SPEECH BY HONORABLE BERNARD K. MEMBE (MP) MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 2014
EAST AFRICAN UONGOZI SCHOOL AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER,
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM, 8TH JULY 2014
Professor Rwekaza Mukandala, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam and Director, East African Uongozi Institute,
University of Dar es Salaam Leadership,
Uongozi School 2014 Participants,
Members of the Press,
Friends of East Africa,
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the organizers of this event—the East African Uongozi Institute (EAFUI)—for availing to me this honour to officiate the 2014 Uongozi School. I am aware that EAFUI has been organizing similar Uongozi School sessions since its inception in 1998. I am also made to understand that this year’s Uongozi School is unique as for the first time the number has increased from three to five Universities in East Africa. This is a commendable step taking aboard the reality of the expanding membership of the East African Community which has since 2006 include Burundi and Rwanda.
As we witness this opening, my congratulations goes to the leadership of the East African Uongozi Institute for conceiving the idea of the Uongozi School, implementing and sustaining it for more than a decade. Those of us who deal with inter-state relationships understand the dynamics and challenges involved. It is through hard work and commitment that this initiative could be sustained over the years. The work that EAFUI does is highly complementary to the efforts that the EAC partner states are making to deepen and strengthening the cooperation. When the young scholars of East Africa are brought together in a programme like this they start to appreciate that there is a lot that unites them than what can divide them. They begin to cultivate long term personal relationships and understandings that are critical for the sustainability of the Community. Programmes such as Uongozi School have sown seeds to a stronger and successful regional bloc as it nurtures future regional leaders. We in the government are proud of this initiative.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I therefore congratulate all participants of the 2014 Uongozi School for securing a chance to this prestigious programme. I am aware that the selection process is very stringent and that only the best students can go through. I urge you to keep up the hard work and I believe through this programme you will not only learn around the topic at discussion, but also be inspired to lead in any sector you will find yourselves in. You are not only the future of EAC, but the future of Africa. I also join the organizers to welcome to Tanzania those participants who have come from outside Tanzania. I am sure you will find Dar es Salaam and other places that you will visit in Tanzania to be enjoyable.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Through this event, I must say EAC is one of the most promising and success story in the continent, having elevated itself to the Common Market stage of the integration process. As we all know, there is no other Regional Economic grouping in the continent that has reached that stage. That said, one point must be made clear; that member states are free to have bilateral projects and programs, and they are free to do so without involving other partner states. However, for those projects that fall directly under the East African Community, they must without exception involve all member states of the Community.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The theme of the 2014 Uongozi School “African States, Competing Identities and Democratization” could not come at a more promising time. As coined, this theme goes beyond East Africa and it touches our continent at large. Politics of identity or politicization of ethnic identities seem to be at the helm in many African countries. This is not to say it is a new acceptable way of life in the continent. Exclusion of people from effective control of state power and economic resources has been a source of many of the post-independence violent conflicts in Africa. One of the undesirable consequences of the third wave democratization that re-introduced multiparty politics was resorting to cheap ethnic politics. Ethnic entrepreneurs mobilized people emphasizing sub-nationalities and aspiring to maximize their corporate political, economic and social interests. A state ceases to be the arbiter of different group interests and becomes the centre for group contestations. Ethnic politics is shortsighted and counterproductive as voters are only concerned with enabling their members or coalition to control the state. As scholars, I would encourage participants to this year’s programme not to shy away from discussion openly about this topic. Your research papers will form a part in solution pursuit and influencing political actors on this topic. This continent is on the verge of transformation and we are all to play a part.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Some political leaders convince ethnic groups to believe that they rule the country on their behalf. The president is seen as an ethnic ruler rather than a leader for all citizen. People believe that if one of their own holds a high post, it is held in trust for the benefit of their ethnic community. Some political parties promote ethnic politics and regard the introduction of multiparty democracy as a way of decentralizing the state in favour of ethno-nationalism. Rather than ameliorating the differences and mediating them, this kind of politics is amenable to conflicts as electoral outcomes are highly zero-sum and thus generators of dissatisfaction.
To the Participants,
I have looked at programme and saw close to 20 presentations and panel discussions. I am happy that many of the issues pertinent to competing identities and democratization in Africa will be adequately treated. I strongly urge all of you to effectively use the six weeks of your training to turn all the challenges of multiparty democracy into opportunities for African growth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Invited guests,
My duty today was simply to officially open the 2014 Uongozi School and not to make a lecture. I want to reiterate my sincere thanks to the organizers for inviting me to grace this occasion. To the participants I wish you all the best in your deliberations in this year’s Uongozi School.
With these few remarks, may I now officially declare that the 2014 Uongozi School is open.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION
LONG LIVE UONGOZI SCHOOL
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