Opinion: Who is really the “Empty Suit”? Who might it be the Empty Suit in the Ministry of Health Care or KCCA? As the recent unfolded operations of maladministration in the public view… henceforth somebody who is just nodding to the Executive for the brown envelope.

McNULTY: “West Baltimore is dying and you empty suits are running around to pin some politician’s pelt to the wall. Thought you was real police, brother” (The Wire Season 2, Episode 13).

There is in this day and age lots of appointed government officials, they work supposed to be diligent and with honour of the codes of their work, not work directly for the ones that appointed them. That cannot always be easy as the station and the position would not been opened or given to the person if the appointee didn’t give that extended hand or blessing for the job. When you have that situation you need a strong state and strict regulatory regime that counter the possible backhand and kickbacks to the ones that appointed them.

Why do I discuss this at this point? Because it is a vital part of our government regimes and is a question that can be asked in nearly all parts of the globe. As all jobs in the branches of government does not automatically goes to the most educated, relied on or the one person who has the most integrity in the position. Instead the man or woman who gets appointed is an “empty suit”.

What some of them might do?

“What typically saves the empty suit is the tenuous relation between what he or she does and any actual business results. This may be a function of the job he’s in: a staff post, with lots of power to nix others’ initiatives but no responsibility to make or sell anything. Or a pocket of avoirdupois in a still-too-fat corporate bureaucracy, the kind of position that causes underlings to scratch their heads and wonder, ”Gee, do we really need all these vice presidents?” Or the empty suit may have come up through a system that rotates fast- trackers through a new job every 18 months, even though the effects of his tenure don’t become evident for two to three years. He hardly had time to get any grounding in the work his people do, and he may have royally screwed up the few decisions he was compelled to make, but when the chickens come home to roost, he has flown. If somebody has the bad taste to try to assign responsibility, the suit can easily fuzz the matter over by suggesting that the blame rests with his successor or former subordinates” (Kiechel, 1989).

There certainly similar like the ones described in our time in every department, every corporation and every single institution we know of. This might be the Electoral Commission of Uganda and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya. As much as the regulatory chairs of the banking industry of Kenya must feel like empty suits these days as the confidence at that is low-key as well. The Chase Bank, The Imperial Bank and National Bank of Kenya have fallen from grace. The most likely selling of the Barclays Bank African Group might also make the fragile banking sector into more disarray as the leading regulators seems like the extra board-members instead of people who uses their position and chair with care and uses the mandate to make a difference and even square.

The situations are different when the appointed is not hired for their knowledge of their field, but the loyalty of the regime or government that is running in the country. The likes of Ministry of Health in Uganda for the moment where the hospitals are creaking and the machines are criss-crossing between life and death. Electricity and other cases of depleted. As the missing extra blood for surgery, the copy-medication and the loss of necessary equipment; that shows the lack of management and reasons for empty suits. The highest empty suit for the moment must be State Minister for Health Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi who seems to be more concern with catching checks then doing his job at this point. This point comes with the correlation of Minster of Health Hon. Elioda Tumwesige and the State Minister for Primary Health Hon. Sarah Opendi Ochieng. One of the three must generate a valued pay-check and makes sure that the NMS delivers the Global Funded projects and the other government funded health care, but either Chris, Elioda or Sarah, one of them or more must be a hired “empty suit” as the three of them are put into ministerial position working for initially the same thing.

It is just like the same mess with the KCCA where you have KCCA Executive Director of Jennifer Musisi. You have Frank Tumbewaze who is both Minister of the Presidency and Kampala Affairs. Then you have the third person who got a mandate the Presidential Advisor for Kampala affairs Mr. Singh Katongole what he does is surely only him and the Executive of Uganda who knows, since his appointment in December 2015 his silence must mean a envelope and letting Hon. Tumbewaze and Hon. Musisi does what they like. To make it more hectic you have the actual people’s elected through the ballot who supposed to run the Kampala Capital City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. So you have hon. Musisi, Hon. Tumbewazi, Hon. Katongole and Lord Mayor Lukwago. All of them are supposed to central people in the running of administration and regulate the divisions of Kampala politically and create policies that builds and secure the functions of KCCA. That must be hectic one of these men and woman must be a empty suit. Unless Hon. Katongole who I haven’t heard a word from since appointment is an ear-to-the ground and talking or addressing letters directly to the Executive or Head of State as his role has still not been served. As the accountability of the NRM-Regime is not strong they prefer keeping people in the dark.  Hon. Tumbewaze seems more to be the ones who was appointed to turn opposition Lord Mayor on his knees and therefore also gotten a permanent Executive Director in Musisi to shut down the elected person. But the end-game is that one of them must be an “Empty Suit” as the basic needs cannot be that big, and one of them is catching the brown envelopes without doing anything.

