South Africa: National Treasury – Media Statement – Government’s response to the rating action of Moody’s investors Service (Moody’s) – (27.03.2020)

Opinion: Illegal trade of pangolins is the cause of this pandemic

Who knew a mammal like pangolins would cause this much pain and suffering. The illegal wild-life traders in Asia would bring these to small locations in Wet-Markets, where they sell wild creatures from all over the globe. So, that the Chinese elites can eat wild animals, which is supposed to bring luck and healing. While they are in closed off locations, where the animal diseases are spreading between the animals and also onto people. This is how we gotten the COVID-19 or Coronavirus, which we know of today.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) writes this about the Pangolins: “These solitary, primarily nocturnal animals, are easily recognized by their full armor of scales. A startled pangolin will cover its head with its front legs, exposing its scales to any potential predator. If touched or grabbed it will roll up completely into a ball, while the sharp scales on the tail can be used to lash out. Also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet, pangolins are increasingly victims of illegal wildlife crime—mainly in Asia and in growing amounts in Africa—for their meat and scales” (WWF – ‘Pangolin’).

In February 2020, the National Geographic had this report: “In China, where pangolins are strictly protected too, the government allows certain clinics and hospitals to sell pangolin scales for medicinal purposes. As of 2016, some 200 Chinese pharmaceutical companies were also allowed to manufacture more than 60 products containing pangolin scales, according to the China Food and Drug Administration’s online database. Officials say scales for medicinal use are distributed from a government stockpile, but China has never clarified how large the country’s stockpile is or where the scales came from. As the Wildlife Justice Commission reports, the medicinal system is likely being used to launder illegally obtained African pangolin scales into China’s legal domestic market” (Rachel Nuwer – ‘Illegal trade in pangolins keeps growing as criminal networks expand’ 11.02.2020, National Geographic).

When you have an issue like this and there is scientist saying the first bearer of the virus hitting the world comes from this mammal. That the pangolins are the ones who first carried it and had it. This is happening because we take the wild-life out of its habitat and put them into wet-markets for sale. Selling wild-life like other commodities and for traditional medicine. Instead of actually having scientific effects of the matter. Where they are then exposing their illnesses to both other animals and human beings too. That is why we’re living through this issue today.

This here should be a lesson to not support illegal wild-life trading. Stop trading of wild-life and in general, if possible let the wild-life live in the habitat they comes from or even be part of their natural surrounding. Not being taken away for their scales or their meat. Which has happen, where they was transported, put into small environment and made it possible for the virus to spread. This the reality and that is why COVID-19 got spread to new areas.

This is not just a Chinese problem. Even if they are the ones with the Wet-Market and the tradition of using pangolins as medicinal. Still, the illegal traders, poachers and the whole chain of people still active. They are ensuring their next check and their profitable transaction, as they know perfectly well, there is big business is selling this mammal to China. The Chinese isn’t alone this, this is also a problem in Vietnam as well. Therefore, it is only becoming evident because the virus started in Wuhan, China.

This here is a warning about the danger of this life-style. The pangolins are not made or living for medicinal exploits, neither healthy to use it in this way. As it causes a pandemic. Which shows they should stay in their habitat and become a commodity. Since, becoming a commodity, they also become a dangerous. A danger the world is now facing.

We can ask ourselves, is it worth risking humanity over transferring wild-life like this? The answer should be no. Not because we’re all green or climate change activists or all the above. However, because we care about the environment and out own well-being. Also, that the nature should run its course and we shouldn’t interfere with it, unless we know the consequences of our actions.

So, we now know what happens … and therefore, should stop the trading of pangolins, indefinitely. Peace.

Ethiopia: Office of the Prime Minister – Press Release (27.03.2020)

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe: Press Statement – Interventions in Response to the Financial Vulnerablities Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic (26.03.2020)

David Ndii: Open Letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta – Re: COVID-19 in Kenya (25.03.2020)

Opinion: Mzee, the nation doesn’t need national addresses, but needs action and emergency legislation

Yesterday, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held his fourth national address. Instead of actually putting in legal measures for the state. Instead of building packages of funds for the Ministry of Health or any other part of the economy. He instead told about needed changes in action from the citizens.

