The Great is not that great in our time!

I know, the title is ironic, but someone has to say it. The leaders, His Excellency and other titles are outrages, as their reach and extent of power are not reaching us. We are seeing wars prolonged, we are seeing oppressive regimes continues for decades and we are seeing fleeing refugees starve; even drown on their way to safety. In addition, with the knowledge of all that, we don’t let the value of life sink in ourselves. It is more important to have the Nespresso or even try out a new type of Coca-Cola, because why not?

We are at a point in time. Where our leadership is more self-serving, where the leadership is all about having a career and being wise as PR person, not showing ethical regard or even moral backbone, not showing consistency. However, as long as you are in the lime-light and showing yourself as useful you have a place in the places of power, but not because you’re doing the commons or the world any good.

We are at this stage, because we all have made it this way, we have accepted these men and woman, these stars and golden booted leaders whose sole justification for ruling, is that they have climbed to the pedestal and now just can bounce around to different positions. Without really delivering any significant change or care for that matter. They are just changing hats and titles, than at the next junction moving on from the sorry souls it was supposed to take care off! Whom minds about them right? Only poor schmucks like me, right?

Moreover, I hold no power, none. I get less power, than a single AA battery at this point. My hands cannot even light a lamp; even I wished I had half of Hulks power within my veins. However, that is not the case; I am just an ordinary man in flesh and blood.

That is why we have to care, because next time, we could be the victims of oppression, of thieving public officials and of people who uses the security to hunt us down; who knows when it is our turn to be under-fire. No one knows this, but it could be.

That is why we have to aspire to something great, to overcome these obstacles and search for the higher purpose, to help our brothers and sisters. Not just await the next cup of coffee or coke and hope that fate just pops by, cheerio, right?

We have to get our leaders not to be just con men, leaders who pose as public officials, but are there just to eat. We needs leaders who actually works against the stoppage of wars, the ones that will stop selling arms to oppressive regimes and brutal dictatorships. We have to inspire people to transcribe to the facts, that the world will only get better if the elected leadership actually works for humanity and not for a golden booted career. That is what we have to install and prescribe too, if not these leaders will guide people like blind sheep and laugh in chambers. Because they are paid in gold, while we are taxed to our necks. In addition, for what? Therefore, they can afford Vitamin Water, while most cannot even get clean water in their tap.

Let us get serious. We got too; we cannot hold on to this and accept this token. The injustice and impunity, there is time for retribution and results, not played around like Donkey of the Day, but become men and woman who charge the leadership and expect delivery. That is justice, as these people are supposed to represent us. Peace.

Jubilee and Government Officials plans to Block the Rallies or Celebrations of Madaraka Day in Uhuru Park and Nakuru; because the Government are the only allowed assembling on that day, apparently!

The Jubilee Alliance Party under President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto are running around worried about the opposition. Even their spokesperson Eric Kiraithe has today addressed the planned rally of the opposition Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) which is run by Hon. Raila Odinga, Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Hon. Moses Wetan’gula.

We can see that CS Joseph Nkaisserey have already yesterday warned the CORD of demonstrating against the Electoral Commission. While later today the government has both locally in Nairobi said their peace on the Uhuru Park rally on 1^st June 2016 and also now with the Government spokesperson Kiraithe also shut down the planned rally in Nakuru. It seems like the ruling regime is struggling with the Opposition and whatever they do, they have to silence them.

What Kenyatta and Ruto wishes is the Opposition to be silent and just be there. While in 2006 the ousted leader of KANU Uhuru Kenyatta held a illegal rally in Uhuru Park which was suffocated with tear-gas, he himself described it like this: “What has happened today is a travesty of justice and we shall not relent until we, the bonafide officials of Kanu, are recognized” (BBC, 2006). So if the President has remembered that occasion and what the Police did to his supporters when he was opposition, he might have honoured the men and woman a little more. Instead he is just like the leaders before him, ruthless in power and acting vigilantly while being in opposition.

That the Ruling Regime and Ruling Party want to run the day and have the close-up with all people is understandable. But with time Uhuru Kenyatta is acting alike the ones he took over for, without showing any progress or openness, as himself wanted as a Opposition figure while Mwai Kibaki was the President. So now that it’s in the ending of his first term, he is acting so similar and using tear-gas against opposition; he have emulated the Kibaki way and also added the paranoid CS Nkaissery who fears all actions of Opposition and will use the Police Service every step of Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka or Wetan’gula thinks of showing up.

With this in mind the Jubilee seems to be so worried, so scared and fearing the Opposition as they have to crash all demonstrations, have to stop their rallies and file Police Orders together with Public Notices to silence them. All kind of Civil Servants have to comply and work for Jubilee and their political agenda as the Opposition and their members are nearly not even citizens, they are unnecessary political opponents that Kenyatta really wants to silence and easily get into his second term as President.

There obstacles in the road ahead. There mountains, rivers and deserts before you enter paradise again Hon. Kenyatta. As you shouldn’t fear the Opposition, but be a real big-man and embrace it. The richness isn’t the embezzled funds from NYS or Eurobond, but rather honest policy towards all kind of citizens, even opposition. Just like President Obama tried By-Partisan in Congress in his first term… maybe, you should consider to negotiate and create a peaceful atmosphere, instead of using tear-gas, live-bullets and water-canons to disperse the fellow Kenyans who wants to listen to the WDM, ODM or FORD-K. They should be without issues, just like you felt hurt in 2006 in Uhuru Park. It is a decade ago and surely all the VIP treatment have been well spent on you since.

Short term memory is not an simple thing, but when you get all the perks of being the VIP, the Executive and the Head-of-State; so he is now used to getting his will and his words are turned into legislature. With that in mind, the Power of Government and rule must have left the old him behind. The old being opposition having to get control of the government from somebody else; as that being said they are now acting as the old ones and even bad at times as they are not only into tear-gas, but also live-bullets at demonstrators.

