Zimbabwe: An Anti-Sanctions march intro oblivion…

“Whether something will come out it or not, our voice as SADC will be heard” – President Emmerson Mnangagwa

The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Anti-Sanctions marches are scheduled for the 25th October 2019. What has been stunning in the process is how organizers and ministers has entangled a web of weird acts. This has all been deliberate to get stunning numbers of people on the streets to march on behalf of the needs of private individuals, whose happen to be sanctioned by United States government.

However, they have targeted students and people who are studying for their exams O’ and A’ Level of Public Examination. That is happening on the 25th October 2019, the day that has proclaimed a public holiday. Meaning, that the rest of the public civil servants and others are free to attend, but these has to be left behind together with the lectures and teachers whose in-charge of holding the exams that day.

While the government has already asked all kinds of civil servants to attend and asked for their participation. They are all expected to go to the streets and defend cause. Not by will, but by orders and patriotic loyalty to the government.

We know the state are doing whatever they can do to get people to attend. There are even free trains to Harare on that day so people from Mutare and Bulawayo can attend it. The ZUPCO buses will also ferry people to the marches and not take their usual fee. Because, the state has to make perks for people to attend this.

To top it off, the government has asked farmers to donate fuel for the marches too. There is nothing in their way to exercise this march. Every avenue and part of the state is involved. To make it as big as possible. However, what the Youth League says about is damning and shows the true intent of the matter.

The ZANU-PF Youth League statement on the 21st October 2019:

“Addressing a media briefing, Cde Pupurai, said we are exposing our hypocrisy as a party, MDC demonstrations were barred citing that the environment is not conducive to hold demos, why are we doing it now? We are wasting millions of dollars on useless March instead of channelling those resources to providing clean water to the citizens. However the ZANU PF youth will stand for what is right for our country and our children. The revolution and our victory will be defended and no one will be allowed to tamper with it,” said Cde Togarepi. Cde Pupurai said while the constitution allowed peaceful protests, it also granted citizens the right to defend themselves against corrupt elements who have brought our beautiful country to its knees. Cde Pupurai said the March is nothing, but gimmick to cover up their corrupt tendencies. He said ZANU PF party had been hijacked by selfish individuals who want to die and leave our country destroyed” (ZANU-PF Youth League, 21.10.2019).

We cannot expect brilliance from the ZANU-PF, but there is some dim hope, as the Youth League at least has some sense in this manner. But don’t expect the President nor his associates to care about that. They are eating and plenty of it. They need a show to show force and strength, that they cause is golden. Just as the MDC are banned from showing up and demonstrate against it. Peace.

U.S. Senate letter to Executive Vice President Martin at Trump Organization on Trump Towers Istanbul (22.10.2019)

Brexit: Boris couldn’t force his law on the Commons!

Well, for the first time in the reign of Prime Minister Boris Johnson he got the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (Bill) through the second reading. However, later in the evening he lost on the program motion of the law. Meaning the government time-table to push the laws through the Commons, Lords and Royal Assent. Therefore, Boris lost again tonight after a minor victory.

The MPs, the acts of Parliament shows that they want proper scrutiny and assessment of the new Withdrawal Bill, which the government just released last night. Dozens of documents of amendments and costs of the bill. Which is all the job of the Parliament and their role as representatives. They are not there to sign-off to any idea the Cabinet nor the PM has. If it sounds bad, they can “naye” or amend it to make it righteous.

The PM lost the 31st October 2019. The Bill will not be pushed or finished by then. The HM Government have to hope for a helpful Brussels to buy more time. Because, the Tories, the PM has used his cards and empty gambles without winning. Tried to be a genius, but instead going bonkers.

This man has already shown disregard for the Commons and continues to do so. Because a law like this is about the watershed moment of withdrawing from the EU. Not just what sort of labels that should be on a pack of crisps. No, this is the legal binding changes, the trade-offs and further negotiations with the EU.

Therefore, the Tories should have given the Commons more time to digest the revised Withdrawal Agreement and the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. However, it gave it none and thought it would care to give way. The same house that has voted down the previous one THREE Times. It is like the PM cannot learn or know the hiccups of the past.

The arrogance of doing this today and thinking it would work. His dislodging the agreement and the bill at one point. Unless, his trying to configure it through the house, amendment by amendment, statute after statute. Will Boris do that or will he try to push it through another time before the 31st October?

