LEON LIDIGU

Colin Powell, a war hero and first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Monday October 18 2021

Colin Powell, the first Black US Secretary of State died on October 18, 2021 at the age of 84. PHOTO | AFP

Summary

The retired four-star general and former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who served four presidents made his reputation as a man of honour distant from the political fray -- an asset in the corridors of power.
For many Americans, he was the public face of the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq. He defended his support for the invasion until the very end of his tenure and has endured the criticism ever since.

By AFP

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Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants who became a US war hero and the first Black secretary of state but saw his legacy tarnished when he made the case for war in Iraq in 2003, died on Monday of Covid-19 complications. He was 84.

"We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American," the family said in a statement posted to social media on Monday.

The retired four-star general and former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who served four presidents made his reputation as a man of honour distant from the political fray -- an asset in the corridors of power.

"General Powell is an American hero, an American example, and a great American story," George W. Bush said as he announced Powell's nomination as secretary of state in 2000.

"Indirectness of speech, his towering integrity, his deep respect for our democracy, and his soldier's sense of duty and honour, Colin Powell demonstrates ... qualities that will make him a great representative of all the people of this country."

But he found it hard to live down his infamous February 2003 speech to the United Nations Security Council about the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq -- the evidence he presented was later proven to be false.

"It's a blot... and will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now," Powell said in a 2005 interview with ABC News.

From Harlem to Vietnam

Born April 5, 1937 in Harlem, Powell's "American Journey" -- the title of his autobiography -- started in New York, where he grew up and earned a degree in geology.

He also participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in college, and upon his graduation in June 1958, he received a commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army, and was posted in what was then West Germany.

Powell completed two tours of duty in Vietnam -- in 1962-63 as one of John F Kennedy's thousands of military advisors, and again in 1968-69 to investigate the My Lai massacre.

He earned a Purple Heart, but also faced questions about the tone of his report into the hundreds of deaths at My Lai, which to some seemed to dismiss any claims of wrongdoing.

"I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened," he told interviewer Larry King in 2004.

"So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored."

Born to serve

Back in Washington, he quickly rose through the ranks to the pinnacle of the national security establishment, serving Ronald Reagan as national security advisor, and both George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton as chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 1989-93.

Powell's experiences in Vietnam as a young soldier led him to develop the so-called "Powell Doctrine," which said that if the United States must intervene in a foreign conflict, it should deploy overwhelming force based on clear political objectives.

For many Americans, he was the public face of the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq.

Powell was initially lukewarm about going into the country, but his reputation soared in the aftermath of the blitzkrieg that ejected Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait.

For a while, he even considered a run for the presidency.

But after retiring from the army in 1993, Powell devoted himself to working on behalf of disadvantaged young people as chairman of America's Promise, a youth advocacy group.

For a while, he fended off new questions on his desire for public office, until George W. Bush came calling for the popular military man to lead the State Department as the 65th secretary of state.

History at State and war in Iraq

"I hope it will give inspiration to young African Americans," Powell said in his nomination acceptance speech in 2000, telling them: "There are no limitations upon you."

His four years at Foggy Bottom (2001-04) were forever marked by the decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

Beforehand, Powell sought a more prudent policy, struggling for traction against hawks in the Bush cabinet while trying to sway allies for their support -- all to no avail.

He defended his support for the invasion until the very end of his tenure and has endured the criticism ever since.

"I knew I didn't have any choice," Powell told The New York Times in July 2020. "What choice did I have? He's the president."

Liberal Republican

Powell freely admitted his liberal social views made him a strange bedfellow for many Republicans, though the party was often happy to hold him up as an example of its inclusivity.

"I'm still a Republican. And I think the Republican Party needs me more than the Democratic Party needs me," he told MSNBC in 2014.

"You can be a Republican and still feel strongly about issues such as immigration and improving our education system and doing something about some of the social problems that exist in our society and our country."

But since 2008, he has endorsed Democrats for the presidency, twice backing Barack Obama, and then Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Powell earned a number of civilian honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- twice from Bush Senior and Clinton.

He married his wife Alma in 1962. They had three children: Michael, Linda and Annemarie.

