By David Mafabi
“On the issue of political integration, a vital requirement for the survival of the African people as a free people if survival at all, the post-independence African leaders and the elite are in danger of being like the tribal chiefs who betrayed Africa between 1500 and 1900 by failing to unite our people for their own salvation.
The political leaders should not be condemned alone. We must include the whole elite. The elite to be condemned include: professors, journalists, religious leaders, cultural leaders, magicians, teachers, etc. All these “have left undone what they ought to have done and are doing what they ought not to have done and there is not truth in them”, as the Church of Uganda Prayer Book says.”
“The only two people who escape this condemnation are Mwalimu Nyerere and Sheikh Amani Abeid Karume who united Tanganyika and Zanzibar to create Tanzania.”
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“… Mzee Mandela gave his all for Africa. He has no debt with Africa. He contributed to the achievement of emancipation, democracy and some steps toward economic integration in the form of SADC. I am sure he would have done more if he had had more time. It is you and me to do what Mwalimu Nyerere, Mandela, Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Modibo Keita, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Thambo, Patrice Lumumba, IK Musaazi, etc., did not do to insure Africa from the threats similar to the ones we have just gone through or worse.” (Yoweri K. Museveni, Makerere University, 31st August 2017).
We wish to thank all the Comrades who have responded warmly online to our articles over the last one year – including our latest focus on the need for Africa to unite. For the young people and older Comrades who have been daily asking us for deeper, structured and sustained study of African reality and what needs to be done – the long wait is over. Starting next month, the quiet and systematic volunteer work across the country involving the formation and activation of the Mwangaza African Revolutionary Study Groups, shall commence.
Out of the numerous enthusiastic responses to our article last week, “Africa Must Unite! The Struggle Continues!”, we should like to highlight that by Michael Byakagaba. He welcomed the essence of President Yoweri Museveni’s July 1998 paper, “Towards A Closer Cooperation in Africa”. He however added that there has been “little progress on that front”. He asked what has caused the “stagnation”, and how the process can be “unlocked”.
We shall not, at least not today, attempt an in-depth blow by blow evaluation of the phased journey of the East African Community through Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union – onwards to Confederation and Federation.
Let us, however, attempt to sketch a more general picture. Clearly, there has been remarkable and steady progress since Mzee’s paper of July 1998. The Treaty Establishing the East African Community – with categorical commitment to Federation – was signed in 1999, and ratified in 2000. This in itself, was a great leap forward.
Burundi and Rwanda subsequently joined Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. South Sudan (which the President referred to in his 1998 paper and which did not then exist as a State) the youngest State in the world has also joined. Meaning the East African Common Market is some 190 or so million people! Another great leap forward!
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Mzee referred to in his 1998 paper as Zaire (because that is what it was then) also subsequently applied to join – is now definitely on course to accede to the East African Community! Yet another great leap forward! With 90 million people from the DRC, we shall have a huge internal market of almost 300 million straddling Mother Africa from the Atlantic in the West to the Indian Ocean in the East! The multifaceted potentials and capabilities here are enormous. Mother Africa is truly waking up.
Let us remember that the Sudan (Northern Sudan) has also expressed a desire to join … As has Somalia (it has joined!) … And we shall not speak about Ethiopia …
But the other concern expressed by some Comrades is that there have been tensions between and within member states. This should not in the least worry us. These are all inevitable reflections of the challenges of consolidating national statehoods, atop fundamental handicaps of enclave economies – and ideological disorientation. Africa shall eventually resolve all these contradictions.
Importantly, the Treaty Establishing the East African Community has principles within it, which allow the Community to proceed amidst temporary disagreements. We speak here, for example, of the “principle of variable geometry”, as contained in Chapter One, Article 1 of the Treaty dealing with interpretation.
The “principle of variable geometry” is defined as “the principle of flexibility which allows for progression in co-operation among a sub-group of members in a larger integration scheme in a variety of areas and at different speeds”.
Equally important is the “principle of asymmetry”, defined in the Treaty as meaning “the principle which addresses variances in the implementation of measures in an economic integration process for purposes of achieving a common objective”.
Finally, the East African Community has a clear road map to Federation, which has been crystallizing since 2017. This would see the Community moving to a Political Confederation – as a transitional phase to full Federation.
The East African Committee of Experts headed by former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, has been engaged with the constitutional and other ramifications of the process. We shall deal with this in greater detail separately. Suffice it to say for now that we are firmly on the course for deeper and fundamental integration. It is not an option. It is a condition sine qua non for our very survival.
The Struggle Continues! Victory is Certain!
K. David Mafabi
Senior Presidential Advisor/Political Affairs (Special Duties)
State House.