Official Opposition in Parliament leader Freeman Mbowe (Chadema) argues a
point during the debate on the National Development Plan for 2014/15 on
Thursday in the on-going 13th National Assembly Meeting in Dodoma.
PHOTO | EDWIN MJWAHUZI
By Frank Kimboy, The Citizen
Posted Saturday, November 2 2013 at 08:25
Posted Saturday, November 2 2013 at 08:25
In Summary
On Wednesday some MPs pressured govt to either
withdraw from the EAC and halt Tanzania’s engagement in regional
activities or forge alternative links with other neighbors.
The
MPs are concerned over the Kenya-Uganda-Rwanda ‘coalition of the
willing’ which, they said, have been engaging in talks and negotiations
without involving Tanzania and Burundi.
Dodoma. The leader of official
Opposition in the Parliament, Mr Freeman Mbowe, has sounded a warning
against politicians who have been urging the government to pull out of
the East Africa Community.
Speaking during the 13th National Assembly Meeting
debating the 2014/2015 National Economic Development Plan, Mr Mbowe
warned that the prospect of Tanzania pulling out of the EAC will have
serious consequences to wananchi.
Mr Mbowe, on Thursday evening also warned some
politicians who have been issuing what he called offensive statements
against other EAC partner states.
On Wednesday, some MPs pressured the government to
either withdraw from the EAC or forge another community with other
neighbouring countries or halt Tanzania’s engagement in the regional
activities.
The MPs expressed their concern over the
Kenya-Uganda-Rwanda ‘coalition of the willing’ which, they said, have
been engaging in talks and negotiations without involving Tanzania and
Burundi.
The three members have even been discussing a
protocol for speeding up the formation of a political federation,
according to the MPs.
Ms Anne Kilango Malecela (Same East – CCM) said it
would be better if Tanzania stopped making further commitments as far
as the EAC integration process was concerned.
Ms Rukia Ahmed (Special Seats – CUF) asked the
government to draft and table in Parliament a motion seeking withdrawal
from the EAC.
“The minister for Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe, was quoted as saying that
what the country was waiting for was only a divorce from its EAC
partners. Why should we sit and wait for a divorce, why don’t we go
ahead and divorce the EAC?” she questioned.
However, Mr Mbowe was skeptic of his fellow MPs’
remarks as he warned that the prospect of Tanzania pulling out of the
EAC will have negative impacts to the citizens.
“I appeal to my fellow politicians to refrain from
making statements which might offend other nations; to refrain from
statements which might bring diplomatic tensions between us (Tanzania)
and other countries,” said Mr Mbowe.
According to Mr Mbowe Tanzania and other EAC
member states should engage in diplomatic discussions to find solutions
to recent developments which have clouded the future of the EAC.
“We (Tanzania) have been lauded as one of the most diplomatic
countries across the world, now I wonder what is happening to us,” posed
the official Opposition leader.
When responding to MPs’ concerns on Wednesday East
Africa Cooperation minister Samuel Sitta noted that it was not true
that Tanzania will be off loaded from the regional body.
Mr Sitta also revealed that Tanzania which has
been given the cold shoulder by EAC partners, is seeking stronger
economic and trade relations with Burundi and the Democratic republic of
Congo (DRC).
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN 