Zimbabwe: Press Statement on Fees and Charges Levied by Government Ministers and Departments (31.05.2019)

Opinion: DP Ruto is something else, but truthful his not!

This is an occasion where we can speak to ourselves candidly without considering who is in government or opposition. The subject today is a new dawn for our country and what we should all do. We must rid our government and institutions of corruption. ‘ A New Dawn’ is a good subject for us all to engage in theft and corruption is bad in any language. From my mother tongue it is said… “ A thief may be intelligent but not more than the investigator” To our investigative agencies, you have our support as you help us deal with the challenge that we have. The 10 commandments say – Do not steal… Do not bear false testimony. The President and I were once victims of false testimony. It took hand of God and prayer for us to get out. We do not want any Kenyan to suffer such again. As we pursue this noble course, we must remember to inspire the hawker to own a kiosk and kiosk owner to own a shop and shop owner to own a mini market, and a boda boda rider to own a car” – Deputy President William Ruto on the National Prayer Breakfast on the 30th May 2019.

DP Ruto is the career politician, the man who says whatever to walk scotch-free and get other people in trouble. His really bold and brazen, he knows what his been up too, but still acts like its nothing.

Ruto knows how his grown wealth, built an empire and owns several of estates. The DP haven’t got this out of goodwill of the state, but out of the shady backdoor deals and land-grabbing. This is well-known stuff, therefore, the DP knows his corrupt and his actions. Still, he speaks like his still the innocent broke preacher he was back-in-the-day.

The Hustler hasn’t hustled through the proper channels, his wealth has grown and deals done while in government have surged all his accounts, his estates, businesses and even corporations. That is the sort of man he is. Therefore, his pledge to work against corruption, means initially work against himself and all of his associates. All of which is preposterous.

Secondly, it wasn’t an act of god that stopped the ICC case against him and Kenyatta. That was well prepared work from your associates and officials in the Republic. As the Judge Eboe-Osuji “declared a mistrial in the case, because it cannot be discounted that the weaknesses in the Prosecution case might be explained by the demonstrated incidence of tainting of the trial process by way of witness interference and political meddling that was reasonably likely to intimidate witnesses” (ICC – ‘.Ruto and Sang case: ICC Trial Chamber V(A) terminates the case without prejudice to re-prosecution in future’ 05.04.2016).

If intimidating witnesses is answers from God, than the God, DP Ruto confesses to at night is totally different than mine. Surely, my God answers prayers too, but not with possible tainting legal process and using harsh methods against the ones who will testify against you. That is what was done in the ICC case and therefore dismissed. It wasn’t false testimony, it was making people afraid of even speaking out on the mischief being done.

That is why I am not accepting the words of DP Ruto. He tends to lie and bend the truth to his advantage. This is just a snippet of his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast earlier today. Surely, he said more things whose was disregarding the truth. Still, I focus on this, because. Unless, the Life-Style Audit hits home, unless the war on corruption takes down his fraudulent activities. It is hard to believe it is real. Peace.

Joint Statement by the DPP, EACC, DCI, NCIC and Religious Leaders in Kenya (29.05.2019)

Zimbabwe: ZERA – Press Statement on Fuel Prices (28.05.2019)

Uganda National Teachers’ Union: Clarification on Expected Salary Increment for Teachers in FY 2010/20 (28.05.2019)

Central Bank of Kenya: Press Release – Monetary Policy Committee Meeting (27.05.2019)

Uganda National Teachers’ Union – UNATU Agrees with Government to find Money for Teachers’ Salary Enhancement in FY 2019/20: In the meantime suspends Industrial Action for One Term (26.05.2019)

Deficit Financing: The art of fresh loans for the FY2019/20!