Jubilee has lost sight of what it means to be government, it means to govern; not to control and intimidate fellow citizens. That is their main attraction nowadays. As the CORD is acted upon as they are common criminals and all their main activity is harassed and attacked, just as the rallies of Wenta’gula we’re earlier in the year. The same happens now that the CORD are besieged by Jubilee who doesn’t let them manoeuvre. They can only exist if they are silent… So silent that they can work without any questions or interference in Parliament, as they are just somebody without support; that is how it seems from afar and that is the wish from Jubilee.

Jubilee is the Government and the Ruling Party, therefore everybody should just apply and accept their rule. Well, that doesn’t happen in Kenya or anywhere else, as there is also other views on how Government should work. That should be viable for Kenyatta, as he was in the wilderness before and because of that act different with the Opposition. CORD have beaten, hurt, detained and the Police have even killed CORD supporters. So with this in mind with the new idea of only letting Jubilee have the ability to celebrate and rally supporters show the little care for anybody else than the Jubilee.

This here is freedom, liberty or national security, the way the Jubilee, and civil servants are blocking the CORD now is just personal between Kenyatta-Ruto Versus Odinga-Musyoka-Wetan’gula. That is visible and now manifested in the arrogance from the Government stopping the peaceful rallies and celebration of the Madaraka Day. Peace.

Capt. Francis Babu speaks out on 30 years of NRM (Youtube-Clip)

“26th January has for long been a contentious day especially within sections of the opposition who claim that NRA’s assent to power in 1986 following five years of guerilla warfare against a legitimate government cannot be labeled as Liberation Day for the country.  Within the ruling party itself, the last decade has seen many voices depart from the near religious attachment to the struggle to a more liberal stance seemingly cognizant of the socio-political and economic aspirations of the time.  Capt. Francis Babu is a longtime NRM diehard but as you’ll hear in the following report, the veteran politician says 30 years is too long for an individual but a drop in the Ocean for a country.
What does he mean? WBS TV has had a one-on-one with captain Babu on his take on the day and its significance” (WBS TV Uganda, 2016).

Andrew Mwenda’s flawed logic; He claims that Mzee is not the problem with Uganda; I beg to differ

Andrew Mwenda keeps with his flawed logic. Like he has lost the plot and forgotten his traits and his theories of old. But hey, he is hungry and wants to eat. Here is has ploy of arrogance on facebook:

“It is simplistic to argue that Uganda’s problem is Museveni. A better argument is Museveni has failed to solve the problems of Uganda” (…)”Museveni (with Besigye) once told us that getting rid of Obote would be a major step in improving anything. What happened?” (…)”Besigye’s weakness is to personalize Uganda’s problems to Museveni and argue that his removal is all we need. The problems of poverty, weak state, poor Government services and democracy deficit were there before Museveni” (…)“If we fail to diagnose Uganda’s problems, the solutions will always elude us” (Andrew Mwenda, 17.01.2016)

Well, in sum there has gone 29 years of the one-man rule since 1986. There have been many benefactors and Members of Parliament since them, but the main factor in the calculations have been President Museveni. Since he took rule he has marginalized or used tactics to get people loyal to Museveni and not directly to any state institution. Therefore he is a major problem, because if it didn’t really happen, then he didn’t sponsor the benedictional project or program. Museveni could only support a program if he could benefit from it.

That Mwenda has a problem with Besigye is that he is in stark contrast to Museveni. Besigye asks for accountability and transparency something that doesn’t fit the world of development and growth for the editor and creator of the Independent Magazine. Something that is weird considering his past at KFM Radio and trouble for blasting governmental cronyism.

It is true that Museveni isn’t the only problem, but he is the one that creates the problem and feeds the issues, instead of fixing them. He doesn’t mend or complement them. Instead he adds on the weight until he overpowers it; because he has to do what he can rule and control it. Therefore he is the problem, as he is the executive power and the man who has had the majority rule or even rigged himself the majority. So Mwenda must have forgotten that part of the issue, if not he is blind by his own ego.

It is true that all the issues that Mwenda mentioned in the government of Uganda as the bad governance, weak state-institutions and democratic deficit. This was inherited in 1986 from the Obote II and the short-term presidents in between like Yusuf Lule and Tito Okello. So there aren’t all Museveni faults, but he has had the time to fix many of the issues and defects in the governmental structures and democratic facilitation if he really cared about them. It is not like he was sitting for a hot minute and didn’t have the time to fix the corruption of UNRA, NSSF and other state-organizations.

When you see excellent record of higher and higher loan-rate on the government budget for any year, when the value of the currency falls and escalating inflations you can wonder if the government and economical institutions under the regime is for the people or the rich elite who is fed by the government. The Neo-Liberalization of Uganda has lead the government to expand the businesses into every part of society instead of governmental control as the Chicago School of Business wanted in 1970s, with the IMF and World Bank controlled Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) that demolished state-financed agricultural and subsidized industries that was supposed to be controlled by market-powers instead of supported by tax-money to sustain growth and higher employment rate. The result of inflicting this on the Ugandan economy as the NRM-Regime has done with such a passion is that the business that has no cut for the government has been left astray and the ones that is not strong enough has gone bankrupt. Now Uganda has to imports of finished products and stop of productions from industry and factories in former towns like Jinja. Also with the historical institution of the Uganda Development Corporations, who from the 1950s gave growth through state-funds, and not through direct market power!

That must have been forgotten by the Andrew Mwenda, that President Museveni sold everything to foreigners or liberated the economy to point that the URA can’t tax, or control to tax without losing the control over the sold merchandise. That is why Uganda has one of the lowest rates of taxation on products since the URA doesn’t have the manpower or the regulations to without taxes. They can’t keep up with citizens and movement of money, if they had then they might catch up with more of the embezzlement and corrupted agreements between liberated companies or new structures in the market own by the ruling elite. But that is not good is it? Send cases to the DPP and OAG to fix the matters together with Uganda Anti-Corruption Commission which is so meager that they can’t keep the state of affairs and make government institution accountable, something that President Museveni doesn’t really want them to do, unless he want to get rid of somebody who has the dream of succeeding him. Then they will find something on the man or woman show some of the dirty laundry.

