Brexit: Trades Unions Congress General Secretary Frances O’Grady letter to MPs (03.09.2019)

Zambia: Where the government claims the Opposition created the maize-inflation, I beg to differ!

This week in Zambia, you have arrest of opposition leader and also claim that another ppposition leader is in-charge of the rising prices, the inflation and the overall added expenses on the staple food: Maize.

However, we all know that is rubbish. Because, UPND Hichilema isn’t in-charge of any ministry or government portfolio. It is the Patriotic Front (PF) and President Edgar Lungu whose in charge of the mess created. It is his people whose not on guard and fixing the issues within the Republic. That is why the issues are there, because there is a need for basis and control from the state.

In addition, that the PF is attacking others and claiming their faults for their mismanagement. It is easier to point the finger at HH and UPND. Instead of acting reasonable and finding out why there is a growing inflation on staple-food and the need for price cap on Maize.

Look!

On Sunday, the 25th of August 2019, the Agriculture Minister of Zambia, one of the most highly urbanized countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Michael Katambo said following a meet with millers, chain stores, stockfeed manufacturers and grain traders that they all had agreed to put a cap on maize price in order to keep the nation’s staple food affordable. On top of that, the Agricultural Ministry had also added in a statement that a ton of maize could be sold at a maximum price of $198.93 or 2,600 Kwacha ($1= 13.07 Kwacha)” (Sourav D. – ‘Zambia introduces price cap on maize (corn) amid farmers’ protest’ 27.08.2019, Financial-World.Org).

Zambia’s headline inflation accelerates for sixth consecutive month in August, jumping to new multi-year high as food price pressures weigh. Despite the reintroduction of maize price caps, surging food prices may steer inflation to breach double-digit territory by end-Q3” (NKC African Economics, 30.08.2019).

Lusaka Province secretary Kennedy Kamba told journalists yesterday the two directors recently invited United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema to coerce him into petitioning the Commission over alleged corruption in the government. Mr Kamba said those were some of the clandestine tactics the opposition and some public servants were using to discredit President Edgar Lungu and his government because they had nothing else to talk about as the government had delivered in all sectors. At the same briefing, Lusaka Province PF chairman Paul Moonga warned millers against conniving with the opposition to create artificial mealie meal prices and commodity shortages” (Charles Musonda – ‘ACC BOSSES EXPOSED’ 30.08.2019, Daily Nation)

The PF should consider their actions, because it is their lack of actions in time. That is the reason for the inflation on the staple food. If not their inside dealings, which has told stories to HH. It is not that he gets the truth from directors of millers.

Therefore, the state and the PF needs to look into itself and its shortcomings. If they want it for the better. PF needs to act upon that, not that HH or anyone else is questioning their actions. Since, his just doing his duty as an opposition. HH is not governing, that is what the PF does, if not they are not doing it well enough. That is why HH and the opposition is the scapegoats for the lack of due diligence from the government itself.

Seriously, something is up. I don’t know what it is or the reason for it. But there is something not sorted out. Because, an inflation and a price-cap on maize doesn’t come over night. Peace.

Uganda: Statement on the Status of Tullow Farm Down (29.08.2019)

Tullow Oil terminate agreement with Total and CNOOC over a tax dispute in Uganda

Today, the agreement published between Tullow, Total and CNOOC made a Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) on Area 1 and Area 2 in the Lake Albert Basin in the Republic of Uganda. That deal was issued on the 30th August 2016.

Now, nearly three years later. Tullow Oil has now back-tracked and said the deal didn’t go through. Surely the SPA and the Joint Venture Agreement wasn’t settled properly. If not, then the press release of Tullow wouldn’t say this:

Tullow Oil plc (“Tullow”) announces it has been informed that its farm-down to Total and CNOOC will terminate at the end of today, 29 August 2019, following the expiry of the Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPAs)” (…) “The termination of this transaction is a result of being unable to agree all aspects of the tax treatment of the transaction with the Government of Uganda which was a condition to completing the SPAs. While Tullow’s capital gains tax position had been agreed as per the Group’s disclosure in its 2018 Full Year Results, the Ugandan Revenue Authority and the Joint Venture Partners could not agree on the availability of tax relief for the consideration to be paid by Total and CNOOC as buyers” (…) “Tullow will now initiate a new sales process to reduce its 33.33% Operated stake in the Lake Albert project which has over 1.5 billion barrels of discovered recoverable resources and is expected to produce over 230,000 bopd at peak production” (Tullow Oil plc – ‘Termination of farm-down agreement with Total and CNOOC in Uganda’ 29.08.2019).

This deal fell through because the companies didn’t want to compensate each other for back-taxes or the taxation of the possible profits to the Government of Uganda. Something that was approved upon the Joint Venture Agreement in August 2016 with Total and CNOOC.

