East African Business Week

ARUSHA, TANZANIA-Participants at the recently concluded political forum held in Nairobi, Kenya called for a need to consider the direct election of members of the East African Legislative Assembly through universal suffrage.
They said that this would enhance representation and accountability and that it would enhance sharing and building a resource base on information on the integration process and the popularization of the EAC integration process.
The meeting also called for the speedy ratification and adherence by partner states to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance as this would strengthen political parties' institutional governance and acceptance of democratic outcomes.
It was recommended that Partner States should review their legislative frameworks, including national Constitutions to ensure adherence to principles of democratic governance including term limits for elective positions.
A statement issued by the EAC secretariat said that the delegates noted that in countries where inter party and intra party platforms were in place there was a better mechanism of resolving conflict and advancing policies.
They agreed that it was necessary for political parties to create inter and intra party dialogue platforms to enhance cooperation and peace building. "It was recommended that a regular platform for the meeting of political parties at regional level is necessary and should be structured and institutionalized within the EAC," said the statement.
They urged political parties to look beyond intra national party policies towards supra national policies and ideologies.
The meeting recommended that in the development of their manifestos Political Parties should capture the regional integration process and reflect the regional political agenda.