There are certainly more empty suits in the system as I started with the appointed men who is not educated for the position, but are there for the loyalty not because of the office is needed or there for a general purpose. That is the same as extra board-members in a corporation who is hired to vote for the general consensus in the board, but not to generate profits in some sense. They are there because the Corporation and LLC need useful idiots to be paid to follow the remarks of the stakeholders and shareholders, not the common-sense of their position.

We can all question the value of these leaders and honourable men-or-woman in a representative or appointed position by the President for instance. The level of credible men and woman and the need for expertise in the government organisations, into the department and the civic care from the road-development to the health care facilities need men and woman who knows the trade. As long the men does what is needed for the President or for the Stakeholders. The ones that lose are the ordinary person, employee or civil servants as they will either work under them or have to pay them tax-money to keep them. As they have to be paid an envelope to be the empty-dress. The person who is an empty dress doesn’t become that for free. Somebody has to be charge to keep him there. Most likely it is me or you. We can just ask ourselves. Who of the appointed leaders in government is an empty suit? Who in the corporate world are the extras?

Lastly, why does the Minister Without Portfolio. Hon. Abraham Byandala gets away and is not questioned by the opposition or anybody else. Why is this man the free-man the invisible creature in the parliament that does not have scruples? This since this position is the epitome of a Empty Suit. He is a MINISTER, but does not have an OFFICE, Department or a MINISTRY to run. Hon. Byandala can do as he pleases and still get paid. You cannot check his ministry or running government portfolio as it is non-existence from the get-go. The Government Official without any oversight and anything to initial control or say in other words the official Minister of Nothing (MoN). Hon. Byandala is running the Ministry of Nothing. The Minister of Hot-Air and the checking the chapattis’ in parliament is fresh enough for Hon. Oulanyah’s taste.

Well, what do you think? Are the somebody you feels are an Empty suit? Somebody you question or wonder if really have anything more than pay-check from the Tax-Payers money, but does not use it’s office or even delivers anything. Then that person might be an empty suit who just nods the head to the Executive and the general leadership without exercising power or determine the future of the government institution, department or ministry. Even if the person is really doing anything in the boardroom or a needed voter for the stakeholders; if it is only the needed majority to follow procedure then the scheme need a check or reform.

There will certainly be more stories and the existence of similar men and woman who can be described as “Empty Suits” and be stooges needed by any administration and corporations as they viciously need structure to control the citizens and the policies without questions from the inner-circle. Even if that means not procurement of needed medicines, fuel, transformers or building bridges to easier access the missing Okor Bridge in Kumi District: “This project was intended to connect Nyero and Mukongoro sub-counties in Kumi district” (MoFED, March 2015). A bridge that does not exist or is built by now so the sub-counties is not yet connect because of the altered situation and have to run long roads around the area than crossing straight over the river. So a project like this says there some empty suits as in 2009 as company was hired to build the river, by December 2012 the works by the river had stopped. Even if the departments to UNRA gave reports of progress of the project was last monitored in 2014 and by 2016 there not been done more to build the bridge since the monopoly of the Chinese Contractor have stifled the progression and in the end wasted government funds into a building a bridge who does not exist. Just like the Ministry of Nothing Hon. Byandala.

Think that is enough for today! Peace.

Reference:

Kiechel, Walter – ‘HOW TO SPOT AN EMPTY SUIT This breed of modern manager looks good and gets along splendidly with the brass. But is he contributing anything?’ (20.11.1989) link: http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/11/20/72761/index.htm

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – ‘NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FY 2015/16’ (March 2015).

Ungovernable city of Kampala

There must some hardships in the leadership structure in Kampala. On the 3^rd of December 2015, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the president of Uganda had the brilliant idea and hired Mr. Singh Katongole as his advisor on Kampala affairs.

 

On the #AskMuseveni press conference 12^th December he said this about Kampala:

“You ‘Kampalanians’ might not know all this because you are here in Kampala with your NGOs”.

