Zambia: LAZ calls on Electoral Commission of Zambia to Discharge its Statutory Mandate without Fear or Favour and for the Restoration of Internet, Social Media in the Aftermath of Elections (13.08.2021)

Opinion: Ramaphosa is trying the deflection game

The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has this week had interviews and been directly taking questions from the State Capture Inquiry or the Zondo Commission. Which has investigated into the grand corruption and the use of state enterprises during the tenure of the previous President Jacob Zuma. When Ramaphosa was the Deputy an that should get acknowledge.

Ramaphosa has by everything coming out been deflecting. He has acted like he didn’t know and other people directed things. If not he just dipped out of being the director of a company, which happens to be implicated and used by the state owned energy corporation Eskom.

It is just like we are supposed to be dumb and naive. Believe the tales and not think that the second in command didn’t know or get the intelligence of it. As Ramaphosa was a high ranking official and was entangled in various of businesses on the side of his political office. So, its not like he couldn’t address things or know what the President was doing.

This is just like they are trying to undermine or silence minutes from about a few years ago, but they have the citations from the inception of the African National Congress (ANC). It is weird that the golden goose and the ability to eat wasn’t discussed in the ANC NEC or anywhere else. As the Gupta’s friendship wasn’t only with the family of Zuma, but of others as well. The Oakbay and other companies own by them got tenders across the Republic. Therefore, other agencies, ministries and such has been connected.

That is why it’s weird that the Deputy didn’t know or had some sort of involvement in it. This is why the Ramphosa government has taken this with kid-gloves and not riled up about it. They just got him to resign by default. Because, the ANC knew it was looking ugly and the amount of alleged corruption cases surrounding the President had to be handled. Even if this could implicate other cadres and high ranking officials. That’s because it is not the Executive is working in a vacuum.

This is why the deflections and act like you know nothing is so insincere of Cyril. The current President knows all of this and he was insider. It is not like he can act a fool and not knowing about these orders. That would give Zuma unreasonable amount of power. Though we know that Zuma has done and ensured the state could be used a personal coffer and bank-account. The President found any scheme possible it seemed to get wealthy by his office.

The ANC and Zuma knows all of this. The Nkandla Village Project alone shows the ability of Zuma to eat. It is not like he could afford that and the home in Dubai too. While him and his sons has posh cars and gotten plum-jobs in businesses associated with the various of scandals of the time. This is why Ramaphosa had to know something was up and gotten the words about it too. It is not like the Deputy would be shielded and not getting the orders/tenders or information of government business.

Ramphosa can act dumb and naive, but that doesn’t make it true. We can easily understand the connections and the influence that was there. Zuma could easily have found a way to give Ramaphosa incentives to be loyal. As the President could offer roles and pay-offs to not talk about the other schemes he was issuing. That is not taking away the agency of Ramphosa, but as they we’re part of government and party. It is unbelievable to consider that Ramphosa didn’t anything or had any knowledge. That seems impossible!

It is not like Ramphosa was in another organization or party. If Cyril had been in opposition or a low level cadre or just a member in the sticks. No, he was a high ranking official too and knew each very well. These had been rising to power together and it is not like Zuma did all the conspiracy by himself. That must be inaccurate, but it is done to wash his hands clean and absolve him of guilt.

I cannot believe that, as it seems unreasonable or impossible. When it looks like that or sound unreal. You know that it cannot be true. The continued interviews and collecting evidence should debunk these statements. As it cannot be a “true story” or “tales of old” since that is only done to buy “freedom” and “liberty”.

That is to give more credit to Zuma. Yes, Zuma has made this all by himself and has to take responsibility for his actions. However, he didn’t do this alone and the ANC knew about it. Some was most likely informed and participated in meetings about it. Ramphosa must have been accordingly be fitted into it and just because his the President now. He wants to silence it and be cleared. Nevertheless, the Head of State should answer for what he possibly participated and involved himself in.

Since this was a “State Capture” that means it was the whole “state” and not just a “Zuma Capture”. This means the deputy was also participating in the capture or plunder, which shouldn’t be neglected. Just like the other ministers and cadres in the party machinery eating of all of this. That is why reading all the neglect and lack of knowledge seems like a fan-fiction of politics.

That is how I see it after following it for years. Cyril Ramaphosa shouldn’t get off easily… just like others shouldn’t as well. The ANC did this in cahoots Zuma. That is the legit reason to question the testimony of Ramphosa this week. It just sounds to easy and a way of “get-out-of-jail-free-card”. Peace.

Ethiopia: The newest OCHA Situation Reports is showing little to no progress in Tigray region …

The warfare and escalation of conflicts across the Ethiopian republic is costing the civilians and the citizens. As the state is has recently issued for every individual citizen of eligible age to participate and conscript to the army, special forces and even militias to beat the Tigray Defence Force (TDF).

The state is clearly not winning or doing well on the battlefield. The OCHA Ethiopia is showing no signs of betterment, as it is still 5,2 millions in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Tigray Region alone. That is not counting the people internally displaced in Amhara region or in Afar region as well. As there is also army movements within Oromia region by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

What is striking and says a lot about the current time in the region is this: “The situation in Tigray, and the spillover of the conflict to neighboring Afar and Amhara regions, is very dynamic and

unpredictable. While humanitarian access within Tigray has significantly improved, with an estimated 75 per cent of the area now accessible, humanitarian actors are unable to fully capitalize on this due to the limited flow and availability of humanitarian supplies and enablers to support the response” (OCHA, 13.08.2021).