In the headlines

Ethiopia terms air strikes in Mekele 'absolute lie'

Ethiopia denies hitting the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes, terming reports as a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta.

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Husband arraigned over Kenyan athlete Tirop killing

Malawi President Chakwera to visit Kenya

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda CMA

Ethiopia terms reports of air strikes on Tigray capital 'total and absolute lie'

Monday October 18 2021

Members of Tigray police at a checkpoint in the outskirts of Mekele. PHOTO | EDUARDO SOTERAS | AFP

Summary

Ethiopia accuses TPLF of "crying wolf" and said the rebels had themselves "launched widescale unwarranted attacks against civilians".

By AFP

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The Ethiopian government dismissed reports of deadly air strikes on the Tigrayan regional capital Mekele on Monday, describing them as an "absolute lie".

"There is no reason, or no plan, to strike civilians in Mekele, which is a part of Ethiopia, and home to our own citizens. This is an absolute lie," Legesse Tulu, head of the Government Communication Service, told AFP.

A hospital official said three people had been killed in the air raids, which were reported by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) as well as humanitarian and diplomatic sources.

"It is a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta, just to misguide the international community, to create pressure on the Ethiopian state," Legesse said.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry accused the TPLF of "crying wolf" and said the rebels had themselves "launched widescale unwarranted attacks against civilians".

"The government of Ethiopia is deeply dismayed by the reticence of the international community to condemn the perpetuated atrocities of the TPLF," it said in a statement posted in English on Twitter.

It also again accused the TPLF of hindering humanitarian aid supplies to Tigray, where the United Nations has said hundreds of thousands of people have been pushed into famine-like conditions.

In the headlines

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, became a US war hero and served four presidents.

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Husband arraigned over Kenyan athlete Tirop killing

Malawi President Chakwera to visit Kenya

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda CMA

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Monday October 18 2021

A tank damaged during the fighting between Ethiopia's National Defense Force (ENDF) and Tigray Special Forces stands on the outskirts of Humera town in Ethiopia on July 1, 2021. PHOTO | REUTERS

Summary

The first air raid occurred in the morning on the outskirts of Mekele near a cement factory.

By AFP

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Ethiopian forces hit the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes on Monday, humanitarian officials and diplomats told AFP, in a new phase of the nearly year-long war in the country's north.

They are the first reported air raids in Mekele since the conflict erupted in November last year, although there have been others in the Tigray region.

"Airstrike now in Mekele," one humanitarian official in the city said via SMS to AFP on condition of anonymity, describing attacks also confirmed by a second humanitarian source, two diplomats and a rebel spokesman.

The first air raid occurred in the morning on the outskirts of Mekele near a cement factory, the sources said.

The second took place around midday in the city centre near the Planet Hotel, often used by top officials from the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the region's former ruling party and the target of a government military operation since November 2020.

The TPLF said the aerial assaults were designed to inflict civilian casualties.

"Monday is market day in Mekelle & the intention is all too palpable," TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda said on Twitter.

The reports could not be independently verified and government officials could not be reached for comment.

Medical officials in Mekele could not immediately be reached to provide information on casualties.

The strikes come as the government appeared to be pursuing a new offensive in the war against the TPLF, which dominated national politics before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018.

There were reports last week of fresh clashes between government and rebel forces in Afar, a region bordering Tigray, where fighting has also spread.

In the headlines

Ethiopia terms air strikes in Mekele 'absolute lie'

Ethiopia denies hitting the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes, terming reports as a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta.

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, became a US war hero and served four presidents.

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Husband arraigned over Kenyan athlete Tirop killing

Malawi President Chakwera to visit Kenya

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda CMA

Husband of slain Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop arraigned for her killing

Monday October 18 2021

Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop. She was found dead at her home on October 13, 2021. FILE PHOTO | POOL

Summary

Ibrahim Rotich, the prime suspect in the brutal killing of Tirop, will be held for 20 days.
There was drama outside the court premises as members of the public threatened to storm in to have a glimpse of the suspect.
Police say they expect to arrest more suspects linked to the murder.

By DAILY NATION

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The husband of slain Olympic athlete Agnes Tirop will be detained for nearly three weeks after a court in Iten directed so, to allow police to conclude investigations into the murder.