This city got the status of that in 1962. Kampala City has 57 Slum settlements and divided into 5 Divisions which are Central, Kawempe, Nakawa, Lubaga and Makindye. The main structures of the City are KCCA or the Kampala Capital City Authority. This lead by the Lord Mayor and the Executive Director; the Lord Mayor is elected by the people on a secret ballot while the Executive Director is appointed by the President; and that means that two of the leaders of the KCCA is one part a representative directly of the public and the other given the powers from the President to oversee the representative from the public; which if you wonder is the Lord Mayor. A third head chief of the City is the Ministry of Kampala Affairs and also the same person who is Ministry of the Presidency.

This isn’t a play that has always been in action. There was long run by the KCC, before the KCCA Act of 2010 came into effect. That was because the NRM-Regime feared their losing powers on the electorate powers and control of the Capital. Therefore they had to rejuvenate the system from Parliament and control the city of Kampala more directly from the Parliament. This has been done since the election from 2011. This was with the steady case of impeachment and dismissal of Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago in November of 2013. The issue was that the Lord Mayor wanted to hire certain people to do check and balance. This starting in 2012 with this: “Kampala City council Authority Councilors have asked the Authority’s executive Director to willingly resign before she is forcefully pushed out following a public report by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago exposing irregular recruitment of unqualified staff, who were in turn, paid hefty overtime allowances exceeding their salaries”.

This led to a following powers struggle between Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago versus Executive Director Jennifer Musisi. And this also showed that the Minster of Kampala Affairs Frank Tumwebaze can take decisions and impeach the Lord Mayor, and also Executive Director under the direction of the President. Also get the through the Parliament the reshuffle of the KCCA instead of the men that the Lord Mayor wish to have to oversee the administration of the City as the Lord Mayor did under the KCC. But this working method doesn’t work smooth enough for the President of Uganda.

The Lord Mayor and the Executive Director the test accountability from the Public Accountability Council (PAC) and the Attorney General who runs the committee and reads the reports who is sent from the Minister of Kampala Affairs for review; this review is taken into consideration and in the 2013 case lead to the fall of the elected Lord Mayor of 2011.

This proven power of the Ministry of Kampala and the Executive Director, both handpicked men by the President. That is not the deal with the Lord Mayor. So that this is not enough to make sure that the NRM has true control of the still new KCCA, the five divisions and all the slums of the Kampala City. Under the five Divisions there is Urban Councils who also have leaders to keep under the leach of the divisions and the KCCA.

Even with the KCCA it’s still to be governed by the Central Government, the law says so, therefore the president does what he does best hire his people who are loyal to him in positions, both the Minster and Executive Director are loyal people of Mzee. The newly appointed advisor is seen as the same. The only issue is the Lord Mayor who has been an opposition candidate and not one of the handpicked men. That is why Kampala City hasn’t had an official Lord Mayor since 2013, after a year-long power struggle with the Executive director, that was rubberstamped by Minister of Kampala Affairs, before settled by the Chief of Justice and Attorney General. That ended in 29. November 2013 when a meeting complied of a certain level of councilors and 29 of them voted against the Lord Mayors position. He lost his seat and power by wishing to employ men he believed would serve the city well, instead got sacked by the Central Government, by the mouthpiece of Frank Tumwebaze and Jennifer Musisi who finally got rid of the people’s candidate to the authority running the city. So since then Frank and Jennifer has together run the city’s administration and put Lukwago in the cold. After this now Mzee has decided to put on more man into the fold.  

The new position Presidential Advisor for Kampala affairs Mr. Singh Katongole, I am sure himself wonder what and where he is in between the other leaders of the City. There is clear that on top of the pyramid is Mzee, then it’s the minister, third it’s either the Lord Mayor or Executive director depending on who is in office at this point. Though firstly on third level the Lord Mayor by law is the one conveying the ordinary use of KCCA and with administrative help and then fourth placed leader is the Executive Director. The issue and question in mind. Is the advisor on his own island or is he on the same level and an informer to the president on the Kampala affairs? Or has the position powers that succeed the Lord Mayor or Executive Director? Does that position even contain keeping the Minister of Kampala Affairs in order and comply too the wishes of the President? Where does the person’s leadership ability and limit go?

