




EP Brexit Steering Group discussed today the state of play of Brexit in light of last week’s meaningful vote and Prime Minister May’s Statement last Monday.
It calls on the UK to clarify its position in the coming days.
European Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group under the Chairmanship of its coordinator, Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), welcomed the Government’s decision to waive the fee for EU citizens applying for the UK’s settled status scheme, something the European Parliament has consistently pushed for. It called on the EU Member States to follow this example with respect to all UK citizens residing on their territory.
The BSG stressed that following the rejection by the House of Commons of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration, the UK Government must work together with all political parties in the House of Commons to overcome this deadlock. It expects the UK side to come back as quickly as possible with a positive and viable proposal on the way forward.
The BSG reiterated that the Withdrawal Agreement is fair and cannot be re-negotiated. This applies especially to the backstop, since it is the guarantee that under no circumstances will there be a hardening of the border on the island of Ireland while at the same time safeguarding the integrity of the Single Market. The EU remains clear, firm and united on this even if the negotiated backstop is not meant to be used. Therefore, the BSG insists that, without such an “all-weather” backstop-insurance, the European Parliament will not give its consent to the Withdrawal Agreement.
The BSG also reiterated Parliament’s long standing position that it is open to a much more ambitious future relationship, should the UK consider this. This would not only allow for a closer EU-UK future partnership but could also avoid deployment of the backstop. It expects greater clarity next week from the UK on its position on the EU-UK relationship for the future.
The BSG recognised that a rejection of the Agreement increases the chances of a disorderly exit of the UK, which cannot be mitigated by any form of specific arrangement(s) between the EU and the UK. It stressed that while a no deal exit would not be in anybody’s interests, the only responsible course of action remains to continue and to intensify work on no deal planning. It reiterated the European Parliament’s determination to ensure in such a case that there would be no disruption for EU citizens in the UK or for UK citizens in the EU.
Next steps
The BSG will reconvene immediately after the vote in the House of Commons on the 29 January to discuss the way forward, and the European Parliament will hold a debate at its sitting of 30-31 January.
Brexit Steering Group



We knew that the statements of 2018, as the loyal ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze hadn’t done his due diligence, as the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) issued a Social Media Tax last year after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni wrote a letter to the Ministry of Finance asking for the opportunity to tax this.
That has no been done over the last few months, but as the realization of the effects are coming. The forewarning of CSBAG and others wasn’t listen to. I wrote that it lacked due diligence of the tax in June 2018 and today. As I open Daily Monitor and seeing that Frankie Boy has changed his ways. He has opened his eyes and seeing what some of us saw all along. As the cost of content, the cost of using social media and that this has ensured that it is less viable. Since, its the elites who can use it, but the lower level civil servants cannot afford to be online. That was natural, that the 200 shillings per day would be taken directly of the plate and also evaporate funds for investment within the Republic. It is a negative tax, and therefore, naturally have reverse effect, than what the state promised when they levied it.
Tumwebaze statement in July 2018:
“When Ministry of Finance is borrowing, we, the Parliament and civil society are grilling them for borrowing. But when we say this is a sector that has grown in the economy so let’s get a bit of it, let’s get Shs. 6,000 from every holder of a smartphone consuming OTTs, what production capacity will it stifle?” (…) “Is USD 1,4 too much for a citizen to contribute to tax yet you have money to buy a smartphone, minimumly at Shs. 300,000 that is data enabled, and you load bundles of over shs. 30,000? Logically it doesn’t make sense” (Frank Tumwebaze, 17.07.2018).
Tumwebaze statemetn in January 2019:
“The committee chaired by Annet Nyakecho said Over The Top tax seems to negatively affect the consumption of ICT services and products. In response, ICT Minister, Mr Frank Tumwebaze admitted that the tax is has had adverse effects on the sector. He said they were “hoodwinked” by their counterparts in the Finance Ministry that the introduction of the tax on the basis that it would widen the country’s revenue base” (Ssebuliba, 2019).
ICT Minister Tumwebaze was so positive and thinking this was the future. This was how to widen the tax-base, but instead. It has as expected made the usage of Social Media expensive. Which means also there is lack of funds for the ones operating within the Social Media and making Online Businesses. This is both happening because of the hard hitting taxes on Social Media, but also the Mobile Money Tax. Both taxes has both the Mobile Money Industry and the ICT development, as they are both having less activity and less usage. Which is natural, when the costs are going up.
The ICT Minister should have known this before speaking so warm about it. Any tax are taking money out of the system. The 200 shillings of doom is clear. The state could have listen to the advice, but didn’t open the ears to it.
In June 30 2018, Daily Monitor reported this: “Civil society organisations have accused the government of trying to stifle debate online with this tax, while others like the Civil society Budget Advocacy group CSBAG, say the tax will have a negative impact on a business.” (Hinamundi, 2018).
So, if the ICT Minister Tumwebaze could have known and stopped this. They could have done the right thing and not continued this path. Instead they have hurt the industry, because they are all blindly following the orders of the President. That is what the state did and they levied the 200 shillings of doom, as it was anticipated by anyone else. Than, the authorities itself. Peace.
Reference:
Samuel Ssebuliba – ‘Parliament orders assessment on impact of social media tax’ 18.01.2019, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Parliament-orders-assessment-impact-social-media-tax/688334-4940312-rph8g3z/index.html
Collins Hinamundi – ‘How government will collect the new social media tax’ 30.07.2018, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/How-government-will-collect-new-social-media-tax/688334-4639596-juy8n3z/index.html



