

Press Release: EU aid for African Great Lakes region getting through, but may be to expensive say auditor (04.07.2016)





Sometimes I think President Museveni is a bit too smart for himself, that must be it, as he have since start of his reign added and amended more plans than useful laws. That is something the world should know by now. He entered his first term after rebellion with the 10-Point Program that was supposed to reinvent and remake the democratic, accountability and facilitate the development of Uganda. Something that has been stalled for wish to stay in power and also his own nepotism, corruption and cronyism in government and state functions in general; together with no-need to leave the militaristic maneuvers of government.
“The NRM under the leadership of President Y. K. Museveni came up with the ten point programe of action. In 1987, Basing on the ten point program, President Museveni launched a Minimum Economic Recovery Programme followed by a series of reforms aimed at restoring macro-economic stability to provide a favourable environment for economic growth and private sector development. The key reforms were, liberalization, privatization, currency reform, changes in tax and fiscal policy plus restraining expansion in government expenditure while maintaining focus on economic recovery and growth” (Uganda 25 Years of Nation Building and Progress, Jan 1986 – Jan 2011, Printed: May 2011).

That is why that when I read that President Museveni had the genius idea of a 20-Point Program, I was latterly laughing and crying in sadness of this so-called leader. Who supposed to lead and make change; after thirty years in power with a 81 Cabinet and created astonishing amounts of districts and sub-counties, that every town and nearly all villages have either one or two central LCV and other councilors to be bribed by the central-government. And in his genius attempt to spoilt the trade, he comes with another plan to cover over the atrocities and pledges that we’re recycled under campaigning in 2015 and 2016.
This comes from the leader who of late has already these wonderful plans to hold onto and supposed to finish in his lifetime, as he wants to promise the Ugandans the middle-Income position and also economic progress in the levels of South Korea and Singapore. Though, the corrupt and donor-friendly behavior is still necessary since the Petroleum money, is still not certain as it is still needed more development and investment before the profits from the black-oil drilled in the Lake Albert basin and Albertine region.
The first plan that was supposed to take over the failed 10-Point Program from the Economic and Development of the Republic, where the magical and all-covering; the Second plan the famous ‘Vision2040’, where all pieces of government and private sector we’re interconnected as the NRM-Regime had plans to reconfigure and also establish what they had did between 1986 and 2013. The plan that we’re released in 2013 said this: “a transformed Ugandan society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country within 30 years”; I do not feel the need to say how much further they have come in the last three years.

The third plan that comes to mind was the National Development Plan II (NDPII) who we’re drafted and surely released during the 2015, and we’re written March 3, 2015. This was a plan for the infrastructure projects and the defining projects that we’re interconnected with railroads and also the major road projects of the UNRA, which is certain a magnifying economic prospect as the investments in infrastructure as the unfolding economic problems, that recently was reported from UNRA. So the President has issues with this alone, before releasing the 20-Points Program of 2016.
So with the hearing of a new plan from the grand National Resistance Movement and the Presidency of 30 years, if he had finished or wished to finish the first plan, the 10-Point Program. But, that wouldn’t make the political battlefield and the regression of progress so obvious; if anybody believes he will ever finish a program or even sufficiently have due-diligence behind a new program, you should dream on or reconsider you thought pattern.
With the newly released 20-Program Plan of 2016, is a rehash of old-ideas into a new format with the mix of the Vision2040, 10-Point Program and the National Development Plan II. That is a combined of these visions, as the 10-Point program is totally out of whack, the 2040 is in the midst of it and been in the works for three years without any real progress on the matter. The NDPII is a framework for basic transport and infrastructure that are parts of all the three other plans. So, this is far from finish and with the UNRA troubles, the World Bank suspension and the others issues with financing the grand infrastructure projects of late, while the Standard Gauge Railway and the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP), which is a collective planning of infrastructure between the East African nations we’re it need cooperative effort from the countries.

So with all of this in mind, when reading the progressive, the revolutionary, the rebels new plan like the monstrosity levels of belief that he can sell yet another amazing plan to the public and donors. The reassessment the donors should do is that this in the mass of affairs and tricks the NRM-Regime have come with for three decades and was supposed to be new-found governance; instead it has been more of the same, just in another name, another package and another head-honcho who been able to smile with Bill Clinton, Gadaffi and all the dignitaries that wanted spend money on his government and newly created institutions under his leadership. This has all happen, while the Western countries have accepted the atrocities and brutality against civilians for the peace and assurance of progression of democratic values that over time have been proven as fool’s gold.
The reality of this new Plan is to repackage the same of promises and the so-called progression of the government institutions and the civil service delivery as hospitals, schools and roads. Through the neo-liberal structural adjustment plan that we’re accepted to get more World Bank loans in the 1980s, while now because of less donor-funding adding more loans into the bloated government budgets together with bigger government spending on growing parliament, growing districts and sub-counties, while the added expenditure on the projects as the rising prices on roads with little due-diligence, higher interests on the fallen loans and the expenses on military equipment. This all with the steady level of inflation and proved little will to change the service delivery from the NRM-Regime, as the international community have let most of it go without any impunity or real care.