Ibrahim Rotich, the prime suspect in the brutal killing of Tirop, will be held for 20 days.

Mr Rotich, who is said to have murdered his wife last Wednesday, was on Monday arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Charles Kutwa.

Tight security

He appeared at the Iten court in the Rift Valley at 9:30am under tight security with an escort of more than 10 armed police officers.

There was drama outside the court premises as members of the public threatened to storm in to have a glimpse of the suspect after word went round that he had been brought to take a plea for the murder charge.

Police officers backed by private security guards manning the court gate were forced to secure the premises and allowed only the journalists, court workers, lawyers and those with matters in the court to access it.

Mr Kutwa, who presided over the matter, ordered the suspect to be remanded at Eldoret Central police station for 20 days to pave way for more investigations into the killing of the slain international runner.

Further, he directed that Mr Rotich be taken for mental assessment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.

“Since this is a matter revolving around a murder case, I do direct that it be mentioned at Eldoret High Court on 9th November for further directions.”

Arrest

This was after Senior Director of Public Prosecution Judith Ayuma told the court that detectives expect to arrest more suspects linked to the murder.

“Your honour, I plead for more time because the directorate of criminal investigations officers are yet to go round the country to carry out a probe with a view to apprehending more suspects connected to the killing of the slain runner before being charged for murder,” she said.

Mr Rotich, 41, was arrested Changamwe area in the coastal town of Mombasa after a dramatic late-night chase, which authorities say he was trying to flee the country.

Police say they arrested him just a few minutes to 9pm last Thursday after he crashed his car into a truck during the chase.

Tirop, 25, a two-time world championship bronze medalist, was found dead at her home in Iten town, Elgeyo Marakwet County with stab wounds in the neck and abdomen.

According to police, Mr Rotich was identified as the prime suspect as he was on the run after making a tearful phone call to his family confessing he had done something terrible.

He was arrested alongside another man he was travelling with and had Tirop's mobile phone with him.

Rising star

The deceased was a rising star in Kenya after winning the 2015 world cross-country title at the age of 19, the second youngest athlete ever to win that event.

She also claimed bronze medals in the 10,000 metres at the 2017 and 2019 world championships and finished fourth in the 5,000 metres at the Tokyo Olympics.

Last month, she broke the world record for the women-only 10-kilometre road race.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was one of many who expressed outrage at her killing. The Head of State, who eulogised Tirop as a “Kenyan hero” ordered police to find her killer.

Athletics Kenya has suspended all its events in the country for two weeks in honour of Tirop.

In the headlines

Ethiopia terms air strikes in Mekele 'absolute lie'

Ethiopia denies hitting the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes, terming reports as a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta.

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, became a US war hero and served four presidents.

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Malawi President Chakwera to visit Kenya

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda CMA

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera to be chief guest on Kenya's Mashujaa Day

Monday October 18 2021

Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of States and Government Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi, on August 17, 2021. PHOTO | AMOS GUMULIRA | AFP

By PSCU

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Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera will arrive in Kenya on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, the State House Nairobi has announced.

He will be in Kenya for a three-day state visit.

Mr Chakwera, who will be accompanied by his wife Monica, will be the chief guest at this year's Mashujaa Day (heroes day) celebrations at Wang'uru Stadium in central Kirinyaga County on October 20, 2021.

After that, he will be received by President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Thursday.

Mr Chakwera, a former evangelical preacher, came into office in June last year after winning the election against incumbent Peter Mutharika.

He led Malawi's oldest party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which ruled the country between 1964 to 1994 under Hastings Banda's one-party rule.

Chakwera was named Lazarus after the biblical character who was raised from the dead.

He took degrees in philosophy and theology, was president of the Malawi Assemblies of God from 1989 to 2013 and then became the MCP's leader.

Additional reporting by AFP

In the headlines

Ethiopia terms air strikes in Mekele 'absolute lie'

Ethiopia denies hitting the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes, terming reports as a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta.

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, became a US war hero and served four presidents.

