The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan this morning officially opened the 9th Inter-Parliamentary Relations Seminar (Nanyuki IX) in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
In her remarks, the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania reiterated that democracy, rule of law and elections were key components in the regional integration dispensation and necessary for progress and development.
"Democracy, rule of law and human rights are today key precepts that are close to development. Political, social and economic governance of our countries and blocs would be ideally affected and negatively so, if we ignore the adherence to these universally agreed principles", H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan said.
The Vice President further said that United Republic of Tanzania would soon append its signature to the African Charter on Democracy, elections and Governance.
"It is important that we in the region and continent for that matter, strive to enhance and strengthen good governance through the institutionalization of accountability and participatory democracy. It is on this vein that the Member States negotiated the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance that was adopted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2007", the Vice President said.
"Mr Speaker, I want to assure you that the United Republic of Tanzania will do all that is possible in the not-too-distant future to sign, ratify and deposit the said instrument", she added.
So far, only the Republic of Rwanda has ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and deposited the instrument with the African Union.
The Vice President further re-assured legislators in attendance that United Republic of Tanzania would ensure elections are conclusive in Zanzibar later on in the month.
The Seminar organized by EALA in conjunction with the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA), is themed: "Compliance with African Union and Sub-Regional Blocs'; Election Benchmarks: A Case of the East African Community". The Seminar brings together an estimated 250 participants drawn from EALA, National Parliaments of the Partner States' and EAC Ambassadors. Also in attendance are representatives of the Civil Society Organizations.
H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan called on Parliaments to enact laws that promote peaceful political competition and to follow up on the commitments of the National Election Management Bodies with regards to building electoral systems that underpin Africa's democracy.
In his remarks, the Speaker of EALA, Rt Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega reiterated that democratic elections were key for the continent and challenged the region to ratify the Protocol on African Charter on Governance and Democracy.
"There are lessons emerging from the electoral trends in Africa that have degenerated into conflicts as evidenced by the 1995 post-election violence in Zanzibar; the 2007 post-elections violence in Kenya; the 2010 pre and post-elections violence in Burundi and subsequently, the post elections violence in 2015", he remarked.
The Speaker remarked that other case studies on electoral violence were documented in the Republics of Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Guinea Bissau.
"The amount of energy invested in resolving the conflicts particularly in Kenya and Zimbabwe including the evidence of writing of new constitutions is critical in generating some lessons on the theme of institution building", he remarked.
"The Election Management bodies for example, should maintain credible registers and conduct the polls in a transparent manner while upholding the declaration of results", Rt Hon. Kidega said.
The Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Hon. Dr Susan Kolimba termed the apt and timely given the fact that the cycle of electns had commenced.
Article 6 provides for the fundamental objectives of the Community which include rule of law and good governance.
The outcome of the seminar she said, would contribute to vast improvements of the electoral processes in the region.
On his part, the Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, Rt Hon. Job Ndugai concurred with the view that it was time to review elections systems.
"When elections in East Africa go wrong, the consequences are felt in the neighbouring States including instability of trade, and movement of persons", Rt Hon. Ndugai said.
The representative of AWEPA, Mr. John Corrie remarked that elections in the region had continued to present challenges which need to be overcome. He said it was important for the region to find solutions to the Election related conflicts.
"I congratulate EAC and EALA for their efforts to ensure democratic strengthening of the region for instance in organizing several Electoral Observation Missions over the last decade. This is important because impartial, balanced and informed asssment of elections serves to protect the integrity of electoral processes", Mr. Corrie said.
He reiterated that AWEPA was committed to continue supporting the region at an appropriate time. He lauded EALA for its contribution to regionalism and Parliamentary Democracy through effective legislation, representation and oversight.
"We reiterate our commitment to the strengthening of your institution, to supporting regional Parliaments and more broadly to strengthening of Parliamentary democracy in Africa. Despite the challenges that may lie ahead, we will strive to accomplish our mission in a spirit of partnership, mutual learning, cooperation and friendship", Mr Corrie said.
The Seminar is facilitated by high profile speakers from within and beyond the EAC region who are analyzing and assessing Partner States' compliance with Africa, EAC sub-regional and Partner States' national election benchmarks.
The Seminar is likewise showcasing the relevance of Election Observation Missions in the contribution of strengthening Electoral Management processes in East Africa.
It takes place at a critical point in time when all EAC Partner States have either concluded, or are about to go through the electioneering period. On February 18th, 2016, Republic of Uganda went to elections while the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Burundi held their polls in October 2015 and July 2015 respectively.On their part, Republic of Kenya and Republic of Rwanda are expected to go to elections next year.
The Seminar is revisiting the three key concepts of democracy, elections and the rule of law as well as the relationship among them. It is hoped the Seminar will enhance capacities of Parliamentarians to perform their core function in preventing electoral and related electoral conflicts is enhanced.
In addition, it is anticipated that Members of the National Assemblies will be provided with an opportunity to appreciate the progress made so far in the EAC integration process through the Election Observation Missions and therefore the issues discussed will subsequently find their way into the agenda of National Parliaments.
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Conceived in 2003, the Inter-Parliamentary Relations Seminar (Nanyuki) is one of the avenues through which EALA and National Assemblies of the EAC Partner States interact as per the requirements of Article 49(2) of the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC.
The nature of the Nanyuki Seminars is rotational and is held in respective Partner States. Eight Seminars have so far been held under the title, "Nanyuki Series", so named after the venue of the first one held in June 2004 under the theme "Roles and Mandate of EALA". The themes for the subsequent meetings were as follows;
i) Nanyuki II (2005, Entebbe, Uganda) “Enhancing the EAC Integration: Application and Implications”;
ii) Nanyuki III (2006, Dar-es-Salaam) “Enhancing Functional relations in the EAC”;
iii) Nanyuki IV (2008, Kigali, Rwanda) “EAC from Customs Union to Common Market: Prospects and Challenges”;
iv) Nanyuki V (2010, Bujumbura, Burundi) “EAC Common Market Protocol, the Prospects, the Challenges and Opportunities”;
v) Nanyuki VI (2011, Bujumbura, Burundi) “Role of Legislature in Achieving a Political Federation”;
vi) Nanyuki VII (2013, Entebbe, Uganda) “Promoting a People-Center and Market Driven East Africa: The Missing Link in the EAC Integration”; and
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