Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has launched a fiveyear strategic plan for the East African
Legislative Assembly (EALA) in a ceremony at the Burundi National Assembly this week.
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza
The regional parliament resumed its plenary session in Bujumbura on Tuesday, where it will sit for the next two weeks. According to a statement issued by the EAC Secretariat, President Nkurunziza urged EALA to re-double its efforts in the next five years as the EAC consolidates on the gains already realised.
“The main achievements and lessons learnt in the last five years have no doubt played a fundamental role in helping EALA to develop and embrace its strategies for the future. The next five years should thus see the Assembly become more innovative, proactive and focused towards ensuring it remains on the cutting edge of regional integration,” President Nkurunziza said.
“The process of formulation and completion of the Strategic Plan by the 3rd Assembly is therefore only just the beginning. The real work starts now. The real test comes in the implementation of the set objectives.” The Strategic Plan (2013- 2018) has six main strategic issues: EALA’s main administrative autonomy, capacity and efficiency; negotiations for the EAC pillars of integration; EALA’s corporate image, institutional status, growth and development.
Others are capacity building in regional parliamentary practices; effective, sustainable and resultsoriented communication and sensitisation on EAC integration; and robust and effective monitoring and evaluation. The strategic plan is expected to be financed over the next five years to the tune of over USD $118,000, to be sourced from the bloc and development partners.
By JAMES GASHUMBA of EANA
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