The President could have started in investing in water-security for all parts of the country. So, that the people can actually wash their hand in clean water. This has been done by municipalities and the National Water & Sewage Company (NWSC). Also, been done by NGOs and Multi-National Organization who has provided this to the grander public. Even in elections, the President is always proud of opening wells in Northern Uganda. Maybe, time to secure more safe zones for this and swiftly?

It’s kind of hard to be sanitary if the public is lacking toilets and steady washing, so they can actually do what everyone asks for them to do. The same with the steady black-outs of electricity. The UMEME could ensure that most people whose connected stay with the electricity for the moment. Stop the loadshedding and pain this does.

There already been questions to why the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) haven’t been paying out partial payouts to their members. This is yet another proof, that there is a dire need of legislation. Where the MPs and others connect and find ways to adapt and secure the citizens their needs.

They need to set-up structures, funds and legislation, which will cover the basis. Where the public is safeguarded and has regulations, to follow guidelines and righteous in this trying times. Instead, the speeches and national addresses are just micro-managing without any considerable actions made. There is no relief telling people to use bikes. Like that solves the underlying issues of the state?

Yes, the one-meter rule is a fine proposal, but as long as the Taxi Park is running, as long as the markets are open and people do their normal bidding. The citizens and grander public will be exposed to the disease, whether they like it or not. That is why there is viral clips of people falling in the streets and left behind. These ordinary people who cannot afford or not have the ability to get treatment. Just left behind, because the state cannot support them or have the capacity to help them.

That is why these national addresses is useless. There is no intent, no direct real actions to help people. It is just lectures and pressers. The President should do more than talk. Talking isn’t solving this. The COVID-19 or Coronavirus isn’t beaten by shadow-matches, but by clear direct actions of isolation and protection of each individual citizen. Which by the state of affairs isn’t made. There are some measures, but they are not digging deep.

If the President wants to be serious. He shows up in Parliament with legislation and with care-package for the parts of government, business and health care, which needs dire help and FAST. There is no time to loose, but by every minute, the President is loosing someone. He should care, he should act, but seemingly he prefers the TV camera over direct action. This cannot be solved by using the UPDF or sending the Special Force Command to burn down a house. What is needed here is a big change and it cost.

We just wonder, if he got it in him or not. Peace.

Uganda: Kasaija plans to borrow $190m extra to cover a budget shortfall within two years!

Someone please call 911, yeah yeah (pick up the phone yo)

Tell them I just got shot down, tell them I just got shot down

And it’s piercin’ through my soul (I’m losin blood yo)

Feel my body gettin’ cold, oh, so cold

Someone please call 911 (can you do that for me)” – Wyclef Jean ft Mary J. Blige – ‘911’ , April 2000

In an election year in the Republic, the economy usually runs loose. The State House lacks suddenly funds, the President needs more and so fourth. That is standard procedure. However, on the 19th March 2020 Matia Kasaija has now announced that the plans to borrow USD 190 million to cover a short-fall of funds, because of the COVID-19 or Coronavirus.

This is deemed fit because of the pandemic and the financial disruption it has. Not that the Republic is alone in this. Other big states and plenty in the Western hemisphere is putting up packages of economic stimulus to salvage the economy because of it. So, the sentiment is understandable. However, the Ugandan republic is already heavily indebted and every single development project of late is covered by debts and debt relief. Not like its sustainable to take up nearly USD 200 million to suddenly boost a dying economy.

Here’s the quotes:

The low activity in industry and services sectors will result into loss of jobs further leading to a decline in economic growth and an increase in the level of poverty. The number of people that could be pushed into poverty is estimated at approximately 780, 000” (STATEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID.19 ON UGANDA,, 19.03.2020).

To deal with the financing gap in the Government budgets for FY 2019/20 and FY 2020/21, my Ministry will seek for a budget support loan on concessional terms worth US$ 100 million for FY2019/20 and US$ 90 million for FY202021 from the World Bank” (STATEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID.19 ON UGANDA,, 19.03.2020).

It’s seems like they have the perfect cover for rising debt. They need to do something, because lots of industries are shut-down or silenced by the lack of tourism and foreign exchange. Also, the diaspora is hit and can therefore, not remit enough funds to boost the economy either.

