Opinion: Michael Bloomberg is our times ‘Citizen Kane’

I never thought that knowing Orson Wells movie ‘Citizen Kane’ would be this relevant for our times, but it apparently is. In that movie, the main character Charles Foster Kane is a rich New Yorker willingly going into a political campaign, owning newspapers and a vast empire. Having an ego and narcissistic view of himself, as the grand man and a man for the people. Even when he was richer than God and had Xanadu as his playground with all the wonders of the world.  Still, he was never satisfied and felt betrayed that he didn’t get elected and lost because of a shady love-affair with a singer that would spoil his reputation.

In this manner, Michael Bloomberg fit perfectly well. He has the campaign behind, he has all the money the world can offer. He owns a media empire, his even a former Mayor of New York. Surely, he has his copy of Xanadu somewhere. Bloomberg is a man who creates scandals, all by himself and his own history. He has used power and words before to address the ills of society, but not for betterment. Instead to amplify the problems and racial abuse people. Therefore, wealth isn’t a sign of moral judgement.

Bloomberg is an “oligarch”, a Richie rich rich soft of fella. He has had the ability to be relevant because of his wealth. Be a part of any conversation because of his stature. Not because of his vitality or his policies. No, his just another New York Mayor bashing in wealth, who succeeded by another one of those.

Mikey Mike think he deserves it. Nevertheless, he don’t just because he got money. Doesn’t mean he will get the love. He can campaign like Citizen Kane, use all the tools of disposal, buy allegiance and a fancy media rollout, but that doesn’t shade away the grim facts about this man. That his used to get away with everything and gotten into every room because of his money. Not because of his skills, charisma nor his message. No, because Bloomy is Bloomberg. That’s why his been there.

He can run a TV Network, own newspapers and do what it do. However, that doesn’t mean his fit for office. That he owns conglomerates doesn’t mean his the leader of men. Only, that he knows how to grow money and get people on the money train. That his a racists and misogynist should be a warning sign in itself. However, he thinks he can away with it and it doesn’t matter, because a media can overshadow those things.

Bloomberg want to be loved by the people like Kane, but he will not be. Because, his words hurt, the words uttered against woman and African-Americans are just disgraceful. That he been open for “stop and frisk” someone because of their identity, not because of their record or what they possess. Show his true self.

That the Democratic Party wants a Trump 2.0 running their primaries is also astonishing, considering they are supposed to want to defeat him with a significant difference and not with his evil twin. Because, there is little difference in the clientele and the acts of Bloomberg. Only that he has a Democratic ticket and such. His actions and words of the past would easily fit the bar of the Republicans today.

Therefore, our Charles Forster Kane of 2020 might continue to linger, might try to force his stay. But will he welcomed, will he gain real standing and support? Is it all monetary based on the belief that another billionaire got the capacity to run the Republic? Is that it? If so, what a sad state of affairs for the United States. That it sinks so low and has so little faith in their own.

Bloomberg should back out, take the route of being a donor or whatever they call it. However, not run for office. His not fitting. Boss Getty’s got the US covered and others like him. Mike doesn’t do it. He should leave the race and relax at Xanadu. Look over his artefacts and statutes. Look over his empire and smell the coffee. Not think that people will love him because his rich. They wouldn’t love him, they just want a part of his cake. Peace.

Cameroon: Social Democratic Front (SDF) – Press Release – Communique de Presse (17.02.2020)

Opinion: Bobi Wine needs to serenade the authorities before he gets a go sign

What we learned today from CP Fred Enaga Presser on the People Power Movement and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine newly scheduled consultations as a Presidential Candidate ahead of 2021 elections, which is bound to happen in about a weeks time. Now, the Police Force are asking for more. Even as the People Power Movement have notified and delivered their paperwork on locations in time.

Still, CP Enaga said the PPM could just give a letter and go. Well, has the officer read the Public Order Management Act of 2013 himself. Which states: “5. Notice of public meeting. (1) An organizer shall give notice in writing signing by the organiser or his or her agent to the authorised officer of the intention to hold a public meeting, at least three days but not more than fifteen days before the proposed date of the public meeting” (POMA, 2013).

This is very clear, Mr. Officer, that as along as the organizer and their agent has informed the Police within three days ahead of an public meeting. They are kosher and good. That is after the laws, which the Police Force is supposed to enforce. There doesn’t state or any stipulation that the People Power Movement have to kneel, go into any police station in the Republic and ask directly for permission to hold any public meetings. There are no law saying that at this point. The law is clear, even as vindictive and monitoring it is.

