Heads of state of the eight-member East African Community (EAC) have appointed Tanz Ambassador Stephen Mbundi as the bloc’s new Secretary General, succeeding Veronica Nduva of Kenya, at the 25th Ordinary Heads of State Summit in Arusha on Saturday.
Mbundi, a Tanzanian national, previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation in Tanzania. He now faces the task of safeguarding peace in the region, particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and addressing the economic challenges affecting the EAC.
“First, we are grateful that we have obtained a new Secretary General from the United Republic of Tanzania,” said Tanzania’s Tourism and Investment Ambassador for the Commonwealth, Jasmini Kiwete.
“As William Ruto, the President of Kenya, said, there are challenges affecting trade. Since we now have new leadership, I believe these challenges will be resolved. As a tourism and investment ambassador, I acknowledge that we face many difficulties, especially for our visitors in matters related to investment and trade,” she added.
Outgoing chairperson and Kenyan President William Ruto, in his handover speech to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, reportedly said the heads of state had agreed on measures to ease the financial burden on the regional bloc.
Among the measures, members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) will now receive salaries from their respective national parliaments instead of the regional assembly.
Countries with large outstanding debts have been granted a 50 percent waiver, with the remainder to be paid within two years.
“Steps have now begun to be taken. Those who were unable to pay have been given two years, so I believe the Secretary General is coming in to work in a better environment, and the burden has also been reduced,” said Fadhili Rajabu, a retired EAC staff member.
“The costs that were making it difficult for the Community to sustain itself have therefore been significantly reduced. These are good conditions for the new Secretary General to work in,” he concluded.
This is the second time Tanzania has produced an EAC Secretary General, following Ambassador Juma Mwapachu, who served from 2006 to 2011.
Mbundi faces a significant challenge in ensuring member states meet their financial obligations to the bloc, as stipulated in the EAC treaty, and stabilising the region's economic outlook.
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