Besides any citizen from a partner state shall, have the right of residence in another partner state for purpose of carrying out a particular economic activity.

This all sounds great. But there are fears that with the opening of the borders, the job markets will be flooded by nationals of more advantaged partner states whose professionals are more advanced in terms of qualifications.

Loss of Sovereignty
There are fears that as federation, the member states would cease to have any meaningful powers and would be relegated to mere provinces within the federation. This fear is manifested in different ways such as loss of power by the sitting heads of state and loss of decision making. People are also worried about loss of national identity.

Economic factors
There is a concern that the differences in the levels of economic development, entrepreneurial skills and competitiveness in the manufacturing and service industries will disadvantage some partner states. A probe report by the Wako committee revealed that there were fears in Tanzania about potential loss of investment and employment as a result of fast tracking political federation. There are fears that industries may cluster in Kenya which has more attractive locations for business.

A truck on Jinja-Bugiri highway in Uganda. Free movement of goods, services and people has not been
achieved because of too many checks within the EAC member countries

Rwanda and Burundi have cited increased disparities in economic development and revenue loss which lead to possible collapse of their infant industries due to domination by more developed economies.

Loss of land
Land issues too remain a contentious issue in all the member states. Prof. Mamdani argues that the idea of leaving the land issue to be addressed by the partner states is only postponing the problem.

Political concerns
The different political systems in the countries also pose a challenge. In Uganda there is no presidential term limits while Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania have term limits for presidents though Rwanda has a sevenyear term compared to the rest that have five year terms.

A move towards a uniform system may be necessary for all the EA states. Specific fears such as concern by Zanzibar of being marginalised under the union government in the federal government and the Buganda federo issue in Uganda still exist. Another potential divider is the proposed monetary union. This involves member states giving up their currencies and adopting a common currency.

Common language
A further challenge is adopting a common language for the East Africans. Kenya and Tanzania have Swahili as the common language, while Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have a mix of English, French and Swahili. There is a push for Kiswahili to be promoted as an integration catalyst while Rwanda and Burundi are campaigning for French.

Amanya Mushega, a former EAC Secretary General contends that there should be a forum where these issues can be discussed and resolved rather than glossing over them and putting an appearance that all is well while at home people have real fears that things could repeat themselves.

He says efforts towards a political federation need to learn lessons from the previous EAC, identify and discuss fears that led to the collapse and continue to dog the process, in a candid and open manner and agree on solutions to those fears and challenges.

Mushega says for the federation to take root, survive and be of value to the people, the EA governments need to invest in education and instill values and skills in the young generations.

Another former EAC Secretary General Francis Muthaura observes that the people of East Africa will support political federation depending on their appreciation on the benefits they are getting as well as their perception of the benefits they are likely to get from it. However, he notes that one of the greatest weaknesses of regional integration is the slow speed at which decisions are made and implemented.

“We need to improve on this poor record, if we are to make East African federation more attractive. Korea has grown very fast to become the 11th industrial country under a simple motto: Action on Time and within the Budget,” he says. Political federation will also entail alignment of national political activities such as investments in regional peace and security, common foreign policy and good governance.

The fears raised during a consultative process in Rwanda and Burundi are similar to those raised by the people of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. They ranged from loss of cultural and traditional values including language to territorial conflicts.

Beatrice Kiraso, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of political federation contends that a crusade to trickle down the benefits of the common market should be emphasised to capture the massive support for the integration process The concept of political federation is not new. In June 1963, a similar idea was floated by the three East African leaders in Nairobi. But the proposal was abandoned because of pressing economic issues, territorial factors and other issues.

East Africans now want guarantees that this time the integration will address the economic imbalance among the partner states which partly led to the collapse of the first integration project in 1976.

The community has made progress. To ensure the proposed political federation does not remain a pipe dream or an illusion, these fears need to be tackled head on. Levels of awareness and sensitisation of the EAC integration and its benefits should be sustained and increased. Grassroots support is crucial for the success of the integration process.

After all, what the East Africans want is free movement, right to employment and residence in any of the partner states, a large market, security and improved governance. Other activists have even suggested that there should be a referendum on the contentious issues. Some optimists see light at the end of the tunnel- a one prosperous East Africa.