Ethiopia: Prime Minister’s Spin Episode Two – The Press Release

The assassination of singer and activist Haacaaluu Hundeessaa on the 29th June 2020. The authorities have used violence, arbitrary arrests and extra-judicial-killings. With this in mind, the Republic and its leadership needs to fix and spin the narrative. Because, the government doesn’t want to be looking like blood hounds and atrocities towards own citizens.

The Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali wants to look golden. The Prime Minister wants to look the like the future, the promising and the reformer. Abiy doesn’t want a stain on his record. However, the arrests of both the Tigray and Oromo leadership shows what he does. Not to forget the deaths of 260 people and 3500 arrested. While the unofficial numbers are 1,000 killed and 5,000 arrested.

That is why the man wants to look wonderful, but the reality is sinister. That’s why the government blame either outside forces or the TPLF. The government cannot be to blame, even if they have all the arms, bullets and orders to oppress the public. That is why the state uses Command Post in Addis Ababa and the Oromia Region. With the knowledge of this, it is outrageous that they are trying to spin it.

Like they did in the most recent press release by saying this:

Ethiopia’s transition from an autocratic state to a nascent democracy is underway and is inevitable. The government recognizes that this journey is tumultuous and filled with many obstacles as structures, systems and networks that remained under the grip of authoritarianism are slowly being chiseled away. The critical reform milestones enabled in the past two and half years will continue taking root as the administration remains committed to staying the course. This political will at the highest level is anchored in establishing a just and democratic order that pays heed to equality and respect of fundamental rights and dignity of every citizen. It is anchored in respecting and upholding the Constitution, which guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to life and security of person. It is anchored in ensuring and maintaining the rule of law, as no one is above the law of the land” (OPM, 10.07.2020).

Using the reforms as a shield to enforce injustice and impunity. That is what the Prime Minister and the government does. They claim to stop authoritarianism, but using the means of that to arrest and kill citizens without proper cause. It is really dubious at best. A method of using the law against the public and protestors, but not taking accountability for own actions.

It is hard to see how the Federal Government is respecting the rule of law or constitution, as it so easily can take life and arrest people. It seems like the Prosperity Party is above the law, when they can order these sort of orders on the citizens. While the opposition leaders in Oromo and Tigray is behind bars. The burning of houses and other vicious acts of the government should be addressed. Instead, the state only looks into the citizens who doesn’t have a voice or a outlet to let out grievances. If they do, then they will suffer. Peace.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC): Implement don’t amend….. As citizens rejects the proposed Constitutional amendment No 2 during public hearings (09.07.2020)

Botswana: Elephant Deaths in Botswana (10.07.2020)

Opinion: Lord Mayoral candidate Chameleone [want to act green and red, but smells yellow]

Dr Jose Chameleone aka Joseph Mayanja are officially nominating himself as the candidate for Lord Mayor of Kampala on a People Power ticket. Surely combined with the Democratic Party, where his a member and been a National Mobilizer.

I don’t know if I can trust Chameleone. His been loyal to the President and campaigned for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) for years. Yes, a man can switch and change his allegiance. That is all natural, but don’t expect it to not follow him blindly either.

He wants to act all opposition, even picking the safe bet of being both part of the Democratic Party under the guidance of Mao and ticket on People Power Movement with the boost of Bobi Wine. It seems like a positive political bingo. Getting both the facade of a political party and support of the growing movement around Bobi Wine.

Chameleone might be able to trick a few as an entertainer, but I have hard time seeing him as a trusted candidate. He cannot even pay taxes on his cars. The man has plenty of times forgotten or deliberately not paid taxes on his SUVs. That has been an issue since 2012. If it is a Cadillac or Toyota. The musician have struggled to pay for it.

His possibly a legend in the field of music. A pop star and a man with many top singles. Chameleone have conquered that field, but as a politician his a start-up. With his past love and association with the NRM. I have question his sudden character of the opposition.

