RDC: Communique Twirwaneho (13.07.2021)

RDC: Écidé – Communique Écidé (13.07.2021)

Eswatini: The King will not listen to the “pleas” at the upcoming ‘sibaya’

His Majesty King Mswati III has called Sibaya to be held on Friday, 16 July 2021 at Ludzidzini Royal Residence from 10am. As per the Kingdom of Eswatini’s Constitution, “the people, through Sibaya, constitute the highest policy and advisory council (Libandla) of the Nation.”” (Eswatini Government, 13.07.2021).

The Sibaya have been said to be: “The mechanism has been condemned as superficial, unrepresentative, and counterproductive, since participation and discussions are pre-empted by government representatives coordinating and choreographing its deliberations. Individuals expressing differing viewpoints are known to have been immediately classified as enemies and their privileges invalidated in the process” (Dimpo Motsamai – ‘Swaziland’s non-party political System and the 2013 tinkhundlaelections’ 15.08.2015).

It has now been two weeks with clear violations of human rights, where people are not allowed to assemble and go after the citizens who has protested the absolute monarch of King Mswati III. His family is running the Kingdom like a family-business. That has been deliberate as his family has businesses, appoints cabinet and secures the extended family in high ranking offices.

King Mswati III have held Sibaya before and not even listened to the pleas of the general public. At one of them they wanted to get rid of the current day Prime Minister and his Cabinet. However, the King retained the PM and his appointed cabinet. Because the wishes of the King is final and his orders are law. That’s why the mechanism of a Sibaya is more of a public display of looking like you care, but in general it is a smokescreen.

The King will not ask for forgiveness for shooting, killing and silence his citizens. Not like he will take any real accountability. Because, he has the army on deck and the government under total control. Whatever the King decides happens and he choose the path ahead.

Over 70 people have died as a cause of the actions made the King. He ordered the soldiers on the streets and in the kingdom. This was a controlled blood-bath and where the state went against its own citizens. As they we’re protesting for their rights. A right the King doesn’t seem interested to give them. Instead he will use force and show his power.

The Sibaya will not change this. Just like previous ones. He is just doing this to make it seems like he listens. The King could easily started real reforms to get proper representation and a multi party democracy. There are already parties ready to participate and become viable options for the general public. However, the King is still appointing everyone and that’s isn’t right.

This is why the Sibaya will not solve this. Unless, his willing to reform and change the current status quo. That means giving up some powers. He has already made a bloodshed to keep the system in place. Nevertheless, if he is smart… would have listened already, but at I doubt it at this point.

His ego and his arrogance will not muster this change. Just like in previous Sibaya. He will not give way, but instead find out who is the enemies of the throne. That’s why Friday’s meeting will not bear fruits, but be another wasted opportunity. Peace.

Opinion: It isn’t about Zuma but the system itself

What is happening now is tragic… there is a lack of help and a state to help huge parts of the population. This is a systemic default, which was inherited by the African National Congress (ANC) and not made better. The new regime got a new elite and new middle-class, but the majority was still left behind.

Zuma’s incarceration was only the boiling point of all the ones left behind. By a system made for a certain elite and for the ones prospering on the demise of others. Where the ANC and political actors could spike the system and earn big. They could become big-man and get huge pay-offs. The state corporations and tenders was spoils of the game and they could access huge slush-funds in the portfolios of either the enterprises or government parastatals. Therefore, the ones living in townships and on smaller plots. Have never seen the changes.

The ones living in Soweto and elsewhere haven’t seen the rising economy. The growing businesses and felt the changes of society since end of apartheid. They have been left alone and only remembered with t-shirts in political rallies. They are the ones who could easily go to the streets and malls an loot these days. They could go and fetch TVs, Radios and whatever available.

The dire situation in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng is only showing the problems brewing in plain sight. So many people are living hand-to-mouth. While the political elite and the middle class could buy SUVs and expensive flats. While the others couldn’t even afford the next electricity bill or possible medical check-up.

That’s why you know the system isn’t cracking. Zuma’s incarceration is only the last straw. Even if Zuma didn’t do much or anything for the same people in the streets. His ANC have only lifted a very limited part of society out of poverty, but have not stopped the general challenges of unemployment and lack of progress.

The riots, burning of buildings and general looting will only further cause harm to the same ones in the streets. This will cause lack of investment and family businesses might never return again. They cannot afford to rebuild and restock. Neither can factories and other places open up again before they get liquidity to do so. Some might not even have the heart to rebuild it and that’s why even further lack of jobs will come out of this.

It is a spiral of negative reactions. Not that the ones on streets will feel much difference. They are left in a situation of no possible change. The ANC have never made them prosper or given opportunities to the next generation. The government have fallen and the leaders haven’t been there for them.

