PRESIDENT John Magufuli will be joining his four counterparts from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi in launching the first community travel document here on Wednesday.
The new digitalised and machine-
readable East African Passport replaces the old EAC travel document,
which was restricted to just the five member states. Apparently, the
proposed new one is going to be as international as the current
Tanzanian booklet passport, which means it will be accepted all over the
globe.
Arusha will be hosting five Presidents
from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania who are set to converge
here for their Heads of State Summit on Wednesday the 2nd of March
2016.
According to the Head of Communications
at the East African Community Secretariat, Mr Richard Owora Othieno, the
five East African presidents are converging here for their 17th
Ordinary East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit.
The five presidents, including for the
first time at the summit, Dr John Magufuli, will have several items on
the agenda, including the launching of the new electronic East African
Passport and discussion of the possibilities of adding new members,
including South-Sudan into the Arusha-based, community.
The Summit will also address the
consideration of reports by the preceding EAC Council of Ministers on:
the negotiations on the admission of the Republic of South Sudan into
the Community.
The Head of State will also be
addressing Sustainable Financing Mechanisms for the EAC; and the EAC
Institutional Review. Tanzania will be handing over the Summit Chair to
the next country, possibly Burundi despite conflicts in the country.
The meeting will also consider the
council’s reports on the Model, Structure and Action Plan of the EAC
Political Federation; Implementation of the Framework for Harmonized EAC
Roaming Charges and Modalities for Promotion of Motor Vehicle Assembly
in the region.
They will talk about the Reduction of
the Importation of Used Motor Vehicles from Outside the Community, and;
the Promotion of the Textile and Leather Industries in the region, and
stopping importation of Used Clothes, Shoes and Other Leather Products
from outside the region.
The Summit is also expected to
deliberate on a report by the Council on the verification exercise for
the admission of the Republic of Somalia into the EAC. The Heads of
State are expected to launch the new International East African
e-passport (electronic-passport) during their meeting.
The Summit will be preceded by a meeting
of the EAC Council of Ministers that had been taking place at the EAC
Headquarters in Arusha between 27th, February 22 and Sunday.
Meanwhile, President Magufuli arrived in
Arusha yesterday where he will among other activities, lead the 17th
Ordinary East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit on Wednesday
on Wednesday.
At the Kilimanjaro International Airport
(KIA), President Magufuli was received by various government and
political party leaders. Dr Magufuli, who is the current EAC Chair, will
also hold talks with EAC head of States before the Head of States
Summit.
On Thursday, President Magufuli and his
Kenyan counterpart, President Uhuru Kenyatta, will lay a foundation
stone for construction of the Arusha-Holili-Taveta-Voi road linking
Tanzania and Kenya. The road is under EAC development plans, being
implemented by EAC member states
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