
Zimbabwe: Press Statement by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. Ambassador N.C.G Mathema (19.02.2020)







The Tories think they can easily access the European Common Market without being a member of the European Union. However, today’s revelation in the draft negotiations paper from Michael Barnier proves that hassle the Boris Johnson government have to deal with. The Brexiteers will struggle with it.
Just like one key sentiment, which the UK have to understand:
“reflect the United Kingdom’s status as a non-Schengen third country, and that a non-member of the Union, that is not subject to the same obligations as a member, cannot have the same rights and enjoy the same benefits as a member” (Barnier, 03.02.2020).
This here is very revealing and sets the tone. This puts the United Kingdom on the outside, as entity on its own, but still will not have the same rights the members of Union. Neither the same obligations and therefore, will be treated differently. That is key aspect, which the UK doesn’t seem to understand.
Boris Johnson statement in return:
“The Government wishes to see a future relationship based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals for the benefit of all our peoples. There is complete certainty that at the end of 2020 the process of transition to that relationship will be complete and that the UK will have recovered in full its economic and political independence. The Government remains committed in all circumstances to securing all those benefits for the whole of the UK and to strengthening our Union” (Boris Johnson, 03.02.2020).
This here negotiations will not be easy. The documents from Barnier in his drafts proves the technicalities, even as the British has appointed a Task Force instead of Department working inside the Office of the Prime Minister. Because, that will run so well. Not like all the Secretaries of the Exiting the EU did a good job, but they would have civil servants dwelling on and configuring the fine details. Which the answer of PM Johnson is a kids story compared to the paperwork of Barnier.
Like Barnier said:
“The envisaged partnership should establish open market access for bilateral road freight transport, including unladen journeys, made in conjunction with these operations:
by Union road haulage operators from the territory of the Union to the territory of the United Kingdom, and vice versa;
by United Kingdom road haulage operators to the territory of the Union, and vice versa.
As third country operators, United Kingdom road haulage operators should not be granted the same rights and benefits as those enjoyed by Union road haulage operators in respect of road freight transport operations from one Union Member State to another (“grand cabotage”) and road freight transport operations within the territory of one Union Member State (“cabotage”)” (Barnier, 03.02.2020)
Then Johnson said:
“Road Transport
There should be reciprocal commitments to allow EU and UK road transport operators to provide services to, from and through each other’s territories, with associated rights, underpinned by relevant international agreements and commitments, and ensuring the necessary cooperation on monitoring and enforcement” (Boris Johnson, 03.02.2020).
Here is a typical statement towards each other. They have sort of the same pattern, but the leafy British statement, compared to the detailed EU ones. Show the work behind it and the details are expressing the needs of the EU to show difference between members and nots. The UK is a not and therefore, cannot do the same as they have done now. They got to follow more strict rules, even as they are allowed to cross the borders, but more rigorous than in the past.
These negotiations will be interesting to follow, as the UK and EU is in a stalemate, in a limbo, which is supposed to last a year. Before the final ending of the marriage is over. The Bride and Groom leaves each other and become Exes. Who knows how this will go, but the EU seems more prepared, than the UK is at the moment. Because, the statement from Boris wasn’t reassuring. When you looking into the work of EU at the moment. Peace.