If you haven’t got it yet; the Executive director and Minister of Kampala Affairs is a way of securing NRM men to control a city and area where the NRM doesn’t have power. In this way a third leader will strain the relationship with the opposition candidate and elected Lord Mayor by the citizen’s secret ballot instead of the appointed men from the presidency. This here is proof yet again how the regime fears the people’s choices for their own leaders. That is why they prefer sole-candidacies and single-handed flag-bearers. Because of this leadership style from the president, he can’t handle seeing that the people want other people then the ones he controls over and their actions. That is why he has made the system and administration swallow for Kampala, so that the powers of the elected official has less to say and can easily be “sacked” by the council with the charge of the courts together with the Minister of Kampala Affairs filing in the case-work. That is why I have to question the need for one more man? When you can already by biased paperwork file papers in order together with the Attorney General send it to court and also get the councils verdict; by that get rid of the Lord Mayor or suspend his powers as so.

Why does the President need a fourth leader in a way for Kampala? The city is so ungovernable that the Lord Mayor needs three over him to able to administer the city well? Executive Director is a vital piece of the newly founded KCCA and supposed it seems to be the in between central government and local government leader, but isn’t that what the Lord Mayor already is or supposed to be? So the Executive Director seems as an addition to cut down the control of the Lord Mayor, because the Minister of Kampala Affairs can’t exhausts the reasons for taking control, he can put it to the Executive Director as he did in 2013. But in that sense, what advice does the new Presidential Advisor do? Does he send the letter to the Attorney General instead of the Minister? I just wonder where the newly appointed person comes into the equation. For the moment the position is an added X with any substance and I can’t figure the place on an organizational map. At this point I wonder if Mzee even can find him there, since he didn’t knew that the Uganda Cranes where a national team and not playing in the Uganda Premier League. Things are not easy for him always and finding him an office and place him on chart to explain his value will not easy. The position is surely just given to person who got it, not that person had to write a letter and give the CV to president, Mzee already had the person in mind hopefully when he appointed him. What is big the question that nobody else have bothered to ask!

What in the hell does Kampala need four entitled leaders like Lord Mayor, Executive Director, Presidential Advisor on Kampala Affairs and Minister on Kampala Affairs? And what is the newest recruit supposed to do in his office other than vacate a chair and surf the web on a laptop? Since the person who is now recruited can lean on the KCCA, their underlings, the Minsitry of the City and courts to do his job it seems; should the person just chill and go to local eatery an take a chai and some matooke? Peace.

Side-note – Even back in the day they we’re missing funds:

The Eight day of Presidential Rallies in Uganda + UPC & TIC Statements and more

There been yet another day of Presidential Rallies. There been more movement from all candidates. NRM continues… Go-Forward and Amama Mbabazi has had a hectic day. The FDC team and Dr. Kizza Besigye have been in Busoga… the other candidates were there also on the trail… Let’s continue!

NRM:

He continued to travel in the Northern Uganda on his trail. And the UPC candidates continue to support NRM like they are the same party. Akena must sit somewhere proud. Otunnu must be sad somewhere else… Milton Obote be pissed at his son somewhere in his eternal rest. Well, let’s go back to the trail!

YKM said this today: 

“We are in alliance with the UPC” said today by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Also saying today: “Whoever who ate that money, going to vomit” (…)”Some problems in the Health Ministry – Corruption, Stealing drugs”.

Go-Forward:

Before his campaign rally in Hoima the police has thrown out tear-gas to scatter the public who was supposed to go the venue where Amama Mbabazi.

“Hoima District, 16th November, 2015:

On our agenda for 2016-2021 shall be revisiting land compensation for those who were not compensated for loss of land during the oil exploration exercise. This will be resolved. Additionally we intend to empower local governments to manage their own budgets for infrastructure development especially municipal roads”.

Sunday 22^nd November 2015 is the new date set for the release of the Go-Forward and TDA joint manifesto release.

Professor Baryamureeba:

The race has been halted by the issue that the professor doesn’t have the money for his campaign. There it has been postponed.  He has been steady tweeting all day!

TIC Candidates:

The Joseph Mabirizi and Maureen Faith Kyala were scheduled to have rallies in Butaleja and Kibuuku District today.

Abed Bwainka had today campaign rallies in Iganga, Kamuli and Namayingo.

FDC:

He has been talked in Irudu in Buyende district. Later he had rallies in Bukungu.

In Kamuli this is what Dr. Kizza Besigye said:

“We shall improve agriculture. We shall invest in research, promote irrigation, establish a farmer’s bank, insure gardens. We shall also fix prices so that any farmer knows that u can’t sell below that price. We shall have silos”.