The MoFPED really want to stain the economy more. To quote the IMF:

““Rising debt puts more strain on the budget as more resources need to be allocated for interest payments. One shilling paid for debt service is one shilling less going to a school or a health clinic. The current ratio of interest payments to revenue is comparable to what countries with high risk or in debt distress typically face” (IMF – ‘Uganda’s Economic Outlook in Six Charts’ 09.05.2019).

By borrowing close to USD 200 million is really pushing the envelope. As the interests needs to be served, the grace period might be short, as the state of finances across the board is souring. Therefore, the state will not get to favourable terms with this. The World Bank also has all other states begging for funds and possible grants to push the set-back of the pandemic. Not like Uganda is the only one crying out loud and applying for money.

This money will not be free money, but tainted money. This sort of funds is needed, because the state wasn’t planned nor had the capacity to have a rainy-day fund. The Petroleum Fund has already been raided and therefore, couldn’t come in handy now. This is the mismanagement, your already in a negative spiral with more and more loans. This is just adding two more and they are big. That will cost in the long run. It might salvage today and tomorrow. However, it will scar the next generation. Unless, someone is forgiving like these entities was in the early 1990s. Before the state again took up huge loans to cover deficits.

This is just the way it is now. Not a good look. Understandable in the growing crisis. However, that shouldn’t undercut the possible pain it will bring in the future. Save the day, but cause more harm tomorrow. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Press Statement by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet on the Appointment of Chief Executive Officer of Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) – (24.03.2020)

Opinion: World Bank shouldn’t punish countries with a revamped SAPs

Countries will need to implement structural reforms to help shorten the time to recovery and create confidence that the recovery can be strong. For those countries that have excessive regulations, subsidies, licensing regimes, trade protection or litigiousness as obstacles, we will work with them to foster markets, choice and faster growth prospects during the recovery“ (Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass on G20 Finance Ministers Conference Call on COVID-19, 23.03.2020).

It is like the head of the World Bank didn’t learn anything from the past. His just saying he will re-issue old programs, which wasn’t effective. Unless, his earning his fortunes from the “Washington Consensus”. Because, instead of being able to make functional states, these states who are already in the dire need of loans and grants. Now, would need the IMF and WB if they got into a new period of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs). Instead of trying to rebuild and actually make them work. His instead dismantling the institutions they do have and lack of fiscal support to build more.

This is reckless and irresponsible. It is disrespectful and a disgrace. That the World Bank didn’t learn from its mistakes and the reason for the peril of plenty of states. Since they drank the kool-aid and followed the plans of the past. Since they needed the funds and grants to be able to function as it was. Nevertheless, we needs to bring back more ills and more weakening of states, because that is how you create growth. More privatization and more elitism. Since, that is the medicine to the poverty and lack of social security. This is what I read from the man.

This is the lesson he never got, maybe because it didn’t hit home:

The past two decades of World Bank and IMF structural adjustment in Africa have led to greater social and economic deprivation, and an increased dependence of African countries on external loans. The failure of structural adjustment has been so dramatic that some critics of the World Bank and IMF argue that the policies imposed on African countries were never intended to promote development. On the contrary, they claim that their intention was to keep these countries economically weak and dependent. The most industrialized countries in the world have actually developed under conditions opposite to those imposed by the World Bank and IMF on African governments. The U.S. and the countries of Western Europe accorded a central role to the state in economic activity, and practiced strong protectionism, with subsidies for domestic industries. Under World Bank and IMF programs, African countries have been forced to cut back or abandon the very provisions which helped rich countries to grow and prosper in the past(Ann-Louise Colgan, Hazardous to Health: The World Bank and IMF in Africa, Africa Action, April 18, 2002 ).

So, why does this man want to punish the countries after the pandemic? Why scale the institutions and the states to salvage funds from the World Bank? Instead of helping them to increase and ensure better state functions. He wants them to take another round of Structural Adjustment Programs. Which has caused so much ills in the first place. More austerity and less investment in the states.

It is like the beacon was never set and the idea of it takes money to make money. That your only getting more with less. While the states will live on austerity, the reality is that the donors, the aid organization and multi-national organizations will never leave. The circle continues and we never get to build. There will always lack the need and the usage of foreign projects will only be short-term temporary measures, but not systemic relief. Which should be the basis for what the World Bank want to do.