Johnson is really showing his losing side. Boris should have thought this one out, but by proroguing the Parliament he lost valuable time for his due-date. However, that seems to forged and faked for his own image.

We know at one point this is supposed to end, but now its up to the mercy of Brussels. Something, that is funny considering how Brexiteers cannot stomach this and Remainers want a new referendum. Some speculate in a General Election, but who knows at this point. What we are seeing a government losing on their important votes.

Boris is not able to get a full house. His not able to succeed. Not that he wants to see that. That destroys his mind. It must be shattering for him. Not that I feel sorry for him, because he has made this bed and has to sleep in it.

Boris cannot fix Brexit, it will destroy him, just like it did Cameron and May. His next in line. He just don’t know it yet. Peace.

Brexit: A Shoddy Impact Assessment of the new Withdrawal Agreement Bill…

This was really inspired and not well thought out of, the Department of Exiting the European Union and the rest of the Tories. Really didn’t care much for the estimates of the costs, nor the consequences in concerns of their amended Bill to Parliament. Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to just pursuit the ending without doing the proper work. This is shoddy, disrespectful work, which he wanted to be over within 3 days or so. Within the parameter of when he wanted to suspend the Parliament.

So, his acts and his vision is blurry, as the whole law and amendments of it. Is substantial and needs time to be addressed properly, that is if, the Brexit process and withdrawal of membership has consequences. Which it does, but apparently it is more important to leave, than to know why your leaving.

I have today looked through the Impact Assessment Report on the bill, which in itself is a sad report. A disgraceful attempt of justification and proving the possible outcomes of the withdrawal. Apparently, that didn’t matter, because my quotes are very striking. Take a look!

There could be costs to business associated with the arrangements in the Northern Ireland/Ireland Protocol. But these are inherently uncertain in their nature and intensity, as such, these costs have not been quantified” (Impact Assessment, 2019).

Customs:

Businesses in Great Britain and Northern Ireland may face familiarisation costs in adapting to the new customs processes, such as the requirements for customs declarations, in particular if they have not undertaken such processes before” (Impact Assessment, 2019).

This isn’t rocket science and will cost both the state and the businesses. It will cost both time and money, to fill forms and secure the movement accordingly to the regulations on both sides of the customs.

VAT:

Northern Ireland will be required to align with certain EU VAT and excise rules. VAT collected in Northern Ireland will be retained by the UK. Specific practical arrangements will be the subject of discussions within the Joint Committee, and it is not therefore possible to assess costs or benefits at this stage” (Impact Assessment, 2019).

The taxation on goods will be an issue and how its issued. This will add prices possibly on the consumer and also on the businesses. But the HM Government don’t know to what extent and how to operate. That is clearly a smooth transition.

Tariffs:

No tariffs will be paid on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland unless they are deemed to be at risk of entering the EU. The appropriate UK tariff will be paid on goods moving from outside the UK or EU to Northern Ireland unless they are deemed to be at risk of entering the EU. The Joint Committee will agree the criteria to be used in determining whether goods are not considered to be at risk of entering the EU” (Impact Assessment, 2019).

So, there will certain cost of moving goods into the EU as per the tariffs stipulated by the Joint Committee. This means, the UK-EU on accord will find the fitted prices on movement of goods form the UK into EU. That means, the goods moving across the borders will cost more, than today, as there is no-tariff on lots of products crossing the borders at this very moment.

Agri-Foods from GB to NI:

Agri-food goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland would need to be notified to the relevant authorities before entering Northern Ireland and would be subject to checks including identity, documentary and physical checks by UK authorities as required by the relevant EU rules. These processes would introduce additional costs, both from one-offfamiliarisation and ongoing compliance, to businesses compared to current arrangements” (Impact Assessment, 2019).

This will surely cost and make it more time consuming. Not making it easy or smooth either. Surely, all of this is hardening the trade of this to NI.

Manufactured goods from GB to NI:

To ensure regulatory compliance, businesses in Great Britain selling to Northern Ireland may incur additional costs from product testing and corresponding administrative processes. The nature of the costs will depend on the product-specific requirements in EU law and on a business’s current approach to meeting these requirements. These costs may be passed through to businesses in Northern Ireland” (Impact Assessment, 2019).

Here the costs will be put on the consumer in Northern Ireland for the goods coming from Great Britain. The manufactured goods will not be cheaper, but more time consuming to get and has to follow other protocols, than the ones coming from Ireland/EU. This means for the NI it will be more profitable to get EU goods, than GB goods, because of the cost. That is simple calculation.

