Did Mbatia err on fast-tracking East African federation?

Fast Track East African Political Federation?
-Stop the Rush

East Africans must understand that although ultimately beneficial a political federation is not required to return to the seamless and productive cooperation that existed among the three member states through 1976 under the East African Community.

East Africans instead would be well advised to simply continue on the path of taking incremental selective integration steps in the hope of creating an environment that will make creation of a political federation the natural end result in the long term. Imposing a rush political federation on the population in the near term would simply increase the possibility of secession battles in the future. For now, we must focus on integrating strategic areas to encourage and advance mutually beneficial private and public sector cross border initiatives.

When the time comes, I propose taking cue from some countries where any amendment to the constitution must be approved by a super majority of lawmakers during at least two successive administrations. This is because for East Africans to give this extremely bold step the respect it deserves at least one of the requirements should be that it be approved in at least two separate referendums by each aspiring member state -each of the two referendums under a different democratically elected President’s administration, and both referendums to be managed by an E.A Electoral Commission-our people will need assurance that the vote would be free and fair.

We must not confuse a campaign for a vote on a political federation question with a campaign for a vote for President because while the latter is temporary in nature, by any measure, the former is permanent and only reversible at great cost in treasure and likely in blood. For this reason, we must do all we can, not to personalize this question. We must boldly inquire why it is being fast tracked now by some and must fight to remove politics and selfishness from the process.

What is more, some aspiring member states have long standing- hushed and active unresolved internal conflicts that must be addressed. It is wrong to assume that a political federation would be the magic potion that would resolve these conflicts. We must, therefore, demand final status within each state as a prerequisite.

If a better life for our children is the only objective of this drive for a political federation, as it should, then any genuine individual over 60 years of age today should not expect to live in a politically federated East Africa in his life time. That is because I estimate the process of determining final in-state status, integrating strategic areas, and advancing mutually beneficial private and public sector initiatives into a seamless common identity will likely outlive them.

We all agree - a political federation is not a matter of if but when. If nothing else, the rules of natural selection alone suggest that it must happen if East Africa is to live on through millenniums to come. Nonetheless, it is imperative that we take this momentous task away from legacy seeking politicians and give it to an independent Political Federation Review Commission that is citizens based. This will return good sense to the process. We must ask ourselves the tough questions on this issue without fear or favor lest we leave our grandchildren to pay in gargantuan treasure and blood.

--Henry Mukasa, Uganda

Dear Sir,
It is the irony of life that Ugandan leaders can continue talking about an East African political federation while their people are essentially relegated to Petitions to cause any kind of political change. Mbatia blundered.

http://www.petitiontime.com/ViewPetition.aspx...

dear sir in work,
own my comment i hope to have the political federation of east africa is to sow the seed of failure as happened to 1977 EAC!Many problem those countries have still today like absence of common currency in EAC how federation come into success. also issue of political instability in uganda and threat of Mungiki in Kenya are also a problem.Furthermore the presence of uncommitment leaders "ndumilakuwili". HOW DO THEY LEAD US IN AWAY THAT WE CAN THRIVE FROM CURRENT DISASTERS?To have political federation in East Africa for now is as to sell a house and family member and buying luxury car-so to whom?EAST AFRICA FEDERATION IS FOR THE INTEREST OF RULLING CLASS AND SOME MIDDLEMEN BUT NOT FOR THE MAJORITY!There is no benefit of East Africa political Federation because we should ask for ourselves what we (citizen) benefit till today form the so called East Africa Community which lead them to shift into Political Federation?thanks