Unless, they want states to hooked and also in need of them. Because, the SAPs creates this and make them addicted too it. Instead of actually becoming independent and also self-sufficient, which should be the goal of any developing agency. That is if they were sincere and wanted states to develop. Not only patch the hurt and move-on. Instead of building it, brick by brick. Peace.

Opinion: A crisis like we’re living through now is exposing the leadership

You can sit back- and enjoy the show. No, you really cannot. There is no enjoyment. Nor relaxing, as the uncertainty is growing. The howling questions of how long will this state last and what measures are truly working.

We have borders closed. Airports shut-down, schools, churches, libraries and bars/restaurant all closed for the moment. There are only the bare minimum and necessities are still open. Hospitals are getting full of people with symptoms, the lack of enough health care workers, ventilators, masks and medicine is happening. Even enough test-kits and whatnot. This is an international problem and not just a problem locally.

The leadership with this sort of affair is exposed. The lack of enough ICU beds and extra ventilators, respirators and everything else shows the lack of investment. Also, that they never thought it could become like this. There was no plan for emergencies of these levels. There was no response team or task force put in place to research this.

The state have in the sunshine days never expected this. Even if there been smaller crisis like the Swine-flu and the SARS. Now COVID-19 or the Coronavirus is exposing the matters. They are showing that the Health Care systems provided wasn’t measured for this. Neither was the will to create enough beds and equipments for a possible outbreak. Now, there is added measures and procurement. Now, other factories are creating the needs, which usually made designer cloths and fabrics. Suddenly are used to fix the issues at hand. That is good business for them, but also a proof of actual leadership.

The things done and measures put are done with good intentions. The social distancing and the washing of hands programs. The solidarity and the asking for time to fix it. However, the states itself. The leadership should ask themselves, why they didn’t deal with it better in the sun, but cries havoc in the rain. There is a need for this hindsight 20/20 and also wondering if they could have invested more and built more robust hospitals.

It is easy to catch the breath for 10 seconds and check if you cough or not like the Taiwanese experts says. It is easy to wash hands and avoid other people. Be one meter away and if you have any symptoms, be home. That is not rocket-science.

However, the barricades at home. Still, should ask the authorities and the state if they could have done more to prevent it. If there was enough warnings and signs to follow. I don’t know, but I am questioning it.

Because, the lack of leadership, the lack of taking responsibility and the adjustment from the state. Shows that some states didn’t take this seriously and therefore, the public will now suffer. Just as they have not put measures or the needed investments from the federal state nor the central government to actually do something.

The ones hit the most is usually the poor, the poorly educated and the ones whose not covered. The ones who doesn’t have a pot to piss in and the ones whose far to reach. The ignorant and the ones with to much to pride to understand the task at hand. These are the ones the state needs to shelter and give direct relief too. Not its easy, it never is and it will cost.

But, if we cannot see redemption for the weakest among us, then who are we then? We are just shallow human beings, never thinking this could strike us too. At one point, it might be a neighbour or a family member. There is no boundaries with a pandemic or a crisis like this. Sooner or later, this bitch hits home.

The only redeeming thing we have then is a cut-throat situation, where the facts remains. The results are already there, we can accept them or be defeated. We can either look into the gist, into the headlines and let it be. We can accept to be muffled and toyed with or we can also question the powers to be. By all means, follow the instructions and show solidarity, but still at the same time wonder if they did enough.

Because, when the days are over and this slows down. When this is under control and the scientists, the doctors and the pharma-industry has fixed this. Then, we can look over the measures, look over the numbers and the statistics. Look over the timeline and ask ourselves. Did the leadership enough. Did the authorities do the right thing. That is what we should ask ourselves.

Last but not least. You really see where the leadership gives a damn, where they are trying to propagandaize this and where they trying to fix it. There is really different realities. There is various of attempts, but also small cover-ups, which will come to light later. Where own personal business, where own personalities has destroyed the effects and the possible changes quickly. Instead tried to downplay the pandemic and acted a fool. The ones paying the cost is the citizens and everyone else involved. They will be remembered for that, as they could see from the outbreak to today. That there were measures to make, but instead they deflected them. That is their legacy.

Leadership of our times is exposed. They could have done, what they precautions they could have done and what they did under the sun. Says a lot, but in the rain it is more important with an umbrella. Now, they are teasing those, but need to get them quickly for all of us. Let’s hope they get enough. Peace.