Spika wa Bunge la Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Dkt. Margaret Zziwa akizungumza kwenye ufunguzi wa bunge hilo.

3. Spika wa Bunge la Tanzania Anne Makinda (kushoto) akiwa na Spika wa Bunge la Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Dkt. Margaret Zziwa wakati wa ufunguzi wa vikao vya bunge hilo kwenye ukumbi wa Karimjee jijini Dar es Salaam 27August, 2014.

Spika wa Bunge la Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Dkt. Margaret Zziwa akizungumza kwenye ufunguzi wa bunge hilo.

3. Spika wa Bunge la Tanzania Anne Makinda (kushoto) akiwa na Spika wa Bunge la Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Dkt. Margaret Zziwa wakati wa ufunguzi wa vikao vya bunge hilo kwenye ukumbi wa Karimjee jijini Dar es Salaam 27August, 2014.

Spika wa Bunge la Tanzania Anne Makinda akihutubia Bunge la Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (EALA) la kwanza kufanyika Dar es Salaam, tangu kuanza kwa utaratibu wa kufanyika kwa bunge hilo kwa mzunguko kwa kila nchi mwanachama wa Jumuiya. 

                                                     

Naibu Waziri wa Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki wa Tanzania Dkt. Abdullah Juma Abdullah  Saadalla (wa pili kushoto), akifuatilia ufunguzi wa Bunge la Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki.Kulia ni Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mawaziri wa Afrika Mashariki, Phyllis Kandie  (Waziri kutoka Kenya) Shem Bagaine (Waziri kutoka Uganda), Leontine Nzeyimana (Waziri kutoka Burundi), Katibu Mkuu wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki, Richard Sezibera na kushoto ni Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Jumuiya hiyo  Wilbert Kaahwa.

                                                            

Wabunge wa Bunge la Jumuiya ya Afrika  Mashariki (EALA) wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja na Spika wa Bunge hilo Dkt. Margaret Zziwa (wa nne kutoka kulia waliokaa) na Spika wa Bunge la Tanzania Anne Makinda, mara baada ya ufunguzi wa bunge hilo.

                                                         

UFUNGUZI NA UZINDUZI WA MAONYESHO YA WAJASILIA MALI NA KIWANDA CHA SMOKE HOUSE STORE LIMITED MJINI BAGAMOYO

Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki Bi Joyce Mapunjo akihutubia Wajasilia Mali wadogo mjini Bagamoyo wakati wa Ufunguzi wa Maonesho hayo yaliyoanza tarehe 14/8/2014.

Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki (kulia) Bi Joyce Mapunjo akitembelea moja ya banda la mjasiliamali katika maonyesho ya wajasilia mali  mjini Bagamoyo mara baada ya kufungua maonesho hayo.
                                                                      

                                                                             
 Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki Bi Joyce Mapunjo akikata utepe kufungua kiwanda cha  kusindika Mvinyo utokanao na mmea wa Rozera  cha SMOKE HOUSE STORE LIMITED kinacho milikiwa na Bi Teddy Devis kilichopo Mkoa wa Pwani Wilaya ya Bagamoyo. 

Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki Ndugu Bi. Joyce Mapunjo akipewa maelekezo na mmoja wa wajasilia mali alipo tembelea banda hilo.                                                                       

Tanzania yaridhia Itifaki ya Umoja wa Fedha

Tanzania imeridhia rasmi Itifaki ya Umoja wa Fedha ambayo ni sheria muhimu katika utekelezaji wa hatua ya tatu ya Mtangamano wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki. Itifaki hiyo iliridhiwa na Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania  tarehe 25 Juni 2014.

