Zimbabwe: Old Hararians’ Association Official Statement Thursday 19th March 2020 (19.03.2020)

Sudan Flash Update, 18 Mar 2020: As of the 17th of March 2020, only one case of fatal COVID-19 has been confirmed in Sudan (18.03.2020)

MINUSMA: Conclusions de la mission d’enquête spéciale sur les graves atteintes aux droits de l’homme commises à Ogossagou le 14 février 2020 (18.03.2020)

The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda: Press release on the new treatment for Coronavirus (18.03.2020)

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)

Opinion: [Nairobi By-Elections] Unnecessary when you can appoint a Major General

Today, President Uhuru Kenyatta have pulled a rabbit out of the hat today. He has gotten one of his loyal soldiers. Someone he has promoted, honoured and served in the Kenyan Defence Force (KFD) . To become the Director General of the newly created Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), this being Major General Mohammed Abdallah Badi. Who has served in AMISOM, run the Moi Airforce Base and now taken over Nairobi County.

Mike Sonko was elected in 2017. However, by the end of 2019 all of his reign started to unravel. The looting, the corruption scandals and the mismanagement of the city became clear to the public. He was even charged and put into prison for a short stint. Nevertheless, he haven’t been sentenced nor had to serve any real time. His out on bond and seemingly free.

Already by 25th February 2020 he signed off parts of Nairobi County to the State House. Clearly sending a message, that he wanted to co-operate, as he still a suspect and not allowed to function as a County Governor. Now on the 18th March 2020 the State House and the President revealed more. They have created a new unit to control the city and its county, but also lost his job.

What we have seen here is a dismissal of ordinary practice. Not to long ago there was a successful impeachment of the Governor of Kiambu, that was also in mid-February 2020. Now, the President and his team surely didn’t want an by-election nor any other way of organizing the Capitol. That is why Sonko had be moved softly and without a scream.

What we are seeing here in the middle of the second term of Kenyatta is a political ploy to not get an by-election. Avoid an impeachment of one of his allies. Mike Sonko of Nairobi. He don’t want to have more politicking, but more sense of control. That is why a loyal brother get a new technical position in the city. His the epitome of technocrat.

Maj. Gen Badi might be a angle, might be the devil, but at this point that doesn’t matter. Yes, by some degree, we can say Governor Sonko followed Article 182(1b) by resigning today. However, we can also question the means and measures of doing so, as there is still not established evidence nor grounds for the article 181(1b), which states that there is serious reason for believing that the county governor has committed a crime under national or international law.

Yes, the DPP and DCI have allegations, but they are not concurred and sentenced through the courts. Not that I believe Sonko is a choir-boy, but righteous actions and means from the State House should be expected and doing both of these things today. Put the whole action into play.

If we are also honest about this, now that the Governor Sonko is out of the picture, as he resigned and the Office is vacant. There should be a by-election. That is if the Constitution still matters in the Republic, as the article 182(5) states that it should happen within 60 days of the vacancy and doesn’t prescribe any possibility of a manufactured organization control the county itself.

That’s why I have a hard time swallowing the Maj. Gen. appointment today. Not that I want Sonko, just like I didn’t like Evans Kidero’s way either. It is just switching gangsters in office, no change just a different face. What is needed is someone who truly represents the citizens and their needs. A technocrat appointed from the President will definitely not do that.

Other than be a loyal water-boy and servant with a army tone to the civil servants of the capital. Following the direct orders like a foot-soldier and try to shake things-up. Nevertheless, that is just a image and not the real deal. His run military operations, an air-field, but a public office. His trying to tame another lion. The Maj. Gen will needs the tears of the lion to give him liquid courage. Because this will not be easy.

Secondly, this should be easy to take to court and nullify. That is if there is any interest in challenging the President and his clientele at the moment. They were busy fighting locusts, now Coronavirus and before that selling the BBI. Now, they had a minor whiff and got rid of one problem.

However, will this be the end of this saga? Nah. I doubt that. A soldier like Maj. Gen Badi will not let this get away. Not that he has gotten here. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: 18 March 2020 (18.03.2020)

Cameroon: Servies du Premier Ministre – Secretariat General – Communique (18.03.2020)

Opinion: Why didn’t Mzee just invoke a ‘State of Emergency’?

