East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko has underscored that the ongoing political conflict among member states cannot threaten the future of the integration.
He said despite the arising political issues, the projects designed by EAC to benefit its citizens have been ably executed without hindrance.
Mfumukeko who made the remarks in Burundi capital Bujumbura on Thursday evening during the Media Forum on EAC integration, admitted that like any family, East African countries also experience conflicts.
“Even in a family there will always be quarrels but how you handle them matters a lot. Therefore I can assure you that the EAC has been able to work on its projects 99% despite these challenges,” Mfumukeko said.
He was responding to a query put to him by this website whether the clash among six countries doesn’t directly derail the projects of EAC, for example the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
He reaffirmed that stakeholders in Arusha, at the EAC head offices don’t allow to focus on these political matters but rather work together to achieve one goal- integration.
“The people at the secretariat work hand in hand even when there are issues, same way with MPs because we can’t allow political issues to hinder development,” he said.
Several EAC countries have been engaged in a cold war, accusing each other of fuelling instability among their citizens.
Some of these countries have openly closed borders and halted trade which leave their citizens suffering.
But to Mfumukeko, building democracy and political stability doesn’t occur overnight but takes a period of time,” you need to be patient for good things to happen.”
He highlighted many European countries which until now are involved in political conflicts which is yet to sabotage their growth.
“Issues of politics and democracy are things that need time,” said Mfumukeko adding that in fact the member states have been sharing intelligence and their security agencies collaborating in a bid to restore regional stability through fighting terrorism.
He briefly said the secretariat is apparently planning to implement the use of one electronic passport in the region and also facilitating the resettling its citizens in a country of their choice.