Liberat Mfumukeko (right) took over the post of EAC Secretary-General
from Richard Sezibera (left) on April 25, 2014. Tanzania's Foreign
Affairs minister and chairman of the EAC Council of Ministers Augustine
Mahiga looks on during the handover ceremony. PHOTO | FILBERT RWEYEMAMU
By ADAM IHUCHA
In Summary
- Liberat Mfumukeko last week took over the post of EAC Secretary-General with three things at the top of his agenda: A viable financing mechanism for the expanding East African Community; full implementation of all signed protocols, and inclusion of South Sudan in EAC activities.
- He minced no words as he made it clear that his regime will propose “stringent measures” geared towards cost cutting, value for money, accountability and transparency. Mr Mfumukeko, cut the figure of a no-nonsense executive as he talked to the staff members he would be leading for the next five years.
Liberat Mfumukeko last week took over the post of EAC
Secretary-General with three things at the top of his agenda: A viable
financing mechanism for the expanding East African Community; full
implementation of all signed protocols, and inclusion of South Sudan in
EAC activities.
Mr Mfumukeko, who succeeded Richard Sezibera on April 26, faces
an $11 million deficit at the Secretariat, and his first assignment will
be to ensure that the EAC restores confidence to donors and the partner
states on the issue of financial management.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Mfumukeko, who was in charge of
finance and administration for a year at the Secretariat, conceded that
the EAC was going through challenging financial times and that forecasts
for the month of June show a deficit of more than $11 million.
The situation has been aggravated by the fact that development
partners, who account for close to 70 per cent of annual budget, are
dragging their feet in disbursing funds to the Secretariat, due to
allegations of financial malpractice.
Sweden, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom contribute to EAC Partnership Fund.
Others are the European Commission and the World Bank.
Mr Mfumukeko as the new head of EAC Secretariat, an executive
arm of the six partner states with 150 million plus people, is mandated
to, among other things, develop strategies, spearhead negotiations with
the donors and the government, local and international communities.
“I know work on sustainable financing of the EAC is advanced,
but I need to push all stakeholders to accelerate its completion so that
the community is financed up to its ambitions,” Mr Mfumukeko said.
He minced no words as he made it clear that his regime will
propose “stringent measures” geared towards cost cutting, value for
money, accountability and transparency. Mr Mfumukeko, cut the figure of a
no-nonsense executive as he talked to the staff members he would be
leading for the next five years.
“It will not be business as usual,” he said, adding; “The time
for change has come. I’ve no doubt that we will take the bull by the
horns and make tough choices,” he said.
As the new SG grapples with the administration issues, the
business community has tasked him to ensure the cost of doing business
is reduced.
“The cost of doing business in East Africa remains extremely
high and a lot more still needs to be done,” said the acting executive
director of the East African Business Council, Lilian Awinja, adding
that the numerous non-tarrifs barriers that keep cropping up have become
a perennial problem for the business community.
She also said that the adoption rate for standards at partner
states level is still very low and many more standards need to be
harmonised. The private sector also wants partner states’ specific
common external tariff stay applications be eliminated and uniform
application of agreed CET rates enhanced.
The historic decision of 17th ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of
State in Arusha to admit Juba into the community has created a robust
Common Market of over 150 million people, a key factor in boosting trade
and growth.
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