This laws gives the police possibility to manoeuvrer and enforce their control over an building and make the owners stop it from happening. Which it has been able to do before, to block venues and close the people from gathering at these places. The POMA is giving the space the Police needs to do this without having any wire-tap, any direct spyware or any other expensive equipment to collect data on the opposition. The POMA gives way for that.

That is why the Police Force is moving the Goal Post. When the Spokesperson for the Police is saying a letter of intent isn’t enough. They have already held extra meetings, which neither decreed, stipulated nor put forward in law. If not, than the UPF and the NRM needs to invent invisible laws.

I’m sure CP Enaga and ACP Namaye wouldn’t mind a free concert on ‘One Love Beach’ with the Firebase Crew and all the associates of Bobi Wine. Maybe then he would be allowed to hold some meetings. If not, at least he got to perform and was allowed to do that for a little minute. But don’t expect this to happen.

I expect more blocked venues, more tear-gas, more arrests and lack of political space for Bobi Wine. Because, the Police Force has other rules for him. There is no way in hell he can comply, if he does A, they will ask for B; and if he does B, they will ask for C.

He can buy the shoes, shine them, iron his suit, clean his SUV and be ready to travel across the Republic. Nevertheless, expect it all to be dirty. Even if he was dressed smart, but looks like rag when the Police is done with him.

Seemingly, Bobi Wine needs to go to every Police Station and serenade the Officers, sing soft tunes of love and harmony before they let him go. Not that it will change anything, because there is no law saying he needs to do it. However, they will say so.

That he needs a sit-down and put every single scenario into paper and be humble before them. Like a little child who went out, even if the parents had given him curfew. The Police have given Bobi Wine curfew, even if there are law directly putting that on him. Peace.

Re-Launch of the Punguza Mizigo Kenya: Proposals to Amend our Constitution towards Justice, Dignity and Hope for all Kenyans (17.02.2020)

In 23 minutes Ruto created his own Anglo Leasing scandal

Well, it is about that time to revive old sins and make them new. Just like the hustler nation like too. They like to remind us of the past and celebrate the glories of the days already past. The glory this time is yet another fake arms deal in association with Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa, who was his broker with the facilitator (Charge D’ Affaire in Warsaw) June Ruto and Nick Ruto (supervisor). While Deputy President William Ruto was the mastermind behind the gig. That is why CS Echesa is the fall guy, while the Office of the DP puts blame on him and Ministry of Defence says they were not involved.

All things are cornering the CS Echesa in this manner, even if all family matters around the DP. Who was able to find a way of corrupting 23 minutes and eating 39 billion shilings. That is the reality of it all. As the Defence didn’t know about this, neither was it sanctioned elsewhere. As the CS is on bail with three other associates. It is like they all wanted to create a new Anglo Leasing. Where they also faked tenders, military tenders to enrich themselves. That happen back in 2002, but that is only 18 years ago.

I just need to remind some folks about the Anglo Leasing, which was introduced to the world back in the day. The present day need this reminder, because it starts with drips and then becomes more. Now its is one company, which has a fake tender with Polish company Eco Advanced Technologies. This is no in the same regard as the Anglo Leasing. Just look at it.

Anglo Leasing in detail

In 2002, the first company exposed in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Kenya was Anglo Leasing Finance. Kenya lost more than CHF600 million at that time through systematic fraud. The money was channelled into 18 security contracts. Payments went to numerous shell companies, but behind them were always the same business people. They never provided the services paid for, or at best, delivered inferior wares. The main beneficiaries appear to have been several ministers in the government of the time” (Markus Spoerndli – ‘When will the Swiss release Kenya’s millions? ‘ 14.11.2019, Swissinfo.ch).

Well it was more companies back then, but they are doing the same. It is the same sort of ordeal. The names has changed, the dates are more recent, but the end-game is the same. The Anglo Leasing had their play, but now we have Eco Advanced Technologies instead. They are used for the same sort of function as the other company was back in the day.

Echesa was a proper tool for Ruto and his family. They earned fortunes on this, as it was easy play for the money and they got the funds for only 23 minutes. That is why this is the 23 minutes Anglo Leasing scandal of 2020.

The more the world change, the more it is the same. Now it is this, tomorrow its another one. Just like this will create fuzz today. Another fake tender scandal, another corruption scandal will hit the headlines and life moves on. Peace.