45 people have died. Over 700 people arrested and 2500 soldiers deployed. This will just further escalate. The status will not bring hope or changes. Only more depriving pieces of humanity. As there are reports of white owners blocking blacks from entering malls and shops in Gauteng. That just says it all… when the apartheid era laws are kept by the business-owners themselves. Instead of finding issues to solve this and make life better. The state is leaving all these people behind and nothing good is coming out of this.

This is a crisis that has been brewing and in the waiting. The state haven’t offered the poorest and the ones in need. They have been left behind and the results are what is seen today. The destruction and the looting. The desperation and total use of excessive means to get ahead. When the poor has seen the political looting the state for so long. They have read the stories and heard what they did. Now, instead of sophisticated thieving through government schemes… they went to the malls and shops to take whatever they could. Cars filled with merchandise and general products.

This just shows where the ANC has been lacking. Where they have forgotten its duty and haven’t done its job. The ANC have had the time and the ability to make life better for more people. However, they haven’t done this and become greedy themselves. They have found means to enrich themselves, but not the general public. The majority isn’t feeling the rise or the economic growth of South Africa.

They were left behind and this week they could retaliate. Not that it was beautiful or in a manner, which will build society. However, it is an reaction to years of being forgotten. They have not seen or heard anything hopeful. They now used the Zuma’s arrests as a means to an end. This will not be over, but should be a warning to the ANC. That it got a job to do… and they need to configure their policies to help the ones who was on the streets these days. Because, if it don’t … it will have a revolution on its hands and that’s a monster the party cannot fight. Peace.

Opinon: Abiy hopes donor aid can cover his deficit of $1.5 billion dollars

The federal government plans to get 66.8 billion Br (1.5 billion dollars at the current exchange rate) in foreign aid to finance its budget deficit for the fiscal year, projected to reach 144 billion Br. This is amidst backlash from the western world over the war in Tigray and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. Parliament has passed the budget bill, unanimously, comprising 561 billion Br for the 2021/22 fiscal year, which began last week” (Addis Fortune – ‘Ethiopia Hopes for $1.5b in Foreign Aid to Finance Looming Budget Deficit’ 12.07.2021).

The Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali after the failure of his policies, government actions and his inability to get positive feedback from the Western powers. Are now seeking to get $1.5 Billion U.S. Dollars in this budget year.

This is happening after the European Union come with another unfavourable resolutions. The EU has already seized aid or suspended to pay for certain programs. That has happen as a result of the warfare, which has been vicious since early November 2020. This has undercut the ideals of the donors and who they want to support.

That’s why it’s really risky of Finfinne or the Prosperity Party to seek for that amount of money. Unless, they are willing to loan from dubious sources and take out loans it cannot carry. Since, the United States and EU isn’t doling away funds for nothing. This is why the Addis Ababa government needs to redefine its goals or what they want to achieve.

Prime Minister Abiy have clearly lost his momentum and destroyed his good name. The whole “reformist” agenda isn’t for sale anymore. Neither is the belief that he will do any good. When he has done what he could destroy the Tigray region. Neither has he opened up the political space or given the media more freedom. As journalists are arrested and media houses are closed. Opposition parties are blocked from the polls and their leaders are behind bars on “political motivated” charges.

That’s why it’s really rich and naive to think that this man and his party will deliver the goods. The EU and US is in the rights to spend the taxpayers money elsewhere. Since, this government could easily spend the deficit to boost the army again and pay mercenaries to target Tigray even more.

Abiy clearly didn’t plan ahead, but went all in thinking he would be supreme. That he had consolidated all power and gotten a better relations with Asmara. Now, his in the same veins as Afewerki. These are not positive role models or showing the opportunities of the Horn of Africa.

The Prosperity Party hopes the foreign powers will bail them out. They hope someone will come and give them money without any strings. The sovereign who needed Eritrea to kill their own. Is now wondering why certain donors doesn’t want give them funds anymore. That all makes sense.

Not everyone is favours of Warlords and the ones who might kill their own to get more political power. That is not the sort of leader and sort of system that creates stability. That only creates more conflict and it could easily spiral out of control. This is why the Addis Ababa government is sanctioned and isn’t in good favours with plenty.

The bullets, the ammo and the use of force has cost. Not only has it depleted and destroyed the reputation of Abiy. It has also shown the true colours of it and that’s why they are not willing to invest in it. The current leadership needs to evaluate itself and maybe the PP needs to rethink its strategy. Since the Prime Minister and all his Yes-Men will not get monetary support for self-destruction. Even if that seems to be a deal Abiy takes every day of the week. Peace.

Botswana: Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation – Travel Advisory – Republic of South Africa and Kingdom of Eswatini (13.07.2021)

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – On the untimely adoption of a politically motivated resolution by the EU on the situation of human rights in Tigray (13.07.2021)

RDC: Declaration du G13 – A l’Occasion de l’An 1 de l’Appel du 11 Juillet 2020 (11.07.2021)

RDC: Communique des FARDC (12.07.2021)

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – On resuming the AU-led trilateral negotiations on GERD (13.07.2021)