Itifaki ya Umoja wa Fedha ilisainiwa na Wakuu Nchi za Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Novemba 30, 2013 Jijini Kampala, Uganda wakati wa Mkutano wa 15 wa Kilele wa Wakuu wa Nchi hizo. Baada ya kusainiwa na Wakuu wa Nchi, Nchi wanachama zilitakiwa ziwe zimeridhia Itifaki hiyo ifikapo Julai 1, 2014 ili kuruhusu kuanza kwa utekelezaji wake. Baada ya kuridhiwa kwa Itifaki, Nchi wanachama zitatakiwa kufuata mpango mkakati wa utekelezaji ambao umeelezwa bayana kwenye Itifaki hiyo.

Utekelezaji wa Itifaki ya Umoja wa Fedha utapelekea Nchi wanachama yaani Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania na Uganda kuwa na sarafu moja ifikapo mwaka 2024. Ili kufikia hatua ya kuwa na sarafu moja mwaka 2024 baadhi ya mambo muhimu yanayotakiwa kufanyika ni pamoja na uanzishwaji wa Taasisi za Kifedha. Taasisi hizo ni pamoja na Taasisi ya Fedha ya Afrika Mashariki (ambayo baadaye itakua Benki Kuu ya Afrika Mashariki), Taasi ya Takwimu ya Afrika Mashariki, Tume ya Usimamizi, Ufuatiliaji na Udhibiti na Tume ya Huduma za Kifedha ya Afrika Mashariki. ,

Utekelezaji wa Itifaki utahusisha pia uhuishaji wa sera zao za kifedha zikiwemo za kubadilisha fedha, sera za malipo kupitia benki, sera zinazohusu uzalishaji na usambazaji wa takwimu na sera za masoko ya fedha.

Izingatiwe kuwa, kabla ya kuingia kwenye Sarafu moja mwaka 2024, nchi wanachama zitatakiwa kukidhi vigezo vya Muunganiko wa uchumi mpana (Microeconomic Convergence Criteria) vilivyowekwa ambavyo ni pamoja na:

        i.            kuwa na mfumuko wa bei usiozidi 8%;

      ii.            Kuwa na nakisi ya Bajeti isiyozidi 3% (pamoja na misaada);

    iii.            Kuwa na deni la taifa lisilozidi 50% ya Pato la Taifa;

  iv.            Kuwa na akiba ya fedha za kigeni ambazo zinatosheleza manunuzi ya bidhaa kutoka nje kwa kipindi cha miezi minne na nusu.

Vigezo hivyo vinatakiwa kutekelezwa kwa kipindi cha miaka mitatu mfululizo kukaribia 2024. Kama kutakua angalau na nchi tatu za Jumuiya zitakazoweza kufikia vigezo hivyo basi zitaweza kuanza kutumia sarafu moja.

Umoja wa Fedha ni hatua ya tatu ya Mtangamano wa Afrika Mashariki baada ya hatua za awali, Umoja wa Forodha (2005) na Soko la Pamoja (2010) kutekelezwa. Hata hivyo ili hatua ya Umoja wa Fedha iweze kufanikiwa inategemea utekelezaji wa hatua za awali za mtangamano na ushiriki wa wananchi katika kuzitumia fursa zitokanazo na mtangamano. Wizara inawahamasisha Watanzania kutumia fursa mbalimbali zitokanazo na Umoja wa Forodha na Soko la Pamoja.

Maonesho ya Juakali/NguvuKazi ni zaidi ya kuuza bidhaa

Kamati ya maandalizi ya maonesho ya 15 ya Juakali/Nguvukazi yakutana Jijini Kigali-Rwanda, mkutano huu ulioanza tarehe 30 Julai-August 1, 2014 katika ukumbi wa sports view hotel Kigali-Rwanda, lengo kuu la mkutano huu ikiwa ni kuandaa maonesho ya 15 ya Juakali/Nguvukazi yanayotarajiwa kuanza tarehe 1-7 Disemba,2014 katika Viwanja vya Gikondo-Rwanda.