We can all see, that the Withdrawal Agreement and new legal text makes business, movement of goods and borders to the Northern Ireland more harder. That without swimming into the legal text nor the statutes of the Withdrawal Agreement. Because, this is just the mere chip-shape of the impact assessment of it all.

The whole thing is lazy and that makes me grim. Because, this shows the people releasing it. Didn’t do their job and show the real estimates nor the possible costs of doing business. Only that it might cost more, which it most likely will do, because you have more things to do before doing business. Peace.

Reference:

European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill – Impact Assessment, 21.10.2019

Brexit: Opposition Chief Whip Nicholas Brown MP letter to Chief Whip Mark Spencer MP (22.10.2019)

Troika Statement on the Formation of South Sudan’s Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (22.10.2019)

The following is the text of a Troika Statement on the Formation of South Sudan’s Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 22, 2019 – South Sudan faces a critical moment in the journey toward a peaceful and prosperous future. There are now less than four weeks for political leaders to form a transitional government as they committed to in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway (the Troika) have consistently welcomed assurances by the parties to implement the agreement and meet its deadlines, and hoped that recent meetings between South Sudan’s leadership show a renewed spirit of cooperation. We commend the actions of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to broker the agreement and maintain momentum and take hope from the continued reduction in overall violence in South Sudan.

For too long, conflict has been waged at the expense of South Sudan’s most vulnerable and continues to exacerbate humanitarian needs. We encourage the parties, especially the current government, to take concrete steps to build trust through enhanced cooperation. With the November 12 deadline looming, extended from May, much more needs to be done urgently to ensure the success of the transitional government. Progress would help maintain the confidence of all the parties and the international community, demonstrate that the parties have the political will to work together during the transitional period, and provide the opportunity for the international community to engage productively with an inclusive, new government.

We welcome the discussions of IGAD countries in Addis Ababa last week; the region and the international community’s investment and engagement in a peaceful South Sudan remains important. The Troika will continue to stand with and support the people of South Sudan, who want and deserve peace and a government that protects its people. We urge the South Sudanese parties to meet the November 12 deadline to form a transitional government that will enable the conditions for a constructive relationship during the next phase of South Sudan’s peace process. We encourage South Sudanese leaders to build on momentum generated by the ongoing UNSC visit to South Sudan to accelerate such progress.

Brexit: First Ministers of Scotland and Wales letter to President Donald Tusk (21.10.2019)

South Sudan: Troika Statement, October 2019 (21.10.2019)

The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the governments of the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom:

South Sudan faces a critical moment in the journey toward a peaceful and prosperous future. There are now less than four weeks for political leaders to form a transitional government as they committed to in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway (the Troika) have consistently welcomed assurances by the parties to implement the agreement and meet its deadlines, and hoped that recent meetings between South Sudan’s leadership show a renewed spirit of cooperation. We commend the actions of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to broker the agreement and maintain momentum and take hope from the continued reduction in overall violence in South Sudan.

For too long, conflict has been waged at the expense of South Sudan’s most vulnerable and continues to exacerbate humanitarian needs. We encourage the parties, especially the current government, to take concrete steps to build trust through enhanced cooperation. With the November 12 deadline looming, extended from May, much more needs to be done urgently to ensure the success of the transitional government. Progress would help maintain the confidence of all the parties and the international community, demonstrate that the parties have the political will to work together during the transitional period, and provide the opportunity for the international community to engage productively with an inclusive, new government.

We welcome the discussions of IGAD countries in Addis Ababa last week; the region and the international community’s investment and engagement in a peaceful South Sudan remains important. The Troika will continue to stand with and support the people of South Sudan, who want and deserve peace and a government that that protects its people. We urge the South Sudanese parties to meet the November 12 deadline to form a transitional government that will enable the conditions for a constructive relationship during the next phase of South Sudan’s peace process. The UNSC visit to South Sudan offers an opportunity for the international community to discuss with South Sudanese leaders how to accelerate such progress.

Further information Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Media enquiries For journalists

Email newsdesk@fco.gov.uk

Newsdesk 020 7008 3100

Brexit: Prime Minister Boris Johnson 2 letters sent to President Donald Tusk (19.10.2018)

First letter:

Brexit: Prime Minister Boris Johnson letter to Tory MPs (19.10.2019)