Zimbabwe: Hiking fuel prices will touch all parts of life!

Yesterday, out of the blue, the President and his people said they would hold a Press Conference. This happen as President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the spiking or doubling of fuel prices, as the state is struggling with the dollar shortage. This is happening as the effects of RTGS Taxes and the hurting economy in general. As the black-market bond-notes exchange rates and lack of currency in general. This is all making the financial market worse.

So, of today, there are long lines of cars going to petrol stations trying to get fuel. The videos of it is online and shown to the world. Mnangagwa statement came late at night on a Saturday and on Sunday, the results of this has occurred. As businesses are challenged, the Unions are reacting and the public are bitten by it too. This is hurting all, everything will become more expensive and the lie of 1:1 exchange between the Zimbabwe Bond-Notes and United States Dollars (USD). Therefore, the statement yesterday proves the added expenses on ordinary lives.

ZCTU Statement:

After wide consultations, the ZCTU General Council resolved to call for a nation wide STAY AWAY with effect from midnight today following the insensitive and provocative increase of fuel price by the President of Zimbabwe. 2) Workers have been facing serious hardships as a result of the general astronomical price increases since last year against stagnant salaries. The fuel increase added more misery to the suffering working class of Zimbabwe both in formal and informal sectors. The action will be embarked on an incremental basis & include other forms of actions that will be advised in due. There is nothing else pushing the workers besides the starvation & hardships afflicting every working class household. Think about your family & do the right thing” (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, 13.01.2019).

Some people are blaming the sanctions, other like me is also looking into the added taxes done by this administration late last year. As the costs of currency has gone up, as the RTGS and the transactions are added expenses. Also, the reality of lack of currency itself, as the foreign exchange has hit the workforce of the state. There been numerous strikes, there been plenty of businesses closing and also empty shelves. Therefore, the stagnation and slow destruction of the economy without a currency. Is really hitting the common folk. Who knows what rate the inflation is at, but it must be hitting hard.

Because we know the hardships hits the citizens, not only the prices of fuel is doubled over night, but the amount of fuel you can buy has been cut in half or even less. That has even been stated by companies like Redan Coupon (Pvt.) Limited, who came out with a public statement. Showing the effects on all of them customers.

We know this is fixed prices from the government, as the President did on Live Press Conference, telling the public about the prices yesterday. The Herald wrote this about it yesterday: “Zera said the prices which were implemented recently were in line with Statutory Instruments 20 and 100 enacted in 2015. Zera notified members of the public that uel stations were at liberty to sell the commodity at lower prices “depending on their trading advantages.”” (Farirai Machivenyika – ‘Govt clears air on fuel prices’ 12.01.2019).

We are seeing clearly, that the authorities had worked together before the doubling of fuel prices happen. As the President stated. They know it will affect all parts of life, make everything more expensive. Everything in the Republic will be touched and the costs of life, will sky-rocket naturally. Not looking forward to see the inflation numbers and how it affects the prices on food and basics in general.

Also, expect more strikes and demonstrations, as the costs of living is hitting all parts of life. Peace.

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Zimbabwe: Statement by His Excellency the President, cde E.D. Mnangagwa on the Eve of a Major Five-Nation Foreign Official Visit, 12th January 2019 (12.01.2019)

BoU Scandal: Mmaks Advocates – Press Release (12.01.2019)

RDC: Adam Chalwe Munkutu coordonnateur des jeunes de la Majorité Présidentielle, a décidé de démissionner de ce poste suite à l’échec d’Emmanuel Ramazani Shadaryau scrutin présidentiel (12.01.2019)

Kabila’s Presidential Guards sent to intimidate Fayulu!

Kabila’s presidential guard penetrated inside my property today to prevent me from submitting my appeal at the Constitutional Court. Fear is still on their side”Martin Fayulu (12.01.2019).

Even, as the Presidential Candidate of Lamuka, Martin Fayulu was out registering the petition against the Presidential Election of the 30th December 2018 and the Provincial Results, as he believes they should be annulled.

