Address East African Community cash woes

The recurrent postponing of crucial East African Community (EAC) meetings over lack of funds is not only regrettable, but also shameful. An investors’ round-table meeting, which was to scheduled start on May 16, is the latest to be pushed back as the regional bloc contends with financial hurdles.

EAC deputy secretary general (Productive and Social Sectors) Christophe Bazivamo confirmed the postponement during the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers of Health held in Dar es Salaam. He cited lack of funds as the reason for the postponement.

On the agenda of the investors’ roundtable meeting is potential areas for investments in the health sector.

Several other key meetings have in recent years been put on hold for lack of funding. This is not supposed to be a norm.

Plugging financial gaps bedevilling the EAC is now a matter of urgency if progress is to be made – otherwise the bloc will continue going in circles. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who is the current EAC chairman, raised the same concern last week at the East African Community Council of Ministers and Heads of Organs and Institutions in Kigali.

Member states must, therefore, heed fresh calls to meet their financial obligations in time.