As even the European Union proudly did this recently after the fraudulent election they discredit in their own report, still they we’re so giddy to do this:
“Goverment of Uganda to hold political dialogue with European Union as mandated in Art 8 of Cotonou Agreement” (Emma Were Tinka, 28.06.2016). So the true ethics of the European Union and democratic values can be traded of with a decent agreement and when the NRM-Regime can even be validated by EU, this talk and consider, even sign the agreement, but they might not implement it; as the due-diligence have never been a thing for Museveni, so after all this year? Why should it all of a sudden matter?
This new plan is another one of his schemes and plot to get donor-aid and get funding for his nepotism, his cars and airplanes as the direct budget and the over-priced infrastructure projects have silenced his critics as that have been used on tear-gas, Russian fighter-jets and other needed procurement, not on fixing schools and buying school-books for the students. That is no-need and not proved added value. This 20-Program plan is just non-sense and the ones that buys into it, are long lost causes like Ofwono Opondo and Andrew Mwenda. Peace.


There are troubles ahead for the Presidency, the Executive as the hardball acts and the premise for today is after the General Election, the truth of the situation have now showed up. As in April 2016 the State House need 70bn shillings as the campaigning had taken the toll on the expenses and also they need fiscal support to comply with running expenses.
This in mind with the Uganda National Roads Authority that last year (2015) we’re suspended by a dozen of road projects from funding from the World Bank. There we’re talks in May 2016 to resume talks to hash out problems of funding, as the roads scandals and the transparency of the industry have been questioned, as of all the sackings in the Government Organization of late. In April the Organizations all of a sudden offered 1000 jobs, as they needed staff to future be able to find tenders and organize infrastructure projects. Proves there are more than just moist soil that are trouble for the tarmac, but also the heritage of alleged corrupt behaviour of both politicians, contractors and servicemen accepting the bribes before the cars can ride on the roads. As the UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina said: “But while the government road development programme has been growing, medium term expenditure framework ceiling for Unra has been the same,” she said, adding that “this has resulted in the ongoing and planned programme having a deficit of Shs1.7 trillion.”(Musisi, 2016).

As the Executive have promised for long is to have a Crude Oil Refinery in Uganda, with that in mind even the Kenyans before they we’re toiled away they promised funds into the development project as a part of Crude Oil line towards Lamu Port and LAPSSET, a plan that Mzee scattered. Instead he picked the Tanga Port of Tanzania, for reasons he knows, but we knows it is not terrorism and fears of Kenyan borders. It is the money and deal that have been made between Ugandan Government and Tanzanian. As the Crude Oil pipeline is important for the Uganda oil industry, so is also the Refinery; that has new reports about today. Before there we’re expected that Uganda, for support military and economically would go for the Russian builder and Company under the Rosneft, Gazprom Neft and Transneft, who are run by the RT Global resources, this as a supported deal with businessman interconnected with Vladimir Putin, as we know Mzee we’re in Russia right before buying Russian Fighter Jets in 2011. “The decision to award the contract to the Russian company cements growing ties between Moscow and the east African country, which increasingly characterises the west as a neocolonial aggressor” (Manson, 2015). Today the deal wasn’t in stone, as the deal with planes was okay, but the refinery wasn’t cleared yet: “The Energy ministry Permanent Secretary Kabagambe Kaliisa confirmed the development to this newspaper in a telephone interview but defended “it was not a walk away as such.” (…)”They had demonstrated all it takes, and in fact we had finished negotiations with them and closed all the envelopes” (…)”But they kept going back and forth over the concessions we had given them, negotiated and finished. We gave them all the time” (…) “as a procedure they were supposed to get the necessary clearance back home and it was what we were waiting for. However we received communication they were withdrawing the bond”. Rostec’s East Africa regional representative Andrey Kozenyashev told this newspaper from Moscow that “there is nothing to comment about” (Musisi, 2016). It is only in so many words, that the agreement went sour because the chickens didn’t come to roast, the hidden cost and the transactions between the Russians and Ugandans counterparts was not as expected, therefore the deal stranded; as the Ministry under the orders of the Executive expected to be better paid and secured more funds out of the industrial project. Something the Russians most likely didn’t accept. That’s why the powerful energy, military and resource company has nothing to comment.
As the Oil development issues and the infrastructure in general, as the fallen MPs that are demoted after the fraudulent election losing seats in the 10th Parliament as the NRM MPs are up to 10 or even more who has lost their seats and cannot be in Parliament this term. As Dr. Tanga Odoi claims the paperwork and academic procedure is not at fault in the inner-party, but from the Academic institutions and their verifications, while also threating to insubordinate Tamale Mirundi and take him to court for attacks on his character and acts as the NRM EC. The Irony is that NRM MPs who are demoted got also through the cracks of the Electoral Commission of Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu, the engineer who built the machinery and technical procedures for the rigged events and made the options without using his organizations to scrutinize the internal checks and balances at the ruling party and ruling organization NRM-O and NRM CEC who let the NRM EC, together with the EC let the candidates run in the Primary and General Election, before the Courts annulled their works. This shows that it is a grand slam of disapproval and proof of ‘orders from above’ to handpicked members that will only follow and not act on their own. Why all the blame on Odoi, there the NRM CEC and the EC who let it all go?

