RDC: B.C.C lettre au President Felix Tshisekendi – “Concerne: detournmentes des fonds du Tresor Public et de la Gecamines” (31.01.2019)

Opinion: ED clearly needs a brigade to give him some advice!

President Emmerson Mnangagwa in midst of a burning republic. Where the soldiers and the police officers on the ground are violating peoples rights, where the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is using all tools at their disposal to silence critics, union leaders and arch opposition leaders in the Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance (MDC-A).

Clearly, he needs help and guidance, because the strikes, the rising inflation, the lack of currency and off fuel is persisting. While the systemic defects are not fixed, while the ordinary citizen is suffering in poverty and in fear. Because, the Police have arrested people for alleged looting for just being sweaty in the streets. Therefore, the state is already overboard, as the rapes, the mischief of arbitrary arrests and putting opposition leaders and MPs behind bars.

As this follows, there is now a leak of 24-member Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) with all sort of elite and cronies. Former MPs and Former Ministers of the ZANU-PF put there to shine a light on the President and give him advice in the hour of need.

With the Cabinet that the President already has, which Ministers and Deputy Ministers, also regional ministers and the ones in the Office of Vice-President. By my count of the official amount of Minister to give the President advice and well-known information on a sector in government, with the appointed people in September 2018 it was by my estimate about 46 people there. Which are ministers and public officials, who could help a brother in need. This are people who the President already trust and acknowledge to give them a portfolio in government. Therefore, the manpower and finesse, he should already have.

So, today’s leak of Council of 24 more surplus heads to gather intelligence and wisdom for the President. Seems more like luxurious expense and securing people tenure, another fixed income and base for livelihood, than initial need by the President. He already has a full cabinet of about 20 Ministers, than a bunch of Deputy Ministers and also two in the Office of VP. Therefore, he has no direct need for this.

The names and people on the list isn’t important now, they are cronies and pro-ED as is. They are being paid-off and secured by the state. Because, they wouldn’t get this appointed position without perks, benefits and state salary. It would be foolish to think these people would do this on Charity and actually show-up to guide the President without getting something out of it.

We know also, the document is marked confidential, except for the list of people, this sentence alone is striking: “They should be non-partisan and will serve at the pleasure of the President”. I see that as an impossible feat. I don’t know how they will possible be non-partisan and also serve the man. That is like: “We will be independent, but we cannot bite the hand that feed us”. It is sort of the same arrangement. That is configured idea, that is not working. Not here or anywhere on this planet of ours.

This is the double cabinet, the special hand-picked advisers of the President and his cronies. There is nothing else to it.

Just another bill, another pay-off and securing more YES-MEN for the President. Peace.

USA: Reps. Waters, Schiff, and Engel letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on document to lift sanctions on Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska and Company (29.01.2019)

Opinion: Presidential Donations secured for up-coming elections in 2020/21!

Isn’t it convenience in the beginning stages of the negotiations of the Budget Sessions for the Financial Year of 2019/2020. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) have secured the allocated funds for the President Donations Budget, so that the money is secured for the President Welfare Fund, which he can use as he pleases. This is something sorted out, as the NRM and President is already planning the Campaigns for 2020/21. That is the initial reason for this, nothing else. Since, the campaign season boast lots of funds, spending and usage of state resources to settle grievances with plenty of people, also paying added staff, buying cars to VIPs, campaign material and everything else.

So the President needs this secured early, as we can anticipate supplementary budgets for the State House and the President Welfare Fund, as the spending will run-off the roof. That is just what they do and also did with the last General Election Period.

Take a look!

Cabinet has resolved that Parliament should continue allocating money to the president’s welfare fund. This is the fund that the president uses to deliver financial pledges. There has been concern from civil society over reduction of funding for the Youth Livelihood Fund implemented by Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in the planning for the 2019/20 financial year and creation of a vote for a Youth Fund under State House. The creation of the Shs130 billion Youth Livelihood Fund under State House has resulted into the reduction of Gender Ministry funding from Shs 66.6 billion in the 2018/19 financial year to Shs 4.62 billion in the 2019/20 financial year.” (URN – ‘Cabinet endorses Museveni’s donation budget’ 29.01.2019, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Cabinet-endorses-Museveni-donation-budget/688334-4956718-axn6arz/index.html).

This here is a direct show of money, that the state is preparing its war-chest and securing funds for the campaigns. That is what this seem like, as there is a movement and quick resolving the needs of the President, as he needs the mobility and ability to donate as he see fit. That is surely to ensure the needed funds for campaigns.

If I am wrong, please tell me, but I can securely say, as the NRM put out their Roadmap for the upcoming elections recently. The drive and the need for funds are there. The President needs to pay-off possible loyal MPs, Pastors, Bishops or whoever it is. To secure, the sympathy and continued chronic cronyism, which he has installed while being in power for over three decades. Peace.

