World Water Day and World Meteorological Day 2020 – Joint message (22.03.2020)

Opinion: Big-Men’s Medical Tourism is temporary suspended [and their neglect will be obvious]

We have seen over the years, that big-men from developing countries instead of fixing their own health-care system or even supporting the needs of the Ministry of Health. They have at every junction instead used foreign health care and hospitals to salvage the hurt and heal.

Now in this COVID-19 or Coronavirus times, the borders are closed, ending flights between the nations and the quarantine of people crossing borders. The big-men cannot flea their own health care facilities, but instead has to trust them like everyone else. The neglect, the lack of investment and the years of brain-drain has hurt these hospitals and health care facilities.

They have gotten aid, gotten grants and promised to build sustainable health care facilities. However, the big-men have never trusted these ones. Only the ones whose retired and the ones who hasn’t saved up in office. Has in the end of their days and because of lack funds. They have used them and seen the grim state.

Like there been high ranking officials, who suddenly needs care and been brought to the closest hospital after a public function. Usually picked up by a army chopper and flown to the best nearby facility. However, than they have lacked electricity, enough beds, medicines or needed technical apparatus to function. That was okay, when the locals needed it, but when they pop-by than its an outcry. The state cannot even procure enough ambulances and have proper levels of in-need educated professionals in the field.

That is why, this sort of crisis undress the years of neglect, the years of corruption and lack of investment in the field. If they will lack blood, air and other needed things. It will be, because they didn’t care in days of sunshine. Now, that its raining and the roads are getting muddy. Than, the big-men will suffer with the general public.

They are maybe VIPs and have giant convoys. They are maybe paid a fortune for their high office and high ranking in society. However, they have to enter the same facilities, which they didn’t think of or consider. Because, there was always, China, Singapore, France or United States. Where they could go for check-ups and healing. Where they got better treatment and with modern facilities made for patching the hurt.

Now, they cannot go there. They are blocked. They cannot risk to enter there and the borders are closing in. The Big-men doesn’t have the meal-ticket or ability pay an easy way out. Instead, they have to suffer with public.

There is no way out. Just continue, but maybe their eyes will be opened when they will be questioned why they didn’t spend the needed funds in sunshine, but cries out during the rain. They spent on the army, ghosts and side-dishes. Nevertheless, they didn’t care for the health care, for the structures of healing and proper treatment.

Now, they will hold prayer sessions and ask for the Gods to intervene. Instead of using their minds and used their time to invest. They could have invested and could have made a difference. Instead, they got warplanes, got ammunition to start wWrld War III, but cannot have enough beds for a pandemic. Peace.

Bank of Uganda: Measures to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 (20.03.2020)

One South Africa Chief Activist Mmusi Maimane letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa: Call for R14.4 billion “Emergency Cash Injection” to low economy families to assist in COVID-19 Crisis (19.03.2020)

Central Bank of Kenya: Emergency Measures to Mitigate the Adverse Economic Effects on Bank Borrowers from the Coronavirus Pandemic (18.03.2020)

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.

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.

Kenya: Civil Society Organizations Seek for Opennes in Debt Management Strategy Paper and EPS Review (13.03.2020)

Central Bank of Nigeria: Market Fundamentals Do Not Support Naira Devaluation at This Time (12.03.2020)

Zimbabwe: Statement Issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hounourable Lt General (rtd) Dr. Sibusiso Moyo, M.P. (11.03.2020)