Deficit financing, however, may also result from government inefficiency, reflecting widespread tax evasion or wasteful spending rather than the operation of a planned countercyclical policy. Where capital markets are undeveloped, deficit financing may place the government in debt to foreign creditors. In addition, in many less-developed countries, budget surpluses may be desirable in themselves as a way of encouraging private saving” (Encyclopaedia Britannica – ‘Deficit financing’ (25.08.2015).

Just as it is soon a new Financial Year and also another budget. This time its for the FY 2019/20, the last one before campaigning. Therefore, the added strain on the economy will come, as the state funds are used for campaigns for the ruling regime. This is a steady act of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. We can expect more of it. That is the reason why the lack of fiscal responsibility is evident. As the state is within a year going from spending 32 trillion shilling into 40 trillion shillings. This without substantial rate or even more revenue to cover the added expenses. That means the state is more addicted to loans and grants.

Surely, the people should be aware, as the state has already gotten more loans and has to pay more in interests than before. With the new infrastructure loans and other development projects will hit the costs in future budgets. Even with Petro-Dollar, the state still has a lot of old debt to get revenue to cover. Especially, in the short-term window, as the grace periods of old loans will hit the budgets too. It seems like the state is only considering the debt-rate, but not the actual cost of the loans in itself.

That is why I will take one quote from the IMF, before showing what reports there was from Parliament, As they have voted for a new budget, which has escalating spending further without the revenue. That should be a worry. Take a look!

IMF May 2019:

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).

Rising debt:

The Committee noted that , the total public debt stock increased by 12.5 percent to USD 11.52 billion as at end December 2018 from USD 10.24 billion as at end December, 2Ol7 out of which domestic and external debt accounted for 33.5 percent (USD 3.86 billion) and 66.5 percent (USD 7.66 billion) respectively. The external debt stock increased by USD 0.78 billion to USD 7.66 billion by end December 2018 from USD 6.88 billion at end December 2017. The increase was mainly from China (25 percent) and World Bank (40 percent)” (REPORT OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2O19/20, P: 7, 2019).

Minority report on growing debt:

Worrying to note is the fact that huge portion of the budget resource is to be financed through borrowing. Out of the projected by domestic revenue of UGX 20.59 trillion (51%) while the budget of UGX 40.48 trillion, 9.44 trillion (48%) will be sourced from both domestic or external borrowing” (…) “It should be noted with concern that projected are almost debt expenditures in FY2019/20 equal to tax revenue (URA tax collection) of UGX 20.59 trillion” (A MINORITY REPORT ON ANNUAL BUDGET ESTIMATES TY 2019/20, P: 4-5, 2019).

It should be worrying how easily this budget was passed. How between last FY 2018/19 to FY 2019/20 the state could add 8 trillion shillings on the budgets. This without counting or even having the added revenue needed. This meaning the state has a giant deficit, which is about half of the budget. Where they have to get funding from outside sources, either by loans or grants. Lots will be loaned for and has to be paid for later with interests.

Certainly, this is a way of ensuring that for every shilling paid in loans, the state could have delivered state services to the public. That is even something the IMF was pointing out. This should be a worry for Ugandans, as the state is misusing the funds, loaning and borrowing on their future, without certainty of being able to repay these loans. That is what is shocking as the oil revenue has been postponed again and the lack of progression on the matter. This means the state is not hitting its targets, while taking up more loans on future revenue. Anyone should be worried about this, because who knows tomorrow and what if the economy totally tanks before the industry takes off. They are clearly living large on Deficits Financing and hoping the golden goose soon lays eggs. Since, they are continuing to fund their operations and the state with loans.

Than, the oil will be sold wholesale, as the state cannot manage to gain revenue and has to trade off everything. The risks it is taking is reckless. The spending is bonkers. That the state is initially a year before an Election Year is creating this huge deficit. Isn’t a sign of strength, but of weakness. As well, as having a blind faith, hoping for a narrow escape in the realm of Deficit financing. Peace.

Opinion: Theresa May leaves with a terrible legacy… and one unlucky person will pick it off where she left!

