Tanzania last week sparked fears over its commitment to the East African Community when it failed to attend two key meetings in Bujumbura, Burundi and forced the alteration of a report by the Council of Ministers before its adoption by the Heads of State Summit.

Though the country participated in the technical discussions and Council of Ministers meeting, it failed to attend the signing of a report to fast-track EAC integration and political federation that was presented to the Heads of State.

Tanzania’s representatives were further conspicuously absent from a high-profile seminar for Members of Parliament from the five national assemblies and the East African Legislative Assembly that was attended by at least eight Speakers from the region and other regional blocs.

Zanzibar’s House of Representatives Speaker Pandu Ameir Kificho who, had been invited as the Isle’s National Assembly representative, arrived late for the function and stated that the process of integration should be democratic and anchored in the equality of member states for political federation to succeed.

Tanzania also sent its Vice-President Mohamed Ghalib Bilal to represent it at the Heads of State conference while Rwanda, whose leader Paul Kagame has missed three consecutive summits, sent its prime minister Pierre Damien Habumurenyi.

Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki took over the chairmanship of the EAC during the Bujumbura meeting from host Pierre Nkurunziza. Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni was also present at the first major international meeting held in Burundi, which is struggling to recover from persistent internal conflict.

During the conference, Tanzania rejected an experts’ report on “concerns, fears and challenges” facing the EAC political federation, especially the inclusion of land, transformation of the EAC Secretariat into a commission with more teeth and a protocol on co-operation in defence.

Although Tanzania later signed the communiqué issued at the Summit, its Minister for East African Co-operation Samuel Sitta said it only did so after the Heads of State agreed to include further negotiations on co-operation in defence for the next one year and that the issue of land remain as is in the Common Market protocol.

Tanzania has stated that land will not be part of EAC, calling on all investors from the regional bloc wishing to invest there to follow available channels and national laws.

“We have told ministers representing other member states that Tanzania is not interested in further discussion on the issue of land. It was completed before signing the Common Market Protocol,” Mr Sitta stated.

He said that Tanzanians are concerned about their land because of cultural aspects as well as government policies.

“Land in Tanzania is owned traditionally. And on the other side of the coin, land is government property. So, those in the region who are eyeing Tanzania’s land should forget it.”

Mr Sitta’s comments came barely three days after the Tanzanian delegation refused to sign the report submitted to the Heads of State summit, on the grounds that there were contentious issues outstanding like land, mutual foreign and security policy and identity cards.

Similar agreement

Commenting on the issue of mutual foreign and security policy, the minister said that Tanzania has already signed a similar protocol with SADC.

“We wanted the policy to be clearly stated on the matter, so that we do not get into trouble in future. We are glad that the Heads of State summit heard our concerns and directed amendment of the sections accordingly.”

He assured Tanzanians that the government is keen to ensure their interests are protected in the EAC and the envisaged political federation.

On the issue of using IDs, the minister stated: “As Tanzania, we have rejected that. We want people who enter our borders to use passports and not the IDs of their countries. And this again is for the security of our people and their property.”

He, however, explained: “We have given the go-ahead for other partner states to allow the use of IDs in their countries. But, for Tanzania, we say no!”

Tanzanian Vice President Dr Bilal pushed for implementing the two signed protocols before rushing into other processes, citing the Customs Union and Common Market protocols.

He said Tanzania is positive about the EAC integration process, but it should be step-by-step.

“We would like to see the already signed protocols benefit our people before rushing into other stages. What are we rushing for?”