My letter to President Magufuli: seems like you need some love 3.0

Dear Sir, His Excellency (H.E.) President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli of the United Republic of Tanzania.

I am sad, I have to write to you again on this sort of affair. It is not like you are cheating on your wife. If your going to trade war with fellow East African Countries. Not like you trying to stifle fellow counterparts of the TAZARA Railway. That would have interesting and been shocking.

I am not writing about the added taxes or the trying to earn bigger parts of the mineral wealth in Tanzania. That is something you should be saluted for and I understand your grievances against the International Mining Companies who earn massive profits on the minerals on your lands.

Well, I am writing because someone hurt your feelings. Someone wrote something that hit your little heart. Something that you cannot muster to understand and escape away from. The powers of Presidency should get under-fire and get criticism for the acts and regulations done by the high power. If cannot muster just resentment and arguments against your critics, you should step H.E. Magufuli.

I am not saying that with ease, because I am a nobody, I would wash your car, clear your garden, maybe carry your mail or be someone who worked in an office, doing demeaning clerical work. Still, I tell you, you cannot always get love and praise. I have told you what you deserve praise for, before going into this. Since if you cannot muster resentments and arguments, or being an honest big-man to let a paper named Mwanahalisi, write what they like.

Instead, your are a heartless person, who has silenced the paper for two years. You have silenced yet another part of the press. Since they call you a hypocrite. Is that all it takes to hurt you? Are you that small, Mr. President? Hypocrite? Really? Are you not more powerful and greater, are you not braver or are you just a figment of imagination of actual opposition against you?

It is like you expect love and praise, for the earth your walking on. That you cannot be told or be questioned by the local media. Now they cannot say anything without fearing losing license, suspensions or direct crack-down leading to the bankruptcy. Clearly, this is your tale Mr. President. I wish it was different. I wish you had heart and could manage to be put in question.

What would Magufuli do? He would have hated my letters and asked for my blog to be closed down. If I was in Tanzania, you would have detained me or even put me to Court. But I all want is for you to see how belittling you are. Instead of the character you could have. Brush it off and know you would get love for the actual good things you do and wants to achieve. That you will have adversaries is natural, your in public office. Not everyone will accept your policies and your statements. If you we’re saint and not an ordinary person. Which by heart you are, since your so offended by being called “hypocrite”, that you suspend a paper.

It would be necessary to give you love, but it is time for tough love and learn some humility Mr. President, His Excellency!

I know I ask a lot by saying it, but I think you need to hear it!

Best Regards

Writer of Minbane

The Order:

Burundi: CNARED-GIRITEKA Lettre au Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies António Guterres (18.09.2017)

Burundi: OLUCOME Lettre du President Museveni & H.E. Benjamin Mpaka – “Objet: Urgence de reprendre le dialogue Inter Burundais afin d’arrete la crise economique et ses consequence qui present sur les citoyens Burundais” (14.09.2017)

CNARED-GIRITEKA: Declaration Relative aux Massacres des Refugies Burundais en RDC (16.09.2017)

Burundi: Communique de presse sur les prix de l’essence (11.09.2017)

Burundi: OLUCOME Communique – “Le Gouvernement Burundais en Place devralt cesser de pendre des mesures qui bafouent certains textes legaux et principaux qui guident les Finances publiques” (11.09.2017)

Burundi – CNARED-Giriteka: Communique de Presse (10.09.2017)

Burundi: Commission of inquiry calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate possible crimes against humanity (05.09.2017)

The conclusions presented by the three Commissioners are the result of several months of investigations and interviews with more than 500 witnesses.

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 5, 2017 – The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Burundi has reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed and continue to be committed in Burundi since April 2015, according to the Commission’s report published on Monday. These crimes are taking place in a context of serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual violence, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and enforced disappearances.

“We were struck by the scale and the brutality of the violations. We also noted a lack of will on the part of the Burundian authorities to fight against impunity and guarantee the independence of the judiciary. As a result, there is a strong likelihood that the perpetrators of these crimes will remain unpunished,” said Fatsah Ouguergouz, President of the Commission of Inquiry. Among the alleged perpetrators, the Commission mentioned members, including high level officials, of the National Intelligence Services and the national police force, military officials, and members of the youth league of the ruling party, known as Imbonerakure.

The conclusions presented by the three Commissioners are the result of several months of investigations and interviews with more than 500 witnesses, including many Burundians living abroad as refugees and others who remain in Burundi, often at risk to their lives. The Commission gathered these testimonies in difficult conditions. “There is a climate of pervasive fear in Burundi. Victims have been threatened, even in exile. This meant that the Commission had to be extremely careful to ensure that their testimonies could not be used to endanger them,” said Françoise Hampson, one of the three members of the Commission.

These accounts, whether from victims, their families or witnesses to their ordeal, were rigorously checked and corroborated. They show that serious human rights violations are ongoing. “We continue to receive reliable, credible and consistent information confirming that these violations are still taking place in Burundi today. Some of these violations are occurring in a more clandestine manner, but they are still just as brutal,” stated Fatsah Ouguergouz.

The Burundian authorities rejected the Commission’s repeated attempts to establish a dialogue and to request information from the government, and did not allow its members to go to Burundi. “We deeply regret the Burundian government’s lack of cooperation, which, among other things, made it difficult for us to document human rights abuses committed by armed opposition groups. This is all the more regrettable given that Burundi, as a member of the Human Rights Council, has an obligation to cooperate with mechanisms set up by the Council,” said Reine Alapini Gansou, a member of the Commission.

The Commission is asking the Burundian authorities to immediately put a stop to serious human rights violations by state agents and Imbonerakure over whom the State exercises control.

In view of the impunity protecting the perpetrators of these violations, the Commission is asking the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into the crimes committed in Burundi as soon as possible. The Commission is also asking the African Union to retake the initiative to find a lasting solution to the crisis in Burundi, based on respect for human rights, and to remain actively involved.

Burundi – CNARED-Giriteka: “Declaration du CNARED a L’Occasion du 17 eme ANNIVERSAIRE de la Signature de l’Accord d’Arusha” (28.08.2017)

Burundi: “Object: Demande de Dissolution du Parti MSD” (22.08.2017)