





The strongly spoken personality and active political operative Acie Mutumanje Lumumba was today appointed by Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube as the Chair of Communication Taskforce. Clearly, the controversial and former VIVA Zimbabwe have now gone back to the fold. He will now be the mouth-piece of the Finance Ministry. As they are in the midst of deadlock with levied taxes and lack of foreign exchange, lack of imports and long fuel ques. Clearly, these financial times will be hardship to explain the needs and be a voice of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).
The Pfee will get a loyalist, even as he has just jumped back. Even when he was out, he was usually vocal of goodwill for the ruling regime. Therefore, he has been known on the outside of the Republic. Not only for the good news, but because of his attitude. That is why this is a proof that Acie is hungry and he needs to eat.
That they have hired him as he was vocal against Mugabe, shows that the new Finance Minister are seeing him as a tool and useful person to co-operate his messages. As the Ministry own Taskforce has to activate and secure their message out to the public.
This is the man, that has been disregarded, called foul-mouthed and fishing for relevancy in 2016. In 2017 he said Mnangagwa was the right man for the Zanu-PF. Now in 2018, clearly the fishing expedition of Lumumba has paid-off.
We can see what he will do, but he has to follow the program. He cannot rant and be himself. Stick to the message of Pfee and the ones in-charge. He might be the chair of a taskforce, but he will not be the kingpin. That will be Ncube who orders and says what Lumumba will sell. If it is toxic or unreal, if the loans are not happening or if they finances are worse; than what the regime wants to tell the public.
Acie Lumumba will now not be the renegade, the vocal figure, but he was only doing that for his own gain. It is not like he generated a following or anyone jumping behind him. He was speaking out his mind and another perspective, but not something that changed the narrative. The ZANU-PF did what it did.
Now they captured him and he will be the voice that Ncube needs. Peace.

There are still signs of trouble within the Republic of South Sudan. Even if the parties has signed the Khartoum Agreement and the Revitalized Agreement for a Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Where the parties of the civil war has signed the deals and ratified the agreements within the parties as well. You can wonder if they will follow the cease-fire and the stop the race for being supreme. As the wounds are still there and the war-lords are still out and about.
There also hope that these parties might reach a final verdict and peace. But if they are willingly doing so. As they have violated the cease-fire and used their weapons on civilians. The JMEC has already questioned how much the parties has done to fulfil the R-ARCSS on the 12 October, that said the parties has only done 35 % of the agreement. Therefore, the stakeholders has actions to do. This is the reality, as well as the 28th June 2018 Khartoum Declaration. With knowing this.
The timeline of this of OHCHR, where this is actions happening after the Khartoum Declaration and before the R-ARCSS. This is clear violations of these agreements. That is why this isn’t only crimes against humanity, but in violations of recent agreements done by both parties. That should be thought of, as the matter remains and the war-lords are still roaming. That is why these sort of violations are showing signs, where the parties might not being fully committed to the agreed upon peace agreement.
Take a look!
“Between April and August 2018, civilians have borne the brunt of repeated attacks by SPLA IO (RM) and SPLA forces, caught between their predatory tactics. At least 28 villages, one IDP settlement and one refugee camp, in the states of Gbudue and Tambura (Western Equatoria) were attacked. A decrease in attacks was recorded from August onwards” (OHCHR, 18.10.2018)
“Through its investigation, UNMISS HRD found that at least 887 civilians were abducted. Most of the victims were women (505) and girls (63). Considering the high prevalence of rape in cases of abduction by SPLA-IO (RM) forces, UNMISS HRD and OHCHR are concerned that these women and girls have been raped and/or sexually enslaved, consistent with trends of sexual violence documented in South Sudan since 2014. They are also concerned that abducted men and boys have been forcibly recruited to “build up an army”, as claimed by an SPLA-IO (RM) commander. In addition, UNMISS HRD documented extensive looting of civilian property and forced displacement. Humanitarian organizations, particularly their convoys, have been targeted in armed ambushes and their personnel abducted for several days before being released, unlike most local civilians who are still held captive” (OHCHR, 18.10.2018).
“SPLA forces carried out a few counter-offensives against SPLA-IO (RM), while becoming more aggressive towards civilians at security checkpoints or during reconnaissance patrols. In particular, during the Nagero offensive in May 2018, SPLA elements did not comply with the principles of distinction between military objectives and civilian objects, as well as between civilians and combatants. This led to serious international human rights and humanitarian law violations, resulting in unlawful killing of civilians, looting and destruction of civilian property” (OHCHR, 18.10.2018).
That this are reports made from one part of South Sudan. Not the whole republic, but shows to what extent the two major armies and parties are doing. This is what the SPLM/A-IO and TgoNU are up too. This is the works of Dr. Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir Mayardit. That they are in-charge and done this to civilians, they have violated their rights and killed without mercy. These women and children were abducted and taken away, because of how the war-lords saw the possibility to use them for their cause. Not for their or anything, they are casualties of war and has lost everything because it. Used and scorned by warriors, defenceless and taken.
This because of two men wants to be supreme and show it with force. Even as they are pledging peace to the world. This report shows that the first months of cease-fire has still cost people life, burned down their villages and taken women and children away, because of their need to show strength towards their enemies. Peace.
Reference:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – ‘VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES AGAINST CIVILIANS IN GBUDUE AND TAMBURA STATES (WESTERN EQUATORIA) – APRIL-AUGUST 2018’ 18.10.2018





