Preventing and combating corruption Bill in the offing

East African Legislative Assembly, Zanzibar, Tanzania: 28 February, 2019: As the EAC Partner States take the fight on corruption head-on, regional legislators are expected to take the initiative a notch higher with a regional bill soon expected to be tabled.

In a bid to curb corruption in the EAC Organs and Institutions, the Chairperson of the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution moved a motion under Rule 26 (1) and Rule 64 (9), Hon. Victor Burikukiye moved a motion seeking leave from the Assembly to grant him leave to introduce a Private Members Bill entitled “Preventing and Combating corruption within the Organs and Institutions of the Community”;  This is seen as crucial in providing impetus in order to promote good governance, transparency and accountability in the EAC Organs and Institutions. 

Hon. Burikukiye underlined Article 6 (d) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community which states that “the fundamental principles that shall govern the achievement of the objectives of the Community by the Partner States shall include: good governance, including adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, equal opportunities, gender equality, as well as the recognition, promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights.  It was noted with concern that the Community is faced with allegations of corruption and corrupt activities in the EAC Organs and Institutions of the East African Community and therefore there is need to come up with punitive measures to combat corruption.   It is important to note that the President of Zanzibar said that “corruption corrodes the common good. It impairs good governance. It is a strong constraint on economic prosperity”.  He further said that he was encouraged that Partner States were using different strategies to combat the detrimental effects of corruption.  The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has established a special body through its Act No. 1 of 2012 known as the Zanzibar Anti-Corruption Economic Crimes Authority to deal and combat the malpractice.

The President of the United Republic of Tanzania has intensified its effort in battling with corruption  and so far gains are being experienced.

Hon. Mukasa Fred Mbidde raised a procedural matter under Rule 64 (5) which states that “a private Member’s Bill shall be introduced first by way of Motion to which shall be attached the proposed draft of the Bill”.

Hon. George Odongo stood to support the motion and he agreed that it was timely for the EALA and the Council of Ministers to take legal action against those who are found culpable for corruption in the EAC.

In his support to the motion, Hon. Alaak Garang said that corruption is a scourge that needs to be fought  at any cost.  He implored the Council of Ministers to support this Bill when it comes so that it can further pave way for the signing of the Protocol to combat corruption to getting signed by the EAC Partner States.

In her statement, Hon. Rose Akol supported the motion and said that it is important that penalties are put in place for those who are found culpable to corruption.  “It is a challenge when Private Members Bills are brought to the House because they are not given support by the EAC Council of Ministers”.   She said that corruption touches the core of what as a Community the EAC has been trying to fight to ensure that resources are not misused.

Also on the Order of Business, the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2019 was presented to the House today Wednesday 27^th February 2019 by the EAC Council of Ministers represented by Hon. Olivier Nduhungirehe, who is also the Minister for EAC Affairs, Republic of Rwanda.  The object of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill is to make provision for the supplementary appropriation out of the budget of the East African Community, for the services and purposes of the Community for the financial year ending 30^th of June 2019 for a total of USD 12,919,543. At its 37^th and 39^th Extra Ordinary Council of Ministers Meeting, the Council approved the supplementary requests.  Under Rule 66 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2019 was read for the first time and seconded by Hon. Isabella Ndahayo (Minister of EAC Affairs, Burundi), Hon. Julius Maganda (Minister EAC Affairs Uganda) and Hon. Adan Mohamed (Minister of EAC Affairs, Kenya).  The Bill was referred to the Committee on General Purpose for consideration.

The debate of the Report of the Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments on the status of implementation of the EAC Single Customs Territory was resumed from the debate interrupted on 20^th December 2018.

In her response to the issues raised on the issue of the implementation of the Single Customs Territory, the recommendations as highlighted in the reports of the Northern and Central Corridor oversight meetings, there was a slack in the dissemination of the same. The EALA should have a more elaborate way of transmitting reports and recommendations to the key stakeholders for ease of follow up.

Related to issues on enhancement of Capacity Building for Members of the East African Legislative Assembly, the Chairperson of the Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments presented to the House the Report of the Capacity Building workshop for Members of the Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments in the area of Trade related matters in the EAC.  The report highlighted that trade remains to be a major and important component of the socio-economic development for all nations.   It is a significant stimulant to the improvement of people’s welfare and advancement.   However, if not properly managed, it may lead to disastrous socio-economic and political consequences.

The Capacity Building workshop focused on Trade and Trade related matters in the EAC Integration process and covered the following key areas:

1. EAC Protocol on the Establishment of the Customs Union,
2. The EAC Common External Tariff,
3. The EAC and Trade Integration.
4. The Strategic Interventions for EAC Trade Promotion,
5. EAC Trade Agreements
6. Challenges to the EACs trade,
7. Operationalisation of the EAC Committee on Trade Remedies.

-ENDS-

For more information, contact

Bobi Odiko,

Senior Public Relations Officer,

East African Legislative Assembly,

P.O. Box 1096,

Arusha, Tanzania. Cell. +255-787-870945

Email: BOdiko@eachq.org.

Web: www.eala.org