Zimbabwe: What is your game-plan now, Mr. President?

I got to ask, even if I don’t have any answers. As the depressing news and verified information is leaking from Zimbabwe. The days of the Shutdown, the dire straits. Some say it is propaganda and others trying to deflect it. Others saying the authorities are not at fault and others blame the MDC Alliance.

Whatever it is, it has been ordered from the “Above High”, the ones ushering in the violence, the killings, the arrests, abductions and the destruction of society. Comes from somewhere. The acts of aggression against civilians, the acts of arresting and detaining the fellow civil society leaders, either activists or union leaders. They have all been taken into custody and put on trial. They have all been silenced, like the Social Media, the Internet Blockade and other acts to stifle the voices of dissidents. So, that the President, the ZANU-PF and the Authorities could control the information flow.

However, that has not worked. Therefore, the acts against MDC is shown to the world, the way the authorities have picked up Union Leaders of late. Also, detaining other Civil Society Organizations leaders and activists, who have been targeted by the government.

Also, the other realities is the leaked footage of rape and the beatings of civilians. This has been shown to the world. The atrocities have been told now, the world has seen the sinister acts of the government against its own.

While, that is happening, the road-blocks, the destruction of markers within Harare and so on. There are so many bad things happening. It is hard to follow. Worse to verify, while the leaked footage are showing what sort of tools the government are using.

As President Emmerson Mnangagwa can stop this, as Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga can order this to stop. That is if they want this circle of destruction and sinister acts to stop. However, after two weeks of evil and of murky acts, which no government should do towards their own or anyone else for that matter. They are using rape, violence and fear against the civilians. As they we’re starting to demonstrate against skyrocketing prices on fuel overnight.

What is your game-plan now? Are you planning together with the PFee to destroy more people lives and show more sinister violence against them? Are this the legacy, the proud moment of your rule to deplete society? Is that why you wanted to takeover for Mugabe so you could repeat Gukurahundi of the 1980s. Then was to assault the ones who was behind Joshua Nkomo, now the same leadership are attacking the ones who are in and around Nelson Chamisa. Only him whose out of the spotlight for now.

What the world has seen is that the Crocodile and his henchmen bites. They bite so hard and muffle with the public. Mnangagwa and Chiwenga could have handled these demonstrations differently. However, you decided to do this.

As President and Vice-President, you could have handled this differently. Instead you used the soldiers, police and people are hiding from the law in fear of being haunted down like fellow comrades. That is the society the shutdown and PFee wants to have. They are using force and usign all means to stop them. This is not reforming, but an armed military dictatorship with no mercy.

Mr. President, what is your game-plan now?

Will you play PR Games? Or will you act sensible?

Because, right now, as the beginning of the Shutdown, the Republic is burning, people are getting hurt. People are getting touched by association or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The authorities instead of guarding the public, they are punishing them. For voicing the frustration at the economic and financial mismanagement done by the PFee for years. Instead of finding solutions to it. The government sent weapons and assaulted the population.

Is that all your made of Mr. President, is that all you are? You are such a weak man, that cannot build anything, but only destroy? Is that who you are?

Because it looks like it and your game plan, suuuuuucks! Peace.

Sudan: Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways temporarily suspend Ticketing Authority (28.01.2019/24.01.2019)

Brexit: Retail Executives letter to House of Commons (28.01.2019)

Central Bank of Kenya: Monetary Police Committee Meeting (28.01.2019)

Opinion: When did Kenyatta become a one-track pony?

President Uhuru Kenyatta is continuing his rants and promises to go against the ones who are corrupt in Kenya. That is become so old, that I think personally, that its only trick he has up his sleeve, except for a few PR Stunt any rare moment to look golden.

A One Trick Pony is defined by Merriam-Webster as: “one that is skilled in only one area, also : one that has success only once” (Merriam-Webster – One Trick Pony’). With that in mind, we can see that it fits Kenyatta well, because it seems like the only thing he has.

Not like it seems like he has the capacity or ability to do anything else. That is why CS Fred Matiang’i becomes his Mr. Fix-It and Mr. Clean. So, that he can ensure some parts of the Big Four Programme actually get done.

What is the legacy and salvage of this man, who every month and twice a week. Not far fetched, are ranting about fighting corruption, stopping corrupt behaviour, but not seeing any significant results. By all means, the chicken thieves are getting caught, but the ones selling chicken at the IEBC took their G-Walk and resigned. They got their deals and earned, but at a later date appointed elsewhere in the government system. That is just the way it is.

