Ethiopia: Tigrayan Nationalist Parties Forum position on the ongoing invasion of Tigray (11.03.2021)

Zimbabwe: MDC-Alliance – Communique on 10/03/2021 National Standing Committee Meeting (10.03.2021)

Ethiopia: State of Tigray – Statement of the Government of Tigray (06.03.2021)

Zimbabwe: Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T) – Press Statement – MDC-T Dismiss Chamisa’s Politics of Hate (10.03.2021)

Opinion: If you cannot manage it in 5, you will not manage it in 7

Today Pastor Martin Ssempa wrote a piece for the Daily Monitor called ‘Why MPs need seven-year term to serve the country’. This is happening as the Constitutional Amendment is up for prolonging and making the Parliamentary Terms longer from the current 5 years to 7 years.

His arguments are artificial at best. They are the supposed sugar-coated flattery attempt to seal the deal on a third date. This isn’t the sort of arguments that hold any water in true argument.

The Members of Parliament have 5 years and its been a prefixed time for years. He uses the costs for running and the debt the MPs are getting for running their campaigns. So, it is a better investment for them, if they get 7 years instead of 5 years. He also says its a better investment to let them ride the same paid vehicle they are getting for that long instead of the now 5 years.

There are more simple way of stopping those expenses, right?

The first you can do. Is to revise the laws and make it less expensive to run as a candidate. The current MPs can ensure the costs of being an MP goes down. Have less allowances and have less perks. The MPs can usher in legislation that stops the commercialization of politics and the campaigns. Alas, that isn’t even in consideration in his argument. Which shows how flawed it is. When there are dire and very easy steps to undermine the costs for the taxpayer and for the state in concern with the MPs.

That would be cheaper for the citizens or taxpayers by the blink of an eye. If the MPs had less allowances, perks and other stipulated pay-incentives, which they happen to have today. The argument he has… they will be even more paid and have more time to settle in and get accustomed with wealth the office provides. A pastor is maybe not the ones to talk about greed, but that is “virtue” in the circles of power an influence. Therefore, the ability to stay longer. Might even trigger more entitlement and a more will to find new measures to enrich themselves. Not the opposite…

He also speaks of training and the time to serve. However, even the most seasoned and the ones who has been on several terms as a legislator or an MP. Haven’t necessarily done much in their time in office. This is not discussed in his piece. Neither the service delivery in general. Just the blunt idea that if given time. The ones becoming MPs will turn into seasoned Statesmen. If it was so… then the ones being in office since the early 1990s and early 2000s would have a better track-record and would be known for their legislation. Alas, that isn’t always the case and therefore… his idea is flawed.

The final stroke of genius is the biblical aspect of 7 years instead of 5 years. My counter to that. If you need two more years than what they have already had. Why do they need that and why couldn’t it suffice to do something earlier? Are the five first years barren years with no results and suddenly a yield comes in the magical sixth year before they campaign again on the seventh?

Well, this wasn’t cutting it for me. There was no substantial reason for me. Only a change of this kind will make the ones going for a monetary gain even more hardened. As they will benefit even more and they cannot be voted out. These will linger for longer time and their scandals might even be forgotten between elections. It is made for a one party control state. To keep their loyalist MPs and have their way. This isn’t to secure accountability or transparency, but give them a longer time to earn on their role as a representative.

The Pastor isn’t giving a remedy or a flair of hope. No, his polishing a path with good intent straight to hell. This here will not bring any of the good spirited intentions he might have. 7 years will only prolong the agony and the possible misuse of office. This here will not be for better educating or creating more profound knowledge of developing the state. The end-game is a grift and a hustle. Not a joyful ride to development and better institutions. That will be a lie and we’re not eating it. Peace.

The Rumour-mill says: That Magufuli have been airlifted from Nairobi to either India, Germany or China(?)

The Tanzanian authorities are mull. They are silent. The ones in-charge are not letting any information on the whereabouts or the condition, the President is in. President Joseph Magufuli was reported to airlifted to Nairobi and being taken care of at the Nairobi Hospital yesterday.

That was after some minor reports of escalating breathing problems. Therefore, he was taken away from Tanzania to a secure hospital in Nairobi. The Nation Media Group said an “unknown” African Leader was there. While there was also reports of Very Important Person’s Security Detail there as well. Therefore, it was indications that it could be him. Also, the Nairobi Hospital Twitter page dropped a tweet, which they later deleted. Which stated his treatment and they said he was getting better.

However, today… there is other reports. That his even in cardiac arrest and is airlifted from Nairobi to India. Fichua Tanzania have reported today as source, that the President have flown there. After the Indian Ambassador visited the hospital. The President got an air-ambulance equipped with ventilators and oxygen cylinders. The Fichua claims the Kenyan authorities felt it embarrassing that it was happening in Kenya. Therefore, the clearance for the travel happened in only 20 minutes.

This is a continuation of yesterday and a possible proof of the worsening condition of Magufuli. A COVID-19 denier and someone who has marched ahead with no concern about the global pandemic. Now the virus has hit home and he needs health-care elsewhere.

There is no sort of official records or verification of this. There is only the small footnotes. The President whereabouts is still unclear. The media is numb, the state is silent and his handlers aren’t saying a word. Only the Fichua Tanzania and Tundu Lissu have stated that his airlifted to India today. However, that is yet not proven. This is why that’s still considered rumours.

What is worrying is the non-response and the lack of flow of information. That the Tanzanian authorities isn’t acting upon this and setting the record straight. The Head of State is rumoured to be everywhere in whatever condition they say. That is not a good look. If they think their silence is golden. They are wrong… it is a sign of weakness and not of strength. That they cannot be honest about the whereabouts or the condition his in.

