EFF Statement on Minister of Public Enterprise Pravin Gordhan’s daughter doing Business with the State (20.11.2018)

Zimbabwe: Citizens’ Cabinet – Statement on the Proposal of a Foreign Currency Utilisation Monitoring Mechanism (19.11.2018)

EFF Letter to Pravin Gordhan MP: South African Revenue Service Irregular, Unlawful and Criminal Activities (07.11.2018)

Kenya: MPs Greed is now on Overload!

The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” Mahatma Gandhi

We know something is seriously wrong when the Members of Parliaments are wishing more money, as the Jubilee government have already promised more austerity months away. Not only the raising rate of corruption that was between 2013 to June 2018 had grown by 240%. So the MPs knows this and the misuse of the state reserves. While the growing debt in the same era is happening. Even in the same year, as the IMF has told the Government of Kenya to stop spending. The MPs are planning to grow the spending on themselves and their families. As they are not bitten by austerity, the budget deficit or growth of debt. That shows their ignorance of the economy, which they as MPs are supposed to have oversight over.

Here is the news:

All 416 Members of Parliament, Speakers of both houses and the leaders of majority in both chambers will each be provided with a rent-free house, a government vehicle, an expanded medical cover, travel allowances and an expanded constituency outreach operation, if a new Bill becomes law” (…) “Proposals for better terms for legislators — already among the best-paid in the world with a Sh1.2 million salary — are contained in the Parliamentary Service Bill that is set for debate in the National Assembly tomorrow afternoon” (Mwere, 2018).

It is hard to take these men serious, as they have already a giant salary in the Republic. Especially when they are earning 1,2 million salary. While that isn’t enough for the MPs in a country where half of the Republic’s households are earning less than 10,000 shillings per month. That was reported after a survey published in Standard Media in April 2018. Meaning, these households, which is half of the Republic are earning less than 120,000 shillings per year. That without any benefits or other financial support. Therefore, the MPs are far away from the plights of the ordinary man and the ones struggling.

It is clearly not enough, that the IMF, the added taxes and the strains on the economy, in a republic where people are already earning under a tenth of their representatives. You shouldn’t become a businessman or a hustler. You should become a politician in Kenya. As there is where the money is. These people are eating of the dying carcass, of a failing economy, where people are earning little to nothing. Instead of fixing that economy and ensuring people decent wages, they are complaining while they are gaining more wealth. That is what is insane by this.

That the MPs are wishing more services covered, while they have GIANT salaries that the people of the slums only can dream of. That the Shamba Boys of Up-Country never will be able to touch and feel in their life-time. No, these MPs are forgetting their constituents as they are willing to live even more lavish as the economy have been trashed by them. That is their greed. Peace.

Reference:

David Mwere – ‘MPs push for rent-free houses, bigger tea pots, better bar, five-star chefs’ 19.11.2018 link: https://www.nation.co.ke/news/MPs-push-for-better-terms-of-service-in-new-Bill/1056-4858078-20r4fu/index.html

Somalia: “Re: Bid Rounds, new contracts (PSA) and legacy petroleum contracts – the way forward for the national interest of Somalia” (18.11.2018)

The ERG dream of a Super-Canada Deal: The ERG dream will not end the Brexit Nightmare!

The European Research Group (ERG) dropped a paper today, a 7 pages slice of paper, which is as thick as many of the prequel documents of Her Majesty’s Government before the Draft Withdrawal Agreement that was published last week.

The last week has been terrible for the Prime Minister Theresa May and her Cabinet. The resignations, the added no-confidence letters and the whole chaos from within. As the United Kingdom are supposed to vote for this Draft Agreement next week. While that is happening, the ERG, which is between 70 or 80 Conservative MPs. They dropped their document. Showing what they are thinking about the agreement.  What the “Your Right to Know: The Case against Chequers and the Draft Withdrawal Agreement in plain English” says are “We would hand over £39 billion of taxpayer’s money with nothing guaranteed in return” (…) “The UK will remain a ‘rule taker’ over large areas of EU law. The UK will continue to be bound by EU laws in vital areas such as social policy, environmental policy and employment policy, i.e will obey EU laws, but have no further influence over how they are drafted” (…) “No exit from a ‘backstop’ Customs Union. The agreement establishes a ‘joint committee’ which will oversee the UK’s ability to proceed to a future trade relationship” (…) “The Agreement creates internal borders within the UK. Northern Ireland would become a ‘rule taker’ in further areas such as goods, agricultural products and VAT compared to the rest of the UK” (…) “The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will remain in control of the agreement and large areas of EU law directly effective in the UK” (ERG, P: 2, 2018).

All of this has been said by many others and was expected to key arguments by the ERG. They are wanting full sovereign United Kingdom outside the European Union. However, they are not coming with solutions and how it will pan out. They complain that the Withdrawal Agreement and its content. But the ERG Notes are not specific in where the Brexiteers will solve the matter with the EU or within the UK itself. They have one way, but that doesn’t measures the reality of leaving the Union.

The ERG are saying this: “In essence, Super Canada would involve taking an existing EU Canada trade agreement, which was signed in 2016 and updating this framework by adding on some additional elements, such as a security protocol and a protocol on data. The EU Canada agreement took several years to negotiate but this means that most of the ‘heavy lifting’ has already been done and many of the key issues have previously been thrashed out in a manner the EU has already agreed to. A Super Canada trade agreement would not involve being in the Single Market or Customs Union and would not leave the UK subject to the authority of the European Court of Justice” (ERG, P: 5, 2018).

