The upcoming East African Community’s Heads of States Summit will place great emphasis on railway, energy and inland water ways transport in the region in a bid to ease trade between the member states.

Dr. Sezibera revealed this when speaking to Uganda’s outgoing High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ambassador Ibrahim Mukiibi, who came to bid him farewell.

The Secretary General informed Ambassador Mukiibi on various EAC initiatives to solve the problem of transport in the region and the upcoming re-treat of the EAC Heads of State Summit in November 2012.

Ambassador Mukiibi, who served for six years in Tanzania, applauded the progress registered by the Community since its revival, saying it was an inspiration to other regional economic communities on the African continent.

He urged for more investment in infrastructure especially in railway and inland water ways in order to minimize the cost of doing business in the region.

“I am aware that investing in construction of a modern railway is very costly but as a region, if we put our resources together we can do much better than what we are doing at the moment,” noted the outgoing Ugandan High Commissioner.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean and Swedish envoys to Tanzania presented letters of credence appointing them as their countries’ representatives to the East African Community.

Zimbabwean ambassador to Tanzania, Edzai Chimoyo, was the first to present his letter of accreditation to the EAC Secretary General, which indicated his appointment to representing his country in the bloc.

Dr.  Sezibera said he considers Zimbabwe as part of EAC region because of the rich history between Zimbabwe and some of the EAC partner states. The Secretary General welcomed the move to enhance cooperation between the EAC and Zimbabwe.

The EAC Chief appraised the Zimbabwe Ambassador on the progress being registered by the Community so far, including bringing into action the  Protocols on the Customs Union and Common Market, and the ongoing negotiations on the protocol to establish a Monetary Union.

He also informed the Ambassador about the Tripartite initiative especially the negotiation to establish a grand Free trade area between three regional blocs; EAC, COMESA and SADC.

The Zimbabwean Envoy applauded the progress registered by the Community and said it was important for his country to build a stronger relationship with the regional bloc. He said Zimbabwe was already enjoying strong relationships with individual EAC Partner States.