15 January 2019, 2300 Hrs
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) continues to receive disturbing reports of gross human rights violations across Zimbabwe.
ZADHR has attended to a total of one hundred and seven patients by 1600 hrs of the 15th of January 2019. The injuries ranged from extensive deglouving wounds secondary to gunshot wounds, gunshot wounds in the head, penetrating abdominal trauma and blunt trauma. The majority of the cases were concentrated in Bulawayo, Harare ( particularly Mabvuku and Chitungwiza), Karoi and Kadoma.
ZADHR has also received unconfirmed reports of several deaths across Zimbabwe. One person is alleged to have been run over by a security personnel truck in Harare, and one person who was declared dead on arrival at a medical facility in Kadoma. Reports of other deaths in Epworth and parts of Harare and Chitungwiza are also still being verified. ZADHR estimates the total number of deaths by end of yesterday to be in the region of five to ten casualties. It has been difficult to verify this information due to the internet blackout in Zimbabwe. (ZADHR will release another statement once all tallies from their members are authoritatively collated)
There has also been confirmed reports of retributive torture, beatings and displacements in Mabvuku, Chitungwiza and Kadoma throughout the night of fourteen January 2019. ZADHR is aware of four patients who were scheduled to undergo major surgery for limb saving procedures, penetrating abdominal trauma and neurosurgical procedures in Harare alone. Many patients also had sharpnel and foreign bodies from live ammunition.
ZADHR condemns these gross human rights violations, the use of live ammunition on protesters and any use of torture as a tool to punish protesters. ZADHR also calls upon the authorities to urgently allow those who have been arrested in multiple dragnets cast across the country to receive urgent medical care. Hundreds of injured people have not been attended to as they can’t travel to medical institutions or as they fear arrests or possible victimization.
ZADHR also calls upon all parties to excersice restraint and express their right to protest in non violent and peaceful ways. ZADHR calls for the international community (SADC, AU , UN) to swiftly intervene in the Zimbabwe crisis before the tense situation escalates into a humanitarian disaster.
ZADHR continues to provide urgent medical care to those in need as a result of these disturbances and is reachable via WhatsApp, calls, sms on its hotline 0777604610.
ZADHR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT


I am utterly impressed by the way Prime Minister Theresa May have behaved and acted through her time in-charge of the Brexit and Her Majesties Government. No, I am just kidding, it has been shambolic and her endeavours has sadly enough been in vain. That was proven yet again today.
PM May of the Tories has steered a wobbly ship all along, there have never been really any trust or any significant change, where the levels of belief has ever come. The prolonged and long staying negotiations with Brussels has been tragic. The EU has gotten everything they need, while the UK has gotten scraps. Not even assurances of safety or possible options to change the agreement has arrived. As the EU is following protocol of a leaving Member State from the Union.
The Tories and HM Government has acted all out, but not coherent or in sync with reality. That has been seen all along. There have been no part, where the PM has been truthful. As she has reassured the public of getting the best deal, the deal that would deliver everything and give nothing away. While the real deal was really making London and the UK into a small-fry and Third Member State without much to grasp.
That is why she lost both the Tories and the Opposition today. She lost by the hugest margin in a long time. The Government lost the vote by a record amount of members and that also means a lot of own rebels who don’t accept the Brexit – Withdrawal Agreement, which was used so long to negotiate, but not leaving even leaving the House for another round. Therefore, the PM has lost a big one today.
She has already lost Financial Bill and Amendments since before Christmas 2018. The Opposition has had the upper-hand and it seems to continue. As the Labour Party are able to table a No Confidence in the Government today as well. A double blow, as the Tories haven’t been able to legally deliver and agree upon a Withdrawal Agreement, which was supposed to be made by the end date of March 2019. Therefore, the time table is short and the reality should be hitting the UK.
Today, again, PM May has lost it. The Tories is in the wind. They are really at the high seas, but in reality, they are really not able to stem the tide.
This Brexit due date is on 29th March, PM May notified the EU on the 29th March 2017. That means that within the 2 years since the notification. The PM wasn’t able to deliver the Brexit. The Mission she got after PM David Cameron resigned after losing his Brexit Vote. Maybe, time for May for do the same. Even she doesn’t have it in her, as she has gotten No Confidence Vote within the Tories already at least twice within the two years. Still, she is there and not really trustworthy.
How will it be, the last two months into the final date? Who knows? But it cannot be worse than now. As the Tories and government have no control, the Tories are all walking dead and trying to configure something, without succeeding. They are working against the clock, but not doing it productive. They have wasted all this time and because of today’s vote. They have gotten nowhere. Which is impressive.
PM May knows this, the whole of UK knows this and whole of Europe too. We are looking and wondering. What is wrong with the British? Other then their egos and bad teeth? Also, their lack of good governance and lack of proper planning, as this could be foreseen a long time ago. Never sounding like the Tories and their Brexiteers would deliver anything worth voting Yay for in Parliament. Since, they were more promising gold, but only giving shiny objects.
That is why we are here today. Another loss for May. Another bad day for the Tories. And another nail-biter tomorrow. Not strength, not brilliance or control, just wiggling on the edge without a safety-net. That is what PM May does for a living. Who can wonder how much longer that can continue?
How much patience does the British people have? What shall it take for the British to act and wonder when the foolery should be over? Because, that time on the clock should have been ticked already. Peace.

