The world is under lockdown…

Who knew we would get here? And get here collectively together? It seems all nations, republics and rulers are disconnecting themselves from the world. Closing the schools, emptying the tourism industry and working from home.

So many countries are under lockdown, we are in our homes. Not walking out unless we need too. We are awaiting the next update, the next presser from local councils and the central governments. Schools, Universities, workplaces, churches and sporting events are all closed or suspended. We are supposed to be one meter away from each other. Wash our hands and be quarantined if we have a cough, fever or feeling ill. We are clearly making all metropolis across the world into ghost towns.

This is living in a science fiction novel. We are hiding from a deadly virus. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are able to break the neck of the airline industry. Make the hotels empty, make the offices in and around the central business district all closed. The banks needs revamped, so does so many other businesses. There is a social destruction, but also a bailout that the states trying to configure.

Laws are amended, the states are taking more power, as they need more modifications to able to close the space of civil society, take away powers from the citizens and also ability to fight this. They are even pursuing it for longer time than the possible crisis will last. From 6 months to two years depending on where.

The borders are shut, the warnings for travel abroad is everywhere. If you still travel from A to B. You will most likely be quarantined and not enjoy the place you travelled too. That is why the free movement of our globe is suspended. That is for a common good, but not something we could foresee for just a few months ago.

I don’t have the answers, because I myself is in a home-office, made a make shift office in the kitchen and not going to the office anymore. Which is weird. Staying home most of the time and worried about going out. While seeing pictures of empty streets and worry about the spread of the virus.

We just have to wait for the advice of the authorities and what they say to us. However, we shall not be muffled in a way that doesn’t make sense. Like if they try to misuse power or breach human rights, nor take away liberties and freedoms without giving it back to the citizens when its over. If not we, have to riot when this is over. Because, the state can do this now, but try to pull a wall over eyers is insane.

We have to show solidarity, we have to show restraint, but that doesn’t mean we cannot question when the measures are overstretched or taking ownership, which might imply that they want more power out of this. That is what people should think about, as quickly made laws and amendments are enacted, as some of this is done in the grandness of common good. Other things can be baked in to ensure more power, which the rulers and representatives doesn’t need, but grabs in the moment of fear and crisis.

Be woke, be aware, but still show solidarity. We are all in this lockdown, but still not fools. Peace.

Kenya: Public Service Commission – Abolition of Offices (18.03.2020)

Opinion: Why didn’t Mzee just invoke a ‘State of Emergency’?

The countries of the World, by their selfish actions, are, again, waking up Africa that that it is ─ suicidal to depend on others. I have warned our people to stop talking like the selfish foreigners by trying to stop the little we have, being exported to other African countries”Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on a National Adress on the Coronavirus (18.03.2020)

Today’s address of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, if he should have followed laws and procedures in concerns of COVID19 or Coronavirus spread in the Republic. He should have considered to use the article 110 of the 1995 Constitution, which is about how the President can call a “State of Emergency”?

It is nice that the President acts upon the spread of virus in the Republic. The actions he wants to implement is similar to elsewhere with lack of public meetings, no big weddings, cinemas, campaign rallies, sports and music shows. There is plenty of good things in this. Also, the closure of churches, schools and whatnot. This has been done elsewhere, but its been done with legal provisions and articles, which makes sense.

Parts of his National Address on the 18th March 2020:

(1) “It is wise that we temporarily remove these concentration points by closing all the Primary and Secondary schools as well as all the Universities and Tertiary Institutions for one month, starting with Friday, the 20th of March, 2020, starting at mid-day. All these institutions, without exception, should close so that we deny this virus those concentrations” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 18.03.2020).

(2) “Once we deal with the concentrations in the Educational Institutions, the next concentrations that we must deal with are the religious gatherings: prayers in Churches, in Mosques, open air prayers and services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. In the interests of our people’s health, these should be suspended for a month with immediate effect“ (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 18.03.2020).

(3) ”Then the next category of mass meetings are the political or cultural ─ Public rallies, conferences, elections, etc. All these are hereby forbidden for 32 days with immediate effect” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 18.03.2020)

So with this mind, that is why I wonder, if he has followed the Constitution and article 110? Because, it is needed to ask this. Even in the days we’re in, as the laws are there for a reason.

This is why I am wondering, if the President, even have thought about how there by proxy. As your governing by the definition of the majority of a Parliament and Councils. You have meetings, plenary sessions and votes on the matters. Where the public are accepting it, as these are the representatives doing it on their behalf.

