SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAC ADDRESSES ZINDUKA 2014 FESTIVAL AT THE SHEIKH AMRI ABEID STADIUM, ARUSHA

The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera today commended the East African Business Council, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), the people of Arusha and the management of Arusha City Council for organizing and hosting the Zinduka 2014 themed“Peoples’ Voices, Sustainable Development” at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania.

Amb. Sezibera applauded the warm hospitality extended by the organizers and Arusha city to the delegates attending the Forum, saying “this is the spirit that we envision and that should be emulated if regional integration is to be attained”.

Zinduka Festival is a forum for re-awakening the consciousness of the people to engage in the process of East African integration and Pan-Africanism through common struggles for socioeconomic and political liberation.

Addressing the huge gathering that included ordinary citizens, civil society, private sector, professional associations, Hon. Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and National Parliaments; Representatives of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and other EAC Partner States; Representatives of the development partners; the Secretary General urged the Zinduka 2014 to embrace the spirit of scaling up the integration and uniting the citizens of the region towards one destiny.

“I urge the delegates to actively interact during this Forum, establish partnership with colleagues from the sister EAC Partner States  and enjoy the ambience and other attractions in Arusha”, said the EAC official. 

Notes to Editors

Zinduka is a Swahili word which literary translates to a re-awakening of consciousness. Zinduka Festival is a forum for re-awakening the consciousness of the people to engage in the process of East African integration and Pan-Africanism through common struggles for socioeconomic and political liberation. It offers East African citizens from all walks of life, and organizations from diverse sectors, an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant East African diversities; as well as share our successes and challenges as we pursue the region’s economic and political liberation.

Zinduka Festival 2014 is the second edition of a journey that will redefine, deepen and secure the East African integration process in the people and in the communities. Rooted in Panafricanism, Zinduka is the East African people’s response to the imperatives of a continent whose time has come. Zinduka is an annual festival open to the public and free-of-admission.

The inaugural Zinduka Festival was held between May 30 and June 1, 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania. The rationale for choosing Arusha as the venue is because it hosts the Headquarters and Secretariat of the East African Community, and harbors numerous historical memories in the efforts of integration and the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

The 4th and 11th Preambles of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC acknowledge that the lack of involvement of the private sector and civil society, were amongst the key reasons for the collapse, in 1977, of the old East African Community (EAC); and that is why the new EAC has allowed the private sector, civil society and other interest groups to play a leading role in the socio-economic development activities and the integration process.

Article 127(4) specifically requires the Secretary General to establish a Forum for the private sector, civil society organizations, other interest groups and appropriate institutions of the Community. Article 129 also provides for the employees’ associations, employers’ associations, business/ trade associations, professional associations and the need to recognize and also encourage regional federations of all these associations.

The EAC have taken great steps to achieve the above Treaty requirements since the EAC was formally inaugurated on 30th November 2001, for example; formulating of the Rules for granting formal Observer Status; granting of formal Observer Status to East African CSOs, private sector organizations, professionals associations among others; establishment of the Secretary General’s Forum, three so far have been organized (1^st in Dar-es-salaam, second Nairobi, Kenya and the third one was held in Entebbe, Uganda) and the establishment of the Secretary General’s CEO Forum (more than 10 forums for Business sector).

Also in the last thirteen years, the EAC has witnessed growth in the participation of the civil society, professional, women and private sector organizations in the integration process. To this extent, organizations such as the East African business Council, East African Civil Society Organizations Forum (EACSOF), East African Trade Union Council (EACTUC) the East African Law Society (EALS), the East African Magistrates and Judges’ Associations (EAMJA), the East African Youth Council (EACYC), the East African Investment Promotion Authority Organizations (EAIPAO), East African Local Governments Authority (EALGA), the Joint Research Council for East Africa,( JRCEA), East African Tourism Council (EATC) and an East African farmers Association (EAFA), the East Africa Communications Regulatory Authority (EACRA), East African Youth Ambassadors Platform (EAYAP) and the East African Health Platform (EAHP) have in one way or the another participated in the activities of the EAC.

he Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania.