EALA MEMBERS WANT THE EAC COUNTRIES THAT DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO BE REMOVED FROM MEMBERSHIP, THE MEMBER IS PAID FOR A FLIGHT TICKET UP TO 5000 DOLLARS AND HIS COUNTRY HAS NOT CONTRIBUTED.

 By Joseph Ngilisho ARUSHA

                         

The members of the EALA parliament have asked the members to take action if they do not contribute to the unity of the East African Community

MPs who brought the argument in the ongoing Fifth parliament at the EAC headquarters in Arusha include MP from Kenya Maina Karobia who said that the country should be taken action.

He said that if those countries have a basic argument that causes them not to contribute, they should take their arguments to the general meeting of the heads of members in the EAC, their arguments should be discussed rather than the parliamentary sessions.

"If people want to tell us that they are united in their countries in the parliament, they should either send an argument to the meeting of the heads of state or the EAC authority council rather than going outside the parliament and talking on the street, there is no union without money"

He said that the countries that have not contributed should be taken action in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the community based on article 146 and 143.

Another Member of Parliament from Uganda, Paulo Msamali, who presented a motion to request contributions from 7 member countries, said the countries that have paid their contributions so far are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

He said that each member country contributes approximately 8 million dollars annually, but South Sudan and DRC Congo have not yet paid, while South Sudan owes a lot of arrears since it joined.

"For example, a member of parliament who comes from Kinshasa, Congo DRC to come to Arusha for the parliament is paid 3000 to 5000 dollars for a plane ticket and he is still paid a salary and money to live on when his country has not donated anything"

He advised the EAC Council of Ministers to tell the heads of state to advise those countries to pay their contributions and if they do not want to pay, they should be removed from the community.

"If they don't want to pay, what are they doing in the community and they are still coming out of the parliament and boycotting the sessions"

It ends..