Opinion: Prof. Niazi could sell limited edition filters, but not a coronavirus spray…

A man whose become the talk of the town is suddenly Sarfaraz Niazi, whose an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois, at the College of Pharmacy. He was posing yesterday with Parliamentary Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and President Yoweri Kaguta Musveni. It looked like a scheme from the get-go. The whole sudden magical potion to fix the Corona Virus (COVID19). Well, I have doubt that sort of spray will play out well. When the official stance is cleaning your hands with soap and use antibacterial things too. Therefore, seems like a ploy to trick people in the midst of a worldwide crises.

Just briefly looking into Niazi, I found that he has patents on stuff. His latest invention in 2011 was a “Gas scrubbed perfusion filter” and before that in the same year was “ Bioreactor exhaust”. These two patents he got by 2015 together with Therapeutic Proteins International LLC. None of these are connected to a spray and neither connected to the crisis we’re in now. As I looked further, he has nothing helping here. Unless the NSAIDs invention filled in 2005 and published in 2007. That helps the pain of the musculoskeletal pain. So, its not like he did it with that either. If not, he can always sell medical chewing gum, which he patented in 1987. This is just a few, but nothing mentioning spray, neither COVID19. That is why I am struggling to see this fella as a serious deal from the start.

News from yesterday:

Parliament was today holding a special sitting where the different ministries were presenting their ministerial policy statements. Kadaga while making her communication to MPs said the spray is expected to get on the market next week. She says that an American inventor and biologist, Prof Safaraz K. Niazi, was in Uganda over the weekend and donated the patent, free of charge to Uganda. Kadaga told the MPs during a debate on the coronavirus impact that there is hope and the treatment could start in Uganda” (URN – ‘Uganda to start producing coronavirus spray in 2 weeks – Kadaga’ 16.03.2020).

So, with the criticism in the start. When I looking into a little more… The company mentioned earlier, his the chairman and founder, it is based in Chicago, Illinois and was founded in 2003 and is still active. Maybe, the company in question for the spray. However, the company is known for this:

Therapeutic Proteins International, LLC. manufactures and markets bio-similar recombinant therapeutic proteins. Its portfolio of products includes small-dose cytokines, large-dose monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins, and in situ pegylation of difficult to conjugate molecules” (Crunchbase).

That is why I am super sceptical, that a guy making NSAIDs, filters and other devices actually has anything significant to sell. Unless, his just using his title and opportunity to sell hotcakes. Because, he doesn’t have this patent in the US, where his based and if he believed in it. It would have been on the patent site. Secondly, he would be hero, if he sold this at Wall-Mart.

However, he does suddenly out of nowhere show up in Uganda and selling a spray. Did, the authorities and the state organization do the research on the person? I didn’t even use long time to connect the dots. I didn’t know he existed before yesterday. Still, I could cough up this.

Use soap, hold yourself hygienic and a clean environment as possible. Crisis get people to act irrational and its natural. However, this here seems like cheap trick. Peace.

Zimbabwe: No remedies found to solve the hyperinflation! Part II

Mthuli Ncube has promised to move mountains. The Minister of Finance are supposed make such a vast difference and make everything back to normal. That is supposed to happen with all sorts of measures. If this being the Forex Market, restructuring policies of the RTGS Dollar or even the reissue of the Zimbabwe Dollar, instead of the US Dollarization of the currency market.

All of this haven’t helped it all. The other day, there was news of Currency Stabilization Force. However, that is sort of futile, when all other measures has been continuing the negative spiral. There are no remedy here, only PR stunts and magnificent words fitting for the Herald.

That is why this news today proves the problems at hand:

Zimbabwe resumes publishing year-on-year inflation data, with Zimstat today announcing an annualised rate of 540.16% for February 2020. Month-on-month inflation for February was 13.52%, 11.29 percentage points on the January rate of 2.23%” (newZWIRE, 16.03.2020).

These issues have been hit the Republic for over three years now. There been no remedies working. The Bond Notes wasn’t a hit, neither was the RTGS Dollars nor the taxation of the RTGS transfers. Neither been to reissue the Zimbabwe Dollar. There been measured ways to stream back US Dollars .

