ACIE LUMUMBA | Mugabe I’m Suing You (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDSTil13gvU

South Sudan music 2016 – We Are Hungry (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z2dt_NqX2c

World Bank Statement on Zimbabwe (08.09.2016)

Zim Money Billion

The World Bank Group is committed to work with all partner countries, including Zimbabwe, to achieve their long term development goals. We care deeply about the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe.

Contrary to what has been reported in some media, Zimbabwe is not currently eligible for financing under IDA’s turnaround facility. The Zimbabwe Turnaround Eligibility Assessment Note that was leaked to some outlets is an unofficial draft document that has not been approved by the Bank.

The World Bank will only resume direct lending to Zimbabwe when the issue of arrears is resolved. This approach is standard to all International Financial Institutions.  Upon arrears clearance, Zimbabwe would be eligible as a borrowing member of the Bank to a broad range of financing instruments.

Footage: In Harare today the Riot Police disperse the #Tajamuka demonstration!

“A group of #Tajamuka/Sesjikile protestors demonstrated in Harare today 09/09/16 against Statutory Instrument 101A. The protest is against an attempt by the executive arm of the state, to usurp judicial powers and compromise the independence of the judiciary. The political judgement by Injustice Bhunu which attempted to convict human rights defenders is one symptom of judiciary compromisation.Riot police fired teagas to disperse #Tajamuka/Sesijikile protesters” (Tajamuka/Sesjikile TV, 2016).

Second Clip:

UNMISS: Independent Special Investigation Team arrives in Juba to commence work on the July Incidents (09.09.2016)

unmiss0909

Zimbabwe: Hon. Chinamasa paints a dark economic picture in the 2016 Mid-Year report!

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Hon. P.A. Chinamasa had to report about the current state of Fiscal and Economic Status in the Zimbabwean Parliament today. The report of his speech and numbers are not a wonderful picture. I have quoted the numbers that is most interesting.

The Agricultural and Mining shows how the different economic place the output is. Especially the loss of output and the yields of grain in the current year in Zimbabwe have been dire. The levels of debt, payments of the debt and the loans can be seen as “vicious cycle” from the Government and how they will act upon this. Let’s take a look at the numbers!

Gold Mining:

“Already, notable gains were registered in the gold sector during the first half of 2016, also benefitting from capacitation of small scale miners through the US$100 million mechanisation facility organised by Government and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe” (Chinamasa, P:12, 2016).

Currency Vows:

“Honourable Members will also be aware of recent initiatives by the Reserve Bank to ease tight liquidity constraints through promotion of plastic money, e-banking services, and broader use of multi-currencies, among other measures” (Chinamasa, P:13, 2016).

Maize Program:

“During the first half of the year, Government introduced a US$500 million Special Maize Production Programme which targets utilisation of 400 000 hectares of land, with registration of interested qualifying farmers currently underway” (Chinamasa, P:16, 2016).

More on Grain:

“This year’s estimated maize grain harvest of 511 816 tons falls short of the normal national grain requirement of 2.2 million tons” (…) “Government interventions to provide for the national maize grain deficit of 1.7 million tons are being complemented by private sector and development partners’ imports” (Chinamasa, P:75, 2016).

Brazil food program:

“This complements such other facilities as the US$98 million More Food for Africa Programme supported by Brazil, under which farmers’ access, on a cost recovery basis, farm equipment and implements. This includes tractors, disc harrows, fertilizer spreaders, boom sprayers, among other equipment” (Chinamasa, P:16, 2016).

National Budget 2017:

“Government will take advantage of the forthcoming 2017 National Budget to propose some of the necessary measures to address any emerging gaps in order to remain on course towards the realisation of the further advancement of our Zim Asset agenda” (Chinamasa, P:18, 2016)

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Economy 2016:

“the economy is facing strong headwinds, with major challenges being experienced in the economy and business activity during the first half of the year than what the 2016 National Budget anticipated” (Chinamasa, P:19, 2016).