The countries of the World, by their selfish actions, are, again, waking up Africa that that it is ─ suicidal to depend on others. I have warned our people to stop talking like the selfish foreigners by trying to stop the little we have, being exported to other African countries”Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on a National Adress on the Coronavirus (18.03.2020)

Today’s address of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, if he should have followed laws and procedures in concerns of COVID19 or Coronavirus spread in the Republic. He should have considered to use the article 110 of the 1995 Constitution, which is about how the President can call a “State of Emergency”?

It is nice that the President acts upon the spread of virus in the Republic. The actions he wants to implement is similar to elsewhere with lack of public meetings, no big weddings, cinemas, campaign rallies, sports and music shows. There is plenty of good things in this. Also, the closure of churches, schools and whatnot. This has been done elsewhere, but its been done with legal provisions and articles, which makes sense.

Parts of his National Address on the 18th March 2020:

(1) “It is wise that we temporarily remove these concentration points by closing all the Primary and Secondary schools as well as all the Universities and Tertiary Institutions for one month, starting with Friday, the 20th of March, 2020, starting at mid-day. All these institutions, without exception, should close so that we deny this virus those concentrations” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 18.03.2020).

(2) “Once we deal with the concentrations in the Educational Institutions, the next concentrations that we must deal with are the religious gatherings: prayers in Churches, in Mosques, open air prayers and services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. In the interests of our people’s health, these should be suspended for a month with immediate effect“ (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 18.03.2020).

(3) ”Then the next category of mass meetings are the political or cultural ─ Public rallies, conferences, elections, etc. All these are hereby forbidden for 32 days with immediate effect” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 18.03.2020)

So with this mind, that is why I wonder, if he has followed the Constitution and article 110? Because, it is needed to ask this. Even in the days we’re in, as the laws are there for a reason.

This is why I am wondering, if the President, even have thought about how there by proxy. As your governing by the definition of the majority of a Parliament and Councils. You have meetings, plenary sessions and votes on the matters. Where the public are accepting it, as these are the representatives doing it on their behalf.

That is why the Constitution in article 110 says this:

(1) The President may, in consultation with the Cabinet, by proclamation, declare that a state of emergency exists in Uganda, or any part of Uganda if the President is satisfied that circumstances exist in Uganda or in that part of Uganda

(a) in which Uganda or that part of it is threatened by war or external aggression;

(b) in which the security or the economic life of the country or that part is threatened by internal insurgency or natural disaster; or

(c) which render necessary the taking of measures which are required for securing the public safety, the defence of Uganda and the maintenance of public order and supplies and services essential to the life of the community” (Constitution 1995, Article 110).

This means, if the President has done it correctly he would have held conversation with the cabinet of his. That they have looked into the measures and the circumstances, because its not war nor external aggression. You can say 110(1B) is fixed, but that should have been declared and by consent of the cabinet.

Then, you have 110(3) of the Constitution, which states this:

3) The President shall cause the proclamation declaring the state of emergency to be laid before Parliament for approval as soon as practicable and in any case not later than fourteen days after it was issued” (Constitution 1995, Article 110).

This means the President needs to take the proclamation or the declaration, which he held a conservation with his cabinet into the Parliament for approval. This means, the President has now 14 days to do so. That is if the closures and the everything is following legal codes of the state. Because, the acts of the President is similar to a “state of emergency”. To say something else is playing it down.

And if he doesn’t this, the 110(6) states this: “(6) During any period when a state of emergency declared under this article exists, the President shall submit to Parliament at such intervals as Parliament may prescribe, regular reports on actions taken by or on behalf of the President for the purposes of the emergency” (Constitution 1995, Article 110).

So, if the President get it voted through the Parliament, then the President has to show up and explain the measures made. Also show the progress, as it states the needs to do so. This means the state will be explained.

All of this shows the President got some work to make this official. Especially, if he wants to have legal remedies. Not only proclamations without any jurisdiction or proof of legal substance behind it. That is what the President should ask himself. I know his the only man with a vision in the Republic. However, if it is so, why hasn’t he looked into the laws his so proud of enacting and why isn’t he following it? Peace.

RSA: EFF Statement on Declaration of Corona Virus as a National Disaster (16.03.2020)