Afrika Mashariki FEST presented its Butiama Accord to the 8 heads of state who attended the 24th East Africa Community ordinary summit yesterday in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Accord, also known as Azimio la Butiama,was presented by Afrika Mashariki Fest group chief executive officer Dr. Kesembo Tendo Ronex, who delivered the keynote address before presenting the Accord to the heads of states who attended the 2-day summit.
The aspirations outlined in the Butiama Accord call for the :
- Accelerated implementation of the Common Market Protocol to enhance trade, mobility, and employment opportunities.
- Increase investment in youth empowerment through education, entrepreneurship, and innovation to tackle unemployment and harness the potential of East Africa’s largest
- demographic.
- Recognising threats such as conflicts, terrorism, and political instability, the Accord urges collective action to safeguard regional peace and security.
- Emphasises sustainable development, focusing on green initiatives, food security, climate resilience, and the harmonisation of currency, unified EAC Airspace, and telecommunications.
- Celebrating East Africa’s rich cultural heritage, calling for the promotion of shared values, languages, and traditions to nurture unity and advance Pan-Africanism.
- Urgent need for EAC partner states to begin fielding a single team for continental and international games like the Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup, flying the EAC flag.
The Accord was signed by youths from East African countries on October 14th this year in Butiama,the ancestral home of Tanzania’s founding president, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
“Your Excellencies, on October 14, 2024, youth and senior citizens from all eight East African Community (EAC) Partner States, alongside representatives from SADC and ECOWAS, convened in Butiama, Mara Region, for a historic pilgrimage. This momentous event commemorated 25 years since the passing of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and celebrated a quarter-century of the EAC’s journey, said Dr. Kisembo.
“During a dynamic dialogue, the youth articulated their aspirations, which were consolidated into a comprehensive document called the Butiama Accord/Azimio la Butiama.The aspirations outlined in the Butiama Accord call for the accelerated implementation of the Common Market Protocol to enhance trade, mobility, and employment opportunities. They highlight the urgent need for increased investment in youth empowerment through education, entrepreneurship, and innovation to tackle unemployment and harness the potential of East Africa’s largest demographic.”added Dr. Kisembo
“Your Excellencies, this is grounded in our firm conviction in the power of sport to foster unity and is witnessed during the AFCON2027 PPamoja Bid and for contributing the Foreword/Utangulizi to the Silver Jubilee Anniversary Coffee Book.” continued Dr. Kisembo
Afrika Mashariki Fest CEO also lauded Tanzanian President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan for her leadership in promoting Kiswahili, not only in Africa but globally.
“We were recently in Havana, Cuba, for the Kongamano la Kimataifa la Kiswahili, where Uganda was awarded the opportunity to host next year’s International Kiswahili conference. On this note, I warmly invite you to Kampala from April 13-15, 2024, for the Kiswahili International Conference, which will celebrate Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s birthday and his enduring legacy as a Kiswahili Champion.”concluded Dr. Kisembo
Afrika Mashariki Fest has been vocal in promoting East African unity since its formation 25 years ago and the use of Kiswahili as a common language for regional integration.
President William Ruto was elected the new EAC chairman during the summit, taking the baton from South Sudan President Salva Kiir.