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Husband arraigned over Kenyan athlete Tirop killing

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda CMA

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda Capital Markets Authority

Monday October 18 2021

Investors get information from the Capital Markets Authority stand at Markets Week in Kampala. FILE PHOTO | MORGAN MBABAZI | NMG

Summary

Uganda’s first privately owned securities exchange claims of abuse of office by the capital markets watchdog dating back to 2017.
The dispute was triggered by disagreements over ALTX’s trading fees and penalties structure, and compliance queries raised against the private securities exchange.

By BERNARD BUSUULWA

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ALTX East Africa Ltd, the operator of Uganda’s first privately owned securities exchange, is seeking an investigation of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) by the Inspectorate of Government over claims of abuse of office dating back to 2017.

The dispute was triggered by disagreements over ALTX’s trading fees and penalties structure, and compliance queries raised against the private securities exchange.

The petition follows a previous investigation request filed by ALTX against the CMA in 2018 over allegations of abuse of office. The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) declined to investigate the regulator citing legal hurdles.

“We have spent four years trying to pursue approval for our trading fees and penalties structure, but we have been frustrated by unethical behaviour among CMA staff. The regulator’s misapplication of market rules forced it to defend itself in an appeal case against one of our sister companies that it lost in the High Court last year, and carried a financial award of Ush100 million ($27,653) issued against CMA,” said Joseph Kitamirike, the chief executive officer of ALTX.

The IGG’s office cited Section 46 of the CMA Act as amended in 2016, which requires such requests to be submitted to a disputes tribunal supervised by the CMA, and any appeals forwarded to the line ministry for resolution.

However, the CMA disputes tribunal did not exist at the time, compelling ALTX to petition the Finance minister in 2018.

The CMA lost a case last year filed by ALTX in the High Court over a closure notice against its operations that was published in 2019.

The authority also lost a case filed by Tolea Securities Ltd, a business associate of ALTX, over failure to approve applications for Exchange Traded Fund products.

Nothing to resolve

“As far as we are concerned, there is nothing left to resolve between us and ALTX East Africa. We are not at loggerheads with anyone in the market. But we had some procedural issues regarding ALTX’s fees and penalties structure,” said Keith Kalyegira, CMA Uganda’s chief executive officer.

According to ALTX’s structure, an investor would be charged a basic trading fee of 37 per cent of the value of their transaction, and a trade valued at up to Ush10 million ($2,765) would be charged a fee of 0.74 per cent.

From Ush10 million ($2,765) to Ush50 million ($13,826), it would carry a fee of 0.555 per cent while a trade valued at Ush50 million ($13,826) to Ush500 million ($138,264) would be charged 0.296 per cent. Fees on trade of more than Ush500 million ($138,264) would be agreed upon between ALTX and the investor.

CMA’s fixed tariff structure offers a basic transaction fee of 37 per cent for trades done on the ALTX platform, and a fixed charge of 0.185 per cent for trades valued at up to Ush10 million and above.

In the headlines

Ethiopia terms air strikes in Mekele 'absolute lie'

Ethiopia denies hitting the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes, terming reports as a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta.

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, became a US war hero and served four presidents.

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Husband arraigned over Kenyan athlete Tirop killing

Malawi President Chakwera to visit Kenya

Eswatini shuts schools as student protests escalate

Monday October 18 2021

A burning barricade in Mbabane, Eswatini on June 29, 2021 during anti-King Mswati protest. PHOTO | AFP

Summary

Unions, opposition parties, student groups and private commuter bus operators have all joined the latest protests over the past two weeks.

By PETER DUBE

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By AFP

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The Eswatini government has closed all schools as the crisis in Africa’s last absolute monarchy deepens amid pro-democracy protests.

The move by the government to shut schools “indefinitely” comes after weeks of sustained protests by school children as they boycotted classes.

Learners have been demanding quality learning equipment, free education and improved learning conditions.

They have also joined nationwide pro-democracy protests, calling for the abolishment of the monarchical rule and want all political prisoners released, including two parliamentarians who were arrested earlier this year.

Public transport remained at a standstill on Sunday in Eswatini was rocked by a wave of pro-democracy demonstrations.

Private taxi and commuter bus operators calling for the release of two pro-democracy lawmakers pledged to continue a transport shutdown until their demands were met.

The shutdown over the past week has seen people forced to walk between towns and businesses closed because employees cannot get to work.

