Libérat Mfumukeko’s Legacy opens new possibilities for EAC, the facts you should know.
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol IV, Issue #165 | Monday, March 1, 2021
This is RegionWeek Newsletter for the 4th Season (January-June 2021). The content targets Business leaders, Decision-makers, and Young professionals with interests in Burundi and East Africa. Subscribe to stay productive, and competitive in a pandemic and disrupted season.
Dear RegionWeek Readers,
The 21st Ordinary Meeting of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State took place virtually last week, among the items on the agenda were the: Consideration of the request by the Democratic Republic of Congo to join the EAC; the Appointment of the new Secretary-General; Progress Report of the Council of Ministers for the period February 2019 to February 2021, and; Appointment of Judges to the East African Court of Justice.
During the Summit, President Uhuru Kenyatta was elected as the new Chairperson of the East African Community. Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki from Kenya was appointed as the new Secretary-General of the Community for a 5-year non-renewable term. Mutuku is taking over from Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko was appointed with effect from April 2016.
In today’s newsletter let us review some of Liberat Mfumukeko’s achievements as the East African Community Secretary-General from April 28, 2015.
The most successful Regional Economic Community in Africa.
For the past five years all the reports of the African Development Bank, the United Nations Commission for Africa, and the African Union have crowned the EAC as the most successful Regional Economic Community in Africa. The strides taken by the EAC to have a Customs Union Protocol in force and a Community Law – the Customs Management Act — made it attractive to other countries.
The EAC is ‘the fastest-growing region on the continent with a robust GDP growth forecast of 5.9 percent from an estimated 5.7 percent in 2018’, according to the African Development Bank’s 2019 African Economic Outlook.
Currently, the EAC is recognized globally and representatives from various countries and international organizations have submitted their credentials to the Secretary-General of the East African Community.
The region has increased both inter-and intra-regional trade and has also witnessed an increase in intra-EAC Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) as well as in FDI from outside. The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has passed several community laws and the Council of Ministers has established various Sectoral Councils to oversee policy issues in the regional integration progress.
A culture of stewardship implemented
Upon taking office, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko took a series of cost-cutting measures which, on average, resulted in a 40% reduction in travel costs. While travel expenses amounted to $ 19 million in the fiscal year 2014/15, Amb. Mfumukeko was able to reduce them to $ 13 million in its first year (2016) and to $ 11 million after its second year (2017). Also, the financial control measures put in place enabled the EAC to receive, in 2017, 2018, and 2019, successful audits from the Audit Committee of the EAC; it should be noted that Audits were conducted by Auditors from each Member State of the Community.
Effective fundraising strategies
Between 2016 and 2020, the EAC mobilized a record amount of over $ 3.1 billion, including $ 725 million in grants signed by the Community Member States or directly by Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko as the EAC Secretary-General. With the resources received, the EAC has been able to implement many programs whose long-term impact on economic and social development is beyond doubt:
The Construction of power lines connecting Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania to the new Rusumo Falls hydroelectric power station (a $ 648 million project). The EAC has also mobilized $ 134 million for the construction of the power transmission lines from Masaka (Uganda) to Mwanza (Tanzania).
In 2018, the EAC mobilized $ 349 million to link Burundi and Tanzania through the construction of the Kasulu - Manyovu (301 km in Tanzania) and Rumonge-Rutunga - Bujumbura (78 km in Burundi) roads. A donation of $ 68 million has been granted to Burundi. In addition, $ 350 million has been mobilized to link Uganda and Tanzania. $ 842 million was raised to link Kenya and Tanzania through the construction of the Malindi - Mombassa - Lunga Lunga - Tanga - Bagamoyo road.
$ 95.7 million was raised for the Lake Tanganyika transport corridor connecting Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Since 2016, and with the support of the EU, USAID, FAO, KFW, and AGRA, grants of over $ 50 million have been received to implement programs supporting young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector and helping farmers improve value chains in various sectors (coffee, tea, cotton, spices, etc.).
Immigration and free movement
The East African International Electronic Passport was launched in 2017. For the first time, EAC citizens travel around the world on the same passport under the identity of "East Africans". This was a major step in the East African Community integration journey.
Under article 104 of the Treaty, the Partner States agreed to adopt measures to achieve free movement of persons, labor, and services and to ensure the enjoyment of the right of establishment and residence of their citizens within the community.
The freedom of movement of workers is catered for under article 10, where the Partner States guaranteed free movement of workers who are citizens of other Partner States within their territories. The article also provides for entitlement of workers in regard to application for employment, free movement in the Partner States, conclude contracts of employment, and enjoy rights and freedoms of association.
Conflict Resolution Diplomacy
After the 2015 political crisis that erupted in Burundi, the Inter-Burundi Dialogue was an initiative of the East African Community (EAC). Expectations within the EAC were that parties to the conflict would be able to reach an agreement by June 2017. However, Internal and external diplomatic means led to political tensions ease, and the risk of violence was reduced. Burundi Held the 2020 election peacefully
The East African Community, gave the election a clean bill of health, congratulating Burundi for holding a “peaceful and successful” vote.
“The 2020 Burundi elections hold an iconic place in the history of the nation, marking this the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power. More significantly, the process was domestically driven through own funding,” EAC said in a statement.
In 2019, Rwanda and Uganda’s relationship nearly hit rock bottom, with both governments engaging in economic and political brinkmanship. Two months later, as the countries sought to end the impasse, diplomatic channels were used, tensions were eased as Rwanda allowed Gatuna residents to cross the border.
Covid -19 Pandemic
The East African Community Secretariat created an EAC COVID-19 Response Plan and the EAC Recovery Strategy based on a regional approach.
The EAC Secretariat urged the Partner States to gain efficiencies and try to reduce trade-related costs, to reduce food wastage and losses, improve food storage systems, and resolve logistical bottlenecks
Partner States were advised that they should more than ever before promoting the use of technology and digital solutions to improve agriculture production and trade in agriculture products.
To mitigate the COVID-19 burden and to brace for the expected economic challenges following the pandemic, the EAC Secretariat recommended the Partner States to meet the immediate food needs of their vulnerable populations by ensuring that emergency food needs are met and to adjust and expand social protection programs.
The Bottomline
According to RegionWeek Analysts, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko’s Mandate faced unprecedented challenges, among which, political tensions in Burundi. The East African Community secretariat contributed hugely to a process that made Burundians realize that their conflicts could be ended in a diplomatic way.
Beyond the conflicts, funds and member states’ contribution was a great challenge that Liberat Mfumukeko managed successfully by creating a culture of stewardship and accountability. The coordination of fast response to Covid-19 Pandemic proved that Liberat Mfumukeko has huge potential in Leadership. EAC Secretariat under Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko took a unique approach that is set to allow smooth recovery of intra-regional trade after the pandemic.
The EAC is seen as the most vibrant Regional Economic Community (REC) in the Southern hemisphere and is tremendously advancing in its integration process, Liberat Mfumukeko Legacy laid a strong foundation for the years to come, the East African Community has a bright future.
Thanks for reading!
Fabrice Iranzi, RegionWeek.com
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