Well, this are not yet finished. There are dozens of problems ahead for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his cabinet. It is not like Tories have won or succeeded anything. The possible reactions or results of the end of membership with the European Union (EU) isn’t carved out yet. Hell, even the issues of trade, border patrol, fishing nor the Northern Ireland questions are finalized.
The celebration of a new penny on the 31st January 2020 is a mockery, but also pointless. The Tories haven’t bagged it. They are not packing their briefcases and securing their tickets for the destination. Yes, the final Withdrawal Agreement was voted for and the next stage of Brexit is happening. However, the possible outcomes are from sealed. The ink isn’t even dry on the paperwork.
Who knows what the businesses will do, when the borders are shut and the hardships of trading across the Channel hits the fan. Who knows what will happen when the costs of banking and City of London comes across. It is not like the Tories can get it any harder. Not like they are getting the best deals and not getting issues from across the pond.
The PM will not address this and will rather deflect this. Surely, the industries and the ones whose exporting products will be hit the hardest. There are no certainty, the ones moving are already templating it or has already left. Several of businesses has moved to Ireland, France and Germany as a result of Brexit.
That is why, the projected downturns aren’t far fetched and the possible projections of the Withdrawal Agreement are bleak too. Not like this will not be a big natural hit on the consumer, the public and on the possible revenue of the state. However, the Tories will celebrate the end of Brexit. Loosing influence in Europe and become the “independent” island it is. Nevertheless, they still want to trade and be a partner, but not married to it. See how that will go and what cost that may bring.
This Brexit has been shambles from the Referendum until today. Not like Theresa May did it well. Neither has Boris Johnson. Boris is more superficial and conning, while May wobbled ahead. None of them is winning this. We just have to see if Boris will loose more. He won a mandate in Parliament, but if the wrecks the economy and beats the living hell out of the ones giving him a majority. He will surely be remembered for utter destruction on his own. Instead of finding good ways out of it.
He had nice times in his Jaguar. Nice time with screaming matches with his girlfriend. Mocking Corbyn in the PMQ. But what does that matter, when the public will be self-inflicted by dodgy deals and shoddy political work from the core group of people in Whitehall and Downing Street.
Who knows what this will entail, what sort of tariffs, regulations and the initial costs, who will be damaged, scorned by this deal and at what end has it?
I don’t have the answer, but by all reports, all studies with some barren I have come across. The negatives outshines the victories. Its like celebrating the French Fries, when you got a juicy burger sitting right there. By all means, the French Fries are a neatly cut potato with right amount of salt and oil. However, the burger is fresh breaded bun, with lettuce, ketchup and a barbecued patty. It should be easy choice.
So, on the 31st January, the ones celebrating are the ignorant, the ones who doesn’t care about the consequences, but are enjoying a break with Europe. The ones in sorrow, are not necessarily in support of the EU, but the ones that wonder if they are losing the benefits or the trade-offs made by the Union. Which the UK are now loosing out off. They got to bargain and leverage itself with everyone as a single entity. They got to do the right and at the right price. However, that will take time and the UK doesn’t have that. Especially, if they plan to cover the lost base and the lost power within the EU.
So in a few days time. The next chapter of negotiations start. The UK will have to fight and battle, they are not through yet. It is now all damage control. We got to see, if the EU citizens in the UK will get rights to stay or if they have to leave. We got to see, if the Northern Ireland will be hurt by this. That we will only with time.
However, what we do know … is that the UK is self-inflicting harm. They are doing damage to itself and hurting itself. We just got to see how it will be and by what estimates. Peace.




Today, the Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Jeje Odongo dropped an list of certified and verified NON-Governmental Organizations in the Republic of Uganda. The whole list was dropped together with the Press Release. Also, a moment of presser, which addressed the same numbers and information.
Clearly, this is important, as there are plenty of folks now, who has to deliver, register and quickly get verified. If not, if the state take them to court and punish them for organizing illegal activity through an non-registered entity. They might get high fines, be incarcerated or if they continue to violate the law. The NGO and the felon will be fined with a huge sum every single day until it ceases to operate.
“However, upon verification of the 14,207 registered NGOs since 1989, as at 7th August 2019, it was noted that only 3,810 NGOs (27%) had valid permits while 10,397 (73%) had invalid permits” (Odongo, 13.11.2019).
“All NGOs which do not appear on the validated register should not operate. Stakeholders especially the District and Sub-county NGO Monitoring Committees, Financial Intelligence Authority, Uganda Police Force, Banks, Hotels and other actors should cross check the status of any NGO with the register on the website or with the NGO Bureau to ensure that such NGOs do not operate in any part of the country or transact with their institutions” (Odongo, 13.11.2019).
NGO Act (2016) 40 Offence and Penalties:
“(1) An organisation or a person commits an offence who-
(a) on being required to do so, fails or refuses to produce to the Bureau a certificate, permit, constitution, charter or other relevant document or information for the purpose of this act;
(b) knowingly gives false or incomplete information for the purpose of obtaining a permit or other requirement;
(c) operates contrary to the conditions or directions specified in its permit; or
(d) engages in activity that is prohibited by this ACT.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding seventy two currency points or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding fifteen currency points for each day during which the offence continues after conviction” (NGO Act, 2016).
This means the convicted fellow, who operates without lawful certification from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) could face fines up to 1,4m Shillings or USD$378, or 72 Currency Points (20,000 shillings). A daily fine could be 400k shillings or USD$108, which is a staggering amount of money.
Well, with that in mind. The NGO Bureau better expect that the Executive Directors or the General Secretaries of various of NGOs has to deliver more documentation and get the ability to get verified. To ensure the down-time and the suspension of activity won’t last to long. If not, they have to become local CBOs, which has other regulations and laws, where the local district and officials there verify and certify any organization. This is something the NGOs whose now illegally operating have to consider.
We can see by the list of organizations verified. It was plenty of national, lots of internationally bound and whose supported from the international community. The NGOs whose big enough and have the capacity was able to be verified by the NGO Bureau. The others whose too small or far from the capital have struggled to secure the certification to do so. The NGO Bureau should also ensure the education of the society and the civil society, which this entails. This is stopping the operation of possible 10,000 organizations. Who now have to do the whole ordeal to be legally operational. Because, if they follow the advice of the honourable minister, then they will cease to operate. But what they should do, if they are viable and working organizations. They would go out there tomorrow and seek documentation, follow the guidelines and work towards getting certified by the NGO Bureau.
That is it folks, but certainly many has maybe just few pieces missing. Others has more work to do. To prove and following the NGO Act of 2016. Whatever it might be, but it got to be something. Peace.