The state is clearly clueless wondering about and nitpicking, instead of looking at the root. Because, if it did. It would uncover treasures and most likely the skeletons, which is the reason for the failure to tame the dragon of inflation.

Ncube can only do this, if the public trust him and the regime he puts forward. However, there are no trust and there are belief that the state would do something that benefits the public. They are just awaiting another looting spree or get-rich-scheme from the authorities. This is why the failure is so imminent.

To get these sorts of numbers is a utter trapped situation with no redeeming quality what so ever. Ncube can promise a road to Heaven, but he has to pass through hell himself to get there. Instead, his deflecting the pain and micro-managing without any progress. Peace.

UNOC Launches Petroleum Products Bulk Trading (16.03.2020)

Province of The Episcopal Church of South Sudan: Lent Pastoral Letter from the Primate of ECSS to South Sudanese Christians – 16th March 2020 (16.03.2020)

Opinion: Oppah needs some guidance

Coronavirus is the work of God punishing countries that imposed sanctions on us. They are now keeping indoors. Their economies are screaming just like they did to ours. Trump should know that he is not God” Oppah Muchinguri, Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister.

During this weekend, the Zimbabwe Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri really went to far. She really went total Alex Jones and crazy-far right hogwash mentality. People pounding the ills of the worlds and pieces it all together. As the COVID19 or Corona Virus is spreading like crazy. She’s pinning God to the ills and the as an answer to the sanctions put on Zimbabwe. Which is first of all ridiculous and foolish at best.

What I want to ask Oppah, as a man of the bible. Point to what part of the scripture that fits the bill? Where in the bible is there any combination of virus and sanctions? Where is the piece of teachings of Jesus or any of his disciples? Can she find any wisdom in the proverbs or even in the letters in the New Testament?

Because, I cannot find anything that fits the bill. When you speak in this terms, your really putting yourself up for failure. Because, the whole wide is hit with this. Some exceptions, but the virus is spreading and not like it doesn’t hit anywhere. There is someone carrying it and exposing it there.

It seems like Oppah should read chapter 3 of the Letter of James from the New International Version, it states this: “ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” (James 3:7-12, NIV).

I think Oppah should consider these verses, as they set the tone for her judgement. Especially in the time we are in. As the world is grasping with a pandemic and trying to figure ways to stop it. To contain it and figure out ways to overcome it. Ever state, every nation is using their means and configure things to stop the spread.

Than, instead of using sense, her mind and her spirit to good use. She instead uses vengeance and ill-advised anger towards the United States. The sanctions might be hurting, but so does the grand-corruption, nepotism and all other mismanagement done directly. So, it’s bad when foreigners does something, but not hurting or ungodly when locals does? What does that say about her?

It’s like she could even get the use of this scripture too: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3, NIV).

Seems like Oppah should look into this lesson as well. The US is bad in many regards, but the ZANU PF is acting a fool itself and its reasons for the reasons for the sanctions in the first place. Which haven’t been countered nor changed. The human rights violations persists and doesn’t stop.

So, Oppah, my advice, be more sincere and less usage of scriptures in politics. It usually doesn’t work well. Unless, you want to feed the poor, salvage the hurt and lead people to salvation. However, you were seeking none of that, but saying it was a biblical reason for the virus in connection with sanctions. Which cannot be true and is a lie. Peace.

Burundi: Communique du Parti FNL lors du Congres Extraodinaire tenu ce Samedi 14 mars 2020 a Gitega (14.03.2020)

South Sudan Woman’s Coalition and Woman’s Bloc of South Sudan letter to President Kiir – Re: Implementation of the 35 % Provision of the R-ARCSS in the Executive Appointments (14.03.2020)

Cameroon: Communique du Gouvernement – Actes de Violence Perpeteres Conte un sous Officier de la Gendarmerie Nationale a Garoua dans la Region du Nord (14.03.2020)

Zimbabwe Election Support Network: Situational Statement on Chimanimani Rural District Ward 16 and Mangwe Rural District Ward 17 Local Authority By-Election (14.03.2020)

Corona Lockdown: I want to leave for Wakanda

14th March 2020, Oslo

Now the Kingdom I am in living, the metropolis and everything is shutting down. The whole Kingdom is slowing down. People are going into home-office, suspending and laying down their tools. Only the vital operations and the ones whose service is dire is continuing. There are measures all around and things are not at all normal.

