TANZANIA: AMECEA and EAC Explore Possible Areas of Collaboration
TheAssociation of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has
embarked on a process to explore possible collaborations with the East African
Community EAC.
The process began
on 28th July, 2015, when AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Ferdinand
Lugonzo accompanied by AMECEA Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator Mr. Antony
Mbandi met with EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera at EAC
Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania.
on 28th July, 2015, when AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Ferdinand
Lugonzo accompanied by AMECEA Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator Mr. Antony
Mbandi met with EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera at EAC
Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania.
“The purpose
of our visit to EAC was to start an engagement process with the East African
Community which is based on the clerical call by the Holy Father Pope Francis
that the Church has to engage more with the governments and in government
decisions,” Antony Mbandi told AMECEA
Online News adding that the move is also in line with what is being done by
SECAM, in relation to the African Union collaboration.
of our visit to EAC was to start an engagement process with the East African
Community which is based on the clerical call by the Holy Father Pope Francis
that the Church has to engage more with the governments and in government
decisions,” Antony Mbandi told AMECEA
Online News adding that the move is also in line with what is being done by
SECAM, in relation to the African Union collaboration.
He said that
AMECEA Secretariat was mandated by the Bishops to look at how it can start
engaging with the regional bodies which include EAC, IGAD and COMESA.
AMECEA Secretariat was mandated by the Bishops to look at how it can start
engaging with the regional bodies which include EAC, IGAD and COMESA.
He said that
during this initial meeting, they gave the intention of AMECEA to the East
African Community and were well received by the EAC secretary General in the
meeting which was also attended by EAC head of Communications as well as EAC Head
of Conflict and Early Warning.
during this initial meeting, they gave the intention of AMECEA to the East
African Community and were well received by the EAC secretary General in the
meeting which was also attended by EAC head of Communications as well as EAC Head
of Conflict and Early Warning.
Some of the
possible areas of collaborations presented by AMECEA to the EAC included
promotion and protection of human life and dignity through sustainable
development, promotion of good governance, preservation of the environment and
natural resources, combating root causes of illegal forms of migration,
combating illegal arms within the region, promotion of gender equity and
promotion of sustainable peace and reconciliation through early warning
systems.
possible areas of collaborations presented by AMECEA to the EAC included
promotion and protection of human life and dignity through sustainable
development, promotion of good governance, preservation of the environment and
natural resources, combating root causes of illegal forms of migration,
combating illegal arms within the region, promotion of gender equity and
promotion of sustainable peace and reconciliation through early warning
systems.
 |
| Mr. Antony Mbadi, AMECEA Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator |
In his
feedback, Amb. Sezibera said that the East African Community seeks to
collaborate with institutions like AMECEA. He thanked the Catholic Church, in a
more special way, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) for the way its
curriculum is integrated and resonates well with the mission of the East
African Community. He commended CUEA for allowing students from East African
Community to pay fees like local students rather than charging them by international
rates.
feedback, Amb. Sezibera said that the East African Community seeks to
collaborate with institutions like AMECEA. He thanked the Catholic Church, in a
more special way, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) for the way its
curriculum is integrated and resonates well with the mission of the East
African Community. He commended CUEA for allowing students from East African
Community to pay fees like local students rather than charging them by international
rates.
The AMECEA
Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator said that the Secretary General of EAC directed
that AMECEA be in touch with EAC director of social issues and EAC director of
legal issues so as to deliberate more and concretize the areas proposed by
AMECEA for possible collaborations.
Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator said that the Secretary General of EAC directed
that AMECEA be in touch with EAC director of social issues and EAC director of
legal issues so as to deliberate more and concretize the areas proposed by
AMECEA for possible collaborations.
“He also
requested that we the Church participate more in the Interreligious Council of
Eastern Africa, which he said for the East African Community is important as an
engagement body for religious organizations,” Antony said.
requested that we the Church participate more in the Interreligious Council of
Eastern Africa, which he said for the East African Community is important as an
engagement body for religious organizations,” Antony said.
Mr Mbandi
added that the Secretary General of EAC also requested that AMECEA be more
engaged in the Consultative Dialogue Framework of the East African Community
and also the Secretaries General Forum, which comes within this consultative
framework and has different themes and topics.
added that the Secretary General of EAC also requested that AMECEA be more
engaged in the Consultative Dialogue Framework of the East African Community
and also the Secretaries General Forum, which comes within this consultative
framework and has different themes and topics.
As a way
forward Mbandi said that they will work a little bit more on the possible areas
of collaboration in order to develop a framework that is mutually beneficial to
AMECEA and EAC.
forward Mbandi said that they will work a little bit more on the possible areas
of collaboration in order to develop a framework that is mutually beneficial to
AMECEA and EAC.
Source: Pamela Adinda, AMECEA
Online News
Online News