This shows how hard it is start-up and the issues by operating in Uganda. Even Tullow Oil plc is trying to figure this one out. It was only in January 2017, when the Total was supposed to buy the biggest part of operated stake of 21,5% from Tullow. Surely, with the announcement in 2018 and now in 2019. This has all backfired and stopped, because URA and the companies couldn’t agree on their fees.

That dispute is the one that was interconnected with the “Presidential Handshake” of 2017. As the 6 billions shillings was doled around to civil servants and high ranking officials, who secure the capital tax gain from Heritage/Tullow Oil, which was awarded in February 2015.

Therefore, Tullow has to now find new buyers for their USD $167m stake in the Lake Albert Basin. This would be the payment of the Capital Gain Taxes (Awarded $157 Million) to the Uganda Revenue Authority. Apparently, Total and CNOOC didn’t want to do that apparently.

So from August 2016 to August 2019, the three companies and URA couldn’t come to an agreement on Capital Tax Gain, which Tullow owe URA after losing their case in February 2015. This shows, that the big victory of the state in this matter. Is actually making it harder to find someone who can afford or see it feasible to drill for oil in Area 1 and Area 2.

This is how it seems and the two other companies didn’t want to pay for what Tullow did before them. Peace.

RDC: Diocese de Kilwa-Kasenga – Communique de Presse N. 5 – Desastre ecologique au cæur de la foret de Miombo dans le Haut-Katanga (27.08.2019)

Opinion: Boris Johnson is a coward for suspending the Parliament at this crucial time

Let’s be clear, this the art-piece of a con-artist. Michelangelo or Basquiat couldn’t have this masterpiece of deception. It is only a CONservative Prime Minister like Boris Johnson who could.

Today, his shown his clear intention. The man who was never elected by the people, to disregard all the people’s representatives and their constituencies. That in the final days Brexit, until the 31st October 2019. The Parliament is suspended the 14th October 2019. Making it near impossible to amend changes or follow standard protocol of Parliament and its chambers.

This is the trick that Johnson does today. With the blessing of the Queen and his Privy Council, while his made his remarks in constitutional offensive letter, earlier in the day. Because, clearly, the coward doesn’t have the bollocks or the balls to be present in-front of fellow peers. His a weak man, who only can use power, but stand guard to be questioned for using it. That is the sort of man Johnson is.

If he had courage, honour or respect for the democratic institutions in the United Kingdom. He would have started the Parliament after the Summer Recess and finally ended Brexit with humility. Alas, he wants to wing-it and disregard the rest of the representatives of the UK. He want to move-on at his own will and not get quarrels in Parliament. At least his predecessor had the courtesy to follow protocol in this matter.

That they supposed to “divers urgent and important matters” when they return. Like they got the time for Parliament to convene and find deliberate actions concerning Brexit. This is clear message, that Johnson want to skirmish his “No-Deal” without the procedures followed.

Boris is showing lack of understanding his role, because his not representing the people, but his own will. Johnson takes this step, since he fears what the Parliament could do. The hung parliament have already caused problems for the transitional deal, the Withdrawal Agreement and not like Johnson has the time to fix the issues within that one. Neither, is he giving anyone time to make good suggestions ahead of the revoking date of the Member State role within the European Union.

He wants to end this with a blast, with a big-bang, where the corporations are more prepared to remove locations and assets into the EU markets. This has already been done big funds and corporations already, Dublin is the winner and many plans to move to the Netherlands too.

Certainly, Brexit deserves to questioned, under scrutiny and handled properly by the Parliament. Not be done in silence and secretly by the chosen few of the PM. Instead it seems to be the way, as the Queen, the Prime Minister and the Privy Council got it done today.

This shows how someone is ramming into the institutions on his own will, instead of actually having an ear to the other MPs and Lords, also they are there on behalf of the people. That is why this sort of actions shows his contempt with the other legislators.

Johnson is a COWARD. A weak man, with a high office. Not a respectable or an honourable man. Because, if he was, he would have the ability to listen to people and accepts their verdicts of your plans. Instead, he wants to be the big-man writing decrees and get t done his way. This is the sort of man he is.

Since we all know, there will not be much time between 14th October and 31st October 2019. 17 days and you cannot manage much.

That why this is crashing out of the Union, in a mediocre and insincere way of Johnson. Boris the Blade, surely forgotten his role in society and what institution his a part off. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Police Investigates Minister’s Death Treats (26.08.2019)

Brexit: Philip Hammond MP letter to Prime Minister Johnson – Operation Yellowhammer document leak (24.08.2019)

Somalia: Hormuud Telecom – Press Release (24.08.2019)

Zimbabwe: Apex Council Statement on NJNC Cost of Living Adjustment Negotiations (23.08.2019)