The East African Community is working out modalities of how to harmonise regulations of fast-tracking the implementation of the Common Market protocol.

EAC secretary-general Juma Mwapichu said the implementation of the Common Market that came into effect on July 1 was still experiencing some minor teething problems that were being worked on so that uniform rules and regulations are applied across all border posts in the five member states.

The secretary-general cited the requirements by Tanzania authorities of imposing temporary permit for all foreigners including the East Africans and which they still charged $100 (Sh8,000).

He said under the protocol, there is supposed to be free movement of goods, services and labour. He made the remarks at Kisumu where he inspected projects being undertaken by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission. He said the secretariat was carrying an audit among member states so that similar rules and regulations are applied uniformly in all the five member states of the EAC namely, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

“Why should Tanzania for example charge for temporary permit yet Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are not doing the same?” he posed.

The secretary-general said he was impressed by the enthusiasm exhibited by members of the public from the region and said they were eager to benefit from the increased trade in the regional block.

Under Article 5(2) of the EAC treaty, all partner states undertook to establish the protocol establishing the EAC common market that was signed in November last year by Heads of State. The protocol provides for free movement of goods, persons, labour services and capital across the member states.