With all the frustrations from EAC members we need to exit.
Kenya is the stronger member, yet hated to equal measure.
@FieldMarshal CouchP here is a thought to put to work over a white cup.
Lets scale down the EAC operations first because its less relevant now with the newly signed Africa Free Trade Zone (merger of EAC-SADC-COMESA) Do we really need a EAC parliament and court if we will have the same under AU. Let the EAC secretariat remain but scaled down to be manned by few necessary civil servants. Once the AFTZ if fully implemented from Cairo to Cape town then EAC-SADC-COMESA dies a natural death. Free movement of people, goods and business.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Free_Trade_Zone
The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) signed between 26 African nations in 2015 is the most significant and historic trade deal signed on the continent in decades. The new and vast economic zone will link three trade blocs that would unite 57 percent of the continent’s population and allow free movement of goods and people with predictable positive effects on the African economy. The initial agreement, signed in Egypt’s Red Sea resort—Sharm El-Sheik—in last month, aims to combine the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the South African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC) to one trade region.What member states agreed, in theory, requires practical implementation of the treaty as well as negotiations and ratifications by the respective national parliaments. At a recent AU heads of states summit African leaders decided the agreement to come into effect in 2017. With less than two years left, some African countries might struggle to meet the given deadline target.Given the current geo-political realities on the continent, it’s hard to see how such a short deadline could be met at the same time and by all member states.
The difference in size, economic strength, bilateral relation, political situation and stage of development amongst member states might represent a challenge to the 2017 goal, some experts say. For instance, many African countries have poor relations between them and that says it all – without the prerequisite of serious diplomatic and political relations it could take considerable time for some countries until border controls are abolished and visa requirements removed. Although, Africa has now been in an excelled security platform compared to 1998 for instance, a year in which 32 countries, embracing to Ethiopia and Eritrea, were under war and warmongering, sporadic war tensions need to be minimized to its lowest level. Africa’s border disputes have cast a millennia-long shadow on peace, progress and stability in the continent and therefore need to be addressed to make the border free economic zone work in all signatory countries. Many trade experts believe that the future of free trade is largely in the hands of politicians. “Frankly, and I know it’s always controversial when you say it, but it actually takes political will to get this done. You cannot get the rules of the game harmonized without getting the people who make these rules around the table,” Barclays Africa chief executive Maria Ramos said in a recent interview. The agreement is said to be “an important milestone for the economic future of the continent”, according to the World Bank Group. The trade zone will encompass more than 60% of Africa’s Gross Domestic Product which economically has been rated to circulate the value of $ 1.2 trillion. To armor this positive initiative in the trading system of Africa, the pact known as the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) – has also been equipped with transforming discourses at summit of the African Union (AU) last month in South Africa. Hence, the AU’s obligation to address political questions impacting the free trade zone and its role as a facilitator cannot be underestimated on the path to create a common market.
I find this very necessary for progress. However, you know ambitions and drive differs among people. Thus when we go to a nation, work hard and reap benefits the natives feel marginalized. The result is xenophobia(S.A) or [I]magufulism/I. If we had serious trade exchanges similar to Chicago Mercantile Exchange, we can even determine future values of commodities without hurting producers like farmers meanwhile balancing demand and supply. I hope this merger has something like that in mind. Africa produces a lot yet it doesn’t move(the small guys don’t). Reason? Cartels and uncertainty of prices.
We need. Also competition from serious players is bound to make us pull up our socks.
I think Kenya exiting the EAC would be suicidal. At least 40 per cent of our exports go there!
Agreed, i have no problem for someone in Tz moving here and he is able to support himself by working hard. Same should be the case in reverse. On production as a consumer i want the best quality at the least price hoping still that the producer has still made a profit. That is why i feel bad that the court has given an injunction for the gov to stop the sale of loss making sugar mills to strategic investors. Let the mills adapt to modern production and stand on their own feet instead of govern bailouts.
We need our neighbors more boss. Let’s not forget the percentage of our exports that go to our immediate neighbours. You have spoken like ten salamanders
Insults are for the stuff deep in your rectum. All I wanted to do is stir mature responses. Besides I am yet to make the sides clear, let alone choose one.
It wasn’t an insult. Its very true
Guka lets not lie to ourselves, shida tu ni Tz. On paper they sign treaties but ratifying them is the problem. Even after ratifying them they harass traders go through the border. That doesn’t happen in UG, DRC, S.Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, Zambia, Malawi etc. So once AFTZ is done we can bypass them and move to other bigger markets. In taveta there are those mama who go to Arusha to buy food and bring them back the same here but shida ni kwa border coming back. Apparently Tz customs feel hard pressed that its them doing the biz and not their own lazy people. How long do we bembeleza some people.
Only free market can offer this, not “free market”/a union of desires.
Unless we have less control from GoK, that is their only card to play.
Phew!
I thought you meant Ktalk exit…:eek:
This is the kind of reasoning that put the Brits where they are today. We need markets and have to cooperate with others.