After a meeting on Sunday, transport operators made it clear services would not resume unless King Mswati agreed to release MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, detained during pro-democracy protests earlier this year, said transport association (SACAWU) secretary Sticks Nkhambule.

At least 28 people have died as police clashed with protesters in some of the worst unrest in the southern African country's history. The latest fatality came on Wednesday.

Unions, opposition parties, student groups and private commuter bus operators have all joined the latest protests over the past two weeks.

King Mswati III has ruled Eswatini since 1986 and owns shares in all of the country's telecoms.

He is criticised for living a lavish lifestyle in one of the world's poorest countries and is also accused of stifling political parties.

The king has accused demonstrators of depriving children of their education by taking part in the protests.

In the headlines

Ethiopia terms air strikes in Mekele 'absolute lie'

Ethiopia denies hitting the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes, terming reports as a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta.

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, became a US war hero and served four presidents.

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Husband arraigned over Kenyan athlete Tirop killing

Malawi President Chakwera to visit Kenya

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda CMA

President Kagame: Governance shortfalls causing insecurity

Monday October 18 2021

Internally Displaced People board a military vehicle in Mozambique. PHOTO | COURTESY | RWANDA DEFENCE FORCES (RDF)

By JOHNSON KANAMUGIRE

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By ARNALDO VIEIRA

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Rwandan President Paul Kagame says countries must prioritise strengthening governance to create sustainable peace to achieve development as external interventions including military have largely failed to restore stability not only in Africa but elsewhere, with the most recent being the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.

Last week, speaking virtually at the Global Security Forum 2021 hosted by Qatar on October 12, President Kagame argued that while the nature of insecurity threats has evolved and devastated countries, the global system for dealing with these threats including United Nations interventions remain ineffective.

He cited the United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the DRC (Monusco) created in 1999, tasked with neutralising armed groups that have “operated for 20 years, with meagre results,”; the UN mission in the Sahel region, and the recent collapse of the Afghan government.

“Insecurity is caused by shortfalls in governance. Sometimes insecurity takes especially dangerous forms, such as terrorism or even genocide, as was the case in Rwanda. It crosses borders and affects neighbours and entire regions,” President Kagame said, adding that “despite many chances to learn lessons from past failures, the global toolbox for dealing with these threats has hardly evolved.”

“It is not from lack of engagement or lack of money. I would say that no amount of external funding or troop commitment can create sustainable peace, without putting governance at the centre of it all,” said the president.

His comments come at a time when Rwanda has 1,000 troops deployed in Mozambique under a bilateral agreement, and have since been joined by 1,500 troops under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to fight Islamic insurgents in Cabo Delgado.

The military interventions have liberated almost all territory that had been lost to the insurgents.

“Lately we have responded to a bilateral appeal from Mozambique to combat the radical insurgency in Cabo Delgado. External forces can create the safety and political space for new forms of consensus-based leadership within a society to gain the upper hand. But it can’t be forced or imposed,” President Kagame said.

Last week, the Mozambican army announced that the joint operations had conquered all the known terrorist bases in Cabo Delgado.

“In Palma district, and also in Mocimboa da Praia district, approximately 100 percent of the enemy bases were occupied by the joint Mozambican and Rwandan troops.

“There is no formally known base that still prevails or is in an area under terrorist control”, Mr Cristóvão Chume, commander of the Mozambican army said adding fight against terrorism is not yet over admitting it could “take a year, two years or three years”.

Stay

He was speaking to the press after a meeting with commanders of the Rwandan troops and the SADC forces command involved in the military operations in Mocímboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado province.

President Kagame recently said Rwandan troops will stay as long as needed.

Col Ronald Rwivanga, the spokesperson of Rwanda’s Defence Forces told The EastAfrican that next on the agenda was to ensure the return of refugees, reinstating state authority, and ensure the economy starts running smoothly, while at the same time “reforming the security sector to be more proactive in dealing with insurgents moving forward.”

Over the past four years, more than 3,000 people have been killed and 820,000 displaced in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

“...You have to maintain vigilant security operations to ensure that civilians are protected throughout. People think you just go in dislodge and go home. No. You maintain a presence until the situation goes back to full normalcy,” Col Rwivanga told The EastAfrican.