Even today the Mzee continued with damage control in Parliament as the vetting process earlier dismissed two of the 81 ministers of his cabinet. These we’re: “Harriet Ntabazi, the designate minister of State for Industry and designate minister of State for Works Ismael Orot”, Chris Obore have said that Mzee have written to Speaker Kadaga to re-vet them, so they can be ready for their position in Parliament and Cabinet, because Mzee want the Parliament to reconsider their rejections (Crane Times, 01.07.2016).
The continued madness of the 10th Parliament is continuing, as the 9th Parliament ended with a wish for Tax-Free salaries from the Parliament duties, the campaign and money issues remains, as the MPs have after elections asked for newer SUVs and more expensive cars, now they claim not be paid over the recent year and need refunded funds, to fix their salaries; this happens and some said this to the press today:
“MPs vented their anger more recently at their orientation workshop at parliament. Bugabula South MP Henry Maurice Kibalya asked Patrick Kunobwa, the chief finance officer of parliament, why MPs haven’t got their new cars yet” (…)”Our voters keep asking us why we are not driving the vehicles which parliament gave us. They know that we have been given money to buy new vehicles but they see us driving the same old vehicles and they are asking us why. We don’t have any explanation to give since we haven’t got any communication concerning that; what should we tell them?” (…) ”When I was RDC [resident district commissioner] for Serere, I was given some money as a settling-in-job allowance. Unfortunately, it does not work like that in parliament. I thought we would be given something like an allowance in order for us to settle into our jobs. We expected that parliament…would enable us to find decent places [houses] to stay, vehicles but all we have had to go through is waiting for the first salary,” Kitagwenda MP Abbas Agaba said” (…) “Sylvia Rwabwogo, the Kabarole Woman MP, said: “People thought we got Shs 50m, which is not true. We got only Shs 5m from the president at the time of swearing in [in May] and it was not enough for one to be with his/her family and voters. And remember we have not been working for one-and-a-half years because of campaigns; so, how do you handle such a situation?” (Namuloki, 2016).

So there isn’t enough issues for Mzee, as the giant money funding Oil Development are stalled, as the Russians have not complied, the UNRA are having a deficit and only can build when foreign donors pay for the projects, this in the land of Mzee who doesn’t want international community to be involved as they don’t understand Uganda. While the MPs who understand Uganda, are either in trouble with academic papers and losing their seats, if not their economic situation is dire, just like the State House where right after Election. So instead of being Entebbe and Nakasero State House, it is that the representative of the Ugandan people doesn’t have new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Like on the 5th February 2016, the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda just happen to drop off 111 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and give them to the District Chairpersons with a lavish handover ceremony at Mandela National Stadium.
Just as Mzee have been hardline on the media during the campaign he has himself done in his capacity to secure big-men into his administration to control the media. Therefore Hon. Jim Muhwezi lost his ministerial position and elevated Hon. Frank Tumwebaze to the Ministry of Public Information and Communication Technology, as he will corporate the Uganda Media Centre, State House propaganda and the general covering of the Government. Since he was hard on the KCCA during his recent term and has faith in his direct control of the Departments. In this space the New Presidential Press Spokesman, the one replacing Tamale Mirundi became the former Editor of Daily Monitor Don Wanyama. Just as the PPS Wanyama is a former Monitor editor. Today there we’re reports of another man from the Paper that we’re connected in getting a position under the government umbrella. This is been reported: “The former Deputy News Editor of Monitor Publications Limited, Paul Amoru is set to be elected the National Resistance Movement Caucus Spokesman” (…) “According to sources from the office of the Government Chief Whip and the NRM Secretariat, Amoru has already been briefed to prepare himself for the task” (Okello, 2016). So the former loyalist amongst the opposition writers in the Monitor, proves how the media have been and becoming more state infused as the WBS have been taken control over. There media houses who are under threat and others who will struggle as the Uganda Revenue Authority will use their legal terms to shutdown, close or suspend, as the Uganda Communication Commission will also revoke license towards the ones who question the power to often, as there been reports on.
Just as Hon. Tumbewaze started his term, he ordered fellow Members of Parliament to be assign them to join social media as a way to address their concern and give their voice into the social media and give ways for them address the public directly, not only on NTV, NBS, UBC, Daily Monitor and New Vision. So one who followed that guideline quickly we’re for instance the Hon. Philemon Mateke who is the State Minster of Foreign Affairs and Regional Development; He joined on Twitter on the 28th of June 2016. When old guys like him start to spread and so-called sensitizing

