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Dar university don faults govt stand on EPAs
2007-12-27 09:53:15
By Patrick Kisembo
A University of Dar es Salaam don, Prof Mwesiga Baregu, has criticized the government on its stand to join the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), saying they were misleading and had no benefit to the country or African countries supporting them.
The don made the remarks in an inclusive interview with The Guardian recently while responding to a question regarding the stand by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Membe that Tanzania would either join the Southern African Development Community or East African Community economic partnership agreement, depending on which offered more to the nation.
``The problem with both Tanzania and Africa is that we tend to take things in terms of `business as usual`. We should come to the point where we can stop taking things for granted,`` he said.
The don said he was not impressed at all with the government\'s stand as announced by minister Membe that Tanzania still supported the negotiation process to join EPAs.
``It should be understood that EPA is a diversionary thing. It diverts Africa\'s attention from its plans to unite Africa and its regional blocs from being strong,`` said Prof Baregu.
The don said EPA is something planted by EU in Africa. It has no meaning to Africa at all. It has no chance in today`s African Union economic plans that we have.``
Prof Baregu said if Tanzania or Africa wants relationship with EU in terms of economic affairs then it has to be that which has interest with Africa. ``That relationship has to be built anew with regard to the basics of Africa, not otherwise,`` he noted.
\"EPA is completely a foreign thing to our development that does not fit anywhere in our plans. From this perspective Africa must reflect well if it really wants to have relationship with EU through EPA,\" he said.
The don said: \"We must know what Africa will gain from EPA, for what interest; at what time and on reasons we need it. We need to think if we can not access what we either need through EPA or without it.
Prof Baregu said: \"What is needed is for Africa to reorganize and redefine its relationship with foreign countries.
Africa must have a specific strategy; otherwise it will just be split by foreign countries. EPA is something planted to bring confusion plans that we have already set up.\"
Tanzanians and Africa in general need to know that EU endeavours to make Africa their market and secondly a dumping place for their goods.
He said EU wants EPA because it wants to create an atmosphere to legalize their action to take away our natural resources just as it used to do in old days.
In his recent briefing to the media in Dar es Salaam, the Foreign Minister, Bernard Membe said Tanzania will choose on whether to join the Southern African Development community or East African community economic partnership agreement , depending on which would offer more to the nation.
Membe was clarifying on why the government was not straight in telling the public and the world on which part of the regional bloc (SADC or EAC) it will side with on EPA issues.
He insisted that people should not worry with countries\' internal differences taking place among member countries of both SADC and EAC.
He however admitted that the issue was controversial and if not taken seriously, could jeopardize the country\'s sovereignty.
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