RDC: Jean Jaques Mamba letter de Vital Kamerhe – Concerene: Questions ecrites (17.02.2020)

Rwanda: The men who aim at Kagame will fall, example Kizito Mihigo

“I sing peace and forgiveness, I launch a permanent call for reconciliation”Kizito Mihigo

Again, this story has been played out before, this is not new and neither is it spectacular. A man who was detained three days ago, suddenly takes suicide in Prison is the official statement from Rwanda National Police. A man who was in isolation and in solitary confinement. After being charged with trying to illegal cross the borders into Burundi.

A man who has targeted the authorities, who has addressed the ills of the state of affairs. Been charged ten-years for treason in 2014 and Presidential Pardoned in 2018. Suddenly out of nowhere takes his own life in early 2020. That seems a bit too far-fetched that he would do that now. After all his been through.

 “This Monday morning, Kizito was found dead in police cell at Remera Station. He was recently arrested while attempting to bribe his way out of the country illegally” (Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, 17.02.2020).

The one I am describing is the government critic and gospel singer Kizito Mihigo. We know how far the state goes in monitoring the lives of their dissidents as this 2017 report states:

“During the treason trial of singer Kizito Mihigo and journalist Cassien Ntamuhanga in April 2014, prosecutors allegedly adduced intercepted phone and skype messages from the accused expressing their dissatisfaction with the government and conspiring to overthrow it” (CIPESA – ‘Shadow Report on the State of Freedom of Expression Online in Rwanda’ 31.10.2017).

They are directly wire-tapping and using this material in courts to detain him. They were targeting the man an collecting evidence on him. That is what they state did. That is why the next article is interesting in the manner of things.

An article named “Nakandi: INVESTIGATION: BBC Journalist Nshimiyimana Genocide Files Leak” released on the 29th April 2014 says this: “According to Police records, on March 11, opposition Rwanda National Congress leader Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara told Mihigo of a plan to secure the latter’s stay in London after releasing a series of songs backing the overthrow of Kagame’s government. The RNC official also showed Mihigo the message he had received from journalist Nshimiyimana. It read: “Reka nkwereke msg anyohereje. “Umubaze azaze anyure kuri BBC TV and radio. Bamukorera PR atigeze abona mbere (Let me show you the message he has sent. “Ask him to come and be on BBC TV and Radio. They will give him the kind of PR he has never seen.” Asked whether he would be available for the TV interview on April 7, Mihigo answered: “With pleasure.” Rwandan authorities did not wait for Mihigo to appear on BBC. He was arrested and incarcerated” (Chimp Investigations Team on Africaspeaks.com).

We can see that his songs was so critical of the government, that they landed him in trouble. Were his connection was also added the pressure, as Sankara last year was arrested and detained for his association with rebels who fought to end the Presidency of Kagame.

However, the authorities could manufacture that, as he was a critic, but also someone who wanted positive change. Nevertheless, he never got to see that and his final demise was in the chambers of the authorities. On their watch, they let him die and most likely they did something more, than what they are saying. Since, someone who had already been charged with treason years earlier. Would be able to face more jail-time for trying cross the borders days earlier. He had the strength to be behind bars for fours years. He could muster up strength for a few more days now. That is why the suicide doesn’t add up.

I will end with some lyrics from ‘the Meaning of Death’ from 2014 :

“Death is the worst thing that can happen, yet something that creates a good road that leads to something better than anything else’” (…)

“There is no good death, whether genocide, the civil war, being killed in revenge attacks, or dying from illness’” (…)

“Those relatives, wherever they are seated, they pray for us” (…)

“Though the genocide orphaned me, let it not make me lose empathy for others. Their lives, too, were brutally taken but not qualified as genocide. Those brothers and sisters, they too are human beings. I pray for them. I comfort them. I remember them” (.Kizito Mihigo, 2014).

He wrote about death, now he has met the same master, as his fatality happen under the guard of the state in their chambers. That’s why they write the story and tell his demise was set a certain way. Even if that seems unreasonable and intolerable. As these sort of affairs only happens to critics and the likes who offends the President.

Kizito Mihigo only dared to question the authorities through lyrics and songs. Because of that, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) deemed that fit to take his life. So, don’t challenge Kagame, he will hunt you down and ensure you stop breathing. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade further easing of EU Sanctions against Zimbabwe (17.02.2020)

IGAD Special Envoy Welcomes the Decision of South Sudan Government to Return to Ten States (17.02.2020)

Cameroon: Ministere de la Defense – Communique Radio Presse (17.02.2020)