You don’t need to be giant man with much knowledge to diagnose some of the issues that the government of Uganda has to tackle, some the state of affairs and some tangible structures that need to be fixed. The government needs taxation with representation, also need to re-focus the money and also be more accountable for their actions. Not have a one-big-man rule as they have had since 1986 that keeps to eating of the plate, instead of serving the people. That is a problem: a problem that knows that he is the problem, if he stills remember what he studied in the end of 1960s and beginning of 1970 at the University of Dar-Es-Salam in Tanzania. President Museveni should know the issues and know how he made them, or prepared them through his loyal cronies. As Andrew Mwenda seems more like one of his mouth-pieces more as the time goes, instead of pseudo-intellectual as he wishes to portray himself.

This is a direct address to the issue, as he can try to clean his slate, but he has lost the plot. The problem and the real man behind it is President Museveni is only leader and nearly the only one who has been there from the get-go and have ruled so long that he know what has been done differently than under his wings. The reign will not be remembered as the ones who follow the dream story of liberation, but also of eating the riches and wealth while forgetting to feed the public, or let the get opportunity to eat and earn a living.

So Mwenda has a flawed view on the matter, that he at the same time says Besigye is wrong. Besigye has also said that the institutions need accountability and transparency which is starch contrast to Museveni. Something that is vital to rebuild them and prove that the government institutions are for the people and not the Executive to eat of. So if that have to change then the public funds and public expenditure together with strengthen them, not in ownership of the executive but by giving the civil servants power to execute the necessary flows of technical assistance or regulations to let the teachers, policemen, judges and bureaucrats to do their initial service to the public; now they are handpicked men to serve the executive. That is problem because the paycheck from the executive is more important than doing their job to the public who need the men to secure their daily life and be there to safely govern the territories of the state.

As we can see Mwenda has judged the matter very easy without thinking it through, if he has then his logic is very flawed as President Museveni is a problem in state clogged with issues and the problems. There isn’t a way solution to it all, how to fix the economy is there many theories, though the stability of the currency and inflation should be the first, also secure low loans-rate so that the growth can be similar to the inflation rate. There is also the level of building trust between government institutions and people as they are supposed to be connected and for each other. Not letting the state and its institutions being on an island, and when they need the public hire a ferry to let the visit. That is not the idea of the state, the state is supposed to be mirrored in the people with transparency and accountability where the public can question the behavior of the rulers, governors and mayors, as they are set to represent the public, not just execute the laws and regulations without mercy, then the government is an totalitarian state, where justice will not prevail unless you are on good term with the head or executive power on the top. That is how the system is now with government of Uganda. We can easily see that he is one of the major factors, why President Museveni is the elephant in the room when you discuss progress and development issues in the country, since he can decide where to go or who to hire to fix it.

That is it. Peace.

Mzee claims oppostions lies; a presidential candidate can’t lie he says; meanwhile his political history are built on lies!

When you have been in-charge since 1986 it’s hard to remember those days where yourself we’re luckily picked into positions of government and had real elections. Since Mzee have had total control since the bush-war! Which is a statement in itself; here yesterday he claims superstitious power and Devine right to rule. That is inspiring and terrifying. Take a look yourself!

Mzee said this about his opposition recently:

“A president is next to God. You don’t tell lies when you are a president or aspiring to be one. You cannot have a president or somebody aspiring to be a president telling lies. That is a disaster for the country. You would rather say I don’t want to comment, but to tell lies when you want to be a president?” (…)”I want people who are engaged in the elections to stop bad politics, telling lies, trying to use violence because we are not going to tolerate those mistakes, in particular the use of violence and bad politics will be resisted and defeated. This should be clear to all and sundry” (Kiggundu, 2016).

He can argue that other candidates isn’t fit, that is what politicians do and point out flaws in plans in the way they want to run their station. This isn’t that, this is calling out and saying no-body except him can. The thing that bothers me is how he talks about lies and truth as “the President is next to God” means that there is a Devine order setting the standard on his behest. Mzee the man who caught the power with the gun, claims that God have given him the right.

The lying is just wrong in many ways, he has been telling stories for thirty years, promised to retire more than twice and changed his mind about the constitution more than any kind of totalitarian leaders world-wide. So that he talks about leaders lying is like throwing stones in a glass-house, aye?

That he is messed up with the engagement into politics is meaning that it’s okay if it is on his terms. Something that is common now this days or facilitated to Mzee wishes. Like it is amazing “I don’t want to comment”. Than displaying his thoughts anyway: “but to tell lies when you want to be a president?” Well, he should know the answer to this, because he has forgotten the history of losing the rigged 18^th September 1980 Parliamentary Election as the leader of the newly founded Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) and got only one seat and a meager display. As disaffection with the Electoral Commission of the time he went into the bush and started the National Resistance Army (NRA). Because he couldn’t stand the Obote II government he had ushered in together with help of Tanzanian forces that we’re God-sent to end the Idi Amin Dada dictatorship. Something many people are grateful for!

So let me point out the lie in the matter of hand as he says the Opposition lies. They claim the same as he did in the 1980s of fraudulent and rigged elections. There have been proofs of that ever since the Electoral Commission has run multi-party elections since 2001. Because the numbers towards the changed NRA into the political party National Resistiance Movement (NRM) shows startling numbers that only can be beaten by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and now political party Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) who have run the country with nearly no obvious opposition. There been proof of stronger opposition in Uganda, so there is definite a lie. A lie that the world knows and the election observers since 2001 could tell or read through reports on these elections tells of malfunctions and frauds done by the ruling-party. Just like the lies of the political freedom and genuine candidates for the general election February 2016 from the NRM.