That his both with Mao and Bobi Wine shows that he wants to finesse this game. I don’t doubt him. Last campaign and after the General Election in 2016. The man defended the President, the whole “Tubonga Naawe” song and sends his congratulatory message after the rigged enterprise.

It is like the man now wants to forget all this. That the drive for campaign-money and support of the State House.

It is weird how quickly he went from being Yellow to Red or Green for that matter. That it was that simple. Chameleone just switched camps all over night. It is hard to figure out.

Now he wants to become the Lord Mayor of Kampala. Challenge the two term incumbent Erias Lukwago who went from DP to create his own party. Chameleone is overtaking the slot of Lukwago in the DP. Also, making himself more relevant by joining the PP. There is no other way to look at it. If he had done this for 2016, Jose would have used the TDA for his benefit.

I have little faith in Chameleone. Until he proves me otherwise, but I don’t want to be naive. Believe his words and “sudden” change of heart. It just seems like his put there to make the race harder for Lukwago. As the NRM cannot field any sensible candidate in Kampala. Peace.

Opinion: The Duterte Administration doesn’t want a free-media, but a gang of YES-MEN!

Today its official the House of Representative has put the nail in the coffin for the renewal of the media house and franchise ABS-CBN. This has been an on-going battle for the media company and its associates. What this does is close radio stations across the Republic and also TV stations. They are deliberately closing one of the strong independent media houses.

ABS-CBN have had the ability to actually bring content of facts. Yes, it has its wrong like everyone does. Everyone who publish, distribute and address news will sooner or later do blunders. What this Presidency is doing is to silence and muffle media houses that dares to question them. Just like Ressa of Rappler, the ABS-CBN is in the same regard. They dared to have provocative ads and such in the campaign ahead of this administration. That’s why this sort of thing is a retaliation, as the Congress is filled with YES-MEN and people blindly loyal to the President. He won the recent mid-term election and has less of opposition to ever stop him. Everyone that oppose get into dire waters and awaiting sharks.

ABS-CBN now is in the same waters. Rappler, which is a small digital operation has survived. Even when the authorities and the state has challenged it at every possible way. Now the media house of ABS-CBN is getting detained and possibly closed because it offended the Don in the previous Presidential Elections.

There is no other way to see this. It is a political retaliation. They can use legal means and spin-it, but that is the end-game. If ABS-CBN had been positive and been less objective, if it had been as friendly as GMA and 24 Oras. They wouldn’t come in this situation. The ABS-CBN is here, because it dares to question the powers to be. It dares to challenge and also go nuts about it. If it didn’t do that and was a only broadcasting what Malacanang and the PCOO wants spread. They are just to copy verbatim and memos without questioning it.

If you do that? Then, your in trouble. Big trouble, possibly either losing your job or getting court-side. The government will figure one way or another to bring you down.

With this in mind. If anyone in the House of Representatives that voted for the closure of ABS-CBN ever speaks of freedom of speech and liberty to express themselves. Than, they got to look in the mirror and remember what they did today. The 70 members should be remember, because they clearly don’t give an rats ass about freedom of expression. They are just loyal lackey’s of Duterte.

This here shows that this administration again doesn’t trust the media to cover their actions. Neither, does it accept them pressing on issues. They are just supposed to dance along with the President and his team. Not supposed to question or speak up. If you do?

You gone go missing and be denied. Just like the ABS-CBN or Rappler who both been under fire. The ones loosing out is the public, the employees and in the end, also the men who stopped ABS-CBN. Unless they want to clap in the same echo-chamber and wants the same psalms to sing from Manila to Davao. They just wants empty-headed tabloids and scripted songs in favour of the administration. These representative don’t want to be questioned or investigated by reports. They want to have empty love like celebrities.

These people want the red-carpet treatment, they want to be kissed and get the love. That’s why they are closing ABS-CBN. To prove a point, but its a flawed point. Only undressing their motives and the message is clear.

If you don’t show us love, we will close you down. Peace.