Prime Minister Theresa May is soon history, as she leaves the office on the 7th June 2019. As the final days of her term in office, which started only one the 13 July 2016 and soon ends. The end of her time at the helm is near and there is hope for change. Because nothing has gotten better during her time.

She was promising strong and stable government in the campaigns during the snap election of 2017. Which has been far from the truth. Without checking, I think she has the highest number of resignations in the history of short governments. The Tories have really left her behind and the numbers after my calculation up to 36. This is not only the high-ranking, the people of statute and the ones who is bearing the party. But the ones whose key roles has to been to achieve what she promised. Stability and deliver Brexit. Two things she never did and will not.

Surely, she will enjoy the perks of being an MP and sit on the backbenches. Even linger on and get some committee’s, where she still have power. Maybe even at a later stage become a Secretary or a Minister again. That is why I have little sympathy for her crying and her emotional presser today.

Because, nothing she has done during her time has been good. The austerity measures, the policies she has sponsored and the people who has been deported. They she should have to address, the ones who has gotten hurt and damaged because of her rule. That she didn’t support or even try to help the poor. Make it harder to get Community Housing and so on. More people are using food-banks and the Brexit isn’t ensuring a stable economy either.

Therefore, there is little to scream hurray about, because someone has fix the chaos she has created. David Cameron really stepped away without so much fuzz in concerns to this. He left because of smartness after losing in the Brexit Referendum of 2016. That is when May was ready to step in and take over the mantle.

As a PM she has been wobbling, stonewalling and not really delivering. Theresa May will not leave with a favourable legacy, instead she will be remembered for bad dancing, even worse policies and lack of results in her key policy, deliver and simple, an easy Brexit. Something that never existed and never will be. She wanted to known for the Brexit Agreement with the European Union, the one who has failed three times in Parliament. She has to postpone it and even ruined Brexit Day. That is how bad the PM has been on delivering the key policy. The Withdrawal from the European Union.

But in concern of Brexit. No one could ever WIN. There could only be losers. Without a shadow of a doubt, Theresa May lost. Not in a brave fight, not in a fight she could control, no she lost because she couldn’t keep the cabinet in order, nor have the outcome she wanted in Parliament. There was no safe haven and that is why there was even plenty of ‘No Confidence’ votes. She overcame them, but she never truly won peoples hearts.

This has been a slow train coming and the Conservatives will not only have the battle for the throne. But the next one has to jump hoops to stay. The postponement of Brexit without a deal, without an agreement and without securities. Really going to set things off. The next PM and the leader of the Tories really has to steer a ship in the midst of a hurricane. They are either able to come to shore or they will sink. There is both lack of trust and also no signs of possible change.

At this stage, the only thing that can change this is another election, which again changes the dynamics in Parliament. Where the levels of MPs and the possible for other voting can happen or even a another referendum to revoke the Article 50. However, that is pipe-dreaming with the leadership struggle that May is leaving behind. At this moment of time, I couldn’t care less about that. Even if these sort of things to unleash Rees-Mogg or Boris Johnson on the world. Not to forget the other character in David Davis. All of these are men who has to big ego for their own capacity. These people wouldn’t have the ability or the personality to steer this ship in the hurricane. It needs someone steering it steady and secure that they are balancing the boat. Instead, they are more into their entitlement, than thinking of the consequences of their actions.

That is why the Brexit, the price of the policies and the lack of care is evident. This is what May leaves behind. A terrible legacy, a uncertainty and possible tasks ahead, which she has unfinished business. This is giving up after postponing the inevitable. May didn’t have it in her. The other people will have to find another way, but if that is possible. Time will tell, but the disaster is in full-effect.

Now it is up to the next unlucky person to take over from May. Just like she was the one threading the water after Cameron. Surely, he will be remembered in a whole other regard, than May. Peace.

Brexit: Helen Grant MP resignation letter to Party Chairman Brandon Lewis (24.05.2019)