By Staff Reporter, Dar es Salaam
ATTEMPTS by the fifth phase government
of Tanzania under President John Pombe Magufuli to reconsider whether or not to
sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) have been thwarted by the country’s
National Assembly.
During the last East African
Community Heads of States Summit in Dar es Salaam, the partner states allowed
more time for consultations. Specifically, Tanzania, needed more time to
reconsider the various options on the economic partnership.
But the resolution made by the
country’s National Assembly in session in Dodoma to stop the government from
signing the EPA agreement in its current form, means President Magufuli’s
options are minimized.
Constitutionally, a resolution of the
National Assembly as an important pillar of the government is a binding
advisory, says a law Professor based in Dar es Salaam.
Reports from Dodoma reveal that most
Members of the Assembly contributed against any move to sign the agreement.
Most of them citing the lack of protection of local industries if the current
EPA document is signed, said the Agreement has to undertake comprehensive
amendments.
In July, 2016 the Kenyan Daily Nation
newspaper quoted some European MPs as backing efforts not to sign the deal to
allow more time for consultations.
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