This is happening after CENI announced the provincial results, where Felix Tshisekedi of CACH Coalition first, and third came Emmanuel Shadari of FCC. An the petitioner came narrow second in the results announced from the Electoral Body.

That is why, we are here today, as the Presidential Candidate have delivered his petition with hopefully substantial evidence of rigging and proof of misconduct in such a legal manner. That the cooked results can be “null and void” and hold a new election. Where the results will be respected and not negotiated, even if that would hurt the pride of the Kabila Regime. Which is the ones who is running the show from the sidelines and surely, doesn’t want to be questioned.

Today, we really saw it, as the Presidential Guards visited without any forewarning the house of Fayulu. We have seen this has happen before, as the FARDC, the army has sent soldiers to the house of Moise Katumbi before he fled into exile. That is one of the running mates of Fayulu. Therefore, the pattern is already there. Kabila is using the force and soldiers to get his way.

That is why today, the use of Presidential Guards in a political game to intimidate and control the results. The good thing is that Fayulu was able to deliver the petition and the Constitutional Court now has 7 days to deliver a verdict on the matter. We will really see if there is any independent verdict, which shows the truth. Hopefully, Fayulu has the tallies of the CENCO and can show how the CENI has manipulated the results in the wished favour of the state, instead of the grandest opposition.

Now, we have to wait and see, but we know the Constitutional Court is filled with appointed people of Kabila. They are most likely making a verdict in favour of what Kabila wants. Time will tell. But who knows, right?

The verified results isn’t even announced properly, as Lamuka has started to ask to make them publicly. That is why the CENCO communiques and statements on the Results is a mismatch to the CENI Provincial Results. That is another reason, why this petition will matter, as we can then see what the CENI states, what the judges see fit and how they will argue to sustain the Provincial Results.

What we do know, is that people are trying to disenfranchise and disembark Fayulu as the Western-Puppet, because of the questioning of the current winner Tshisekedi. That is happening before the grievances is even settled. Let me be clear on my sake: I want the just winner, the one that people voted for. Not stand for and celebrated someone rigged in. That is not winning. That is cheating both the citizens and not acceptable. Any rigged leader shouldn’t be praised, but should accept that they used manipulation to get into power. It doesn’t matter if any of these three was cheating, I would have said the same on all three. I would have said the same on Shadari and Fayulu, if any of them was cheated into office. No question. Don’t even think otherwise.

With that being said. The 30th December 2018 Presidential Election is now in the Courts. Let see how this goes. But don’t expect justice or proper justification. That might offend the Don. That might hurt the pride and the tactics of Kabila. He will not take that kindly, as he has negotiated with a back-door agreement with CACH Coalition, as they would be preferred outcome, than letting the heir actually win. That what it all seems like and until that sort of speculation is debunked. It will be in the wind. Peace.

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Statement on the Results of the 30 December 2018 Presidential, Legislative and Provincial Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the SADC Organ Chairperson, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia (11.01.2019)

Gaborone, Botswana, 11th January, 2019: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) welcomes the release of the provisional results of the Presidential Election held under the combined Presidential, Legislative and Provincial Elections on 30 December 2018 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

SADC congratulates the Congolese people, the Government of the DRC, all political stakeholders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) for conducting the elections.

SADC urges all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to exercise patience, and refrain from acts of violence, whilst the process of releasing all the final results of the elections is being conducted.

SADC further takes note of the disputes that have arisen, and encourages all concerned stakeholders to remain calm and act in a way that consolidates democracy and preserves peace.

SADC calls upon all stakeholders with concerns, including regarding the accuracy of the results, to pursue any election dispute about the provisional results, peacefully, through avenues provided by the existing national legal framework, and resolve their differences through political dialogue among all stakeholders.

SADC reaffirms its commitment to continue to assist the DRC with respect to neutralising the negative forces and other armed groups operating in Eastern DRC.

 

H.E. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

11 January 2019.

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