It is like a post apocalyptic nightmare, but without Will Smith nor any of the other devastating effects. The city isn’t filled with blood-shed and there isn’t a overdrive. There is hoarding of produce and food-stuffs, even toilet paper is out of stocks in the groceries and supermarkets.

There is reports of new people catching the sickness. People are afraid when people are coughing or sneezing. People are worried. There is a dire understanding of all the measures, people wanting more restrictions on travels, check-ups of the ones landing on the borders. While the wealthy and the ones with funds has already collectively travelled to the villages of cottages and staying away from the metropolis.

This isn’t “I Am Legend” neither is it “Mad Max” or a Terminator sequel. This is real life. It hasn’t been a nuclear war. This is in peaceful times here. The actions made is with a purpose. The Corona Virus is deadly and contagious. We don’t know everything about it yet, there are still questions how to battle it and what it takes to contain it.

We are seeing more people catching it, we are seeing the fear and the worry. Everyone is surely following the updates, the numbers and the alarming headlines of big-men into quarantine. People are doing their needed duties, while we are awaiting the next new measure or even possible change.

I have not written about the virus, because I don’t feel qualified neither do I have a deep enough understanding of it. I am just worried, looking at the signs of it, the conditions and what the authorities are saying about it. There are reasons to worry, but also encourage us all stand strong in it all. Even as we all prepare as much as we can. The stocks of anti-bacterial products has run-out and other helpful things is gone for a while.

We are maybe seeing the sun today, but the day is still grim. As we are living in times of uncertainty, of fear of catching the COVID19. We all know this and try to avoid the sickness. Use our means and our tools. Take our precautions and our understanding.

What is happening more now, as the metropolis is a ghost-town, as the police and other authorities are acting up to ill actions of kids and youth. As the state and organizations are all suspended for unknown time. Just a public offices and others has done the same. We are living in extra-ordinary times. This is actions made to stop one sickness. Which we just have to battle and we’re by the meanings we know.

I have never in my own life lived it with this way, where I am myself is called in a risk-group and has a lung-condition, which has made my family worry all week as I used public transport to the offices where I work. Now, from Friday it was settled and I stay home. However, the worry still is there.

That is why with all this worry. I want to leave, but I cannot. The opportunities to flea is closing. The borders are getting shut all-over. The state says the citizens should return home and get quarantined too.

That is why the whole idea of leaving to Wakanda is futile. Also, as it is a imaginary Kingdom. It still would be good to live in a nation with vibranium and behind the protective barrier. That would surely be nice these days. When the sickness can pass through everywhere and more nations are hit as we speak. That is how it seems.

That is why the borders of Wakanda. The shield and the protective barrier, which can rise above Wakanda City, surely could have made a difference now. At least given hope and energy to the public. As they are going to bed at night with uncertainty. Maybe enough toilet-paper, bread and some bags of soup. However, that is reassurance. That is just doing what is needed to secure tomorrow.

I will end with the T’Challa, the speech of the King of Wakanda to the fictional United Nations General Assembly:

My name is King T’’Challa , son of King T’’Chaka . I am the sovereign ruler of the Nation of Wakanda and for the first time in our history. We will be sharing our knowledge and resources with the outside world. Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows We cannot, we must not. We will work to be an example of how we as brothers and sisters on this Earth should treat each other. Now more than ever, illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers . We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe” (Wakanda, 2018).

Think those words is needed for today, because as grim the world is today. As the worry, devastating news and the continuing spiral of people catching the decease, we all got to work together in solidarity and ensure that we get to live on. Not give up, but listen to the authorities and secure the future today. So, even as a part of me wants to take a plane to Wakanda. I know it’s not the right thing to do. However, it would be a lie not saying it. That is a natural reflex, but that doesn’t mean you act upon it. It is human to try to get away from the pain, the suffering and the illness coming your way. 

Though we will not do it. It is important to think of those who will. They could have been you. They just used their oppertunity and has to answer for their action. We other who follows orders, guidelines and recommandations of the state. Will follow our conscience too. That is why I will stay put, but will follow my gut feeling. So, that me and mines are safe. Peace.