Kwa mapicha zaidi BOFYA HAPA
28/10/2013
This report is
cross-posted from THE
EAST AFRICAN — Uganda will abolish work permit fees for Kenyans
and Rwandan citizens from January 1, 2014, one of several reforms East African
leaders launched on Monday to reduce the cost of doing business and speed up
the movement of goods and people.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya met in Kigali yesterday to sign off on a Single Customs Territory (SCT) for the three countries. President Salva Kiir of South Sudan also attended the event,
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya met in Kigali yesterday to sign off on a Single Customs Territory (SCT) for the three countries. President Salva Kiir of South Sudan also attended the event,
which followed earlier infrastructure summits in Kampala in June and
Mombasa in August.
President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi did not attend Monday's meeting.
Under the SCT, tax on goods imported into the three countries will be paid at Mombasa and trucks weighed only on crossing the border. In theory all the roadblocks from Mombasa to Kigali will be eliminated and the weighbridges reduced from nine to three at most.
The summit heard that a reduction in the number of roadblocks and weighbridges had reduced the time and cost of transporting goods from Mombasa to the interior. Transit time for containers from Mombasa to Kampala and Kigali has dropped from 18 days to five and from 22 days to eight respectively. This is expected to fall farther.
The cost of transporting a 20-foot container from Mombasa to Kigali is also expected to drop from $383 to $193, resulting into savings of about $45 million annually.
“There is still a long way to go,” host President Kagame said, “but we are encouraged by the progress made so far.”
President Kenyatta, who has pushed for reforms at Mombasa Port and along the highway to Malaba, said Kenya is committed to the effort.
“Today is a very happy day for me,” he said on his first visit to Rwanda as President. “I am very excited about the progress made in such a short time.”
The summit heard that ground-breaking for construction of the standard-gauge railway from Mombasa to Kigali will take place next month although details about final cost and source of funds are still to be hammered out. Kenya has finalised financing for the Mombasa-Nairobi leg but Uganda’s Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka said that the total cost of the project will be computed and money pooled with each country paying for its part of the railway.
A spur to Juba, South Sudan, will be added to the project once South Sudan confirms its interest.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda were expected to announce the launch of a single tourist visa as early as next week at the World Travel Market tourism fair but the announcement is now expected at the next infrastructure summit – potentially in Juba, South Sudan – although the start date is still expected to be January 1, 2014.
Uganda’s decision to waive work permit fees follows similar moves by Uganda and Rwanda. Citizens of the two countries will still need to apply for permits but they will be issued free-of-charge.
South Sudan was formally admitted to the Coalition of the Willing – as the core of the three East African member states has come to be known – and President Salva Kiir said yesterday that East African citizens will now receive visas on arrival.
The three countries have made speedy progress over the last six months since the first infrastructure summit in Kampala and South Sudan has now been invited to indicate which projects it is interested in.
President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi did not attend Monday's meeting.
Under the SCT, tax on goods imported into the three countries will be paid at Mombasa and trucks weighed only on crossing the border. In theory all the roadblocks from Mombasa to Kigali will be eliminated and the weighbridges reduced from nine to three at most.
The summit heard that a reduction in the number of roadblocks and weighbridges had reduced the time and cost of transporting goods from Mombasa to the interior. Transit time for containers from Mombasa to Kampala and Kigali has dropped from 18 days to five and from 22 days to eight respectively. This is expected to fall farther.
The cost of transporting a 20-foot container from Mombasa to Kigali is also expected to drop from $383 to $193, resulting into savings of about $45 million annually.
“There is still a long way to go,” host President Kagame said, “but we are encouraged by the progress made so far.”
President Kenyatta, who has pushed for reforms at Mombasa Port and along the highway to Malaba, said Kenya is committed to the effort.
“Today is a very happy day for me,” he said on his first visit to Rwanda as President. “I am very excited about the progress made in such a short time.”
The summit heard that ground-breaking for construction of the standard-gauge railway from Mombasa to Kigali will take place next month although details about final cost and source of funds are still to be hammered out. Kenya has finalised financing for the Mombasa-Nairobi leg but Uganda’s Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka said that the total cost of the project will be computed and money pooled with each country paying for its part of the railway.
A spur to Juba, South Sudan, will be added to the project once South Sudan confirms its interest.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda were expected to announce the launch of a single tourist visa as early as next week at the World Travel Market tourism fair but the announcement is now expected at the next infrastructure summit – potentially in Juba, South Sudan – although the start date is still expected to be January 1, 2014.
Uganda’s decision to waive work permit fees follows similar moves by Uganda and Rwanda. Citizens of the two countries will still need to apply for permits but they will be issued free-of-charge.
South Sudan was formally admitted to the Coalition of the Willing – as the core of the three East African member states has come to be known – and President Salva Kiir said yesterday that East African citizens will now receive visas on arrival.
