Zimbabwe: Press Statement by The Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Prof. M. Ncube on the Excise Duty Refund Framework Following the Fuel Price Increase under Statutory Instrument 9 of 2019 (13.01.2019)

RDC: 3T ASBL – Communique de Presse (13.01.2019)

RDC: Declaration du President de la Republique du Congo, President en Exercice de la Conference Internationale sur la Region des Grand Lacs (CIRGL) – (13.01.2019)

RDC: Communique de la Majorite Presidentielle “M.P” (12.01.2019)

Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate: Open letter Regarding the Continuation of the Sudanese Attack against Hospitals and Medical Cadre (13.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: ZERA – Notice On Fuel Pricing (13.01.2019)

Opinion: Random comments about the recent Handshake nonsense!

Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.” Thucydides

The march 9th 2018 handshake between Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, which cleared the air between the National Super Alliance (NASA) and government party Jubilee. This has ensured the parties act together and working towards common goals. Therefore, in some regards the handshake has been positive and ensured the political agenda has moved further.

However, the handshake has also rocked with the need of elections and questioning the Fresh Presidential Elections of 2017. Which have had enough of irregularities in that one. Certainly, the population had deserved the truth about the rigging, but the handshake has blown that away. As the state got cleared by making Building Bridges Initiative.

Therefore, instead of fixing the irregularities and showing good governance. The Jubilee government has made the debt grow, signed shady deals without transparency concerning infrastructure deals with China and also Grand Corruption is daily-life government business. That is why the two recent pieces in both the The Star and Daily Nation, which shows the forgetfulness and how the elite looks at itself.

First:

A group of elders has proposed a holiday on March 9 for celebrations of the peace Kenya experienced following the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange party leader Raila Odinga. In a statement on Friday, Elders Association of Kenya noted that the day should be remembered for years to come” (Sam Kiplagat – ‘Elders call for holiday to celebrate Uhuru-Raila pact’ 12.01.2019, Daily Nation).

Second:

Members of the Former Parliamentarians Association accused the politicians of disrespecting the President and opposing the handshake that has brought peace and tranquility in the country. “We demand respect for the President and the presidency, because they are a symbol of national unity and nationhood,” group chairman and former Gatanga MP Humphrey Njuguna said” (Julius Otieno – ‘Don’t disrespect Uhuru, critics told’ 12.01.2019, The Star).

That someone wants to make a handshake a holiday is just facade. It is not cool, as it is making the business of the Building Bridges Initiative, much bigger than it really is. This is making so called legacy out of Kenyatta. Instead of looking at the financial mess and the cycle of debt, the grand corruptions. The elites and the politicians wants to remember the Kenyatta legacy to be this. It is noble of them, but not righteous.

The second one states that people shouldn’t disrespect the President because he deserves to be a symbol of national unity. It is in the same regard as the holiday for the handshake. This is putting it further. As the battle for the legacy of Kenyatta is coming back. We are supposed to celebrate the handshake like the genius move it is supposed to be. That the Kenyatta action of reconcile with Odinga. Like it is the best agreement ever made in the Republic. That is how it seems from these folks, since it needs a Holiday and a symbol of National Unity.

Let me be clear, that these people are really putting so much into the handshake. That soon, they are asking for building statutes, writing hymns and own ministries in government. As the Building Bridges Initiative should be given the praise of the moon, the sun and be the beacon, the guiding star for all hope. That is how it sounds.

Lets also be clear, President Kenyatta gets disrespect after how he acts and the words he uses. When he lectures kids for protesting, when he sends army to kill civilians demonstrating in Kisumu or Kibira in Nairobi after the Fresh Presidential Elections. That is what he will be remembered for. He will be remembered for his foul language and his speeches in Turkana. Kenyatta will be remembered for the Eurobond, NYS Scandals, Maize Scandals and NHIF, and so on. These are the ones that will be remembered. Because that shown the governance and acts of government.

So, if the President wants to be remembered for something, than he should act upon it. It is disrespectful to expect respect from people. When the President acts like a overlord. He should show his true face and act like an Executive. This president is busy with PR Schemes instead of giving proper government services. That is what he will be remembered for, because the PR will go away, but what they really did will stick.