In the headlines

Ethiopia terms air strikes in Mekele 'absolute lie'

Ethiopia denies hitting the Tigrayan capital of Mekele with airstrikes, terming reports as a total and absolute lie of the TPLF junta.

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, dies of Covid-19

Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, became a US war hero and served four presidents.

Air strikes hit Tigray capital in Ethiopia

Mistrust as states fall out over jobs at EAC

Husband arraigned over Kenyan athlete Tirop killing

Malawi President Chakwera to visit Kenya

ALTX calls for probe of Uganda CMA

Mistrust, cries of unfairness as states fall out over EAC job vacancies

Monday October 18 2021

East African Community offices in Arusha, Tanzania. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Summary

Proposals on way forward

Tanzania and Burundi say the recruitment should proceed in accordance with the Staff Rules and Regulations, 2006.
South Sudan and Rwanda said the recruitment process should be handled by the Commission to ensure transparency of the process and to avoid conflict of interest.
Uganda recommended a seven-member panel, one from the Secretariat and six from the partner states, a proposal that got the support of both Rwanda and Burundi.
But Council chairperson Adan Mohamed said that the reasons that warranted the establishment of the Ad hoc Commission persist to date.

By LUKE ANAMI

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By MOSES HAVYARIMANA

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A dispute over the distribution of jobs in the organs of the East African Community, which has simmered for close to a decade, came to a head last week when the bloc’s legislative assembly blocked the hiring of House clerks, citing irregularities in the recruitment process.

Cat-and-mouse games unfolded in the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) in Arusha over the hiring of a clerk and a deputy, signalling festering discontent with the staffing ratios in the Community.

Ugandan legislators, led by Denis Namara, have been at the forefront of the quest for equity in the recruitment of staff, dramatically staging walkouts that made Speaker Martin Ngoga suspend sittings on Tuesday through to Thursday due to lack of quorum.

The Eala started sittings in Arusha on October 3 and are expected to run until October 20.

The EAC Secretariat, early this year, advertised at least 60 vacant positions whose filling has unveiled bad blood and unhealthy competition among the six partner states.

An extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for last Wednesday, which was expected to finalise the staff recruitment process, had to be moved to a later date, perhaps in the next week, at the prompting of Uganda’s EAC Affairs Minister Rebecca Kadaga, who had reportedly travelled.

Defer interviews

Later on Friday, Ms Kadaga wrote to the Secretary-General demanding that the interviews set for October 18 for various advertised jobs at the EAC organs and institutions be deferred.

“As you are aware, EAC partner States agreed that a partner state must have points in order for its citizens to be considered eligible candidates and that at the beginning of each recruitment exercise the EAC Secretariat shall inform each partner state about her balance of weighted points (refer to Article 4.6 of the Operational Manual for Implementation of the Quota System). In respect to the above, this is to inform you that the Republic of Uganda requests postponement of the interviews... until the Secretariat submits the available quota points for each partner state as at the time/date of advertising the jobs,” the later dated October 15, 2021 reads.

Some have read mischief in the Ugandan MPs’ manoeuvres, saying they have gone to great lengths to have their way.

In a motion tabled in the Assembly, Mr Namara, chair of the General Purpose (Budget) Committee, insisted that the process of recruiting a House clerk and deputy, advertised in July, failed to adhere to the EAC’s quota system, which espouses equity in staffing.

“We want the EAC to suspend the entire staff recruitment exercise for violating the principles and regulations and objectives of integration, the Treaty, the Staff Rules and Regulations and operational manual for implementation of the quota system,” said Mr Namara.

“We call for a forensic audit into the quota system and restrictions applied to citizens for partner states in the job advertisements, receiving of applications, profiling, short-listing and interviewing of candidates in the ongoing recruitment exercise,” he added.

Mr Namara wants an independent firm appointed to conduct the interviews.

Deputy clerk hiring

Eala has not had substantive clerks. The current holders of the position have six-month non-renewable contracts pending appointments.

The advertisement sought a candidate who once served as a deputy clerk, consequently favouring a Ugandan applicant who was formerly a deputy clerk.

