A senior government official yesterday dismissed as baseless a widespread rumour that Tanzania delays intentionally the process towards the formation of the East African political federation.

Permanent Secretary in the East Africa Co-operation ministry Dr Stergomena Tax Bamwenda made the response in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

She said some people were giving Tanzanians misleading information about the EAC, while in reality it has already started benefiting the people.

According to Dr Bamwenda, Tanzania currently concentrates on strengthening and improving the implementation of the Customs Union (EAC-CU) and the Common Market (EAC-CM), and at the same time complete discussions on the establishment of the EAC common currency.

She explained that once the above mentioned processes were completed, Tanzania would be ready for talks on the establishment of political federation.

She said the rumors emerged during the 13th Heads of States summit held in Bunjumbura, Burundi when Tanzania rejected to sign EAC documents on some crucial issues because it believed on people’s views before reaching conclusions.

She said that Tanzania wasn’t ready to fast-track the federation, advising partner states to follow procedures and respect the four procedures, as outlined in the EAC treaty. The PS said the first harmonising tariffs, establishing a common market and adapting a single currency.

Dr Bamwenda reminded that a report by a team of experts that was led by Prof Samwel Wangwe revealed that most Tanzanians (75 per cent) suggested that political federation should not be fast trucked, 20.8 per cent wanted it prioritised and 3.3 per cent were not ready for it.

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