Akifungua mkutano huu mwenyekiti Bi. Gladys Kinyuah kutoka Kenya alisema lengo kuu la maonesho haya si wajasiliamali kuuza bidhaa zao tu bali ni uwanja wa kubadilishana technologia, uzoefu na masoko, “wakati umefika sasa tuwaambie wajasiliamali wetu tunapofanya maonesho haya si kwenda kuuza bidhaa tu bali ni kutafuta masoko na kubadilishana ujuzi na technologia mpya kutoka kwa wenzetu”. Akifafanua Bi Gladys alitoa mfano wa Nchi zilizoshamiri kiuchumi kutokana na mchango wa sekta isiyo rasimi, nchi kama Marekani,Japan na Malasia wajasiliamali wana mchango mkubwa kwa kukuza uchumi wa Nchi hizo, mfano Japan sekta isiyo rasmi inachangia 80% ya uchumi wa nchi hiyo na hii ni kutokana na Nchi hiyo kuithamini na kuipa kipao mbele sekta hii muhimu.

Kamati ya maandalizi imekubaliana kwa mwaka huu maonesho haya yawe zaidi katika kumsaidia mjasiliamali kujua jinsi ya kutafuta masoko, kunadi bidhaa zake na kuhakikisha wanazingatia viwango ambavyo vitawawezesha kuuza bidhaa zao ndani ya Nchi za Afrika Mashariki na kwenye masoko ya Kimataifa.

 Ili kuwapa uwezo wajasiliamali wa Juakali/Nguvukazi kamati ya Maandalizi imekubaliana kutakuwa na kongamano la siku mbili litakalofanyika tarehe 1 na 3 Disemba, 2014 kwenye viwanja vya maonesho Rwanda ili kuweza kutoa elimu ya masoko na taratibu nyingine kwa wajasiliamali na kushirikishana shuhuda za wajasiliamali waliofanikiwa kwa kupitia maonesho ya Juakali, elimu hiyo itatolewa na wataalamu wa masoko kwa njia ya kuwasilisha na majadiliano.

Takwimu za ajira zinaonesha 80% ya ajira katika Nchi za Afrika Mashariki zianatoka katika sekta isiyo rasimi (MSEs), wakati umefika sasa sekta hii muhimu kwa Nchi za Afrika Mashariki kuaangaliwa kwa jicho la tatu.

Maonesho ya JuaKali/NguvuKazi ni maonesho yanayohusisha wajasiliamali wadogo kutoka Nchi za Afrika Mashariki, maonesho haya hufanyika kila mwisho wa mwaka kwa utaratibu wa mzunguko kwa kila Nchi mwanachama wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki kuandaa maonesho hayo. Maonesho haya yalianza tangu mwaka 1999 ikiwa ni mawazo ya wakuu wa Nchi waazilishi wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki yaani Tanzania, Kenya na Uganda na baadae Rwanda na Burundi kujiunga, Mwaka huu maonesho haya yanatimiza miaka 15.

Wajasiliamali wanahimizwa kuhakikisha wanaboresha biashara zao hasa katika ufungaji wa biashara zao (Packaging) na kuonesha ubunifu wa hali ya juu ili kuweza kuipa thamani bidhaa na kuwezesha bidhaa hizi kuuzwa hata kwenye masoko ya Kimataifa, kwani kuna bidhaa nyingi nzuri zinazozalishwa na wajasiliamali wadogo ila huwa zinapoteza sifa kwa masoko ya nje sababu ya kukosa baadhi ya vigezo, hivyo ni vyema tukahakikisha tunapambana na changamoto hizo kwa kufuata taratibu zote na kuwa wabunifu ili tuweze kukuza uchumi wetu na kupunguza tatizo la ajira hasa kwa vijana.

Tarime farmers say 'enough is enough' to crop buyers from Kenya

Mzee Isaac Nyangi (left) at MEAC office in Dar es Salaam when he paid a visit to learn about the procedures for exporting crops to Kenya in July 2014. Right is the author of  this article.

MZEE Isaac Nyangi (65) from Tarime District in Mara Region came to Dar es Salaam recently to enquire with the Ministry of East African Cooperation the procedures of exporting farm produces to Kenya after decades of exploitation by buyers from the neighboring country.