The Government and Mzee still want to make sure he has right men in the Security Organizations therefore he has order IGP Kale Kayihura to hurry and promote over a 100 Police officers around the Election, that got done in February 2016, just days before the Presidential ballots was cast, as the months before the General Election, the agreements of collective intelligence office between the Army and other Security Agents to secure a peaceful election. While the Police Officers have also in the months before been moved around the country and certain men have gotten bigger positions in the Police Force, as they have gotten better place for their loyalty to oppress the Opposition.
The Army have also without precedence had a clean-up in the ranks, as barracks after barracks have both soldiers and leaders been taken away, some in the homes other directly while they we’re doing for the state, therefore their been violence and this made a conspiracy to connect this actions together with the FDC party to be able to detain and jail Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka of Nakawa, and the Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye, both have been charged with ‘Treason’, also that the army connects had a plan to topple Mzee; this is charges that been alleged before on the Besigye family and members as Mzee likes to recreate history. He just doesn’t know it himself, apparently.
So I will stop with that, as when you set the news and headlines together, with the reports behind the scenes, as the questions on the basic initial reports, as the European Union still want to be cordial relationship even when they have condemn the elections in the recent report of the Election Observers Mission claimed the fraudulent affairs, still they wanted to respect him, until Mzee attacked the ICC with President Bashir by his side. These we’re the days of late when the roads from Entebbe to Kampala we’re closed. So the traffic of Kampala and between central areas of Kampala we’re a total havoc, as with all of the foreign dignitaries who visited like South Korea and Turkey, where the roads we’re closed off and ordinary people had to hike on old dust-roads or walk. As cars couldn’t pass, for safety reasons, even if the dignitaries we’re on the Luxury Hotels and enjoying high life on the expense of fellow Ugandans. Just like Mzee is accustomed to over the three decades in power.

The issues of rising loans on the fiscal budget, the uncertainty of refinery, pipeline to Tanzania, though Total of France have given clear message to Mzee during the newly conducted discussions with Kenyan Counterparts, that stranded. This together with the rising levels of new districts, bigger cabinet, more officials and more bureaucracy both in Parliament and locally with the hashed out districts and sub-counties, as the MPs doesn’t have enough offices or space to the new level of MPs. It seems like the ruling party didn’t think of the consequence of allocating more MPs in Parliament and creating yet again more districts. Not only making constituencies smaller and creating uncertainty of who will be hit by the newly regulated areas and who they represent. Mzee, just did it to make sure he got more loyalist and could gain more LC and LCV who could be his men, than giving way to the opposition.
The grand maturity of the NRM is now, as the three decades of Power and with the Old Man with the Hat, has already showed their true color and their visions. The vision is to hold power by any means, get rid of, pay off or silence, even with cold-blood if needed. As there been so many scary fallouts through the decades; just waiting for the next man to be swallowed by the reignited leader who wish to control every piece of legislation, corporation and business in the nation. That is why the Russians we’re left out and he got new promises and deals through the recent visit from South Korea. The unravelling mission, the possession of all power and extending it by hurryingly addressing the dignitaries and fresh relationship; while toiling away the ones that is not a payable; like the recent South Korea also makes the long-term relationship with North Korea touched, as the Police and Army Training through the DPRK are now suspended from 1. January 2017. So the clarity of the donor-funding from South Korea is vastly needed by the Government, though he wants it without strings. So he can use it on the ranch and cars for himself, or loyal elitist to be able to fly to India or South Africa for treatment for a health condition; as Mulago and other Health Care facilities are in disarray, but not a question for the state to really fix or amend, as they want NGOs from Foreign Countries to supply it for free. That is the governance of NRM Regime for the moment and the EU Diplomates and US Diplomates play along as Mzee sends needed forces to AMISOM and Central African Republic. They want say that directly, but their actions speak of it.

