Economics does not make a Community

As the process of East African integration deepens, it is high time the region embraced common standards on good governance.

Major progress has been made on the economic front leading to the Common Market, but each of the five countries still has different definitions in regard to democracy, human rights, and fair elections.

With the five countries getting closer to becoming one entity, we cannot afford to ignore the need for standardisation of our laws, institutions of governance and policies that take cognisance of international best practices.

Some progress is being made on this front, given that the East African Community has been working on a common regional framework on good governance.

However, the problem of sovereignty and the unique way each country perceives the concept of good governance, still stands in the way.

There have been encouraging developments this year that touch on this issue. Both Rwanda and Burundi conducted peaceful elections.

Zanzibar also voted peacefully in a referendum to allow a coalition government on the Isles, while Kenya, which experienced serious violence and chaos in early 2008, voted peacefully for a new constitution.

Tanzania is facing elections in October, while Uganda will go the polls in 2011.

However, the mere fact that there is a democratic election does not necessarily lead to good governance, though it provides a strong foundation.

It would be more progressive for the individual countries to appreciate the fact that the issue of good governance is intertwined with institutionised values such as democracy, human rights, accountability and effectiveness of the public sector.