A STRONG EAST AFRICAN COMMUNIY IS VERY POSSIBLE
Posted by African Press International on August 25, 2007
A STRONG East African community comprising of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi is very very possible. What currently separates the 5 nations is largely very superficial and artificial.
On Monday August 20, 2007 and in Arusha Tanzania, another milestone was covered. In as much that a political federation took a backseat it has always been obvious it will be much slower to implement than an economic Union. Politics drive the economies. So long there is political will to the drive the processes there is no much to worry on such a federation.
Experience with the European Union is a case to mirror. The economic integration of the European Union countries has made the region an economic giant that nobody can afford to ignore in global trade. However politically it is still thorny there. Getting the countries to adopt a political constitution for the European Union has proved a very hard nut to crack. At least referendum conducted in both France and Netherlands resulted in an overwhelming rejection, leaving the union reeling under a search for political direction.
So long as the leaders of the five East African region countries can agree and operationize a custom union, common market and a monetary union with all the political foresight and will needed, this is a region to watch. If there is free movement of people, goods and services in the region and with a common currency much will be achieved. A region with a market force of about 120 million people is too dear to ignore!
Story by our East African Correspondent,
Harrison Mwirigi Ikunda,
P.O. Box 51806,
NAIROBI.
Published by Korir, API*APN africanpress@chello.no +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525
