LETTERS: EAC member states must meet their obligations

Leaders of EAC must walk the talk. For now, you would think it’s all about NATO (No Action Talk Only). The statement, “for the last financial year, only Rwanda and Kenya, Ogle said, have duly cleared their financial obligations to the Community” is very disturbing. Burundi hasn't paid their dues for three years now and they seem to have some sort of immunity!

Friday, September 09, 2016

Editor,

RE: "Demand for action grows as EAC Heads of State convene” (The New Times, September 8).

Leaders of EAC must walk the talk. For now, you would think it’s all about NATO (No Action Talk Only).

The statement, "for the last financial year, only Rwanda and Kenya, Ogle said, have duly cleared their financial obligations to the Community” is very disturbing. Burundi hasn't paid their dues for three years now and they seem to have some sort of immunity!

Just to contextualise the discussion, how can the head of a cooperative ignore to pay their dues for three years and the other members of the cooperatives are OK with it. Usually it's a good reason for a vote of no confidence.

Now South Sudan is coming onboard and going by the current situation in that country, it is unlikely we'll see any significant contribution coming from Juba (to the EAC bloc) for at least five years.

But then, why aren’t Uganda and Tanzania paying their dues? Are we waiting for grants from the European Union to run the Community’s business? And then we speak of independence... How?

Al