 

The man who made himself a hero because a lost election and have ever since rigged elections. First by not opening for multi-party systems meaning he neglected the oldest parties of the land Uganda People’s Congress and Democratic Party. The Buganda Kingdom party Kabaka Yekka (KY) we’re long gone since Obote, Mzee former running mate who he needed to get closer to power disfranchised the kingdoms and banished them. That is while you we’re in the bush we’re doing secret deals with Kabaka and his men. Because your needed their support to regain strength for the future dealings and strong leadership. That is another lie Mzee now deflects and tries to avoid since he try at any cost to add more kingdoms and fiefdoms to regain more loyal cronies that will not be political henchmen, but loyal subjects to his will since they will get a cultural position in their respected region.

Mzee, your claiming that opposition is making bad politics. That is way for you’re to lie, since you’re the guy who has set the standard for the politics done in the land in the recent decades. So if somebodies does bad politics in the land it’s because for the simple matter the executive have made it happen that way and rubberstamped it. The opposition which is still marginal in seats and places of power and with a shadow government doesn’t have the force to make that change, they can at least stifle business, but the NRM and their loyal paid cronies can decided the basic business.

Mzee I could go on and on. There is enough footprints in the sand been made since you started your political walk since you left University of Dar Es Salam in 1970s and started his political journey from there. Where he also went into wars and made civil war for his own gain and kept it ever since. That is not Devine powers next to God, that is the power invested in guns and alliance with necessary people to gain it, and then never leave.

Mzee, have enough lies on his own and to claim things on the opposition is just foul play, but at this rate it’s business as usual. Peace.

Reference:

Kiggundu, Edris – ‘Besigye not presidential material – Museveni’ (01.01.2016) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/41889-besigye-not-presidential-material-museveni

“Time to liberate ourselves from Zuma’s ANC” – Bokomosa by Mmusi Maimane

Power eats our big-men – The reason for why we need Presidential Term limits

There is for some strange reason a big discussion on the matter. Since some countries have them, some don’t. It is not like every constitution should be written the same with the same accords. In my homeland for instance there is no limit on how long the Prime Minister can sit in power, but that that depends if the people of my country get tired of the PM or the party affiliated with the PM. In bigger countries like the US there is a limit of two terms and only once a President who has broken that rule, was during Second World War and that was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Who had three terms and is the only one well known.

I am sure that Greece would have seemed happy with more often change of leadership. So if they hadn’t sunk that deep with loans and debt. Then it wouldn’t matter how long a regime is in power, if it essentially good, but if it’s not. Then it would be healthy with changes, so that the government recharge and fix the issues of old.  That is for check and balance, also to stop cogging the machine with nepotism and local graft from local councils and smaller government entities.

Now that Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi is following Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Uganda. They have big-men who have been sitting for ages and continue to break a certain switch of leaders. Burundi has just been through a farce of a election that brought their President Pierre Nkurunziza to his third term. Paul Kagame in Rwanda is thinking the same. Paul Biya the President of Cameroon has ruled since 1982 and is still sitting comfortable. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been the president of Equatorial Guinea has been in charge since 1979. Omar Al-Bashir in President of Sudan has been the chief since 1993. Robert Mugabe is the President of Zimbabawe is the big-men of the country since 1987. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the President of Uganda has been the head honcho since 1986.

Have in mind Ben Ali in Tunisia, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Muammar Gadaffi in Libya. All of them had a hard fall during the Arab Spring. So during a short period of time these long times serving rulers was ousted by the public or militias in their countries. And those people mentioned that has been sitting since 1979 to now should have them in mind. They could be next.

Its reasons like this big-men why countries and constitutions, law and rule of laws should fix the longevity for the leaders of the countries. Even if some countries has benefited from leaders sitting long. There have been many who show other tales. That their starting and dealing with matters. Making sure that the countries are progressing, but the issue with all men, power can eat you and when it’s at your grasp you don’t want to leave it. The power corrupt and make sure your family eats and friends to. An leave the matters and supposed people your supposed to serve. That makes the basic issue of leaders who becomes the proof of states where there is “taxation without representation”. They goes from being heroes and big-men with legacy into Machiavellian and Orwellian monsters that swallows the governments, states and organizations. That evaporates and follows the pinpoints from the leaders, but not actual procedures or democratic values. Transparency does matters, checks and balance of information from the regimes dies down especially if it pokes at the government. Ethics of codes of conduct matters for the ruling party, but for the opposition is otherwise since they will be thrown into shackles and dungeons for standing up against the regimes.

There is a reason why media has to be strong against this leaders and big-men. Why term limits is a good thing? It’s because power corrupt and eat men. When you first get a spoon of the sweets they want the champagne and cocktails in the statehouses. While many of the big-men don’t strengthen the basic institutions and ministries of the countries they are in charge of. Instead they put more money into the security and armies, but not too strong because then they are worried that their general’s would make a coup d’etat, especially since some of them took power by the gun themselves. So they usually promise grand changes and grace periods where the institutions left soiling by former leaders. While they does certain things and necessary by them, if so only what needed and supported through aid or donor money they might do something more with this.

While these leaders also often toiled with multilateral organization that put strains on the economic freedoms and loans that funds the countries. The forced moves of liberate institutions instead of strengthen the powers of the nations. Free market thinking that has weakened the economies then making them stronger. So that they import more then they export. Produce simple raw material or farm products and import finished sophisticated products that give the budgets negatives for the countries and also a reason why the countries end up with loaning more money from the multilateral organization. Because of this the big-men make shady deals with international donor countries and producers that lead to more corruption. Their zealous and loyalist under-leaders get cuts and that happens as long as they follow the party lines. The sellers from abroad couldn’t care less because usually they get overpaid for the product and there wasn’t a fair process of the sale. So if there is a transparent overlook of the sale and ordering of the products to the country it wouldn’t have gotten a green light.

This thing grows and grows until it hit either the moon or the sun. The terms are what people looking at. Then you could have discussed and talked more directly about the countries that don’t have it. There isn’t like universal rules to how the constitutions should be and what countries should have in it. There is other ways around that countries has to follow the international agreements, resolutions, charters and convents they have to follow and make amendments to their existing laws. But that is whole other matter. The term limit question is more about the ethical place and trust in the big-men that is either elected or taken power on their own. And if you have issues with leaders taking power on their own, there is a slim chance of them actually caring about rule of law. Instead even if they say something they will turn against close to date of the final period of terms. Just like Yoweri Museveni did in Uganda, Pierre Nkurunziza did in Burundi, Paul Kagame in Rwanda and Joseph Kabila in Democratic Republic in Congo (DRC). They all did a turn-around in limited time right before the end of the official second term. So they could fix the laws and get an official third term.

