The on-going war in South Sudan is likely to delay its membership to the East African Community (EAC), the Minister for East Africa Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta has said.
Minister for East Africa Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta
Addressing a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Mr Sitta said that that EAC will not consider providing membership to a country involved in brutal fighting. “Unless the fighting in South Sudan is stopped, we (EAC) will not be in a position to offer it membership,” he said.
Initially, the fate of the country’s admission into the EAC bloc was set to be known in April, this year, according to the EAC officials.
Meanwhile, the minister maintained that Tanzania will not rush into joining EAC single tourist visa plan unless it is assured of its management and security, among other issues.
Commenting on the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ by some EAC members, Mr Sitta mentioned collection of the fees and how to split the revenues as among the issues that should be well discussed in order to allow Tanzania to join.
The setting up of the single visa is supposed to ease the movement of tourists across national borders and make it easier for industry players to offer multi-destination packages.
However, the minister said that the fast-tracking of the single visa as required by some EAC member states will not benefit Tanzania since all the fees will be paid in Kenya, making Tanzania miss out on the cake which is the most beneficial.
“We are not ready to join unless we are assured of better management of the single visa in terms of benefits,” he said.
“Tanzania is the only country in EAC with many tourism attraction…most of the tourists if allowed to use the visa (EAC single visa) will most likely be coming to Tanzania compared to other EAC due to our tourist attractions, but this will not benefit us under the arrangement,” he said, insisting that Tanzania was not in a hurry to join the single visa. He also pointed out on security issues as one among the issues that should be well discussed.
In another development, EAC have plans to establish regulations that will help control weight and measures of trucks in the EAC member states.
“We have already prepared a draft on the regulation and sent to all member states for further action,” he said, adding that regulation will help control trucks overloading. According to the minister, the regulation will enable traffic police to administer EAC trucks.
On the other hand, the minister pointed out some of the successful issues set to be tackled out as EAC single currency, single customs territory and EAC common market.
Commenting on single currency, the minister said that every member state has prepared and presented proposal on the setting up of the currency.
He noted that by 2023, the coalition should have in place the single currency. He mentioned some of the benefits of having the currency as creation of more credible economic areas through investments, among others.
Minister for East Africa Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta
Addressing a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Mr Sitta said that that EAC will not consider providing membership to a country involved in brutal fighting. “Unless the fighting in South Sudan is stopped, we (EAC) will not be in a position to offer it membership,” he said.
Initially, the fate of the country’s admission into the EAC bloc was set to be known in April, this year, according to the EAC officials.
Meanwhile, the minister maintained that Tanzania will not rush into joining EAC single tourist visa plan unless it is assured of its management and security, among other issues.
Commenting on the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ by some EAC members, Mr Sitta mentioned collection of the fees and how to split the revenues as among the issues that should be well discussed in order to allow Tanzania to join.
The setting up of the single visa is supposed to ease the movement of tourists across national borders and make it easier for industry players to offer multi-destination packages.
However, the minister said that the fast-tracking of the single visa as required by some EAC member states will not benefit Tanzania since all the fees will be paid in Kenya, making Tanzania miss out on the cake which is the most beneficial.
“We are not ready to join unless we are assured of better management of the single visa in terms of benefits,” he said.
“Tanzania is the only country in EAC with many tourism attraction…most of the tourists if allowed to use the visa (EAC single visa) will most likely be coming to Tanzania compared to other EAC due to our tourist attractions, but this will not benefit us under the arrangement,” he said, insisting that Tanzania was not in a hurry to join the single visa. He also pointed out on security issues as one among the issues that should be well discussed.
In another development, EAC have plans to establish regulations that will help control weight and measures of trucks in the EAC member states.
“We have already prepared a draft on the regulation and sent to all member states for further action,” he said, adding that regulation will help control trucks overloading. According to the minister, the regulation will enable traffic police to administer EAC trucks.
On the other hand, the minister pointed out some of the successful issues set to be tackled out as EAC single currency, single customs territory and EAC common market.
Commenting on single currency, the minister said that every member state has prepared and presented proposal on the setting up of the currency.
He noted that by 2023, the coalition should have in place the single currency. He mentioned some of the benefits of having the currency as creation of more credible economic areas through investments, among others.
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