A NINE-MAN committee of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) tomorrow begins a three-week marathon trip to the East African capitals to seek views on the establishment of the region's Common Market.
The common market is in line with the Treaty and in logical sequence, after the establishment and operationalisation of the EA Customs Union.
The Chairman of the EALA Committee for Communications, Trade and Investments, Dr George Nangale, said today before departing for Nairobi--which is the first stop --that they would seek views from all sections of the society, including businessmen, journalists, farmers, economists, politicians and academicians, among others.
"We want all-inclusive views so that we can conclude our recommendations appropriately," he said.
During this month's meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers, it was agreed that the secretariat commence negotiations on the EA Common Market Protocol from July 1, this year, and set December 2008 as the target date for concluding and signing the protocol.
The ministers set June 2009 as the target date for ratification and January 2010 ready for its commencement.
Dr Nangale said his committee would be in the Kenyan capital until Saturday before flying to Dar es Salaam, where they would seek public views between May 2 and 5. The team will conclude its trip in Kampala between May 8 and 14.
The issues to be discussed by the committee include free movement of persons, labour, services and right of establishment and residence by citizens of the partner states.
They will also deliberate on the free movement of capital and harmonization of policy and coordination.
The committee, according to Dr Nangale, would also dwell on the performance of the one-year old Customs Union and related problems.
The EAC was revived in 1999 following the signing of a Treaty by presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The old EAC collapsed in 1977 mainly because of the divergent political and economic perceptions of the partners.
The ultimate aim of the new EAC is a political federation.