We the people and the citizens care about our big-men and nations, about the institutions that are made to be around us and supposed to support us. As we want good leaders that actually lead and make changes, and structures to secure their people. Instead when their reign for so long that their stealing of wealth, lands and positions for loyalist can be vial and hurting the country, instead of reaching and making the place better. This could be less of a viable possibility if there were structures and codes into place that pushed leaders to leave behind a legacy and go off in grace instead of sitting into the man with a scythe coming and taking their souls to eternal rest.

If society fears that leaders will lead into nepotism, graft, corruption and other evils of long term stand still of leaders and philosophy. The journey that the political climate needs is sufficient tools to stand in rainy days and in glorious ones. Also proper training to lead the next generations into a secure place and leave a foundation that can bring something positive for the people and the nations as whole.

And it isn’t pure and true leadership if they aren’t coping with the ability of leaving the power. They know that and we the people know this. When that happens we see the issues translate into situations that nobody really wants to see. Like the failed Coup d’etat in Burundi in 2015 and the violence that has surged since. Then the failings of the ‘Walk to Work’ protest after the 2011 elections in Uganda. That only led to few fallen activists for the cause, but lead to now initial change. Also the reactions in the DRC after lawfully allowing it’s president a third term, this made people react and the #Telema uprising happened as a aftermath. This because the leaders don’t accept their reach and doesn’t step down in time, instead tries to sit until the chair is breaking. And in due time they will fall out of the chair, it’s just about how they will land and which legacy they want to leave behind.

I am Sure Honorable Mister Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe could have been a real gentleman and been in the league of freedom fighters who fought a just cause against oppression of a foreign power. He could have been seen as that if he stepped down in proper time and given security to the country. Instead he has let the economy run loose, people fleeing the country, rigging elections, letting special army and police trained by North Koreans go into villages before elections and spread fear amongst the citizens. If he had stopped before turning into a villain, he could have been seen as hero. Something that would been worthy actually of how he fought with the comrades against a far-away rulers to secure peaceful nationhood to Zimbabwe together with Joshua Nkomo. Today he will not only be remembered only for the Lancaster House Agreement! But for all of the other madness that has happen after.

The same will happen with these other leaders who might have done great things. And they have made a difference. They have made some kind of changes and progress in their countries. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda has made progress in Uganda. Even by sitting very-very long in the chair of power. After uncertainties of the 80s he has with the Movement system made the land peaceful and that has made gains in the aspect of food productions. Even with help of neighbors and the U.S. sent LRA on the run to C.A.R. where he is trying to get them again. Though with lingering into power it’s now taking a toll on the budgets, inflation levels, value of the currency and the enormous level of spending to local councils since there is new district every 5 years or so.

I could go on about every leader I have mentioned and what has happen because of their steadiness of power. How that effects and what that has led to in the countries that their leading, still. Similarities are still that the countries don’t earn much on having the same leaders reigning for many terms. Because the countries getting sucked into the system and patrons of the big-man instead of build functioning institutions and ministries to really developing the countries.

And let this be clear, I don’t want the systems of the West unto these countries that is not what I am implying. The simple thing I am pounding on is how it will be healthy for a nation to have leaders and their big-men for too long. I doubt if it is healthy. The same with MPS and Ministers, they all will eat too much and become fat, instead of serving the people. The same happens with the grand big-man; therefore the change of leadership is an essential feature to society and government.

Therefore what I am initially implying is that no matter what kind of society the human soul and body will be eaten by the power. That’s simple reason is that this is a universal issue, the location and countries could be a mayor in my town for the matter or the leader of European Union, the secondly it could be a president in South America or Asia. This is a phenomenon that is everywhere if the big-man has the possibility. Let me take a few more honorable mentions:

• Alexander Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus since 1994.
• Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov has been the president of Turkmenistan since 1985.
• Nursultan Nazarbayev has been the president of Kazahstan since 1989.
• Issas Afweki has been been the president of Eritrea since 1991.
• Emomali Rahmon has been the president of Tajikistan since 1992.
• Hun Sen has been the president of Cambodia since 1985.

So thanks for reading. Hope it was worth it and that this wasn’t as long as the tenure of certain big-men. Peace.

Samtiden/Morgenbladet – Skrivekonkurransen “Tegn i Tiden” og dette var mitt bidrag: “Hva er Samtiden?”.

Kjære skribent i “Tegn i Tiden”,

Nå har juryen landet på vinnerbidragene i konkurransen “Tegn i tiden”. Til sammen var det over 250 deltagere, og denne gledelig store pågangen gjør det ikke mulig for oss å svare alle personlig. Juryen har derfor laget tre kategorier med svar. Kategoriene gjelder 1) tekstene som trykkes, 2) tekster som kom til finalerunden og 3) tekster som i denne runden ikke ble vurdert som aktuelle.

Din tekst kom i kategori 2, og får juryens kommentar:

Juryen har bitt seg merke i din tekst og mener den har store kvaliteter. Den passerte ikke nåløyet for å komme på trykk (kun 14 tekster trykkes), men teksten kom til de siste finalerundene, fordi en eller flere av jurymedlemmene hadde satt en stemme på den. 

Takk for bidraget og vennlig hilsen juryen ved

Anna B. Jensen, Kari Spjeldnæs, Gunnar C. Aakvaag, Lena Lindgren og Marit K. Slotnæs.

Her er min tekst som jeg sendte inn: 

Hva er samtiden?

Hva er egentlig samtiden? Er den Ariana Grande? Er den Kim Kardashians utringende kjole på forsiden av VG? Er den en twitter beskjed fra Kofi Annan eller Facebook status oppdatering fra Fru Hansen i naboblokka?