The truth will spill out and the issues of silencing and oppression of the opposition cannot be everlasting as the state cannot afford it or have the resources to play that for long, then they have to sell of more land to Aga Khan or other foreign connected businessmen for hunting-grounds in Amuru or other useful areas that are not so needed for loyalty for the President for Life Museveni, he might even trade-off parts of Kaabong just to make sure the loans for the Crude Oil pipeline get built in this term. Don’t be surprised as long as the Ankoli, Brahima and the other who are in the NRM Elite is paid off, the Soldiers who in AMISOM might not get steady pay, but Special Forces Command and the other closest will always be taken care off. He needs the Security Agencies ready to act upon his words, as the people and the others can only cry out for a ‘balance’. But the riches are deemed for him. Peace.
Reference:
Manson, Kathrine – ‘Sanctions-hit Russian group wins $4bn Uganda refinery deal’ (17.02.2015) link: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/442825a0-b6bd-11e4-a5f2-00144feab7de.html#axzz4D9fWB1y3
Musisi, Fredrick – ‘Russian firm pulls out of Uganda’s $4 billion oil refinery’ (01.07.2016) link: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Russian-firm-pulls-out-of-Uganda-USD4-billion-oil-refinery-/-/2558/3274766/-/3r932dz/-/index.html
Musisi, Fredrick – ‘No more new road projects – Unra’ (01.07.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/No-more-new-road-projects–Unra/-/688334/3274568/-/74yaod/-/index.html
Namuloki, Josephine – ‘New MPs cry out over brokenness’ (01.07.2016) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/45116-new-mps-cry-out-over-brokenness
Okello, Dickens H. – ‘Former Monitor News Editor Tipped for NRM Caucus Spokesman’ (01.07.2016) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/former-monitor-news-editor-tipped-for-nrm-caucus-spokesman/

More than a third of the population in urgent need of food, agriculture and nutrition assistance amid risk of catastrophe in some parts of the country.
NEW YORK, United States of America, June 29, 2016 – Up to 4.8 million people in South Sudan – well over one-third of the population – will be facing severe food shortages over the coming months, and the risk of a hunger catastrophe continues to threaten parts of the country, three UN agencies warned today.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) stressed that while the deteriorating situation coincides with an unusually long and harsh annual lean season, when families have depleted their food stocks and new harvests are not expected until August, the level of food insecurity this year is unprecedented.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update released today by the government, the three agencies and other humanitarian partners, 4.8 million people are projected to be in need of urgent food, agriculture and nutrition assistance through July, up from 4.3 million in April. This is the highest level of hunger since the conflict in South Sudan began two-and-a-half years ago. This number does not include 350,000 residents of the UN Protection of Civilians areas or other camps for displaced people, who currently are entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance.
“We are very worried to see that food insecurity is spreading beyond conflict areas as rising prices, impassable roads and dysfunctional markets are preventing many families, even those in towns and cities, from accessing food,” said FAO Country Representative Serge Tissot.
Food insecurity and conflict are also forcing many families to leave South Sudan for neighbouring countries. In the last few months alone, an estimated 100,000 South Sudanese people have crossed into Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and this number is expected to increase to more than 150,000 by the end of June.
“The levels of malnutrition among children continue to be truly alarming,” said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan. “Since the beginning of the year more than
100,000 children have been treated for severe malnutrition. That’s a 40 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, and a 150 percent increase since 2014.”
Working with a large number of international and local non-governmental organizations, FAO, UNICEF and WFP will continue to deliver life- and livelihood- saving support under these difficult circumstances.
“We are now seeing sharp spikes of need in new areas, such as Eastern Equatoria or Western Bahr el-Ghazal, where malnutrition rates in some places are reaching dangerous levels. We have started ramping up food and nutrition support, but much more is needed to keep things from deteriorating even further during the lean season,” said WFP Country Director Joyce Luma.
In 2016, FAO is planning to provide emergency livelihood support to 3.1 million people in South Sudan. It is currently distributing over half a million crop and fishing kits and is assisting livestock production through the vaccination of some 11 million animals.
The dramatic rise in malnutrition rates, means that in the first four months of the year UNICEF has already treated 45 per cent of its planned 2016 caseload of 166,000 children.
WFP plans to assist 3.3 million people in South Sudan this year through a combination of emergency food assistance, lifesaving nutrition support for mothers and young children, community-based asset-creation projects where possible, and safety net programmes such as school meals.