Kenyatta will be disrespected, if he acts disrespectful, if he acts with the cartels or with the elites and not serve the public. That is how he will be remembered. Not if he shook Odinga’s hand, because its not like anyone made anything out of 2008 Kibaki/Odinga Coalition Government. However, important that was at the time and how much dire need there was for a peace agreement.

That is why, the ones running wild on the Handshake. Should cool down, before giving the mantle and the praise for the Building Bridges Initiative. Maybe first remember the ones that initially changed the landscape, to where it is today. The importance of the power-sharing agreement made with mediation of Kofi Annan back-in-the-day. This should maybe be celebrated, but that is for me to as outside looking in. However, everyone is stuck on the new handshake. That is built on even more shaky ground, than the power-sharing deal.

That is why, I react and wrote this piece. Because I don’t get it, unless, all of these gentlemen tries to get political mileage and get some credits their way. Than it would all make sense. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Hiking fuel prices will touch all parts of life!

Yesterday, out of the blue, the President and his people said they would hold a Press Conference. This happen as President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the spiking or doubling of fuel prices, as the state is struggling with the dollar shortage. This is happening as the effects of RTGS Taxes and the hurting economy in general. As the black-market bond-notes exchange rates and lack of currency in general. This is all making the financial market worse.

So, of today, there are long lines of cars going to petrol stations trying to get fuel. The videos of it is online and shown to the world. Mnangagwa statement came late at night on a Saturday and on Sunday, the results of this has occurred. As businesses are challenged, the Unions are reacting and the public are bitten by it too. This is hurting all, everything will become more expensive and the lie of 1:1 exchange between the Zimbabwe Bond-Notes and United States Dollars (USD). Therefore, the statement yesterday proves the added expenses on ordinary lives.

ZCTU Statement:

After wide consultations, the ZCTU General Council resolved to call for a nation wide STAY AWAY with effect from midnight today following the insensitive and provocative increase of fuel price by the President of Zimbabwe. 2) Workers have been facing serious hardships as a result of the general astronomical price increases since last year against stagnant salaries. The fuel increase added more misery to the suffering working class of Zimbabwe both in formal and informal sectors. The action will be embarked on an incremental basis & include other forms of actions that will be advised in due. There is nothing else pushing the workers besides the starvation & hardships afflicting every working class household. Think about your family & do the right thing” (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, 13.01.2019).

Some people are blaming the sanctions, other like me is also looking into the added taxes done by this administration late last year. As the costs of currency has gone up, as the RTGS and the transactions are added expenses. Also, the reality of lack of currency itself, as the foreign exchange has hit the workforce of the state. There been numerous strikes, there been plenty of businesses closing and also empty shelves. Therefore, the stagnation and slow destruction of the economy without a currency. Is really hitting the common folk. Who knows what rate the inflation is at, but it must be hitting hard.

Because we know the hardships hits the citizens, not only the prices of fuel is doubled over night, but the amount of fuel you can buy has been cut in half or even less. That has even been stated by companies like Redan Coupon (Pvt.) Limited, who came out with a public statement. Showing the effects on all of them customers.

We know this is fixed prices from the government, as the President did on Live Press Conference, telling the public about the prices yesterday. The Herald wrote this about it yesterday: “Zera said the prices which were implemented recently were in line with Statutory Instruments 20 and 100 enacted in 2015. Zera notified members of the public that uel stations were at liberty to sell the commodity at lower prices “depending on their trading advantages.”” (Farirai Machivenyika – ‘Govt clears air on fuel prices’ 12.01.2019).

We are seeing clearly, that the authorities had worked together before the doubling of fuel prices happen. As the President stated. They know it will affect all parts of life, make everything more expensive. Everything in the Republic will be touched and the costs of life, will sky-rocket naturally. Not looking forward to see the inflation numbers and how it affects the prices on food and basics in general.

Also, expect more strikes and demonstrations, as the costs of living is hitting all parts of life. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Redan Coupon letter to Costumers (13.01.2019)

SADC Urges All-Inclusive Government in DRC (13.01.2019)