Dr. Kizza Besigye after the rallies today:

“We want to thank the people of Buyende and Kamuli for the warm welcome to Dr. Kizza-Besigye Wrn. He discussed with them how the Fdc govt will solve the problem of poverty thru putting in place people centered programs and projects. We implore you to go door to door and spread the message of Liberation. Kigwa Leero”.

UPC Statement:

“I can confirm that we are in talks whereby the core UPC minimum agenda that addresses key issues like health, education and agriculture will guide all engagements over the next 5 years. As UPC we firmly believe in the need for a peaceful transition and recognise that this could only be the last term for President Museveni and therefore any meaningful transition cannot exclude him and NRM from this transition. UPC from its founding as political Party, sought the preservation of national unity and integration which remains a key guiding principle” (…)”As the UPC President, I am committed to abide by the National Council decision to build the party from the grassroots in preparation for the 2021 elections. I am similarly urging all UPC members to actively support and campaign for UPC candidates contesting for elective positions from LC I to Parliament in the 2016 elections”.

Written by UPC President Jimmy Akena.

Hon. Frank Tumwebaze statement on the KCCA ACT:

“Broadly why are we amending the kcca act law? In 2005, Article 5 of the Constitution was amended to reflect the special status of Kampala as the Capital City of Uganda, which means that Kampala ceased to be a district under the Local Government system, and that the Capital City was therefore to be administered by the Central Government. That provision is in the constitution and its supreme. Any other law made under the same constitutional provision must not contradict it or attempt to undermine the spirit of the constitution framers in as far the administration of Kampala is concerned” (…)”The objective of the aforesaid constitutional amendment was to introduce reforms to the governance of the Capital City in a bid to address the numerous issues that Kampala faced at that time, for example poor transport infrastructure, traffic congestion, uncontrolled developments, flooding, unregulated transport industry, illegal street trading, corruption, poor service delivery etc…” (…)”In order to give effect to the new status of Kampala under Article 5 of the Constitution, Parliament enacted the Kampala Capital City Act, 2010 which came into force on the 1st of March 2011. The provisions of the Kampala Capital City Act 2010 prescribe, among others, the administration of Kampala by the Central Government, the establishment of the Kampala Capital City Authority (hereinafter referred to as the KCCA) as the governing body of the city, the composition of the Authority, election, removal and powers of the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and members of the Authority” (Tumwebaze, 16.11.2015 – Press Statement).

Side Note – NRM Primaries:

“Police arrest 20 youth with sticks in 2 vehicles moving towards Rubanda, Kabale. This happens as the NRM Primaries is underway” (CroozeFM News).

Side-Note 2:

Conservative Party is set to expel their leaders Ken Lukyamuzi.

Side-Note 3 – TIC Statement on the Police:

TIC CONDEMNS ATTACK ON DELTA TV JOURNALIST

The Independent Coalition, TIC, condemns in the strongest terms the police shooting of a Delta TV journalist on duty. Thus occurred during another blatant attempt to stop the Lord Mayor from leaving his home to exercise his democratic rights, who was also illegally arrested. TIC calls upon the Uganda Police Force to remember that they are expected to be non – partisan.

I think this was enough for today, a bit better then yesterday on the trail. Peace!

Press Release: SAMWU Disappointed by the Enactment of the Public Administration Management Act

 

 07 January 2015

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is disappointed by the enactment of the Public Administration Management Act by President Jacob Zuma in December 2014. Although SAMWU agrees with some of the content of the legislation, we however view the Act as unconstitutional and will definitely erode the gains that organised labour has made through collective bargaining as envisaged by the Labour Relations Act.

The Act seeks to among other things, to promote high standards of professional ethics in public administration, to promote efficient service delivery and to facilitate the eradication and prevention of unethical practices in the public administration. All this is to be achieved by putting in place basic values and principles which would govern public administration. The Act further seeks to develop capacity for officials, we hope that Chapter 4 of the Act will be used as a tool to empower and develop the lowest paid workers particularly municipal workers some of whom are paid as little as R50/day. 

SAMWU has and continues to be proponents of ethical and transparent government especially in our sector- local government. We hope that the enforcement of the Act will trickle down to all spheres of government starting with national government. We are however of the view that National Government should set a precedent of dealing with state resources. As such, we are concerned by the enforcement of this Act. Although the Act provides for the creation of an Integrity Unit which will be responsible for the enforcement of this Act, there seems to be no willingness by the state to put in place monitoring mechanisms of other legislation in the country. Certain legislations are in place such as the Ministerial Handbook, however we still have incidences where one man buys a R1 million BMW at the state’s cost while another spends R5 million on luxury vehicles in a single year, this being done while the Ministerial Handbook stipulates that these people may only purchase vehicles not exceeding 70% of their annual salaries.