The ERG are proposing something that took years for Canada to do. Canada was never a member and neither had responsibilities toward the EU. That did the UK and they have benefited from the EU and its membership with the single-market and customs-union, even if they have to lose other sovereign control to be a part of that. However, now that they are leaving.

The EU will not accepted being a partner tricked by UK. The UK doesn’t want to be tricked by EU. The EU wants to follow protocol and also be correct within their laws. That is why the Withdrawal Agreement is like it is, but also because the Brexiteers and their negotiators didn’t do their job. They we’re busy promising easy leaving, without thinking consequences of the agreements done.

The ERG are continuing that, as this paper are saying the sad truths about the Agreement. However, they are wanting to go back to start and negotiate like Canada. To get a Super-Canada deal. That has never been done before and that would mean, that the EU would forgive and give-in all their demands. As the UK still have to in the imminent future pay for certain institutions and pledges given as a member. That is normal when people are leaving a Union and formerly being a Member.

The ERG just want to flea and expect to be able to get a favorable deal. They expect to have a say and still be on the outside. Like the EU is going to be humiliated and played like that. The UK will feel the pain and that is part of the plan there. To show the members the price of leaving. That is why the EU is prepared for a “no-deal”. Which is really devastating and costly for the UK. As the hard-borders, tariffs, and all sorts of measures happens over night.

However, the ERG are nothing considering that, as they are dreaming of a possible approach. Where two years of negotiations are down the drain and they can start all-over. Like it wasn’t anything and can be changed for the betterment of the UK. Because, everyone just want to be the loyal servants of the British Empire and the Giants of London. However, the world doesn’t look first London anymore. Even if London thinks so.

The ERG should consider themselves, humble themselves and wonder what the EU has planned. Because the ERG is just weakening the Tories, weakening the own Union. As the ERG just like the Withdrawal Agreement didn’t mention any remedies for the Scottish or Welsh. They are the forgotten siblings in the custody battle. The Good Friday Agreement and the Irish question is always major.

Still, the ERG thinks that the flawed Agreement can be rewritten into a Super-Canada. Do they think Brussels is that foolish? That forgiving and that they don’t have leverage? Seriously?

The ERG should consider to a unilateral approach so the HM Government or the Tories could be able to have a deal, where the votes are unanimously for one way with the EU. However, it is more knives and less finding ways to solve the Brexit. More dreams and less of a reality. Which has been a problem for the British for two whole years. An it doesn’t stop. Peace.

Zimbabwe: RioZim Limited – Withdrawal of Cautionary Statement (15.11.2018)

Public Notice from Telecommunication Companies on the Mobile Money Tax (17.11.2018)

MTN implements reduced Mobile Money Tax (17.11.2018)

Opinion: No sane person want to be in Steve Barclay’s shoes!

Today, the Third Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union was appointed, this was Steve Barclay, the Conservative Party Member of Parliament from North East Cambridgeshire. The first Secretary for the position was David Davis who served from July 2016 to July 2018. The Second Secretary Dominic Raab was it from July 2018 until 15th November 2018.

Now, the third in line and unknown Barclay MP comes in after the Big Brexiteer Davis and Boris Johnson has left the building. The Conservative Party are really looking around for loyal subjects to finalize whatever this Brexit is.

Brexit is a chaos, it is a mess, it is a nightmare and there is no possible way of winning. It is a reason why the hardliners and the ERG MPs aren’t pushing for Cabinet positions. They know it is merely impossible to win at this stage. The background and the facilitation of the Withdrawal Agreement from the DExEU have already sucked and been done properly. It has been a farce and lack of due diligence. As well, as none of the concern of the Secretaries. As they have fled the ship, when they understood they couldn’t stomach the realities.

The Tories have really not won a good bargain. That is why even Prime Minister David Cameron fled the scene. He knew this would be loose-lose game. It wouldn’t be fruitful.

No matter what roads these are going, it is going to be rocky. It is not going to easy or be anything that the UK will earn upon. Unless, they are trying to find a way to still be a Member State within the EU. Even for some, that sound better, than any of the alternatives of how the UK are leaving the Union. Which is all ironic.

The Brexiteers are losing, the Remainers are losing. The United Kingdom are losing. The EU is losing, but not as much as the UK is. In the midst of that Barclay wants the job to end this and be the last remaing Secretary until the UK has left the Union. I don’t know what his motivation is, but he must be really desperate for a vital role in the cabinet.

Because Raab and Davis left a hell-hole and a hell-bound result. No matter what sort of magic trick he can, he cannot be able to satisfy or even ensure everyone good graces. There will only be blood. There will be more MPs resigning and more erratic behavior. As there are already mutiny and lack of trust to the PM. It is in the midst of this, Barclay is coming in.

Unless he is the savior of Brexit, which I doubt. Because by every minute there less and less to save, even to salve the skeletons and bones. The truth of what the UK is getting of a Withdrawal and the consequences of leaving is all there. It isn’t mere speculations. The Draft Agreement is specific and the new Secretary will not alter that much. Unless, he has other motive.

Barclay will work against the machine. A machine that has been running since the Referendum in June 2016. Which none of his predecessors was succeeding at doing. Both of them failed. So, most likely he will fail too.

Therefore, I don’t understand why he wants to go on this quest. A road not taken, but a road which is only filled with traps and no certainties.

Steve, good luck and have a safe journey! Peace.