Zimbabwe Shutdown on Wed 31 Aug | Pastor Evan Mawarire (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkU0q-qn2RY

Press Statement: Philip Kinisu resigns as Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman (31.08.2016)

Phillip Kinsu Letter Aug 2016

Zimbabwe government mulls job cuts in agriculture department (Youtube-Clip)

“After freezing public sector employment, Zimbabwe’s government now plans to cut about half the jobs in the agriculture department. The government has recently been struggling to pay public service wages, which make up the bulk of its revenue” (CCTV Africa, 2016)

31 August Nationwide | #ShutDownZimbabwe (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN2B2GlEBUQ

Opinion: The Zanu-PF is acting totally lost these days…

santions Mugabe

The truth is in the actions of any ruling regime. The reality of their actions speaks of how they respect their citizens and the government institutions. After yesterday the legacy of the former political party who liberated the nation is now totally lost.

The President and the Executive has been lost for a long time. He just hasn’t known it himself. He is like a bulldog trying out every move and shouting at every by passer. Even when he is old and whiny he still continues and brawls with every candidate that trespasses his gate.

The dire state is not just the economy, but the fragile state between the population, the lengthy disregard of the civil servants and the public officials. As you have VP who uses government funds on eating lavishly on a hotel instead of accountable actions. As well, you have government officials praising the executive and saying his rule is biblical. While the public who demonstrate against him is evil; the Police answer with tear-gas and violence. Not contempt of public voices of discontent. The allowed demonstrations are the ones connected to Zanu-PF, the Youth burning the flag and destroying the MDC-T offices in Harare.

The double standard as the Zanu-PF elite eats and get fat, while the drought of funds and import of needed equipment happens. The debt and sanctions together with the drop of trust between international community and the Zimbabwean government; the Zanu-PF government who could just been run by Ian Smith, they did the say reasoning against the citizens, only they we’re liberators who we’re detained. Now it is citizens and human rights activist who are detained.

Every time some demonstrations happens it is supported by the West and the Westerners fault. Not that it’s the men who has made the situation dire, the men behind police officers and army who detains without impunity or the men who thief the government funds. No, it is the British, the French or lucky the American. It cannot be Mugabe and Gucci Mugabe, no it is somebody else. Just waiting for Acie Lumumba to proclaim his passion for development and say that he still has faith in Zanu-PF without consideration to the draconian state that is just right there.

#ThisFlag Values 2016

#ThisFlag is a loose movement and with inspiring leaders who just shows they heart and wish to garn change and possible leadership who cares about the citizens and not the newest Mercedes SUV. That is the capacity of governance right now. The Government tried to put extra tax on the imported goods as a special VAT as the sanctioned imports where less and less become of the weak economy and value of the currency. Even the issues with downgraded levels of US Dollars lead to ATMs pouring out South African Rand that even marginalized more people. This proves the little value of the citizens.

The lack of on-time pay for soldiers, nurses, teachers and civil servants prove the disgruntled forces while the Zanu-PF continues to live like kings and queens. The people are even tagging the streets named after Robert Mugabe and also taking down the signs with his name. As they demonstrate and are brutally shut down. Today, the court of Harare are even working on fencing the area as another protester are awaiting trail tomorrow and the Government have no other outcome than shutting down. They do not want to see the public garn around the Court in massive numbers as last time when they had to release Pastor Evan Mawarire, he is the one man who opposed and showed them how to peacefully question the Zanu-PF rule without fear of losing his position and freedom.

Now that is up and concerned citizens watch, as the turns and extensive nature of ZANU-PF continues. As their Youth League are acting as hooligans without any repercussion from the Police, while the peaceful demonstrators from public disregard of Zanu-PF violently get silenced. The proof of the fall of grace, the lost nature of the ones respected party. The one party and the one leader who has gone from being the hope and liberator; and with time he has turned himself from liberator to villain of decades of decadence and wealth forgot why he was in bush. Mugabe has lost his ways in wealth and riches! While his people are asking for handouts and can’t even get justice.

President Mugabe HBD Harare Herald

Because of the Social Media uprising of late the Zimbabwean Parliament even have scheduled a new Cyber Crime law able to make prosecutions of people who starting demonstrations and questioning the Zanu-PF online. The #ThisFlag #Tajamuka #NoBondnotes and so on are just honest citizens tired of being used by ruling regime for donor aid and bargain-chips for funds to develop the nation. They want hope and future where all citizens can be involved and have the sense of making their life and work without fear of the police or the ruling regime silencing them with violence or oppressive behaviour while they ride in luxurious cars and have mansions in Harare. While the average man and woman are struggling to get ends to meet. That is not a just society and the Zanu-PF should know it as the fellow loyalist have taken land, businesses and imports for themselves. There is a fatigue of justice between the population and the Zanu-PF elite. That is why the demonstrations are happen so frequent and why the Zanu-PF elite and the Executive is LOST.