At this moment his either still in Nairobi, India or Tanzania. Some are even speculating that his going first to Dubai on the way to Germany for further treatment there. While the most rumours are in the way of India and smuggled out there.

God knows, but we don’t, but what we do know. Is that karma is a bitch and that has bitten Magufuli hard. Now he has to swallow the bitter pill and get treatment for something he downplayed for as long as I can remember. He now got to drown his sorrows.

The final rumour is that his on his way to China. Which is reported here:

Global Bar Magazine can now reveal that the president probably flew to China for specialist care, which is also reasonable given the historical ties between the countries. A plane from China Southern Airlines left Nairobi at 14:24 local time on March 10. It was at that time that some sources stated on twitter that Magufuli would have left Nairobi for India. The plane has no official departure time and arrived in Nairobi from Changsha in China early in the morning of March 10. This plane has no destination and usually flies between different cities in China. The plane is now on its way to China. With or without the president” (Peter Bolme – ‘SOURCE: TANZANIAN PRESIDENT ON THIS WAY TO CHINA FOR COVID TREATMENT?’ 10.03.2021).

We can wonder what is up and what the Tanzanian authorities are preparing. If they are planning “mild stroke” or any other excuse instead of telling the truth. If the Tanzanian authorities cared. They would have come out and stated the facts. Instead of letting the rumours run wild.

Because, that is not good to anyone. It doesn’t matter if he gets treatment in Nairobi, India, China or Germany for that matter. What matters in the end of it all. Is if he gets it COVID-19, breathing trouble or is in another state. That we don’t really know and someone isn’t telling the whole story. Peace.

Ethiopia: The UNDP shows how partisan they are in a internal memo

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) wrote a Memorandum on the Tigray Region in Ethiopia on the 16th February 2021. The “Note to the Secretary General” meaning the UNDP wrote this to Antonio Guterres and for his eyes only.

The UNDP’s mission is this: “On the ground in about 170 countries and territories, UNDP works to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress” (UNDP – About Us).

The UNDP mission is clear, still one of the first piece of the memo says this: “A 3 month running conflict has morphed from outright war to protracted low intensity conflict with evident regional dimensions” (UNDP. 2021). With this sort of narrative, it could have been straight lip-service from Addis Ababa. They are trading in the belief of a “low scale” conflict now. As the war is still ravaging on its fourth month and counting. It is really bizarre to read this from the UNDP.

What is also very concerning is when the UNDP memo says this: “Everything within the UN rule book tells us it is a moment to engage with the government and people of Ethiopia. It is an opportunity to put the humanitarian, development and peace, nexus to action. To succeed with require a reassessment of the international community’s current hard talk and posture. What is needed now is to fast track construction of a national peace architecture, something Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has demonstrated willingness to pursue – in Tigray and entire Ethiopia” (UNDP, 2021).

It is really striking that the UNDP wants the world be softer and more cordial, as the own government is killing civilians, raping citizens and creating human rights violations on the daily. The UNDP is accepting the ills of the warfare in Ethiopia, as long as the Prime Minister “promises” to play ball. They are letting a warlord issue war and doesn’t want the aftermath of it. They see it as an opportunity, but don’t want the international community to react to the ramification of conflict. They are just supposed to believe that his still a man of peace and not who wages war. Which is apparently who he is, but not the “posture” that the world was made to “believe”.

The UNDP continues with this: “The posture of Ambassadors in Addis confirmed that the shift towards solutions – oriented engagement with government is yet to be made, as the focus remains on as reprimand, investigations of human rights violations with international participation (to be done before elections) and as a condition precedent to support for recovery. In a context like Ethiopia, this approach is likely to be counter-productive and will yield no results” (UNDP, 2021).

Everyone is just supposed to kiss the hand of the Prime Minister and not challenge his actions. They are just saying that people are not supposed to question the government. Not question the usage of war in Tigray, the political prisoners across the republic and use of force towards civilians. Therefore, being so mediocre towards the government who are causing atrocities. That is really shocking. This is not their mission and will only allow the Prime Minister continue with his warfare and assault on human rights without any punitive actions. That is if he will later care about this when they are trying to yield “results”. Are the UNDP so naive in 2021?

It is hard for me to believe that the UNDP would be like this. The UNDP lacking a spine and be a follower of the Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy. That they are believing the whole narrative of the state and not even checking it. Not even checking the lies of the Prime Minister or his fellow peers. It is strange and the UNDP is clearly not following its own mission here. They are just serving the Government of Ethiopia without any concern with the truth.

The UNDP is clearly partisan and it’s tragic. They should be better, but we can apparently not expect that. They rather be soft and mediocre, then people with a spine and who has character who dares to question, keep them accountable and being transparent about the conflict. Instead, we are just supposed sing along to the bullets in Tigray. That is if you are following the advice of the UNDP Memo.

The UNDP rather be a buddy, then a development partner and a acting sincere. They are cosying up and being sweet with someone who orders murders. How that is “protecting the planet” and “sustaining their progress” is beyond me. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ministry of Peace – Press Release (10.03.2021)

South Sudan: SPLM/A-(IO) – Dr. Riek Machar Teny letter to All Units (06.03.2021)

Ethiopia: Coalition of Eritrean Canadian Communities and Organizations (CECCO) and National Council of Eritrean Americans (NCEA) – Press Release – Sensantionalized Reporting Costing Lives in Ethiopia (08.03.2021)