The three countries have made speedy progress over the last six months since the first infrastructure summit in Kampala and South Sudan has now been invited to indicate which projects it is interested in.
Is there something I fail to read here? Is Bongo being side-stepped, is Bongo being left high and dry for some reason.
ReplyDeleteHizi ni mbio za panya sakafuni tu wala zisitutishe au kutunyima usingizi. Kenya hapa wanawalia dili tu ili kupromote bandari na njia zao za uchukuzi na kukamua fedha toka kwa hawa washikaji.
ReplyDeleteNadhani kulialia hakuna maana yoyote hasa na mineema yote iliyopo na inayondelea kuvumbuliwa cha msingi ni kujikita zaidi ktk matumizi endelevu ya neema zetu kwa maslai ya wanatanzania pili ni wakati mwafaka kuipitisha katiba yenye maridhio ya watanzania wote.Tukifanikiwa ktk haya hata wakikaa vikao vya siri ni sawa na kelele za chura tu.
ReplyDeleteMr. KIKWETE here is one place where I salute ypur STAND...Thank you KIKWETE...PROTECT TANZANIANs..don't get intimidated by WHAT they are doing...TANZANIA is CAPABLE of doing more...LETS GO JK
ReplyDeleteWatanzania tusikurupuke na inabidi kuungana na Raisi na serekeli yake kwasababu kila makubaliano na mataifa mengine ni lazima kuangalia hali ya sasa ya raia wetu na kuangalia watafaidika vipi. Watanzania walio Kenya Uganda na Rwanda ni wachache sana na hatupendi kenda huko wakati fursa zipo Tanzania. Sasa hizi makubaliano nyingi hazina faida kwetu.
ReplyDeleteHakuna ushirikiano wa nchi za afrika mashariki hapa ndo umekufaaaa. Ulikufa enzi za Mwl. Nyerere, Mzee Moi sembuse kwa hawa maraisi vijana wa sasa. Tusijidanganye na mambo ya EAC kila nchi ikae kivyake na hata hao Kenya, Unganda na Rwanda wapi muda mfupi tu kila mtu chali.
ReplyDeleteI like it. well the presidents
ReplyDeletehaahahaha hamna cha kuhofia, JK anachokifanya ni sahihi kabisa wala hamna haja ya kukurupuka. Hawa hawatafika popote...Kenyata anafanya sahihi pia coz kenya inanufaika zaidi katika hiyo coalition. ila ki ukweli wote wanajua nchi kubwa kirasilimali watu na ki rasilimali za kiuchumi ni tz, na ndomana watz hawapo nje wengi, wapo humu humu na hao wa kenya,Ug na rwanda wapo wengi TZ ukilinganisha na nchi nyingine coz of fursa....they wont go no whr, just wait
ReplyDeleteBIG UP TANZANIANS, THANK YOU PRESIDENT KIKWETE - HISTORY WILL REMEMBER YOU FOR THIS. LET THEM GO. GIVE THEM TIME.. MBIO ZA SAKAFUNI HUISHIA UKINGONI. CHECK THE BACKGROUND OF THE THREE/FOUR PRESIDENTS AND SEE WHETHER THIS IS GENUINE.
ReplyDeleteKEGAME??? KENYATTA?? MUSEVENI AND TO ADD SALVA KIIR - THEY ARE NOT LIKE ANY OF OUR PRESIDENTS, NO DO WE SHARE THIER RECENT PAST. BIG UP TANZANIA!! UMOJA SIO SIKU ZOTE NI NGUVU. SOMETIMES YOU NEED UTENGANO TO FIGURE OUT YOUR SITUATION. WASITUBURUZE. WATANZANIA HOYEEEE (DO NOT FORGET WE HAVE ZAMBIA, DRC AND OTHERS TO TRADE WITH)
Bora tumeachana nao na afadhali watutenge kwa kuwa nia yao ni wazi sio nzuri!
ReplyDeleteKwanza TUMEWA FUNIKA KILA IDARA.
1.AMANI TANZANIA TUPO JUU.
2.FURSA NA MALI TANZANIA TUPO JUU.
3.KIMATAIFA TANZANIA TUPO JUU.
WALA TUSI BABAIKE NA MIPANGO YAO YA SIRI !!!
Bora tumeachana nao na afadhali watutenge kwa kuwa nia yao ni wazi sio nzuri!
ReplyDeleteKwanza TUMEWA FUNIKA KILA IDARA.
1.AMANI TANZANIA TUPO JUU.
Wacha waingie nchi zao bila Visa wakija kwetu Tanzania waingie na Visa, kwanza Mijambazi unaendelea kuiimua kwa Operesheni Kimbunga.
2.FURSA NA MALI TANZANIA TUPO JUU.
Tupo na maisha bora wao na njaa kali watu wao kibao wanaingia Kinyume na Sheria na kukaa kwetu Tanzania na kufanya Ujambazi kwa kuwa kwao wana shida na sisi kwetu kuna afadhali,,,tena afadahli zaidi.
