Toe EAC line, Burundi and Tanzania are told

A regional business lobby has called on Tanzania and Burundi to bridge a rift that has emerged in the East African Community by adopting policies that are being implemented by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

In a statement Tuesday, the East African Business Council (EABC) asked the two countries to adopt the use of national identity cards as travel documents, and to begin issuing the bloc’s single tourist visa.

SINGLE TOURIST VISA

Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, under a group that is now dubbed the Coalition of the Willing (CoW), last year resolved to begin issuing the single tourist visa at the beginning of 2014. The trio is also allowing citizens to cross borders using national ID cards and student IDs as travel documents.

“EABC will be requesting the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Burundi to do the same to allow for easy movement of traders and EAC citizens across the region,” read the statement in part.

Last week, Tanzania vowed to stay away from the East Africa visa regime citing concerns over revenue sharing and illegal immigration. Pursuance of regional integration on a tripartite level by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda has caused tension in the EAC since mid-2013.

However, the CoW has insisted that it has the right to pursue the integration agenda outside the umbrella of the community.

EABC has resolved to take a more overt role in driving policy advocacy in EAC as it seeks to improve the business climate in the region. Council chairman, Mr Vimal Shah, said the organisation will seek audience with presidents from all partner states within the first few months of 2014.

“EABC will in the first quarter of 2014 hold high level meetings with each of the presidents of the republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda to articulate the issues affecting businesses across the region,” read the statement in part.