That is why the Constitution in article 110 says this:

(1) The President may, in consultation with the Cabinet, by proclamation, declare that a state of emergency exists in Uganda, or any part of Uganda if the President is satisfied that circumstances exist in Uganda or in that part of Uganda

(a) in which Uganda or that part of it is threatened by war or external aggression;

(b) in which the security or the economic life of the country or that part is threatened by internal insurgency or natural disaster; or

(c) which render necessary the taking of measures which are required for securing the public safety, the defence of Uganda and the maintenance of public order and supplies and services essential to the life of the community” (Constitution 1995, Article 110).

This means, if the President has done it correctly he would have held conversation with the cabinet of his. That they have looked into the measures and the circumstances, because its not war nor external aggression. You can say 110(1B) is fixed, but that should have been declared and by consent of the cabinet.

Then, you have 110(3) of the Constitution, which states this:

3) The President shall cause the proclamation declaring the state of emergency to be laid before Parliament for approval as soon as practicable and in any case not later than fourteen days after it was issued” (Constitution 1995, Article 110).

This means the President needs to take the proclamation or the declaration, which he held a conservation with his cabinet into the Parliament for approval. This means, the President has now 14 days to do so. That is if the closures and the everything is following legal codes of the state. Because, the acts of the President is similar to a “state of emergency”. To say something else is playing it down.

And if he doesn’t this, the 110(6) states this: “(6) During any period when a state of emergency declared under this article exists, the President shall submit to Parliament at such intervals as Parliament may prescribe, regular reports on actions taken by or on behalf of the President for the purposes of the emergency” (Constitution 1995, Article 110).

So, if the President get it voted through the Parliament, then the President has to show up and explain the measures made. Also show the progress, as it states the needs to do so. This means the state will be explained.

All of this shows the President got some work to make this official. Especially, if he wants to have legal remedies. Not only proclamations without any jurisdiction or proof of legal substance behind it. That is what the President should ask himself. I know his the only man with a vision in the Republic. However, if it is so, why hasn’t he looked into the laws his so proud of enacting and why isn’t he following it? Peace.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission’s Statement calling for a state of emergency is withdrawn (17.03.2020)

Zimbabwe: No remedies found to solve the hyperinflation! Part II

Mthuli Ncube has promised to move mountains. The Minister of Finance are supposed make such a vast difference and make everything back to normal. That is supposed to happen with all sorts of measures. If this being the Forex Market, restructuring policies of the RTGS Dollar or even the reissue of the Zimbabwe Dollar, instead of the US Dollarization of the currency market.

All of this haven’t helped it all. The other day, there was news of Currency Stabilization Force. However, that is sort of futile, when all other measures has been continuing the negative spiral. There are no remedy here, only PR stunts and magnificent words fitting for the Herald.

That is why this news today proves the problems at hand:

Zimbabwe resumes publishing year-on-year inflation data, with Zimstat today announcing an annualised rate of 540.16% for February 2020. Month-on-month inflation for February was 13.52%, 11.29 percentage points on the January rate of 2.23%” (newZWIRE, 16.03.2020).

These issues have been hit the Republic for over three years now. There been no remedies working. The Bond Notes wasn’t a hit, neither was the RTGS Dollars nor the taxation of the RTGS transfers. Neither been to reissue the Zimbabwe Dollar. There been measured ways to stream back US Dollars .

The state is clearly clueless wondering about and nitpicking, instead of looking at the root. Because, if it did. It would uncover treasures and most likely the skeletons, which is the reason for the failure to tame the dragon of inflation.

Ncube can only do this, if the public trust him and the regime he puts forward. However, there are no trust and there are belief that the state would do something that benefits the public. They are just awaiting another looting spree or get-rich-scheme from the authorities. This is why the failure is so imminent.

To get these sorts of numbers is a utter trapped situation with no redeeming quality what so ever. Ncube can promise a road to Heaven, but he has to pass through hell himself to get there. Instead, his deflecting the pain and micro-managing without any progress. Peace.