Nyangi who represents members of NEHO association of elder farmers above 60 years, says enough is enough after discovering that a bag of sweet potatoes, which they have been selling for Tsh. 40,000 per 100 kilos bag at farm get price, it actually fetches Tsh. 160,000 in Kenya.

“We have been exploited for so long by smugglers from Kenya now we want to know what procedures are so that we can export ourselves to Kenya,” says Mzee Nyangi who is a retired Aviation Security Officer and a leader of NEHO.

He says his association has decided to come clean after many years of selling crops to buyers who have been using informal routes to cross the borders in order to smuggle goods to the neighboring East African Community’s (EAC) partner country.
Since April this year NEHO Association embarked on productions of sweet potatoes after they failed to excel in production of Maize and Paprica due to crop diseases.
“We expect to harvest 300 bags this year and sell it to Kenya. We are even targeting UN refugee camps in Kenya but we cannot succeed unless we formalize our way of doing trade,” says Nyangi who used members’ donations to get fare for Dar es Salaam visit.

According to Mzee Nyangi, many farmers are afraid to cross formal border of Sirari because of bureaucracy at border and ignorance of procedures.

During 2 hours discussions with Ministry Staff, Nyangi ended up with a huge smile and became more optimistic about their trade because he was taken through all the procedures for exporting or importing in the EAC region.

He was also given various Swahili publications written in a simplified way so that he can share with colleagues when he goes back to Tarime. He was commended for the initiative and encouraged to motivate others to cross the Sirari border themselves in order to fetch better prices.

In addition Mr Nyangi was given a hotline number which he could use to report any barrier they will encounter via short message services (SMS) by writing word NTB (space) problem send to 15539. The NTBs SMS and Online Reporting and Monitoring system is hosted at Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA).The system supported by Trade mark East Africa (TMEA) has been able to capture several NTBs some of which are resolved and some are at different levels of discussion for resolution.

According to EAC agreed import/export procedures, traders are required to fill in a Certificate of Origin which authenticates the origin of goods. For traders with goods valued at $2000 and below they can obtain the simplified certificates at the borders.
Traders with goods valued above $2000 they need to use Clearing and Forwarding agents to fill the certificates of origin which can be obtained at Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture’s (TCCIA) offices across the country. TCCIA has recently introduced an Electronic certificate of Origin through which exporters can apply the Certificate of origin Online and therefore reducing the cost of doing business.  The system can be accessed via the following web link; http://www.tccia.com/eco/.

The cost of obtaining certificate of origin for goods destined to EAC member states is just Tsh. 5,000 and goods are not subjected to import as long as they are accompanied with the certificate that proves the goods are originating from Tanzania.
During his visit to Dar es Salaam Mr. Nyangi used the opportunity to enquire the prices for sweet potatoes and he found out that a bag of 100 kilos was sold at 80,000, twice as much of the Tarime price.
He said it did not make business sense for them to bring their crops to Dar es Salaam because of the distance compared to Nairobi.
According to social economic data for Tarime, agriculture represents 85% of economic activities and annually the district harvests 14,539 tons of sweet potatoes.
Other popular crops  harvested include 43,151 tons of maize, 2,882 tons of beans, 12,169 tons of bananas, 5,076 tons of sorghum, 8,815 tons of rice, , 33,809 tons of cassava and 2730 tons  and coffee. Most of these crops are sold to neighboring Kenya.

Mzee Nyangi’s story is familiar in many parts of Tanzania especially in the border communities where by buyers from neighboring countries buy crops at cheaper prices and others go as far as buying crops while still in farm leaving farmers in a vicious cycle of poverty.

However, the construction of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) in all Tanzania major borders is likely to reduce bureaucratic procedures, corruption and cut cost for traders. This in turn will encourage more farmers such as Mzee Nyangi to use formal borders instead of the so called Panya routes.
Written by Faraja Mgwabati