Corruption hinders trade in EAC

 

By  The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• The EAC Regional Programme for Sensitisation of Border Communities commenced on June 24 at Rusumo border town with the aim of raising  awareness among cross-border communities

Arusha. Corruption within the Immigration and Customs departments is one of the major hurdles to cross-border trade in East Africa, it was observed during the sensitisation of border communities recently.

 

Another problem is non-adherence to the rules and regulations stipulated in the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, participants of the programme launching workshop from Tanzania and Rwanda concurred.

The EAC Regional Programme for Sensitisation of Border Communities commenced on June 24 at Rusumo border town with the objective of raising awareness among cross-border communities within the EAC region.

Particular focus was on small scale traders to enhance their understanding of the EAC integration agenda, as well as identify the stakes and opportunities of the regional integration.

Speaking during the official opening, an EAC/GIZ Media expert, Mr Sukdev Chatbar, emphasised the importance of empowering ordinary citizens at the grass-roots level so as to enable to enhance their involvement and active participation in building a stronger and solid foundation for a people-centred EAC integration process.

“There is a need to ensure that the citizens of EAC Partner States are well equipped with the necessary tools and skills to actively participate in the regional integration process and, therefore, contribute to the overall development of the region,” he said, according to a statement from the Secretariat.

Simplified and audience-tailored presentations were delivered by Microjustice Rwanda (MJR) on the Customs Union and Common Market opportunities, benefits, requirements, processes and procedures for acquiring legal documents for free movement of goods, services, labour and capital at border posts.

Participants raised concerns on various issues assumed to affect the smooth undertaking of business across border points, including non-adherence to the rules and regulations stipulated in the EAC Treaty as well as corruption within the customs and immigration departments.

The queries and concerns were subsequently addressed by representatives from the ministries of East African Community Affairs from Rwanda and Tanzania who were also present at the workshop.