South Sudan Woman’s Coalition and Woman’s Bloc of South Sudan letter to President Kiir – Re: Implementation of the 35 % Provision of the R-ARCSS in the Executive Appointments (14.03.2020)

Corona Lockdown: I want to leave for Wakanda

14th March 2020, Oslo

Now the Kingdom I am in living, the metropolis and everything is shutting down. The whole Kingdom is slowing down. People are going into home-office, suspending and laying down their tools. Only the vital operations and the ones whose service is dire is continuing. There are measures all around and things are not at all normal.

It is like a post apocalyptic nightmare, but without Will Smith nor any of the other devastating effects. The city isn’t filled with blood-shed and there isn’t a overdrive. There is hoarding of produce and food-stuffs, even toilet paper is out of stocks in the groceries and supermarkets.

There is reports of new people catching the sickness. People are afraid when people are coughing or sneezing. People are worried. There is a dire understanding of all the measures, people wanting more restrictions on travels, check-ups of the ones landing on the borders. While the wealthy and the ones with funds has already collectively travelled to the villages of cottages and staying away from the metropolis.

This isn’t “I Am Legend” neither is it “Mad Max” or a Terminator sequel. This is real life. It hasn’t been a nuclear war. This is in peaceful times here. The actions made is with a purpose. The Corona Virus is deadly and contagious. We don’t know everything about it yet, there are still questions how to battle it and what it takes to contain it.

We are seeing more people catching it, we are seeing the fear and the worry. Everyone is surely following the updates, the numbers and the alarming headlines of big-men into quarantine. People are doing their needed duties, while we are awaiting the next new measure or even possible change.

I have not written about the virus, because I don’t feel qualified neither do I have a deep enough understanding of it. I am just worried, looking at the signs of it, the conditions and what the authorities are saying about it. There are reasons to worry, but also encourage us all stand strong in it all. Even as we all prepare as much as we can. The stocks of anti-bacterial products has run-out and other helpful things is gone for a while.

We are maybe seeing the sun today, but the day is still grim. As we are living in times of uncertainty, of fear of catching the COVID19. We all know this and try to avoid the sickness. Use our means and our tools. Take our precautions and our understanding.

What is happening more now, as the metropolis is a ghost-town, as the police and other authorities are acting up to ill actions of kids and youth. As the state and organizations are all suspended for unknown time. Just a public offices and others has done the same. We are living in extra-ordinary times. This is actions made to stop one sickness. Which we just have to battle and we’re by the meanings we know.

I have never in my own life lived it with this way, where I am myself is called in a risk-group and has a lung-condition, which has made my family worry all week as I used public transport to the offices where I work. Now, from Friday it was settled and I stay home. However, the worry still is there.

That is why with all this worry. I want to leave, but I cannot. The opportunities to flea is closing. The borders are getting shut all-over. The state says the citizens should return home and get quarantined too.

That is why the whole idea of leaving to Wakanda is futile. Also, as it is a imaginary Kingdom. It still would be good to live in a nation with vibranium and behind the protective barrier. That would surely be nice these days. When the sickness can pass through everywhere and more nations are hit as we speak. That is how it seems.

That is why the borders of Wakanda. The shield and the protective barrier, which can rise above Wakanda City, surely could have made a difference now. At least given hope and energy to the public. As they are going to bed at night with uncertainty. Maybe enough toilet-paper, bread and some bags of soup. However, that is reassurance. That is just doing what is needed to secure tomorrow.

I will end with the T’Challa, the speech of the King of Wakanda to the fictional United Nations General Assembly:

My name is King T’’Challa , son of King T’’Chaka . I am the sovereign ruler of the Nation of Wakanda and for the first time in our history. We will be sharing our knowledge and resources with the outside world. Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows We cannot, we must not. We will work to be an example of how we as brothers and sisters on this Earth should treat each other. Now more than ever, illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers . We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe” (Wakanda, 2018).

Think those words is needed for today, because as grim the world is today. As the worry, devastating news and the continuing spiral of people catching the decease, we all got to work together in solidarity and ensure that we get to live on. Not give up, but listen to the authorities and secure the future today. So, even as a part of me wants to take a plane to Wakanda. I know it’s not the right thing to do. However, it would be a lie not saying it. That is a natural reflex, but that doesn’t mean you act upon it. It is human to try to get away from the pain, the suffering and the illness coming your way. 

Though we will not do it. It is important to think of those who will. They could have been you. They just used their oppertunity and has to answer for their action. We other who follows orders, guidelines and recommandations of the state. Will follow our conscience too. That is why I will stay put, but will follow my gut feeling. So, that me and mines are safe. Peace.