The signing of this Act is but a realisation of most arguments that SAMWU has advanced for a long time. The Act requires officials seeking employment or already employed in the public administration to disclose their financial interests including that of their spouses for any shares, sponsorships, benefits and immovable property. Failure to make such disclosure by an employee would constitute misconduct. The Act further makes it illegal for any public administration official to do business with the state. SAMWU has and continues to be of the view that no official should be do business with the state as this plays a role in corrupting officials. 

We are however concerned that the Act only targets officials not acknowledging that in any corrupt relationship there is a corruptee and a corruptor. In the interest of Public Administration Management, the Act should be extended to political office bearers. Truth of the matter is that politicians are responsible for most of the corruption witnessed in government, they are in pole position to influence the direction that government business goes, history has taught us that this is how many politicians have managed to enrich themselves. The country needs an act that is cut across and is inclusive of everyone who is involved in the supply chain and procurements that all spheres undertake, including political office bearers. 

The 2012/2013 Auditor General’s report into Municipalities has shown that most municipalities received the audit outcomes they received as a result of contracts being awarded to companies which officials had interests in. One cannot measure the prevalence of the problem but clearly doing business with the state has become profitable for some individuals. For the state to enjoy sound and healthy finances especially in local government, there should be an overhaul of the manner in which municipalities conduct their business, local government should re-municipalise. The provisions of municipal services though contracts and tenders has neither been in the interest of service delivery nor kind to the public purse, if anything we have only seen privatisation of municipal services and the emergence of tenderpreneurs who charge municipalities ridiculous amounts compared to the costs that municipalities would have incurred if they were rendering such services on their own. 

Overall our view is that this Act is unconstitutional on the basis of its selectivity between political office bearers & public servants. Furthermore the Act seeks to give power to integrity unit to preside over disciplinary matters. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act is clear that such matters are subject to negotiations at bargaining councils. The laws of this country must apply to all equally and there no reason why politicians should receive preferential treatment. We should note that the LRA takes precedence over any labour matters, the LRA further gives a platform for the establishment of bargaining councils and the Act undermines their existence. Our fear is that by virtue of secondments, those who refuse the secondment may be victimised or even worse dismissed for refusing to move to another sphere of government.  

The act further undermines the recruitment and selections policies that already exist in all spheres of governments. We are further concerned that the Act may be used to lure skilled personnel from local government to other spheres of government. SAMWU has long maintained that there should be devolution of powers, that certain functions performed by provincial government should be returned and / or handed over to local government as they are primary functions of municipalities. Provincial government tend to attract skilled personnel who are at the end of the day not uterlised to the best of their abilities by provincial government whereas they can service communities better if they were employed by local government.

Statement by Walter Theledi, General Secretary 

Issued by SAMWU Head Office

Papikie Mohale

National Media Officer

South African Municipal Workers’ Union

84 Fredericks Street

Johannesburg

2001

M: 0604166661

T: 0111002615

E: Papikie@samwu.org.za

Corruption ahead…

I am back at telling tales from the last week. That involves corruption or allegetion of it. Some will be big news. Other will be quotes from people who knows their dirt. And for those who follow these people. Will have a little laughter today. But this all is all part of giving a little enlightenment on a subject which should be taken serious everywhere. Because if we believe trading and sharing goods in a certain way, then it has to be done right. So all the actors and benefiters from lowest level to highest part of the hierarchy. Should get their shares of the spoils and gains of a product that have been sold. Not just the mid-level or the ones that are giving opportunities to exploit the market. Like civil servants, corporate officials or daughters of presidents. Either I am sidelined by my ideals or completely wrong, but that is up to you! So here we go…

2 Cents on FIFA:  

The recent week we have read about the FIFA and Sepp Blatter. How they have made a fantastic fairytale report of the bids for 2018 and 2022 Football World Cup competition. That both Russia and Qatar won. Everybody knows by now the legitimacy of the international governing football body. FBI has even started to investigate the governing body to look into it. I will not talk about that today, other corruption cases that need a tiny view and perspective to prove that there other crooks out there… or people trying to earn legal tender on a pursuit to happiness without a real cost. And then get the fed some extra bucks for doing so.