14th January 2018, Oslo
Dear Sir, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa!
Today, I am writing you in haste, as your on a two-week foreign trip. After you have pushed your Republic into destruction. As the public, the citizens and the economy cannot last the measures you have put on it. This is what has happened, the public is outrages, the Security Forces has attacked the public and massive destruction.
Also, what is also seen is big blame game on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and MDC-Alliance. That was Clock-Work Mr. President, which is not creating any goodwill or making the Republic any better.
It is a natural defence mechanism, but it doesn’t make it right. ZANU-PF and your brigades, comrades should be more careful with their language, this being ZBC or the Herald. Therefore, the state media and ZANU-PF should handle the situation with a bit more care.
Mr. President, the acts of violence, state sanctioned violence, the use of guns, the harassment of journalists, the mass arrests are not a good move from the state. Neither is the looting, the burning of houses, party offices and so on. We also know that someone tried to burn down the Harvest House or the MDC-Alliance HQ as well.
Therefore, Mr. President, we know all parties in this crisis has been hit. The ZANU-PF has seen lots of losses today. Dozens of businesses has been hit. Many people have been shot, even some killed, but hard to get verified numbers. However, Mr. President, each of these people is one to many. Each person shot, each person died on your watch Mr. President. Even if at this moment, Vice-President or Acting President Constantino Chiwenga because your abroad.
It is time to ask yourself Mr. President, can you contain people’s anger? Can you find fruitful ways to stop the furious attitude shown today? Can the Police Officers and Soldiers restrain themselves, meeting this anger?
Because, Mr. President, they have all acted on your orders and on your taxes. They have acted on the RTGS, the new levies or the new exercise duty on fuel, which has sky-rocketed the price on that. The fuel prices went over the moon over night. It would create a reaction, Mr. President, I think the state wasn’t ready for it. Neither was the opposition. The ZANU-PF was never ready for this. They are just trying to settle the score and silence. But the anger will still be there. Because, the state and you Mr. President, never patched up the hurt.
You have put salt on the wounds, you have hurt the public, you have crippled the economy and given no proper solution. The ZANU-PF, which you rule has shown. The economy haven’t become any better, but only worse. No signs of positives anywhere on the horizon.
Mr. President, you should think about the people, you should think about how your actions affect them. The PFee have ruled for over three decades and had the reign, you could have ensured this from not happening, but the party let this happen.
Mr. President, if you do care. Time to act. Time to make a difference. Not flying in a luxury jet across Eastern Europe as a King. But come back home and settle the difference. Face the music and act upon the issues, that every single citizen is feeling right now.
Mr. Mnangagwa, you have been apart of the elite for so long, seems like you have forgotten the plights of the citizens, the lack of foreign currency and the wages concerning the rises of costs of living. There is time Mr. President to act upon this, not put more plight, but finds ways to ensure citizens are more safer day-to-day, not create a wasteland of uncertainty and lack of basic commodities.
President, this is your mantle, this your role to play. Mr. President, it is not the cards you have on your hands, but how you play them. Time for you to man up and face the consequences. This is also, actions related to your actions and your advisors saying it is a good idea. However, it creates a national crisis. The Republic have to act. The Republic have to find solutions, not only put more fuel on the fire. Right now, that is what you do. Instead of finding a way out, your burning the bridges.
Best Regards
Writer of Minbane