Reasons for the struggling economy:

“Depressed international commodity prices, particularly for our minerals” (…) Limited domestic and foreign direct investment, also associated with our debt overhang” (…) “The growing fiscal deficit, also impacting on the liquidity of the financial system, as well as on business activity” (…) “The resultant overall fall in incomes and weakening of domestic aggregate demand” (Chinamasa, P:18-19, 2016).

The Reversed projections of worrying numbers are -4.2% on Agricultural Output in 2016, the same with the Electricity and Water Output -21,8% and also the -5% Public Administration. Instead of scheduled GDP on 2.7; it’s projected instead to be 1.2; which is about the same as the 2015 numbers, but really shaved since 2013-2014 (4.5 and 3.8) – (Chinamasa, P: 19, 2016).

Inflation:

“Annual headline inflation remained negative, albeit accelerating from -2.19% in January 2016 to -1.4% in June 2016. The continued decline in prices in 2016 was driven by both food and non-food inflation, underpinned by the sustained depreciation of the South African rand; subdued international oil prices; and waning domestic demand” (…) “Annual food inflation, which averaged -4% over the period January to June 2016, was weighed down by declines in the prices of meat; bread and cereals, milk, cheese and eggs, oils and fats; and vegetables, among others, owing to improved supplies and competition from cheaper imports” (…) “Declines in prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furniture and household equipment; transport; clothing and footwear among others, however, continued to weigh down on non-food inflation” (Chinamasa, P:20, 2016).

Budget deficit:

“During the period January to June 2016, revenue under-performance against over-expenditures resulted in a cumulative budget deficit of about US$623.2 million, far above the full-year target of US$150 million”. By June the total revenue: $1.692.4 billion and the total expenses: $2.315.6 billion; which means the target by June 2016 is $623.2 million that is over $475 million deficit (Chinamasa, P:37, 2016).

Projected Deficit:

“Failure to contain the budget deficit in the shortest possible time will worsen the deficit to an estimated year-end level of over US$1 billion” (Chinamasa, P:37, 2016)

Vicious Cycle:

lack of capacity to service domestic debt has also seen roll-overs, which are posing some financial risks on domestic debt instrument holders and domestic financial institutions” (…) “This situation, unfortunately, is not tenable and is undermining the stability of the financial sector and overall economy” (…) “Government borrowing is also crowding out lending to the private sector and, hence, stifling new domestic investment and growth” (…) “This is creating a vicious cycle, whereby excessive Government borrowing leads to poor performance of the private sector and, in turn, diminished future tax revenues” (Chinamasa, P: 38, 2016).

Government Salaries:

“During the first six months of this year, pay dates of the public service, grant-aided institutions and pensioners have had to be periodically rescheduled from normal programmed pay dates as a result of resource constraints“ (…) “the staggering of 2015 bonus payments that stretched into July 2016 resulted in difficulties in paying the June salaries on time, thereby forcing Government to shift the pay dates into July” (…) “The Public Service pay dates cycles have since been modified by spreading payment of the monthly wage bill over six payment dates from the previous four payment dates” (Chinamasa, P: 39, 2016).

Government debt:

“The country faces a huge external debt overhang of around US$7.5 billion as at end of June 2016, with arrears accounting for almost 80% of the debt” (…) “the debt overhang is militating against the country’s efforts to mobilise reasonably priced long-term lines of credit” (…) “Clearance of arrears and unlocking of new financing will require that Zimbabwe builds capacity to honour old and new debt obligations to IFIs and other bilateral and new lenders” (Chinamasa, P: 40-41, 2016).

“Total external debt of Public Enterprises that has been guaranteed by the Government is estimated at USD$2 billion as at end June 2016. Public Enterprises are failing to service their debt and all the guarantees of US$2 billion have been called up” (…) “This has contributed to an increase of Government arrears by US$1.75 billion (25% of total external debt), further worsening the country’s low credit worthiness” (Chinasa, P:211, 2016).

Cash Strapped:

“the banking sector was exposed to cash shortages, largely as a result of macro-economic challenges facing the country, including lack of fiscal space and the current account deficit” (Chinamasa, P:45, 2016).

Import-Level:

“The still relatively high import level has also meant a high current account deficit, which is estimated at US$2.5 billion during the first half of the year, and constituting 12% of GDP” (Chinamasa, P: 67, 2016).

