ARUSHA TO HOST EAC SPEAKERS’ FORUM ON FRIDAY

The 11^th Meeting of the EAC Bureau of Speakers is to take place in Arusha on Friday this week (April 29^th, 2016).

Speakers from the EAC Parliaments (National Assemblies/Senates) and EALA are expected to be in attendance and shall discuss weighty matters of relevance to the integration process.  The meeting is expected to revisit and make amends to the Rules of Procedure of the Bureau of EAC Speakers that guide the Forum.  The meeting will also see the handover of the Chair of the Bureau of Speakers from the Parliament of Tanzania to the East African Legislative Assembly.

The one day meeting shall be preceded by a meeting of Clerks (April 27^th and 28^th, 2016) which among other things shall review the mandate of the Bureau, discuss modalities of operationalization of the East African Parliamentary Institute (EAPI) and a number of topical issues on emerging challenges in legislature in the region.  The report of the key meeting will feed into that of the Speakers’ Forum for consideration.

The Bureau of the EAC Speakers is the umbrella body that EALA and the National Assemblies utilise to champion the cause of Parliaments in the region, that of enacting legislation, oversight and representation and plays a key advisory role to the Summit of the EAC Heads of State.

The Bureau holds meetings annually under the guidance of a Chairperson who is elected under the principle of rotation.  The inaugural meeting of the Bureau of Speakers was held in May 2008. The decision making process of the Bureau of Speakers is by consensus.

The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community places emphasis on the need for EALA and the National Assemblies of Partner States to liaise in several ways in matters related to the Community. 

Article 49(2) (1) of the Treaty provides that “The Assembly (EALA) shall liaise with the National Assemblies of Partner States on matters relating to the Community”.