Parliamentary sessions for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) continued at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi yesterday with lively debates on the floor of the House.
Over the last two days, four Reports were debated and adopted by the House. These were the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on Regional Dialogue on the Politics of Food Security in Eastern Africa and the Report on the Regional Parliamentary Symposium on Strategic Planning to address Climate Change. Also adopted were Reports on Developing Mining Legal Frameworks in the East African region and that of the EAC Observer Mission to Southern Sudan Referendum.
Contributing to the debate on the report on the Regional Parliamentary Symposium on Strategic Planning to address Climate Change, EALA Members noted that climate change presented problems of immense proportions. The challenges were threatening and retrogressive to the developmental efforts of the EAC region. The House was informed that the populace risked extinction in years to come, if the issue of climate change was left un-checked and that it was a “time bomb” capable of affecting everyone - irrespective of nationality, political inclination, creed, social status and levels of development.
Members collectively called on the EAC to establish an EAC Fund that would help mitigate against climate change in the region. They further challenged the EAC to prioritise climate change, noting that mitigation strategies need to be put in place before it is too late. The parliamentarians underscored the need to deal with climate change, through a portfolio of actions aimed at mitigation, adaptation and improving knowledge on climate, climate variability and climate change issues.
The Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Hon Hafsa Mossi, informed the House that top officials of the East African Development Bank (EADB) and the East African Community recently met in Arusha, Tanzania and that, the EAC would soon submit a proposal to EADB under its green fund initiative to support programmes on climate change.
The Report on Developing Mining Legal Frameworks in the East African Region also sailed through after debate that lasted for over an hour. The Report emanated from a two-day workshop held in Bujumbura, Burundi in September 2010. The meeting was co-rganised by EALA and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and themed “Developing Mining Legal Frameworks: Lessons learned from Tanzania”.
Presenting the Report to the August House, Hon Safina Kwekwe, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources, noted the increasing need for regional benchmarks and standards for mining at the EAC. She called for adherence to current international mining standards in existence, voluntary principles on security and human rights (all human rights standards including labor laws); strategic environment assessments as well as performance standards on social and environmental sustainability.
In the ensuing deliberations in Parliament, Hon. Members however called for more comprehensive work to be done to ensure that the legal framework of mining in the region was beneficial to the citizens of the region.
The members further underscored the need to enhance knowledge and the utilization of legislative functions to strengthen governance and improve fiscal outcomes at each state of the mineral value chain. They pledged to push for legislative reforms in the mining sector.
Contributing to the report on the Regional Dialogue on the Politics of Food Security in Eastern Africa, Hon Members fully supported the need to ensure food security, the strengthening of early warning systems and application of agricultural diversification strategies. It was agreed that the “Right to Food” was a fundamental basic right, a matter of dignity and that the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community was clear on the matter. In this regard, Members undertook to work with the Council of Ministers to enact regional legislation on food security to guarantee the “Right to Food” for all.
Parliament was informed that agriculture was the main stay in the region thus calling for improved and modernized systems, market linkages and enhanced storage facilities.
Parliament resumes tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 9.00am.
For more information contact:
Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945
+254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org
Web: https://www.eala.org