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This numbers are showing how bad it really is, the debt and loans. The deficit of earning and the burden of the expenditure towards the fiscal revenue show the lacking fiscal responsible economy.

The fiscal deficit and the cash-strapped economy show the legitimate worry, together with the current monthly loans and debt. Not only adding debt when also having enough economy to pay the old debt. Together with issues gathering possible new loans as the Low Credit Worthiness.

The other is also the inflation of prices and such is a reaction towards the missing cash and debt burden. As also the problems of fiscal funding and creates more debt for the Republic of Zimbabwe.

I think the numbers speak for themselves. Don’t you think? Peace.

Reference:

Hon. P.A. Chinamasa – ‘THE 2016 MID-YEAR FISCAL POLICY REVIEW STATEMENT “Improving Investor Confidence to Enhance Productivity” PRESENTED TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE ON 8 SEPTEMBER, 2016 (08.09.2016)

Mixed reactions to South Sudan government agreeing to regional force (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46uQ5YlymCs

“The planned deployment of a regional protection force to South Sudan has been met with mixed reactions. While people sheltering in UN compounds support the extra troops, other residents in Juba are against the move. Government accepted the regional deployment at the weekend during a visit by a United Nations Security Council delegation” (South Sudan Review, 2016)

Zimbabwe: Opposition leader Tendai Biti urges for ‘broad coalition’ as 2018 poll approaches (Youtube-Clip)

The SPLM/SPLA IO Position on Joint Communique between SPLM/SPLA-IG and the UNSC Members who visited Juba

splm-io-05-09-2016

Conflict Continues to Drive Displacement in South Sudan (06.09.2016)

displaced-families-wait-for-health-care-assistance-at-the-un-protected-site-in-wau-photo_iom_mohamm

The dynamic nature of the conflict has resulted in the constant movement of civilians as they attempt to escape shifting locations of insecurity.

JUBA, South Sudan, September 6, 2016 – Fighting between armed groups across parts of South Sudan continues to drive displacement, including in areas that had been relatively stable since the crisis broke out in December 2013. The dynamic nature of the conflict has resulted in the constant movement of civilians as they attempt to escape shifting locations of insecurity.

Current population movements are fluid in several areas, including Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria and Unity. In the past two months, over 80,000 people have been displaced in Wau and 12,000 in Juba alone.

In southern parts of Central Equatoria, which had previously remained fairly stable, an escalating number of security incidents has pushed large numbers of civilians to leave their homes to seek safety. The movements have been particularly significant from Yei, with multiple reports of targeted violence and harassment against civilians and disruptions in the delivery of aid supplies.

“At the same time as we see the needs continue to grow, access constraints are making it more difficult for humanitarians to access vulnerable people or even measure the scale of displacement and unfolding needs as violence spreads to new locations,” said John McCue, IOM South Sudan Head of Operations.

Many of the recent population movements from Central Equatoria have been across the southern borders to Uganda and Kenya, but increased insecurity in parts of Yei, Morobo and Magwi counties is making it increasingly dangerous for civilians to move and may be preventing people from reaching safer areas.

In Leer, Unity, insecurity has forced civilians to seek protection in nearby islands, while others have reportedly moved south or reached the UN protection of civilians site in Bentiu. These patterns of movement in central Unity may increase as insecurity persists.

On 4 September, IOM joined a UN Security Council delegation to witness first-hand the needs of displaced communities in Wau since heavy fighting in late June. While IOM and humanitarian agencies are providing lifesaving aid at displacement sites across Wau town, access constraints have limited efforts to reach thousands of displaced families in some areas south of town since early July.

IOM recently regained access to Ngisa in southern Wau to deliver essential medicines and evaluate health and water needs. IOM has received reports of people returning to parts of Wau town, which may be a response to improved security in the area or a result of limited access to relief services in areas outside of the town.

More than 1.6 million people are internally displaced across South Sudan, in addition to 786,000 people who have fled to neighbouring countries since December 2013. More than half of the country (6.1 million people) are in need of relief aid.