Kagame’s full speech at EALA opening session

The mace bearer enters the Parliamentary Buildings yesterday.

Honourable Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly;
Honourable Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, Speaker of the Senate;
Honourable Rose Mukantabana, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies; 
Honourable Shem Bageine , Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of the East African Community;
Dr Richard Sezibera, Secretary General of the East African Community;
Honourable members of the East African Legislative Assembly;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;

Thank you Madam Speaker for inviting me to address this august assembly as you begin your deliberations in Kigali.

Let me congratulate you again on being elected to the high office of Speaker, and the new members of this assembly on their election as well. I am certain that you will build on the achievements of your predecessors in driving the East African integration agenda forward.

Thank you also for joining and supporting Rwandans in commemorating the nineteenth anniversary of the Genocide. 

I also understand that you have had the occasion to visit various development activities across the country. 

These activities must have given you an insight into the tragic consequences of bad politics and leadership, as well as the determination of Rwandans to rebuild their country and strive for dignity and a better quality of life. This is characteristic of Africans generally – who show much resilience and fortitude as they face various and difficult challenges.

The process of integration in East Africa is advanced and, although it may not yet be progressing at the pace we would desire, we have not given ourselves the option of turning back. We can only move forward.

It remains the responsibility of the governments of partner states, organs of the East African Community and other partners and stakeholders to make integration work better and more efficiently in order to benefit all the citizens of East Africa.

As we focus on improved functioning of the East African Community, we must keep in sight the advantages of integration, not just in this region, but across the continent.

A better performing East African Community is good for our citizens. It would be even more beneficial if we established links with other regions of the continent, so that all Africans can enjoy the benefits of larger markets, greater safety, peace and stability and collective strength.

We have already tasted the dividends of integration in this region, and have found them satisfying.  It is in our best interest to multiply that level of satisfaction through enhanced cooperation. But we have also experienced the costs of acting individually where we are open to mistreatment, marginalisation or become victims of other international actors. Continentally, unity and integration are our best insurance against denial of our ability to play our rightful role in the world.

Immense opportunities 

Think for a moment, you will realise that Africa continues to be the only place on this planet where people, in the process of exercising their democratic rights, are warned about the consequences of their choices. It continues to be the only place where you are actually offended by and from outside and by outsiders and you must be the one to apologise. And if you don’t, then you will be penalised.

It remains the only place on this planet where distortion and lies are told about you and you are denied the right to reply by those who have lessons to teach the rest of world, about the freedom of expression. Therefore, when it comes to this set of affairs, you should be prepared to fight for your own.

Africa presents us with immense opportunities for further economic growth and a stronger voice in the international arena. In this period of economic turmoil, Africa is the only region where GDP has been growing at an average of 5 per cent per annum for the last few years. We have the world’s largest reserve of natural resources. Our population is youthful and increasingly has more money to spend. 

These are opportunities that we cannot permit others to benefit from more than us.  However, obtaining maximum benefits from this situation demands that we increase the level of intra-African trade and investment and extend integration across the continent – starting, of course, as we have done at regional level.

 Equally, in order to get the most out of regional and continental integration, it is crucial that we address existing weaknesses. In our case, for instance, we must ensure that commitments on the free movement of people, labour and services, which have not been fully or evenly implemented across the region, are urgently addressed. The delays, as we all know have caused business people, investors and ordinary East Africans immense frustration.

For the same reason, we must move fast on the creation of a single customs territory to facilitate trade across the region.

The East African Legislative Assembly in particular has a critical role to play in this regard - in enacting enabling laws and in its oversight duties. It is important that this latter function be given its due emphasis because it is central to the satisfactory performance of all Community programmes.

We expect that in this session in Kigali you will continue deliberations on how EALA can better contribute to the efficient functioning of the East African Community in order to further the integration agenda. In addition to the bills before you, it is important to find ways to plug the gaps in the existing laws and protocols that have an impact on the pace of implementation.

And so, for the better functioning of the East African Community, it is crucial that the decision-making and oversight mechanisms become more responsive to the aspirations of East African citizens. This requires expediting institutional review and streamlining the functions of the organs of the Community to give them the necessary autonomy, make them more accountable and enhance complementarity.

East Africa and the continent in general must be prepared to compete on the world stage and also take full advantage of the evolving situation where new and important economic and political actors are emerging in addition to the traditional economies.

This calls for a vibrant, well-informed and competitive private sector. It is therefore imperative that the relevant organs of the Community expedite the approval of the Public-Private Partnership framework and strategy to support commitments and initiatives of Partner States.

Involving citizens  

The East African Community has been in existence for close to a decade and a half, but still relies on external support from development partners to fund its activities. We must seek, as a matter of urgency, innovative, efficient and sustainable ways, from within the partner states and international private capital, of funding the Community’s priority programmes and activities, and also reduce dependence on external sources whose continuity cannot even be guaranteed.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, our integration agenda will have more meaning if it extends beyond government and East African Community departments and spreads to the people of partner states so that they are involved in all its activities.

They must know at what stage we are, what their rights, obligations and benefits are, and what issues stand in the way of faster integration.EALA is better positioned to sensitise citizens in this regard, so a greater responsibility lies with you. I am confident that members of this Assembly have the will, drive and commitment to discharge this duty and also make consultations with all stakeholders on various legislations, in order for East African citizens to realise the full benefits of integration. 

Thank you for your kind attention and I wish you fruitful deliberations.