Samtiden er kompleks fordi menneske er komplekse. Vi har ti fingre og ti tær. Vi spiser, vi driter og vi velger inni mellom dårlige ledere. Tiden vi lever i er en populistisk og tabloid virkelighet. Hvor virkligheten skal skje like kjapt som Nespresso maskinen, altså et tastetrykk fra du trykker til du får en vaniljesmakende cappuccino. Ting skal ikke ta tid. Fordi vi har egentlig ikke tid. Vi har ikke tid til våre egne barn – så vi sender dem alle i hop til barnehagen. Som vi nesten ikke har tid til å levere de i. Vi skal jo både trene, sende bilder av maten vi eter på facebook, gå på lange turer i fjellet, lese siste boken av Jo Nesbø på hytta og selvfølgelig selfie av SK2014.

Samtiden er demokrati eller kanskje en ny forståelse av demokrati rundt omkring i verden. Det er ikke lenger sett som at valg enten er rigget og opprettholder regimet, men reelle folkebevegelser svakt sammenbundte de enn er. Så støtter de tanken om et seriøst folkestyre – ikke lenger bare ett skinn-demokrati med en «big man» som er en regent og befolkningen som forfølges enten av trusler om politi på døren. Dette er med tanke på hva som skjedd i Tunisia, Egypt og konflikten i Syria. Selv om man har fortsatt standhaftige ledere i Zimbabwe, Demokratiske Republikken Kongo, Uganda, Ekvatorial-Guinea, Marokko, Algerie og Nord Korea som holder folk under kontroll og ikke har reelle demokratiske forhold. Så har vi bare et diktatur i Europa igjen for øyeblikket i Hviterussland. Selv om Putin holder Russland strengt bevoktet. Ungarn er det er usikkerhet rundt neste valg. Så har det forsatt slik at i denne samtiden har også gryvende konflikt i Ukraina som involverer Putins Russland, interne konflikter i Irak og Afganistan. Å slag i jevne mellomrom i Mogadishu i Somalia som har foregått siden fallet til Said Barre. Der African Unions tropper AMISOM har styrker og andre distrikter er tatt av nabolandet Kenya. Men i samtiden er ikke dette et stort diskusjonstema, unntatt hvis Somaliske pirater kidnapper sjøfolk fra en britisk seilbåt.

Samtiden er økologi, fair-trade og etiske tanker rundt hverdagen. Corporate Social Responsibility. Samtiden er Svane-merket. Velge for å vise vår personlighet. Hvis vi er skikkelig omtenksomme kjøper vi «geiter» eller «skolesekk til Dikembe i Zambia» fra Strømmestiftelsen eller Kirkens Nødhjelp i julegave til Onkel Fredrik. Samtiden er miljøvennlighet. Teslaer som kjører oftere ned Pilestredet enn Ferrarier. Nissan Leaf på ladestasjon ved McDonalds før ferja fra Sandvikvåg i Fitjar. Så miljøvennlige skal vi være at søppelet må minst være sortert i 3 bokser, pluss du må gå halv mil for å kvitte deg med vinflasker og hermetikkbokser. Den er så miljøvennlig at Fitjar og deler av Lista ser ut Søndre-Velje ikke fordi det har emigrert en haug dansker dit, men fordi det har kommet en drøss med nye vindmøller.

Samtiden er at enten så skal Ølet enten være en enkel pils på boks eller så skal være så avansert laget på det minst mulige mikrobryggeri som er gjemt i huttiheiti mellom Skråningen og Vika, der hvor det er flere sauer enn folk. Der ligger Mixy Mikrobryggeri og de lager både Weissbier og IPA med spesial humle fra Belgia. Kos å ha på hytta på Hvaler i båten og til steika etter jobb en torsdags-ettermiddag og husk å ta bilde av det. Da kan du legge det ut på Facebook! Samtiden er også økt forbruk av Vin. Vin er folkelig. Så folkelig at det kan ikke være en troverdig avis om den ikke har anmelding av de nyeste vinene som eksisterer på polet. Samtidig er det fortsatt forbudt å ha reklame for alkoholdige varer. Samtiden er som sagt kompleks.

Samtiden er streaming. Enten om det musikk der du lager lister på Spotify eller Wimp. Det er liten gjeng sære mennesker som forsatt kjøper Cder på Platekompaniet. Samtiden går «Back to the Future», enten kjøper du den spesielle platen som LP eller så laster du den ned på Itunes. Med introduksjonen av Smart telefonen. Fancy mobilen. Ipod døderen. Så går folk mindre rundt med to elektroniske dingser untatt de som trenger både Smart telefonen og nettbrettet på bussen. Samtiden er musikk høyt i ørepropper og hodetelefon i regnbuens farger gjerne som får bankkontoen til Dr.Dre eller 50 Cent høygravid. Dette er deres gullunge. Tilbake til Platekompaniet selger mest filmer og spill. Streaming av filmer og serier tar også over. Netflix. HBO Go. ViaPlay. TV2 Sumo. Filmer ellers selges i to format eller leies digitalt. Når var det sist du gikk på Mix og leiet en blockbuster? Nesten samtidig du kjøpte Mariah Carey kassett til jul til dama, sant? Alle de Amerikanske superheltene har sine egne filmer etter Disney kjøpte Marvel. Ikke nok at alle venter på at Sony skal ødelegge enda en helt fra deres univers i DC Comics, det pleier å skje med jevne mellomrom.

Samtiden er politisk korrekthet. Så politisk korrekt at hvis noen skriver sin personlige politiske mening så er de enten en catfish, Nigeriansk prins som lover deg en gave av sin formue om du sender 100 dollar via Western Union eller så er man rasist. Politisk korrekthet handler om hvordan man argumentere og hva som er fokusert i argumentene. Det er «jeg» eller «samfunnskostnader». Vi er enten ett tenkende individ som har retten til ting i samfunnet eller så er vi en samfunnskostnad som samfunnet må slippe. Vi har gått fra et samfunn som er stolt av å ha røkere til å gjemme den tobakken i kassen. Fordi å se sigarettpakker er  både skadelig og kan påvirke deg til å plukke en ti pakkning Lucky Strike.