RDC: Declaration Politique du Parti Congo Na Biso (CNB) – (09.07.2020)

Association Congolaise des Banques (ACB): Communique de Presse (09.07.2020)

Coronavirus – Sudan: More than 350,000 people received humanitarian assistance in previously inaccessible areas of South Darfur (09.07.2020)

Other areas of Jebel Marra in Central and South Darfur States are already receiving food, emergency shelter, non-food supplies, health, nutrition, WASH and education services.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 9 – United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners have provided life-assistance to about 350,000 people in previously inaccessible parts of the Jebel Marra area, in South Darfur, over the past nine months, overcoming important challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, humanitarians reached different communities for the first time in 10 years, during a need’s assessment carried out at the end of June in the area. According to the preliminary findings of the studies, hundreds of thousands of people across several communities in the region have little or no access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation products, and also lack health, nutrition, education and protection services.

The last mission, led by OCHA, could assess the situation in South Jebel Marra locality, on the boundary between Government-controlled and Sudan Liberation Army – Abdel Wahid (SLA/AW)-controlled areas. According to the community leaders, there are about 127,000 people in Gorlanbang Village alone, including 11,800 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from surrounding villages and 9,400 returnees. The IDP community reported that they have not been able to travel to their home villages since 2017 due to security concerns. Fears of sexual gender-based violence also prevents women from going to their farms or collecting firewood.

In North and West Jebel Marra localities, IOM and other humanitarian partners are completing the registration of people in need and providing emergency humanitarian needs assistance. Other areas of Jebel Marra in Central and South Darfur States are already receiving food, emergency shelter, non-food supplies, health, nutrition, WASH and education services.

The recent missions and assistance provided have been possible following important progress made since the last quarter of 2019 to facilitate humanitarian access to inaccessible communities in Darfur, with support from the Government, non-state actors and the African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

Opinion: Lazarus wasn’t long in heaven

Malawi have just inaugurated and welcomed new President Lazarus Chakwera with his Tonse Alliance. The Malawi Congress Party, the party of Banda back to power. The man could walk on water in the first hours of his Presidency. Everyone was looking at the stars, the moons and pledging for a new start after years of Peter Mutharika in power.

It didn’t take many days going from heavenly praises, psalms song across the continent and sweet melodies played to serenade the masses. However, the announcement of the cabinet has backfired. The family affairs, the nepotism, the gifting of ministries and questionable appointments. It is just a familiar tale of kick-backs and grifting.

Chakwera was supposed to be different. He promised change and was supposed to be different than Mutharika. We are now seeing the same sort of affairs like the ones blamed on the previous President. The only different is that a Reverend is doing it and not one of the sons of the dynasties doing it.

With a new head of state out of the norm. There was supposed to be change. However, those who believed that, have been proved wrong and just within days. The President has appointed cronies, family members and financial backers of the campaign. It is like a ceremonial act.

Lazarus will have a hard time to say this is made by merit and the warning sign should be there. When the Attorney for the petition to challenge the previous election was offered to become the Attorney General and turned it down. That should been the red-flag of how Lazarus would act.

If he could pay-off his lawyer, the man who made the Fresh Presidential Election possible. What could he do to others?

That was proven on the 8th July 2020. Lazarus would give his blessings, he would appoint family, associates and party cronies. Not the ones most fitting for the roles, not the ones with technical abilities in the field, but some friendly faces who will not challenge his reign. That is how it seems.

This is nepotism. Plain and simple. The President cannot say otherwise. If he does, his lying and that’s not good a look reverend. To make the cabinet into a family matters, make the cabinet into stalwarts and insiders of industry to reign supreme. Only leads to speculations that Lazarus was only game for publicity stunts, but go back to the ordinary politics like usual.

Lazarus was supposed to revive, to reform, but with these appointments. You cannot anticipate much. Except that with nepotism usually comes graft. I anticipate a maize scandal, another cashgate and maybe some unexplained SUVs in the near future. Peace.