The President can speak ill of the practice, of the acts of illusion and the acts of supposed government activity. However, the reality is that his elite, his cronies and the ones associated with him. Usually his Cabinet Secretaries and other have been implicated, but not touched. The ones running State Owned Enterprises are also misusing their position to bag the public money. Same with the Commissioners and others doing it too. Therefore, the President does this, but only let people go, but after a suspension he cave and give them a new position.

That is why, it is boring reading the same-old, same-old story, that is on repeat. It has been said and ranted about for so long. The tale of battle against the corrupt officials, the appointed officials and the close associates of the President. The President are not going against them, but has issues with Local Government and Civil Servants, but they are eating small-fry, which is bad enough. However, when they look at the people around the Executive they seems like untouchable.

That is why certain can skate away, even some who has eaten for instance with the Eurobonds and the National Youth Service (NYS) funds.

This has continued, there are new proof, now it is the Weston Hotel and the ownership of Deputy President William Ruto, who grabbed the public land to build a luxury hotel. That is the capacity and ability of the people around the President.

Still, with that in mind. He still rants like there is no tomorrow. Everyone will meet the fires of hell, if they are even thinking of acting ill and do a fraud or cheat the state of funds from some government entity.

However, the rants are just empty talk. The threats and the warnings has been so many. That it has more discs than Michael Jackson. It has more tunes than any Mixtape Rapper out there. Because, Kenyatta does it on the regular.

It is time to stop the talk, because this is the one trick that he has. It is time for him to change and act real. Apparently, that is to much to ask. Since with all the years as Head of State. Kenyatta could have acted, but at this point it doesn’t seem real. Peace.

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre – Press Release: International Crimes Being Committed in Zimbabwe (25.01.2019)

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is concerned with reports of serious human rights violations and commission of atrocities by the police forces, government armed forces and ZANU PF members in Zimbabwe since Monday 14 January. Following country wide protests to the hiking of fuel prices in the country, the government’s response towards the protests has been systematic, widespread and disproportionately brutal against its own citizens.

SALC has received credible reports that the police, government security forces and members of the ZANU PF have been using live ammunition against its own citizens who have been peacefully protesting in exercise of their rights under the Constitution. There are credible reports that doctors have treated 78 confirmed cases of gunshot wounds. There are also confirmed reports that the Police and government security forces continue to use lethal force against citizens in various Harare neighbourhoods, including Mbare, Glenview, Kuwadzana, and Chitungwiza. There is strong evidence suggesting that torture, extrajudicial killings intimidation, raids on homes for suspected leaders of the protesters, indiscriminate traffic stops, displacement and arbitrary detentions are taking place on a daily basis in the country. All these atrocities are being committed by the Police, government security forces and members of ZANU PF. There are also reports suggesting that wounded victims are being detained while they are in hospitals and taken to custody.

In addition to the above gross human rights violations, there are reports that to those who have been indiscriminately detained, access to legal representation has been denied by the authorities contrary to the country’s constitution. There are also reports of cases where detained suspects have seen their cases fast tracked with no access to legal representation.

These reports point towards gross human rights violations and raise serious concerns that Zimbabwe government officials are committing serious international crimes including torture and crimes against humanity. The commission of international crimes against the civilian population constitutes a serious violation of international law. The list of criminal conduct that constitutes crimes against humanity include murder, torture, rape, and imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law. Zimbabwe has an international obligation to investigate and prosecute the crimes committed by the police, government security forces and ZANU PF officials against its citizens.

Should Zimbabwe take no steps towards fulfilling its obligation, the international community has an obligation to intervene in order to hold those responsible for the commission of the crimes accountable. In South Africa, this obligation was recognized by the Constitutional Court of South Africa through the  National Commissioner of The South African Police Service v Southern Africa Human Rights Litigation Centre and Another (The Zimbabwe Torture Docket) decision. In that decision, the Constitutional Court held that national competent authorities including the SAPS and the NPA have an obligation to investigate acts of torture and crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe. The court also held that this obligation extends to the prosecution of suspected offenders who are found in South Africa, be it on a temporary basis or not, even though the crimes were committed in Zimbabwe .

As a regional body that strives to hold governments accountable for the commission of international crimes including acts of torture and crimes against humanity, SALC reiterates its position that it will take steps towards holding those individuals who are committing the crimes in Zimbabwe. SALC, therefore, calls upon the Government of Zimbabwe to investigate the crimes that are being committed against the civilian population by the police, government armed forces and ZANU PF members including acts of torture, murder, and crimes against humanity and those found responsible must be prosecuted. Should the government of Zimbabwe fail to investigate and prosecute suspected offenders, SALC will not stand by, but take steps towards holding those responsible for the commission of the crimes accountable. We call on the African Union, Southern Africa Development Community and their governments to take action, and ensure that those who violate human rights are held accountable.