Samtiden er helsefokusert. Så helsefokusert at favorittbrusen er Pepsi Max. Sukkerfri. All brus skal hvis noen får sin våte drøm bruke Stevia enn sukker, selv om vi enda ikke vet alle effektene ved dette. Samtiden er så helsefokusert at det er like mange treningsstudioer som det er blomsterbutikker i mange nabolag, av å til flere. Det er så mange at flere kjeder slår seg sammen. Samtiden er så helsefokusert at vi har fått folk oppmerksomhet rundt palmeolje, sukkerinnhold og fett. Så vi tror at de samme produktene er bedre for oss om de har rapsolje, smaks-forsterker, søtningsmiddler og kanskje mer karbohydrater. Sunn miks? Samtiden er så helsefokusert at alle som selger klær eller går på den røde løperen er enten en mannelig six-pack eller kvinnene er tynne med store rumper, pupper, botox, fete lepper og mest mulig hud. Hennes & Mauritz reklamer på veggen ser ut som sommeren er her hele året. Etter på byttes plakaten til tilbud på Stratos. Samtiden er helsebevisst. At Melk er dyrere en Cola. Vi tror vi helsebevisste fordi nøkkelhull på Grandiosa, Fjordland og visse pastaer. Venter på flere nøkkelhullet merker på Maarud chips, Vørterøl og Freia sjokolade. Fordi samtiden er så helsebevisste.

Samtiden er selvsentrert. Det skal være en perfekt fasade. På facebook, hagen, bilen, familiebilder, ferier og huset. Alt skal være for oss. Ikke for andre for oss. Hvis vi gjør det for andre er fordi vi gjør det egentlig for oss. For å bygge videre på vår egen identitet. Image. Bilder blir tatt for snapper på Snap chat og blir vekke før de blir husket. Eller så ligger det på Instagram for å flest mulig til å like de. Du er på twitter for å si din korte mening for å vise hva du selv tenker og gjerne legge denne som status på Facebook samtidig. Samtiden er selvsentrert. Sånn at vi har blogger for å vise oss selv fram eller bli et produkt for kommersielle aktører å sikre hits på sidene, enn å skrive for å forandre. Samtiden er så selvsentrert at vi kan ikke plukke opp pærer i butikken som ikke ser korrekte ut. Samtiden er Tinder, en liten app som viser en aktuell person – enten så sveiver du over å sier at du liker eller går andre veien å ikke-liker. Å noen personer lurer hvorfor gentleman og manerer er vekke. Når man ikke har skrytebilde eller perfekt SK2014. Så er det vanskelig å bli trukket ut i 10 sekunds sjansespillet på Tinder. Det er lengesiden man lånte vekk jakken til en kvinne som frøys på vei hjem fra byen på trikken.

Samtiden er så hurtig og skiftende. Den skifter og bøyer seg så kjapt. Innen null tid så er mobilen tom for batteri. Samtiden er vikariater. Det vil si at det mer vanlig å komme inn som ansatt via vikariat i enten det private eller i de statelige institusjoner. Samtiden er effektiviseringer og sammenslåinger. Høyres og FRPs drømmer om at Levanger kommune skal dobbles i størrelse for kanskje en gang i framtiden slås i sammen med Frosta, Leksvik, Indreøy, Verdal, Steinkjer og Verran. Om det i realiteten blir billig som partiene ønsker, er vel mer en drøm, og forteller litt om den komplekse samtiden.

Samtiden er å velge og ha valg. Ikke man tenker over det, men man tar valg hele tiden. Man hører ikke på en radio kanal. Du kan velge mellom 20 forskjellige. Den ene spiller techno, andre gammal rock og den tredje har radioresepsjonen. TV kanaler er det nok av. Vi kan egentlig alltid se på tv. Fordi om vi vil og har kjøpt tilgang kan vi streame kanalene på enten på tven, ipaden eller mobilen. Du kan se Al-Jazeera, Discorvery Channel og Animal Channel, eller NRK og TV2. Handler bare om penger og anledning. Så man snakker om ikke om at alle ser det samme lenger. Selv om noen aviser tror at alle ser på Breaking Bad og Games Of Thrones. Det stemmer, mange ser på disse, akkurat som mange så på The Wire. Samtiden ser på varierte program etter som smak og image. Noe som gjør at vi kan diskutere med venner om hva vi kaller for guilty-pleasure. For noen er dette Two and Half Men, andre er dette Two Broke Girls. Samtiden er å velge. Tidligere hadde man ikke dette. Man måtte enten følge programmet, ha samme boksen med tilgang. Du kunne ikke se Champions League i opptak på hytta. Den gikk klokken 2000 på TV3 og du måtte høre på kommentarene til Jan Åge Fjørtoft om hvordan Ballack er den beste tyske spissen noen sinne.

Samtiden er forsatt frykten for det ukjente. Frykten for å bli kjent med naboen eller snakke med fremmende på bussen, toget eller t-banen. Samtiden er frykten for Ebola, Aids eller Seksuelt Overførbart Infeksjoner(SOI), ikke at det er noe nytt. Samtiden er at legene ikke skal ha samvittighet i navnet for likestilling. De skal bare lyde jentene som skal ha sex uforsiktig og deretter ha abort. Samtiden er likestilling på et nivå som gjør mannen til liten. Så liten at jenter får fordeler av å gå inn på mannsdominerte områder, men om man gjør det omvendte så blir man møtt med enorm stigma. Derfor døde det ganske fort hend når det var diskusjon om det var korrekt med lengre permisjon for menn. Eller om menn kunne ha førsteretten på barn etter skilsmisse. Dette er ikke tema i samtiden.