Corroborated victim and witness accounts indicate that women and girls as young as 12, abducted by opposition forces, were paraded and lined up for commanders to choose as “wives”.
GENEVA, Switzerland, October 18, 2018 – A UN report has documented the immense suffering of civilians in the Western Equatoria region of South Sudan where 900 people were abducted and 24,000 forced to flee their homes during a surge in violence between April and August.
In April 2018, after several months of relative calm, the pro-Riek Machar Sudan People’s Liberation Army in-Opposition (SPLA-IO (RM)) intensified attacks against villages and targeted civilians in Gbudue and Tambura. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA)’s offensives to dislodge SPLA-IO (RM) forces also resulted in harm to civilians, as these operations failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants, the report by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Human Rights Office says.
Corroborated victim and witness accounts indicate that women and girls as young as 12, abducted by opposition forces, were paraded and lined up for commanders to choose as “wives”. Those who were not chosen were left for other fighters who subjected them to repeated rapes. Abducted young men and boys were forced to be fighters or used as porters.
“Most of the abducted civilians are, as far as we know, still being held captive. The SPLA-IO (RM) must immediately release them, first and foremost the children,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. “As part of the revitalised peace process, it is also essential that the Government of South Sudan acts to hold the perpetrators of the abuses and violations detailed in this report to account.”
he Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, David Shearer, said it was disappointing that the spike in violence took place while warring parties were negotiating a new peace agreement and despite positive reconciliation efforts in the affected community at the time.“A new peace agreement has been signed which puts the onus and responsibility on the warring parties to ensure that no atrocities are committed in future. UNMISS will be closely monitoring any potential violations and abuses,” said David Shearer.
The report documented SPLA-IO (RM) attacks on at least 28 villages, a settlement of internally displaced persons and a refugee camp, in Gbudue and Tambura. Serious abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law occurred during these attacks, including unlawful killings, abduction, rape, sexual slavery, forced recruitment, and destruction of property.
UNMISS Human Rights Division has identified three SPLA-IO (RM) commanders who allegedly had effective command and control of the forces committing these abuses, which may amount to war crimes.
SPLA forces also carried out military operations that were characterized by serious violations, including unlawful killings and destruction of civilian property, particularly around Nagero in May 2018.
Among its recommendations, the report calls for accountability and for the reinforcement of existing recovery and resilience programmes to re-establish access to basic services, particularly medical and psychosocial support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and for the provision of economic alternatives for young fighters.



“Those using tanks, drums and jerry cans all, those forms of containers should stop and we are sending out inspectors and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and if anybody is going to be found maybe overcharging or using drums might have their licences withdrawn. We are not going to allow that…” – The Minister for Energy and Power Development Joram Gumbo (Maveriq – ‘Govt To Ban Jerry Cans, Drums, Fuel Containers At Service Stations – Energy Minister’ 16.10.2018, link: https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/10/16/govt-to-ban-jerry-cans-drums-fuel-containers-at-service-stations-energy-minister/).
I thought the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa would open the Republic for business. Mnangagwa is clearly out on the line. The government have issued new taxes and the costs of everything has gone up. As well as the lack of foreign exchange is now rampant.
Since the added taxes on Mobile Money was enacted, the lack of US dollars and the imports of products have gotten worse. Even shops are lacking stocks and people were stockpiling before the shops gotten empty. With this has also started a fuel crisis. Where people are waiting in line for hours for fuel.
As this is getting worse now. The Minister for Energy Gumbo has issued statements of intent of authorization of usage of jerry cans, where you need to be Authorised and stamped by Environmental Management Agency, the District Administrator and Police Regulating Authority. Where the person who is allowed to bring a jerry can, has to write which station in question and address, also drivers license information and even how many liters of fuel is allowed to fill.
The Zanu-PF is really now making life harder, as the people using motorcycles, cars and lorries have to ask permission to fill fuel into jerry cans. This is done in 2018. If you thought things was bad during Mugabe. The rising inflation and the economic crisis of 2008 might be repeated. As the state is going even further with using tactics to stall the issue.
If the state is really doing this, they will be in a special state. Where the citizens are running between the authorities to get authority to use the jerry cans before going to the Petroleum-Station to get a refill of fuel.
This is a sign of how serious the lack of fuel is and what extent the state does to stop the usage of fuel. They wouldn’t do it, if they didn’t have issues with importing it and having enough foreign currency to afford new imports.
This crisis is created by the Zanu-PF and the citizens are paying. And they are making the matters worse. Instead of repealing the taxes to stop inflation and making things run out. They are instead making it harder for the public to get fuel in their vehicle. Peace.