EAC citizens must take all advantages offered by the community. However, Burundian people are still unaware of what is happening and don’t then benefit from the full advantages offered in the community. The Ministry in Charge of EAC Affairs calls upon everyone to contribute for bridging the gap – By Diane Uwimana
Leontine Nzeyimana, the Minister in Charge of EAC Affairs: “The success will depend on everybody’s effort and energy.” ©Iwacu
Partner States are gathered in one community for multiple purposes related to affection, benefit, threat, power…. Moreover, the population in EAC should feel that appropriate measures have been taken by authorities to achieve free movement of persons, labour, services, and right of establishment and residence within the community.
However, most of Burundians are unaware of what is happening in the community. “We don’t have any idea of what EAC is; we don’t realize how it is beneficial for us. We get information from the radio but we don’t know exactly what kind of advantages we should gain,” says one woman, met at Bujumbura City Council. “Now, we feel as if we are not concerned about its development and don’t do anything to contribute in that development,” adds another one.
Nevertheless, there are some people who have already realized that Burundi integration into EAC is very positive. Melchior M., a seller of foodstuff in Bujumbura City Council market has this to say: “the President has decided to reduce prices for food originated from EAC even though the decision hasn’t lasted long.” During that period, both sellers and buyers were happy of the measure, he indicates.
“Regional integration concerns everybody”
Regional integration is a process. It is based on four phases: Common Market, Customs Union, Monetary Union and Political Federation.
The first two steps have been already signed by partner States and the whole EAC citizens must take the total advantages offered.
The Ministry in Charge of EAC Affairs has set up a one-month campaign to sensitize and inform Burundian people about the regional integration process.
“The surprising case is the recent visit to Burundi trans-border people. They do not know anything about EAC though some of them get some advantages ignorantly,” says Leontine Nzeyimana, the Minister in Charge of EAC Affairs.
She says that it isn’t quite understandable that Burundi adhered into EAC region six years ago (2007) while its population is still characterized by unawareness and ignorance of what is going on in the community.
“The EAC region exists because of its citizens and for its citizens. If they are not aware of what is running on in the community, this latter doesn’t fulfil its mission accordingly”, says Ambassador Jean Rigi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry in Charge of EAC affairs.
“Integration is a process. It is our must to let people know everything related to the community. Hence, they should take all advantages consciously,” adds the Minister.
It is worthy to mention that the campaign aims at informing Burundians about advantages and opportunities available in the community. “The success will depend on everybody’s effort and energy,” adds the Minister.
She goes on saying together (territorial administration, private sector, civil society, religious confessions and consumers), we should make the EAC region where free movement of persons, labour, services, and right of establishment and residence are actually the main features in our daily activities and not existing in texts only.
Econie Nijimbere, the Chairman of Burundi Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFCIB), recognizes that the private sector also faces the same problems as other Burundian People. “Few people know about the advantages given by the community through the Common Exterior Tariffs,” he mentions.
People from Bujumbura City Council ©Iwacu
He indicates that some gaps which still exist in the Common Market and Customs Union should be bridged if everybody gives their contribution and effort to reach the two following next steps i.e. Monetary Union and Political Federation of the community.
For Anthe Vrijlandt, the Country Director of Trademark East Africa, if people are not sensitized very well, they can’t gain any advantage provided by the community. “Media play a big role in the integration process. Trademark agrees to meet journalists regularly for boosting the way of sensitization. Then, through these channels, the situation should be changed as far as media are very close to people,” clarifies the Country Director.
She indicates that its institution is going to focus on how accelerating the access to EAC market, reducing transport fees (elimination of the non- tariff barriers) and working in warm environment. According to her, it is important and nice to work in peaceful and safe environment but the country should also make much effort to have something to export.
For Grace Achire from Vantage Communication, an agency of communication in Uganda, it is necessary to develop the relationship between the Ministry in Charge of EAC Affairs and the Media in order to be more interactive because they are interdependent as they need each other.
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