Samtiden er kompleks. Så kompleks at denne teksten gir bare et grunnlag for hva som spesielt i den tiden vi er en del av. Om man sitter og browser på smart-telefonen enn å bruke tid på lese den skikkelig. Eller leser nøye igjennom denne i fredags eller helge-avis. Det er tydelig om du tenker over eller bare se over og tenker. Ja, denne karen kan ha forstått noe, eller ikke har forstått noen ting. Om Malala har gjort nok for Fredsprisen, om Obama hadde gjort nok og om EU hadde rett til sin, er spørsmål mange av oss i samtiden vil stille spørsmål til. Får vi svaret det tviler jeg på. Bare at Jagland kan komme i avisene med et lurt smil og ikke snakke om bygge det norske hus. Samtiden er kompleks. Så komplisert at det er mer elektronikk i bilen enn i smart-telefonen. Dermed kan veldig få mekke på sin nye Golf. Den må betale en ekstra formue på verkstedet med en gang en bolt inni motoren blir løs. Samtiden er kompleks. Ingenting av det jeg har skrevet til deg her bli sett på som fakta. Siden det er slik jeg ser virkeligheten. Du vil ikke se virkeligheten likt som meg. Fordi slik jeg ser den som kompleks kan du sitte på andre siden med en skjerm og se den som en lettfattelig virkelighet. Hvor kravene virker enklere. Der du legger ut bildene ved middagsbordet og vinen å smiler med venner. Mens jeg grubler over hvorfor du gjør det.

Samtiden er tiden vi lever i. Den er slik den er fordi vi har gjort den slik eller fordi andre har gjort det mulig for å bli slik. Så om du ikke tid til å levere ungen i barnehagen før jobben er fordi du laget en ny liste i Spotify til bilen. Ikke fordi Spotify sa at du måtte lage en liste for å spille i bilen. Samtiden er tiden vi lever. Fordi vi født inn til å være en del av denne tiden og oppleve den som den er. Uansett om vi ønsker det eller ikke. Så må vi bare leve i den og bruke de egenskapene tiden vår har og være tilstede og være til glede for de menneskene som vi deler denne tiden med. Peace.

Picturesque: Mbabazi and Rugunda enjoying the Cranes against the Black Stars

When the Ghana Black Stars played the Uganda Cranes today in Kampala. This match was at Nambole Stadium. It isn’t special or significant that politicians and other ‘big men’ shows up at events like this. On the other hand nobody else expected this. Was the view of the former PM Amama Mbabazi and the newly appointed PM Ruhakana Rugunda. They we’re sitting and enjoying the match. This must make the boss, the Mzee extremly pleased where his sitting. You know I didn’t mean the last remark. But this picture is telling that the tales that is coming and going towards Mbabazi can’t be correct. Some games are coming and going. Sometimes you win and sometimes you loose, just like the Black Stars and the Cranes. Now let’s see where this takes us. Peace.

ZA: Nepotism and hiring practise in Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services

There is always a struggle to be family of a big man. The big man has options he can use his power to benefit others, follow procedure or give a hand to those in need. Jacob Zuma the President of South Africa has already been under fire for many different reasons. This time it’s for getting his daughter Thuthukile a great position in the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services.

Nepotism is patronage delivered to people of kin or family. The Nepotism is an action where the kin or the family member gets a better business deal or job because of the relation and not the skills or education (Dictonary.com).

Thuthukile Zuma got appointed to the position of chief of staff in the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services. Spokesman Siya Quza says: “Thuthukile Zuma’s appointment … is consistent with the rules and regulations governing the appointment of people in government ministries” (…)”The minister only considered her capacity to do the job and her qualifications. Her genealogy was never a consideration”. The most compelling part of the story for the hiring of Thuthukile Zuma is that it wasn’t any adverts or official release of the position (BDLive.co.za, 2014). A Government employee commented on the action: “There is an HR procedure for an upgrade of posts, but minister’s requests are rarely turned down” (Timeslive.co.za, 2014). Thuthukile Zuma went from being a low public liason officer to become a chief of staff. This appointment happened just months after Zuma was sworn in again (News24.com, 2014).

Gwede Mantashe defends the hiring of Thuthukile Zuma and says this: “grow and develop and take opportunities” (…)”I am cautioning against this thing of punishing our children for our sins. Please punish us for our sins, leave our kids” (…)”The daughter of the president took time to go to university, did a degree, an honours degree. I can tell you I would be surprised if she is not doing her master’s degree and I can tell you that child must be given space to grow and develop as herself and take opportunities” (…)”Once your principal goes, many of them actually spin on their tails because it’s not a permanent job, it’s contractual work that is going with the principal. Therefore the attitude is that we are politicians, we don’t want our kids to be described as only that in life, they must be able to survive and develop professionally as individuals, and we must give them space to do so, that’s my argument” (Marrian, 2014).

The Spokesman for the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services Kgalalelo Masibi said: “Once the assessment team has done its assessment of the complaint, it will be sent to her for a decision” (…)”The complainant is asking the protector to find out whether the post was advertised, how many people applied for the position, and which qualified candidates were rejected” (…)”The complainant wants to know about the processes followed in the appointment, and whether she has the required qualification for the position” (Iol.co.za, 2014).

Peace.

Links:

BDLive.co.za – ‘Ministry defends appointment of Zuma’s daughter’ (25.07.2014) Link: http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2014/07/25/ministry-defends-appointment-of-zumas-daughter

 

Dictonary.com – ‘Nepotism’ Link: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nepotism

 

Marrian, Natasha – ‘Mantashe defends Zuma daughter’s appointment’ (29.07.2014) Link: http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2014/07/29/mantashe-defends-zuma-daughters-appointment

 

News24.com – ‘Zuma’s daughter gets top govt job’ (25.07.2014) Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Zumas-daughter-gets-top-govt-job-20140725

 

IOL.co.za –‘Protector assessing Zuma daughter complaint’ (01.08.2014) Link: http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/protector-assessing-zuma-daughter-complaint-1.1729107#.U-uA9fl_uSo

 

Timeslive.co.za – ‘Zuma’s daughter promoted to chief of staff in two months’ (25.07.2014) Link: http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2014/07/25/zuma-s-daughter-promoted-to-chief-of-staff-in-two-months