The Assembly today passed a resolution paying tribute to the outgoing Secretary General of the East African Community and ex-officio member of EALA, Amb. Juma Mwapachu, as it entered its third straight day of deliberations at the Parliament of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda. Outgoing Secretary General acclaimed for exemplary performance.
The motion moved by Hon Clarkson Otieno Karan, hailed Hon. Amb. Juma Mwapachu for his outstanding and exemplary work during his five years of service as the Secretary General of the EAC. The motion which was the last on the order paper received overwhelming support on the floor of the house.
”Hon.Amb.Mwapachu’s tenure as a dedicated Secretary General of the Community is marked by significant milestones and achievements for all to see”, Hon Karan said as he presented to an attentive house.
It was noted that Amb. Mwapachu never wavered in his desire to see the EAC grow by leaps and bounds, offering leadership in the implementation of the EAC Customs Union, which had been adopted by the EAC a year before he joined the Community. Amb Mwapachu also provided leadership for the successful negotiations of the EAC Common Market which was signed in November 2009 and entered in to force on July 1, 2010. He was also instrumental in putting together the development of the Terms of Reference (ToRs) to spearhead the negotiations of the EAC Monetary Union which is the next level of integration.
The Assembly was told that Amb. Mwapachu had during his tenure facilitated the admission of the two Partner States of Rwanda and Burundi in to the EAC fraternity and that the Secretary General greatly facilitated the work of all the Organs and Institutions of the Community. These include; the Summit, the Council and its structures, the Assembly, the Court of Justice, the Secretariat, and all EAC Institutions.
The Assembly thus urged the Chairperson of the Council to transmit the resolution to the Summit of the Heads of State for noting. It further urged the Minister for EAC Affairs in the United Republic of Tanzania to transmit the same to H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania for noting.
The Summit is expected to appoint the new Secretary General in conformity with the provisions of Article 67 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
Earlier on, EALA had adopted the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on the Workshop on Renewable Energy in the East African region. The report presented by the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources, Hon Safina Kwekwe, followed the EALA Parliamentary Committee meeting held in Nairobi on February 5, 2011, attended by EALA Members, members of the legislatures of the Partner States, senior government officials responsible for energy and independent experts from the region.
The Assembly took cognizance of the need to sustain and co-ordinate actions ensuring renewable energy is on top of the agenda at the regional and national level. It was agreed that all efforts to “green the industrial sector” be made by promoting renewable energy sources and promoting energy conservation.
EALA undertook to harmonise policy, legislation and regulations that shall promote the use of renewable energy in East Africa. The Assembly recommended to the Council of Ministers to ensure the EAC develops a renewable energy master plan to guide the way forward on renewable energy. EALA urged the Council of Ministers to improve the tariff system in the region to create more incentives for promotion of private sector involvement in the renewable energy sector in the region. This, the Assembly noted, may necessitate revisiting the EAC Common External Tariff (CET).
A number of priority questions were asked by various members on wide ranging subjects related to the Community’s operations. The Chairperson of the Council of Ministers for the EAC answered the Questions.
In the course of the plenary, the Assembly shall consider important business for the Community including the 2nd and 3rd readings of the EAC Elections Bill, the EAC Service Commission Bill, the Inter-University Council of East Africa (Amendment) Bill respectively.
EALA shall tomorrow (April 1, 2011) hold an interactive meeting with the Members of both Houses of the Rwanda Parliament. The Assembly shall also participate in activities marking the commemoration of the Genocide on April 7, 2011.
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For more Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