Haiti: Ministere de la Justice et de la Securite Publique lettre de Digicel (10.03.2020)

Opinion: Keith is in 2 billion pickle shillings

““As you are aware on the 28th February 2020 this Ministry transferred USD 600,000 to the Uganda mission in Beijing to support the affected students,” Keith wrote in a letter dated March 10, 2020. “However upon receipt of the cabinet extract, we noted that there is discrepancy between the amounts therein and that stated in the letter from Ministry of Education and Sports.” The letter directs the accountant to return 538,200 USD (1.997 billion Shillings)” (Edge.ug – ‘Uganda erroneously sends Shs2bn to students in China’ 11.03.2020).

Someone has had a bad ending of February 2020, maybe the Ministry of Finance, Planning, Economic and Development (MoFPED) Permanent Secretary Keith Muhakanizi suddenly seen the boo-boo done by someone. There was someone who didn’t due their due diligence, when the state signed off the amount of money sent from a government account over to the Chinese Embassy.

They clearly don’t have the protocol of two people checking the accounts, if they did then one brother would call out the other one. The second brother would say, “hey man, isn’t that more than what where supposed to go there and isn’t this wrong, sir?”. The Permanent Secretary Muhakanizi should clearly implement this. So, that two people have to sign-off transactions made on public accounts, because then they might save the humiliation of letter writing to a embassy asking for the return of the added US Dollars.

This is why you have check-points on spending and especially government spending. Since, this is money that supposed to be spent on the public and services made for the citizens. If this is for diplomatic work, help citizens and such. This is why, the transparency and the accountability is so important. That tenders, transactions and procurement done by the government and its organizations are done properly and through standards. However, we know that is not the case.

The person behind this transaction, surely has signed it off somewhere. They tend to be imprinted on the accounts, the rights to send or transfer funds and has put in the documentation to do so. That guy should answer for this. The Permanent Secretary looks like a dumb-dumb, but it might be either someone higher up the food-chain or a knuckle-head down in the Ministry who messed up. Nobody caught a whiff off it, until they saw their account had less shillings in it.

However, that is also a scary thing. Considering the 11 days it took to catch up on the movement of the unaccounted funds. The massive load of 2 billion shillings gone missing. It had a destination, but surely not intended there. MoFPED surely needs new guidelines and mechanisms to stop this. Unless, they are doing more of it and it doesn’t go public. Like a new type of Presidential Handshakes and kickbacks for public servants. This is why, the MoFPED doesn’t have the security checks before any transaction from the public accounts. Peace.

Opinion: Priti Patel is celebrating mediocrity

The Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday (22.02.2020) launched the Blue Passport with the ‘Iconic blue passports return next month’. It is hard to see what there is to celebrate. Other than its an imported Polish passport, which has the colour blue. Like the colour gives the passport unique power.

It is like the United Kingdom is okay with mediocrity. Because of Brexit, they are okay with symbolism. They are okay with a colour scheme on a official travel document over the value it actually has. The UK are losing a lot with the withdrawal of the membership in the European Union. They are losing rights to reside, work and being part of customs unions for the trading of goods too.

Therefore, the whole idea of celebrating that with the temporary status and saying its a victory to get it blue. Is really naive, if not foolish, unless you want propaganda brownie points. Like its a big deal to change the colour of the passport.

The passport only has value as long as it opens up to visa and travelling opportunities. By the ranking of the Passport Index its at the 28h placed. It is also in the Power Rank of the 5th, meaning it is ranking behind plenty of states. This means the colour isn’t all that important.

The Home Secretary should look into why there are 27 passports ahead of the UK and why the citizens of the United Kingdom doesn’t have the ability for mobility like the ones above it. This is the key thing for this sort of thing.

If the Home Secretary doesn’t see that, she is either delusional or not configured her job. However this is how proud she was and it doesn’t make sense.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

Leaving the European Union gave us a unique opportunity to restore our national identity and forge a new path in the world. By returning to the iconic blue and gold design, the British passport will once again be entwined with our national identity and I cannot wait to travel on one” (UK, 22.02.2020).

What would be unique would be to enter new visa agreements and give an edge for the citizens mobility. So, that the Passport Index would be better. Like think about getting it up one Power Rank even.

The Home Secretary Patel seemingly more into symbolism, than actual significant change.

Roses are red,

Tories are blue,

and they screwed you”

Peace.