It shows some progress, as the accessible areas is becoming greater. Still, the authorities are making it hectic and worse for the humanitarian organizations. Since the last OCHA situation report, the authorities has already suspended several of organizations from operating the Republic. Therefore, it is not like with accessibility enough within the region. It is also the outside pressure on them before arriving in Tigray.

Which is stated here: “Physical access into Tigray via the only road access through Afar Region (Semera-Abala corridor) is partially restricted due to insecurity, extended delays with clearances by concerned authorities, and intense search procedures at checkpoints” (OCHA, 13.08.2021).

As it stands, the humanitarian organizations are working directly with the Regional Government of Tigray, as it states here: “The de-facto authorities are engaging with partners to rapidly scale up response to address the dire humanitarian needs in the region. However, stock levels are currently low, and there are still huge challenges to bring in supplies from outside the region” (OCHA, 13.08.2021).

This statement will bring fire to the Addis Ababa and the Prosperity Party regime under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. As no one is supposed to associate with the “enemy” which it wants to “weed” out. Therefore, this sort of sentence can bring fire to the flame and the UN Organizations will be targeted by the authorities and their messaging like they have done with the suspended organizations and Amnesty Internation during the conflict.

So, we can easily see there are hurdles and the man-made famine isn’t resolved. The authorities are blocking, checkpoints and excessive searches of the convoys going into Tigray. Plus the parts of regions, which it doesn’t have access to is… because the front-lines of war and constraining communications and barriers to entry there like in Northern Tigray and around the surrounding areas of Tekeze river. Therefore, the total estimations and amount of humanitarian needs are not known.

We just have to wonder how many innocent civilians who has been casualties and touched by the this conflict. As there are so many unknown and armies combatting in it. The Tripartite Alliance and the state have to take responsibility for their invasion and amounts of massacres. In combination with the weaponization of the famine. Which only hurt more livess in the region. Peace.

Opinion: Lungu is a very worried man right now

The Patriotic Front (PF) and two term incumbent President Edgar Lungu was going to the polls today. As the sentiment and the lack of popularity in the general public has been rising. The President has to use the armed forces, come with warning ahead of polls and it is now reported that he ordered a media blackout.

What is happening in Zambia isn’t a new tactic from leaders like him. He had already used the courts and gotten the ability to become a three term eligible President. While the Constitution doesn’t say so and he wasn’t in a full-term before the second and this is why he was “eligible” for it now.

This just shows what sort of management and governance Lungu supports. Lungu who has run the economy down and becoming addicted to loans. A state who has failing state enterprises and certainly not delivered on any promises of the past, which could matter to the general public.

That is why Lungu have vilified the biggest opposition party the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Hakainde Hichilema. The party an HH has been painted in a manner, which is of epic proportions. HH has even been said to be similar to “Hitler”. That is the sort of political discourse the PF has delivered during the campaigns.

We know it’s bad for the PF and Lungu… when as the polls are counted. He calls for rigging and orders a media blackout. The same man who ordered the soldiers on the streets and done whatever he could to ensure victory. We know he has made numbers lower in known opposition strongholds. The same authority has already been reported to give little to none ballots and equipment to certain polling stations. Which is just fitting, because the PF and the state knows.

The PF and the ones anointed has done what they could ahead of this. The state and the President has used all known means to ensure a victory. Not because… Lungu is popular or loved at this point. No, his not loved or cared, because if he was…. He wouldn’t cry havoc on election night, but grinning to the bank.

Lungu will be swimming in dollars and spending a night drink champagne. Alas, he is instead ordering army out to several of provinces. To ensure there can be questions of legality and easily can contest the results. The sort of results that will not be in favour of the President and he can call it “rigged”. The ironies is that the system and the authorities has used all techniques to secure the “win”.

Lungu mus worried in his home. He is sitting biting his teeth and knowing that his time is up. That a man who has the power of the Republic and as the Head of State. Still, the will of the people isn’t naturally his.

The polls that has been released through VPN, the partial polling stations results has been for now in favour of HH and with a majority of the votes. Let’s see if this becomes the game or the ECZ and the authorities will cook the numbers. That’s what I anticipate, since this man is using all the other tricks in the book of election rigging.

Lungu is a worrisome and with a reason. His whole life and career depends on it and he is behold to the public. He could touch everything within reach and appoint the ones who would follow his orders. However, the incumbent cannot impose himself or be loved on commando. Even if that is something he hoped for tonight. Peace.

Mali: Ministere de l’Administration Territoriale et de la Decentralisation – Communique No. 006 (12.08.2021)

Ethiopia: Security and Justice for Tigrayans (SJT) – Ethiopian’s Court-Martial Decision Part of Ongoing Genocide Against Ethnic Tigrayans (10.08.2021)

Ethiopia: Security and Justice for Tigrayans (SJT) – Lalibela and the Protection of Religons/UNESCO Sites (10.08.2021)

Zambia: State House – President Lungu warns perpetators of violence (12.08.2021)

RDC: Cainet du Gouverneur Militaire du Nord-Kivu – Communique Officielle du Gouverneur de la Province du Nord-Kivu (12.08.2021)

Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability (UCCA): Press Statement on the Insecurity arising from the Implementation of hte Wadelai Irrigation Project Scheme in Pakwach District (12.08.2021)