3.KIMATAIFA TANZANIA TUPO JUU.
Wao hawa kubaliki kimataifa kama sisi Tanzania, angalieni sisi Maraisi wote wa Dunia wametutembele mwaka huu na Raisi wetu anaalikwa sana nje lakini wao kwao Wageni Maraisi hawapati.
HAWA AKINA K-3 WANA MIKONO YA DAMU NA VIGANJA VYA CHUMA, UHURU ANA KESI, KAGAME ANAENDESHA VITA MASHARIKI YA KONGO DUNIA YOTE INAJUA, KAGUTA MUSEVENI NAE ANA KIGANJA CHA CHUMA ANA KESI YA KUJIBU ICC NA SERIKALI YAKE INA RUSHWA SANA HADI AMEKATTIWA MISAADA YA WAHISANI.
WALA TUSI BABAIKE NA MIPANGO YAO YA SIRI !!!
I am very disappointed by your views guys! So cheap!
ReplyDeletesong
ReplyDeleteWana chuki binafsi achana nao X2,
Na huyo mzee mzima hana msimamo!!!
''Coalition of the willing''
ReplyDeleteNi nguvu za Soda Miradi yao hiyo ya Miundo Mbinu, kwanza Maraisi hao wote watatu ni:
1.Hawa kopesheki,
2.Ni wote Mjambazi wa Vita,
3.Hawakubaliki Kimataifa.
Ni afadhali Mhe. Raisi Kikwete asijihusishe nao kwa kuwa wao wamesha chafuka sana Kimataifa!
Wacha wafutiane Visa wao kwa wao kuingia nchi zao, kwa kuwa Tanzania ya sasa ni kama Majuu!
ReplyDeleteHuwezi amini maisha haagandi, ile Tanzania iliyochekwa sana zamani, Tanzania ya sasa ya Kikwete imepanda thamani.
Tazameni, watu wanatokwa KENYA, BURUNDI, RWANDA NA UGANDA wanaingia Tanzania wanaishi Kinyume cha sharia na kufana kazi kama Kuuza Kahawa na Uhalifu na Ujambazi ni kuwa maisha nchini kwao yamewakamata na sasa wamekuja Majuu-TANZANIA kutafuta maisha!
Ndio maana Mhe. Raisi Kikwete amebaini hilo na sasa ameamrisha warudi kwao kwa Operehseni Kimbunga!
Wao Kenya, Uganda na Rwanda wakifuatiana Visa sisi Tanzania wenye maisha bora na wenye nchi ya Majuu tunawaelekezea Operesheni Kimbunga !
Mm mdudu kakakuona nasema hivi kuanzia leo Ndugu zetu ni SOUTH AFRICA,MALAWI,ZAMBIA,DRC KONGO,MSUMBIJI,hapa kilichobaki ndugu zangu watanzania tuachane na RUSHWA ili tuikomboe nchi yetu na tufanye kazi kwa nguvu zetu zote hii iwe kwakila mtanzania popote alipo,iwe mashuleni,makazini,kiujumla kila idara isimame kisawasawa,tukizingatia haya tutafika tuendako kiulaini tena kwa faida kubwa kabisa,kwaleo ni hayo tu ndugu zangu,,mm nipo huku UINGEREZA,mm nnahasira sn na hao watu,mungu ibariki Tanzania yetu,napia nakupendeni woote huko nyumbani na mkaee kwa amani na upendo,
ReplyDeleteYote tukatae ila moja tukubali, usumbufu wa bandari yetu na TRA, kweli hata mimi bila shaka nikipata upenyo nitatafuta kuingiza mzigo wangu kupitia bandari ingine. Hapa tukubali tuna shida, tunahitaji mabadiliko.
ReplyDeleteYes we need change. We Tanzanians need commitment to each other and our country. what we do not need are the bullies who are trying to use our country for their benefit. yes we said no to being pushed around. go ahead forge whatever East Africa coalition you want. leave us alone. come on lets see how far you will get. Watanzania wako sharp you will not steal our land.
ReplyDeleteMIMI NINACHOWAOMBA VIONGOZI WA SERIALI, WANASIASA, VIONGOZI WA DINI PAMOJA NA WATANZANIA WOTE:MUNGU AMETUFUNGULIA MILANGO YA KUWAJUA VINYONGA WATU, WANAOJIFANYA WANATUPENDA KUMBE NI WANAFIKI. HAPA DAWA HAKUNA KUWABEMBELEZA, NI KUJITOA TU KATIKA JUMUIYA HII YA AFRIKA UNAFIKI MASHARIKI. KAMA NI KUWAKOMBOA TUMEWAKOMBOA, KAMA NI KUWABEBA TUMEWABEBA NA KAMA NI UKARIMU, TUNASEMA "BAASI". NA HAPA WAJUE WATAUMIA WENGI, WEE SUBIRI TU!
ReplyDelete