The Robert Mugabe of the Past, the man who conquered the Ian Smith Regime and European sponsored dictatorship from the United Kingdom. Now it is sponsored dictatorship under Robert Mugabe. Peace.   

Opinion: Jubilee Government, are they fiscal responsible for their current running debt?

Kenyatta Ruto 09.08.2016

Today is a day where I have questions and they are big because when you crunch the numbers for the last three fiscal years and estimated debt ratio it’s start to be worrying. It isn’t a sweet and tender way of asking. I know, but the numbers and the citizens will have to repay the amounts of borrowed cash at one point. As the Japanese will not deliver second-hand vehicles to the hospitals forever like they did during either this or last week in Kenya; Kenyan Government shouldn’t base their budget on handouts, but on tax-monies. The budget now is worrying as the levels of budget that are borrowed as it is going directly to portfolios that are day-to-day business instead of giant infrastructure development.

Why do I say that? Because each year you can question the ratio between the debt and the development projects; like in 2013/2014 the debt we’re 330bn, but the development 224bn. That is a 100bn used on day-to-day instead of building roads to Ethiopia or planning the Standard Gauge Railway. Take look!

In the 2013/2014:

At the fiscal year ending the 25th July 2014 the budget debt we’re 330,440,692,719.35. That means there 330bn debt, which we’re 25.8% of the National Revenue. National Government budget spent on development we’re 224,355,607,699.00 or 224bn.

In the 2014/2015:

At the fiscal year ending 24th July of 2015 the budget debt we’re 400,249,353,175.10. That means there 400bn debt, which we’re 25.1% of the National Revenue. National Government spent on development we’re 270,320,838,230.00 or 270bn.

In the 2015/2016:

At the fiscal year ending the 22nd July of 2016 the budget debt we’re 683,479,898,203.50. That means there 683bn debt, which we’re 36.9% of the National Revenue. National Government spent on development we’re 333,170,357,469.90 or 333bn.

So as you see, the FY 2013/2014 isn’t the worst. FY 2014/2015 is the start of loose government spending. The Jubilee all of sudden borrow 400bn and spends 270bn. That is 130bn that is used on day-to-day business, with loaned fiscal funds instead of the ordinary tax-base that the government should be fixated on. So with the last year FY 2015/2016 the Jubilee went all out in the stratosphere and borrowed from any bank or institution possible; as the debt we’re 683bn and the development we’re 333bn. That is 350bn that are used to day-to-day business and not development. The question remain why the sudden giant loan ratio towards the last year before election and why the lack of projects to use the newly granted funds.

The fiscal responsibility seems weak and not there when a government can splash this kind of funds and use this amount of debt on day-to-day instead of big projects and infrastructure projects needed. I am sure DP William Ruto has more friends that can be sub-contractors for some Chinese infused borrowed road projects around Kisumu. But, the ability to sustainable development with the steady rise of debt is worrying. That the IMF and World Bank is saying the debt ratio is still feasible should be worrying. As the IMF and World Bank never had control of the worst years before the Greece defaulted and needed saving grace from the world around it. The worst comes to worst when the Kenyan Government starts to default and reach it’s limit they have to have a mercy on the Jubilee and the counterparts who are paying for loose fiscal behaviour. The worst comes to worst with the giant amount of added fiscal funds might give the economy a edged inflation and bank rates that weakens the Kenyan Shilling as the deficit between reality and what is really used.

You can wonder why the Jubilee wants to hedge up so much loans and government debt. When the FY 2013/2014 and FY 2014/2015 we’re the net domestic borrowing around 300bn, but by FY 2015/2016 it become 500bn. That is a jump of 200bn of Domestic Borrowing. That should also be questioned together with the ratio already in the budget. This doesn’t seem like a healthy fiscal policy. The public should question the use of the borrowed domestic and total ratio of debt. The governance levels and accountability of the funds should be asked from Opposition and also the Auditor General. The Inspectorate of Government the IGG or Ombudsman should hassle the hustling Jubilee who has gained these funds and been responsible for the allocated budget and inquired for the option for loans to development and day-to-day use.

What do you think? Peace.   