Telenor in a Uzbekistan business issues:  

Telenor the Norwegian state-owned telecom company under fire again. Økokrim the Norwegian Special Police Unit on Economic Crimes has already had the director Baksaas in for questioning. This corruption issue is because of the deal between Vimpelcom and Telenor in Uzbekistan. Also the Council leader Svein Aaser and Commerce Minister Mæland has only been questioned by the Special Police Unit on Economic Crimes (Tv2.no, 2014).

 VS

The Real Baltimore:

This isn’t HBO’s ‘The Wire’. No Avon or Stanfield, but instead the gangster named Tavon White leader of the Black Guerrilla Family (BGF). White has made a plea deal where shaved off a few years on his time in the correction facility at Baltimore City Detention Center. Mr. White could tell stories where they got charged with racketeering. The number of defendants is 8 people – 5 of them correction officers and also a kitchen worker. And it was a wiretap that could also tell the stories for Mr White. Defense attorney could also tell that the administration of the correction facility was corrupted and therefore looked to the blind side of the business lead by inmates. Tavon White is the living Avon Barksdale (Fenton, 2014).

Romania:

The Chief Prosecutor Alina Bica has been taken into custody by anti-corruption agents. “The case is part of an investigation that so far extends to two of Bica’s former colleagues as well as at least one businessman and an ethnic Hungarian MP”. So this is just so wonderful the head that is heading the business of cracking the illegal business down. Is she into custody and has to answer for corruption… (Euronews, 2014) Wonderful world!

Uganda’s President Museveni talks:

“Corruption and maladministration are inconsistent with the rule of law for which we fought and the fundamental values of our constitution.  They undermine the constitutional commitment to human dignity, achievement of equality and the advancement of human right and freedoms. If corruption is allowed to go unchecked and unpunished, it will pose a serious threat to our country” (…)”Having independent offices will save auditors from sitting with people they audit every day, which risks compromising auditors and luring them into corruption” (…)”It is pleasing to note that Uganda is one of the few countries in Africa and the world which has fully complied with the UN resolution. This is not an accident, but our deliberate commitment to support institutions responsible for ensuring a corrupt free county” (Baguma, 2014).

In Ghana another story is happening:

Elizabeth Ohene the former Minister of State was attending a Occupy Corruption event at Christ the King Hall in Accra. She was saying at the event: “It seems to me that stealing is for little people, small people, and corruption is for the big people” (…)”When they say you’re corrupt, you’re invited to be chairman of the church harvest and when they say you’re a thief, you go to jail” (…)”Let’s call a spade a spade” (Ghanaweb, 2014).

Well, if those stories, events and quotes don’t give you a peace of mind or make your mind wonder where we going in this world. I don’t know. Telenor has a history of involving themselves into corrupted behavior so that they get a quick earned buck in a new market. FIFA has gotten the world running wild. So I will not at this moment address them. Avon Barksdale made a plea deal, sorry, my bad, Tavon White has told through a wiretap and also plea deal that he actually could lead 8 people in and also proves corruption at a Baltimore detention center. Museveni talks crap today – we all know the stories and recently are with the Oil industry and also the road building to Katosi Road Saga. Elizabeth Ohene tell us that in Ghana there is a difference between small peoples crimes and big peoples corruption. Mrs Ohene I can tell, its world wide, it’s just more obvious some places.

Peace!

Links:

Baguma, Raymond – ‘’Unpunished corruption a threat to the country’’ (21.11.2014) New Vision Uganda, Link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/662081–unpunished-corruption-a-threat-to-the-country.html

 

Euronews – ‘Irony as organised crime prosecutor arrested for corruption in Romania’ (21.11.2014) Link: http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/21/romania-organised-crime-prosecutor-arrested-for-corruption/

 

Fenton, Justin – ‘BGF leader at city jail to testify for government at corruption trial’ (19.11.2014), Baltimore Sun

Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bs-md-ci-bgf-trial-opening-statements-20141119-story.html#page=1

 

GhanaWeb – ‘No difference between corruption and thievery – Elizabeth Ohene’ (21.11.2014) Link: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=335903

 

TV2.no/NTB – ‘Telenor-sjefen: – Vi har nulltoleranse mot korrupsjon’ (19.11.2014) Link: http://www.tv2.no/a/6252338