NEW YORK, United States of America, June 27, 2016 – The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the current escalation of violence between the Sudan’s People Liberation Army (SPLA) and armed groups, in Wau town and surrounding areas, in South Sudan. He regrets the reported loss of lives.
The Secretary-General calls on all fighting forces to immediately suspend the hostilities, provide access to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and cooperate with humanitarian partners to facilitate the delivery of assistance. He urges all parties to agree to dialogue to resolve their political disputes.
The Secretary-General commends UNMISS and the Humanitarian Country Team for taking pro-active steps to protect fleeing civilians outside their base in Wau. UNMISS is in the process of deploying additional capabilities to the area to be able to address possible contingencies.

JUBA, South Sudan, June 27, 2016 – UNMISS is continuing to provide protection to approximately 10,000 civilians in Wau, following the outbreak of violence. At this time, UNMISS military forces have created a security cordon around an area adjacent to the UN base and peacekeepers are conducting active patrolling to ensure the safety of the displaced civilians within this area. This area is currently secure and humanitarian partners are providing basic assistance to the displaced people. UNMISS is currently negotiating with the SPLA for access to Wau town to conduct additional patrols to protect the civilian population in the town.
UNMISS wishes to clarify that opening its gates are not a first line of response in the protection of civilians. Opening the gates is an exceptional measure of last resort to be undertaken only when all other means of protection have been exhausted. UN bases are not designed to serve as shelters for displaced populations. At this time, UNMISS is continuing to provide a secure environment for those displaced by the violence in Wau adjacent to its base. UNMISS will consider additional measures in line with its mandate should the security situation deteriorate further.

“No, I don’t care about that, the international — what they decide is entirely their own affair — their own affair. I’m concerned about Zimbabwe, and I’m concerned about the lives of the people of Zimbabwe. And don’t forget, it was my party which brought democracy into the country. I fought the British. We had to fight the British for democracy for one man, one person, one vote” – Robert Mugabe (Amanpour. 24.09.2009 interview – CNN).
There are these days that vicious attacks from President Mugabe will be normal, where the words of oppressive colonial attacks on Zimbabwe will be addressed with flowery perfection from the old-timer, the long-running President of the Southern African Nation of Zimbabwe, the country he have had in his hands since the Lancaster Agreement and the release of the Country from the British Colonial.

At one point he we’re acting more British than African, but with the Age, he has more and more hated the Europeans and Americans, as their respect for the leader have dwindled. The Respect has fallen as much as the respect for a McDonalds Burger has gone down in the West.
He we’re the man at one point, until the Aparteid of South Africa went sour and his gold-star got taken away. After that he must felt betrayed as he was the man of the continent and the man who even we’re knighted by the United Kingdom at one point and even a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. So the rich history of the man and ruler is vast. My words and reasoning will be belittling the histories and the vicious need for power the man have.
Though there vast amounts of irony from the leader, that is now clear as the sun is setting and rising again. Just as he has blasted the West, had have land-reforms exiting the White farmers and their plantations as they we’re the grand issue of the land. Surely there we’re in-balance between the ‘Africans’ and the ‘Afrikaans’; which is well-known as the British and the Dutch settlers took the best land and let the ‘locals’ become workers and renters. It was natural for anyone who lead to wish for a difference and create a better life for more citizens of Zimbabwe. Though the technic of giving ZANU-PF Elite the best land and evict landowners that have run farms for generations without compensations is just critical; though the colonial powers stole the land, there are ways of punishing the generation for the sins of the for-fathers while still trying to mend on the insufficient systems of the present day. Something that is lost tale and lost option as brutality have become the station of Mugabe, ever since he got his Army and Police trained by the North Koreans. As long as he got rid of his worst opponent in Joshua Nkomo and even raided and massacred the loyalist in the Matabeleland.
With this history and with his reign of power; all of these initial acts of violence and the control of the state; that he has exhausted the state and the economy, while blowing the donor funding from the West and later when they quit funding his oppressive regime. Saying it was colonial acts of belittling African Nation, while he himself was harassing people and detaining opposition of ‘Movement for Democratic Change’. Even at one point accepting the power-sharing agreement made by Thabo Mbeki, though partial and used by Zuma to overpower him in South Africa, the last stain on Mbeki; we’re the weak agreement that gave the Executive back to the loser Mugabe in 2008, while the winner got the VP Tsvangirai. So the tried peaceful transition to another leader was not successful and a reason why the 92 year old man is the king-pin of the Republic Zimbabwe.