Gordhan also accused of frustrating SAA’s plans to secure funding (Youtube-Clip)

“As the stand-off continues between Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan and the Hawks, Gordhan has also been accused of frustrating SAA’s plans to secure funding. SAA former auditor and risk committee member, Yakhe Kwinana, resigned in anticipation of the airline’s liquidation. Kwinana says Gordhan has refused to give SAA a loan guarantee until a new board is installed. South African Airways says an interruption of service on any of its routes is highly unlikely. That’s according to its spokesperson Tlali Tlali. But Kwinana, says the airline is facing possible deregulation in Ghana and Hong Kong, due to its failure to submit financial statements. Kwinana says her resignation was informed by SAA’s imminent collapse which she believes could hurt her credibility as an accountant” (SABC Digital News, 2016)

Guptas to Sell Shareholding in All South African Businesses (27.08.2016)

Two and Half Gupta

We announce today our intention to sell all of our shareholding in South Africa by the end of the year.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 27, 2016 – The Gupta Family said:

Since our decision to step down from all executive and non-executive positions in all our South African business in April 2016, the local management team has grown our businesses from strength to strength, with turnover and profits showing good growth and more jobs created.

As a family, we now believe that the time is right for us to exit our shareholding of the South African businesses which we believe will benefit our existing employees, and lead to further growth in the businesses.

As such, we announce today our intention to sell all of our shareholding in South Africa by the end of the year.

We are already in discussions with several international prospective buyers and will soon be in a position to make further announcements.

We believe that this decision is in the best interests of our business, the country and our colleagues.

Barclays and Standard Chartered picketed in London over Bidco business (23.08.2016)

Bidco Protest

Members of Prince Charles’ Banking Environment Initiative fail to cut ties with companies that deforest in Africa.

KAMPALA, Uganda, August 23, 2016 – East African protesters have taken to the streets of London to demonstrate against banks that do business with Bidco Africa, highlighting the connection between global financial institutions, The Prince of Wales and widespread deforestation in Africa.

Barclays and Standard Chartered saw their London headquarters picketed due to their funding of Nairobi-based Bidco, a company that cuts down thousands of acres of pristine rainforest in Uganda, and engages in human rights and tax violations in Kenya and Tanzania.

The Bidco Truth Coalition (No2Bidco.org), an activist alliance, has revealed that the Banking Environment Initiative (BEI), based at Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership under the patronage of The Prince of Wales, is failing in its mission to lead the banking industry in collectively directing capital towards environmentally and socially sustainable economic development.

The BEI’s nine member banks are Barclays, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Lloyds, Northern Trust, RBS, Santander and Westpac.

By signing up to BEI’s ‘Soft Commodities’ Compact, the nine banks have committed to only direct capital towards sustainable business models and achieve zero net deforestation among their client Companies.

Under BEI guidelines, member banks must drop clients that don’t measure up to socially and environmentally responsible policies.

Bidco Africa, which has engaged in multiple human rights, labour, tax and environmental violations, has publically stated that it does business with Barclays, Standard Chartered, Citibank, Equity Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank.

Bidco owns an oil palm plantation that has deforested 18,000 acres of rainforest in Uganda. Bidco has also grabbed land from over 100 smallholder farmers.

The environmental impact of the palm oil project has led activists to call on the UN Global Compact to eject Bidco from its roster of members.

In 2004, the World Bank pulled out of Bidco’s Uganda project, citing violations of the World Bank’s anti-deforestation policies.

But BEI has remained silent, and Barclays, Standard Chartered and other banks continue to do business with Bidco Africa.

The Bidco Truth Coalition calls on BEI, its patron, The Prince of Wales, and BEI’s nine member banks to publically state that they will no longer do business with Bidco and other companies that destroy the environment.

ALCU of North Dakota Statement on First Amendment violations at Dakota Acess Pipieline Protests (22.08.2016)

DakotaAccessPipeline

Cannon Ball, N.D.The curbing of peaceful protests at the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline construction is in violation of our core principles of free speech.

Jennifer Cook, policy director of the ACLU of North Dakota has released the following statement on the government action regarding ongoing demonstrations at the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline construction in Cannon Ball, ND.

“The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy and the interference with that right by agents of the counties and the state of North Dakota violates both the spirit and letter of the First Amendment.  As the courts in this state have recognized, the First Amendment forbids the enactment of laws ‘abridging the freedom of speech … or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.’  The protest at the Dakota Access pipeline is precisely the type of assembly protected by the First Amendment.  Peaceful protest is at the core of the First Amendment and restrictions to such activity, such as the closing of highways with the effect of preventing assembly or effective messaging of protesters, should be viewed skeptically.  Law enforcement agents have a duty to ensure that the rights of protesters are protected, not just the rights of corporations. While law enforcement officers have a right to ensure the safety of all of our citizens, this goal should be achieved by ensuring that all citizens, including protesters, are protected and that there are enough police in place to prevent violence, but not prevent peaceful protest or assembly.

The ACLU of North Dakota supports peaceful protests and encourages protesters to know their rights.  Anyone who believes their First Amendment rights have been violated should contact us at www.aclund.org/get-help.”