But the panel, comprising clerks of the national assemblies from each partner state, perhaps avoiding past staff of the Community, settled for a candidate from Tanzania. This did not go down well with the Ugandan MPs, who then moved to file a minority motion to express their displeasure.

The Ugandan lawmakers argue that Alex Lumumba Obatre scored the highest marks against competitor Saidi Othman Yakubu from Tanzania.

Documents in the possession of the MPs, which The EastAfrican saw but whose authenticity could not be immediately established, point to this assertion.

“Let the jobs be given on merit,” said Ugandan lawmaker Suzan Nakawuki.

On Tuesday Mr Namara, while moving his motion, said: “The advert sought someone who has at least served at the level of a deputy clerk but they want to bring us someone who was a secretary of the Speaker and we are saying that’s not acceptable.” He noted that Rwanda and South Sudan have no staff while Burundi has one and Uganda two.

“And yet some people want to give more to Tanzania (which has four) and Kenya, which has three,” said Mr Namara.

“If we don’t fight hard, the system will marginalise us in the Community,” said Paul Musamali, another Ugandan legislator.

The MPs accused Speaker Ngoga of bias. The diplomatic bad blood between Uganda and Rwanda also seemed to play out, with Mr Ngoga (a Rwandan) at some point offering to step aside and allow someone else to lead the proceedings.

“Throughout my career, I have applied standards that are beyond suspicion,” said Mr Ngoga. “I can apply Rule 41 and have somebody else handle this … I don’t want to preside over a process where some feel not fairly treated.”

On October 12, the Tanzanian legislators set the stage for a crisis after they walked out of the chambers, paralysing debate, then the following two days the Ugandans and South Sudanese also stayed away.

Juba chapter

So high are the stakes that the Juba MPs ousted their chair, Thomas Dut Gatkek, and replaced him with Dr Anne Itto Leonardo. In a letter dated October 14, addressed to the Undersecretary of the South Sudan EAC Affairs ministry, Andrea Malueth, the MPs said they had arrived at the decision during a meeting in Arusha on Wednesday.

“We and the Ugandan chapter are concerned about the unfairness of the recruitment process. The quota system has not been used, so we want the recruitment process to stop so that it can start correctly,” Dr Itto told The EastAfrican.

She said they are fighting for justice and fairness in recruitment.

The Juba Chapter wants affirmative action applied so that South Sudanese benefit the way Rwanda and Burundi did upon joining the bloc. Dr Mathuki, in a letter dated October 13 acknowledged their quest and promised to act on it.

“We seek the Council’s concurrence on the current recruitment and for the 15 positions that were not shortlisted. This was done for the Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Burundi when they joined the community,” says Dr Mathuki in his letter to Council chair Adan Mohamed.

The rules and regulations require that the recruitment of staff be done in a quota system, to reflect the equal representation of partner states.

Tanzanian lawmaker Abdullah Hasnuu Makame, however, said the matter should be left to the Council of Ministers.

“We shouldn’t be talking about this here because our mandate is to represent people and make laws and oversight and the council has already said that this is not where it should be discussed. The thing is, every process was followed and all countries were represented,” he said.

EAC Secretary-General Dr Mathuki agreed with the legislator.

“Recruitment in the EAC, including short-listing and profiling, is carried out by the Council of Ministers. For EALA staff it is the clerks of national assemblies of partner states who carry out the interviews, then take their report to the Council. The Council makes the final decision. The SG can then issue appointment letters. The process is still on and the appointments are yet to be finalised,” he said.

The EAC has failed to recruit staff for close to 10 years due to differences among partner states. Last month, two Ugandan nationals moved to the East African Court of Justice seeking to halt the current recruitment.

In 2006, the Council issued the EAC Staff Rules and Regulations. Under this process, the Secretary-General advertises, shortlists no more than three candidates from each partner state for each position; chairs an interview panel made up of representatives from each partner state, EAC organ and institution.

But this process was faulted after allegations of nepotism, favouritism and corruption at the EAC secretariat. Citizens of East Africa, a lobby, petitioned the Council, seeking to block a July 2020 recruitment, citing irregularities.

The petitioners accused the Secretariat officials of soliciting bribes from applicants, communicating wrong dates to some short-listed candidates, shredding applications, leaking interview questions, and altering marks to favour others, among other issues.

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