“I think in relation to sport, we set out the position many, many times, but nothing that happens in relation to that should take anything away from our total condemnation of the way that Robert Mugabe is making the plight of the people in Zimbabwe terrible. Now whatever issues there are to do with sport, you can put those to one side for a moment, the issue is how do we make sure that we put the maximum pressure on Robert Mugabe’s regime in order that we change the situation in Zimbabwe and change it for the better politically, but also in humanitarian terms as well. And I totally agree with what Prime Minister John Howard was saying just a moment or two ago. There are no grounds, so far as we can see, for saying that there has been any significant progress at all, indeed if anything the situation has got worse, and that means that we have got to keep up maximum international pressure upon the regime” – Prime Minister Tony Blair (Jon Howard Interview at Joint Press Conference with PM Howard of Australia, 07.05.2003).
So that he blames the West and address the West for the shortcomings is natural, but the Economic instability is not all on the Western Sanctions, as that is also because the ZANU-PF, the Benzes bought under the ZANU-PF elite while the schools depleted, the civil servants delayed salaries, the missing of foreign exchange and dollars in the country are run-out. There are reasons as the nepotism, the unstructured business, the export and the agricultural inefficiencies together with draught and all the weak governance that creates deficiencies and devalued the economy. There are reasons for the economy crashed as the empty coffers while the elite was eating elephants and entertaining the Luxury Hotels in the Honor of the President Mugabe latest birthday. So there is money, but they are spent on truffles for the President, instead on citizens and services for the public. That is not the fault of the Western that he claims, together with reforms and not institutions, but instead all centralized in the hands of President.

That is from the same man who has put his hate on the West, as they are sanctioning the Zanu-PF regime and Mugabe long-term reign of the Nation. The same man who have said anything possible about the Americans and British, the man who has claimed that they are the reason for all the troubles, have no quarrel this year and of recent years traded with the Chinese government and their national companies. Like there 128 development projects from 2000 – 2012 made by the Chinese in Zimbabwe. While the Zimbabwean Government have also planned to go from US Dollar to Chinese Yuan (was planned in 2015) as the official currency as the Mugabe regime is more in the pocket of the Chinese, than everybody else (Archdeacon, 2016).
This is also a way of Chinese to grade their power and take more control on the African Continent, as the Zimbabwean have such a monetary fiscal issues that anybody who will clear debt and will drop fresh coins to the regime is friend, especially when there only optional to let the Chinese work and build there; as a way of renting the country away, while the Elite eats the money. Something the country wished the IMF would let them do, but since they are Western, French and even US Dollar fueled they are not as willing as Beijing, therefore Mugabe will easily play kind Uncle Bob, while blasting the West, which is a good luck for the Zimbabwean Government. Though we know and they know, they would easily said ‘YES’ to the loans from the International Monetary Fund.

So the hatred towards the once who was the allies and friends, like he was once so proud of English culture and being knighted, the man who once was their ally and turned into a villain, the question if he was a needed villain for the British, as he fought their colonial rule under Smith Government in Rhodesia and made the new state Zimbabwe. Which was a feat and was something that people could look up-to, when he surged the power he consoled it by all means and even ended lives to keep it; this what happen to Nkomo and to the once that he used the military on, as they we’re not loyal to him; instead to the Opposition that wasn’t him. That is why it is ZANU-PF, as they we’re two parties to take control over and even consolidated with all ways. The same he has done with the state and therefore the disarray and the economic instability, therefore the stop of using own currency and American Dollar together with the newly planned transition towards the Chinese Yuan.
There are an issue and aggression from Mugabe towards the West, he has fought them all his life, but also had a an admiration for it, as he would easily wear Western clothes and import expensive westernized products, as his wife spends the government funds there and not in Beijing, even if the government gets the funds there and development projects from there now, as the IMF and other does not offer the sanctions nation with fiscal financial subsidizes and loans. Peace.
Reference:
Archdeacon, Olivia – ‘China buys its first African colony for a meagre $40 million’ (15.01.2016) link: http://capx.co/china-buys-its-first-african-colony-for-a-meagre-40million/


While the Government Spokesman of Ethiopia Getachew Reda have claimed that the first shot on the border came from Eritrean forces and claimed they we’re at fault for the military operations on the 12th June 2016. This happens while the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs claim it was the TLPF that was attacking the Eritrean border forces around the Tsorona Front.
With this in mind, it is not easy when these are sending conflicting information and also using all tactics to address each other internal misgivings. Just like the recent Human Rights Violation in the United Nations Reports from the Group of Experts in June 2016. While the Eritrean are claiming the internal oppression of the Omoro people and the killing of demonstrators; also silencing of media; the issue is that both nations have their blames and violations. The Ethiopian ruling party has total control and military control of the nation, the media is controlled and bloggers are detained for questioning the government, the Omoro demonstrations are hunted down and shut down with military forces. So the Ethiopian Government is far from innocent in their internal bravery.

