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MPs reject roadmap to EA federation
2005-04-27 21:38:10
By Bilal Abdul-Aziz, Dodoma
Members of Parliament have rejected a proposed roadmap for fast tracking of the East African Federation (EAF) ahead of official endorsement in Parliament today.
MPs made their positions known yesterday in Dodoma at a seminar organised jointly by the ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation acquaint them with the 'fast-track' idea.
The legislators opposed the proposal and warned that speeding up the process would compromise the country’s sovereignty as its people were not ready for competition.
Over 35 parliamentarians who aired their views warned against rushing the process or bowing to pressure from partner states.
They observed that sovereignty and national interests should be the guiding factors in making decisions on the federation.
'I am totally against the proposal to fast-track the formation of the East African Federation.
We need not hurry,' said Nominated MP Makongoro Nyerere.
He stressed the need to involve all Tanzanians in deciding on the matter and cautioned that mistakes that led to the collapse of the former East African Community should not be repeated.
Nyerere said EAC collapsed because its architects, the late Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta and Milton Obote, made the crucial decision to unite the countries without consulting the people.
I suggest that a referendum be organised to collect the views of our people on the matter as the former East African Community hit a snag because its existence depended on the whims of the three leaders, Makongoro, son of the late Mwalimu Nyerere, said.
He warned that if the three countries failed to put in place a strong foundation for the federation, there is a possibility that it would collapse.
Jackson Makwetta (Njombe North, CCM) said the roadmap to a full federation should not follow previous steps.
'Compromising on principles is a betrayal of the people. Let’s buy time because if we get in unprepared, we are going to stand or fall because of our lack of foresight,' warned Makwetta.
He suggested that special parliamentary committees be set up to take charge of the fast-tracking process in the interest of Tanzanian.
MPs who spoke at the forum were Irenus Ngwatura (Mbinga East, CCM), Semindu Pawa (Morogoro South-East, CCM), Christopher Wegga (Mikumi, CCM) and Eliachim Simpasa (Mbozi West, CCM).
Others were Benedicto Mutungirehi (Kyerwa, TLP), Michael Laizer (Longido, CCM), Zahoro Khamis (Chumbuni, CCM) and Ibrahim Marwa (Musoma Urban, CCM).
Rhoda Kahatano (Special Seats, CCM) said that Tanzania, unlike other member-states, was prepared to accept the federation in principle but not in deed.
We must be careful on the matter; a little money should not let us sell the country to other partner states which are better prepared, she said.
Anatory Choya (Biharamulo West, CCM) said the fact that Kenya and Uganda were pushing for the idea was an indication that they were in a better position to take advantage of Tanzanians’ “backwardness” and flourish.
'We should hurry to a place we know, not a place we don’t know,' cautioned the legislator.
Dr Diodorus Kamala (Nkenge, CCM) and Aggrey Mwanri (Siha, CCM) said that the country should think of the federation in a more strategic way.
The roadmap for fast tracking formation of the EAF suggests the federation should be in place by January 2013 and a general election be held a year before.
The National Assembly is expected to receive, debate and endorse the road map today.
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