But the Eritrean are nicknamed the “African North Korea” for a reason, all control is in the hands of the President Isias Afewerki, as the UN reports claim is that there is unlimited subscription to the army, slavery, rape and misuse of the citizens from the government officials, as the centralized power is all in the name of the president as he has control of the economy as the national budget is never released and the control of the money running of Eritrea as all under control of Afeweki. UN Report 2016 Eritrea this blog or article explains the matters of how I see on the report on the Human Rights Violations.
With all of this in mind, with the knowledge of the current affairs, and the escalation and worry of new conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, as the fellow nations has been in war before. Eritreans are the ones really blasting Ethiopia in international media and defending their ways of government, as they are blaming Ethiopia even for making the accusations that are made by the experts in the recent report. That proves the level of animosity from Eritrean government towards Addis Ababa, as they might feel left alone in Asmara.
While the Ethiopian in the 12 June military operations claimed the aggression was directed from the Eritreans. After that the Eritreans claimed it was the Ethiopians… so there are a limbo and uncertainty, especially since none of these governments are really open to the media or having press freedom in either nation; while the assurance of the reality on the ground and the intelligence is unsure as they both are secretive from the beginning.

None of these nations are perfect, no nation in this world is, but both nations have scruples and has issues with tampering with human rights violations of different levels, they both have different supporters and allies that need the armies or alliances to mend on other issues either on the African Horn, like the Ethiopian who has soldiers in the AMISOM and other Peacekeeping missions and are an ally of the United States and their AFCON, surely as they pulled more armies from Africa after the failed “Black Hawk Down” in Mogadishu and with that in mind then President Bill Clinton pulled the army of around 1100 soldiers in 1993 from the Horn of Africa. And have been for long a steady military ally against terrorism in the region and also a place where the Americans have had military bases, as recently closed the United States Air Force base at Arba Minch in January 2016.

The certainty and clarity is not here in this matter, as there are many undisclosed reports, as the battlefield are kept for the armies and the media are not free in neither Ethiopia or Eritrea, as the stages are set for propaganda from both parties, as the ones who are speaking free on their blogs in for instance in Ethiopia ends behind bars. While the Eritrean are the best news from diaspora who have trusted messengers through online forums, as the silence and fear of detaining or slavery work for questioning the regime, therefore the amount of people going into exile from Eritrea.
So with this knowledge the battle of 12th June 2016 can only be discussed and knowingly gain the needed intelligence when the men on the ground can speak freely and address thoroughly. If not they are realizing footage or pictures of the activity, while also proving the validity of the battlefield. As there will always from a warzone and skirmishes even be false statements, even wrong estimates and the reality will come closer, if not juked to fix the stages for either Eritrea or Ethiopia, as both need a straight face towards their citizens and their international allies and community. As there reports of UAE and Yemen supporting the Eritrea, while Western nations as United States and others are supporting Ethiopia; but that is in general and their obligations world-wide and in military operations, as IGAD and others.
Therefore I cannot say who did what, as the implications of who did what is not certain. The Eritreans are the ones that beating the drum the most in international media, as they want to silence the UN report on Human Rights Violations. While the Ethiopian is easily getting the world to forget the violations against the Omoro demonstrations and Omoro Liberation Front (OLF); with these in mind, these skirmish or military operations just happen when the Eritreans wanted the world to forget the slavery and other accusations and the same with the killings of demonstrators from the Ethiopian regime. What we will not certainly know as these are actions and activity, kept behind sound minds in the central governments in authoritarian regimes who are militarized and not democratic. So the knowledge we will get is indications, but not the actual facts, as the numbers will be spoilt to make Ethiopia or Eritrea bad, the rhetoric will clearly defacing the other by all means. Though the response have been the clearest from Eritrea and accusations the loudest, that does not make it true, if it was so, then the screaming Donald Trump would be wisest politician ever; Ethiopia have another approach and more subtle, though countering the Eritrean, as they also claimed was the reason for the 12th June 2016 skirmishes.

That there been rumors of a plot of taking down President Isias Afeweki of Eritrea, nothing is yet certain about that either, as the “rumored plot” have come in the waters from a unnamed source inside the military intelligence of the Ethiopian hierarchy, and for the moment it is hearsay, but the Eritrean are paranoid; so they do what they can to sell it to the world and those stories are better to sell then slavery and unlimited military subscription of their youth and citizens.
So what I said with many words, nothing is clear, there aren’t enough transparency or accountability to take a true stance, the only thing certain, is that there are taken some shots and that the armies did attack each other, too what extent is not easy to say; as the spokesmen and ambassadors are not talking about that, I am sure that is confidential at both parties. What is surely the fact is that there are fallen men and reported men taken by both armies. That Eritrea has taken Ethiopian men’s life and Ethiopian has taken Eritrean men’s life. Peace.