Opinion: Our leaders need to answer for the dead

The deaths that is occurring because of the COVID-19 or Corona Virus spread has to answered too. Even if this old mistakes, forgotten pet-projects and even mismanaged straight to hell. The leadership, the administration and the governments of our current has to answer for that. This lack of investment, security and stockpiles of needed proportions has to answered for. There are to many casualties and deceased not too.

Yes, not all leaders are equal, neither is all to blame. However, the ones who is in office, who represent a constituency and who has the vote on the allocation of funds. They are all indebted to this. They could all have ensured legal framework, budget forecast and also sometimes even listen to forewarning of possible pandemics. Not like that is a new phenomenon. It hasn’t only been the plague and the Spanish Flue. There is no a big SARS family and COVID-19 is the last brother of this one together with Swine-Flu, MERS and SARS itself. They are all inter-connected, but still a variation of the same “gene-pool”. Therefore, the authorities, the Ministries of Health and the Heads of State should have invested more into this. That is if they cared or wanted to be more prepared in-case something like this occur. However, that they didn’t do.

We will in the future discuss, show the timelines and the lost time in every Nation and Republic. Where we can pin-point, who did where and what. How come there was lack of production and sales of PPE, why was there not enough ventilators and why not enough gloves, masks and whatnot for the nurses and doctors. Why where there no plan of execution and securing this as the state got hit with virus? Why where there no direct national guidelines or instruction to how to move, talk and ensure public safety. Since, this is not the first time the world has been hit with this, but this is a new breed still.

That is why the leadership has to blamed for all the lives that is lost. Every single soul is as much worth as the other. Even if some isn’t creating headlines or causing as much fuzz as the other ones. Still, in the eyes of God, they are equal and they need to be justified. These people are our neighbours, our grandparents and our siblings. These people are the loved ones lost, because we don’t have a cure and we don’t have enough medical expertise to even salvage their hurt. That is all on the leadership and the ones in-charge.

The ones dead now is as a result of losing control, losing the battle against a contagious virus, which we don’t have a cure too and doesn’t have the ammunition to beat in an open assault. However, the state, the leaders could have achieved more, if they listen to experts and if they prepared guidebooks, playbooks and protocol on how to act when these appear. What to do and what to say, what to order and what leverage you have to ensure more people lives get saved. However, that has been thrown out of the bus, or left and forgotten in some God forsaken archive, where no-one enters, unless its an lonely intern doing research to prove the boss of the faculty that his the next genius to get hired.

That is why we need to look to our leadership, the ones who lead and the ones who delegate. The ones who build systems, the ones who funds and the ones who uses the taxpayers money to make the health care system function. They are the ones we have representing us and who represented the deceased. The ones we shall not forget. They are maybe now lost for us, but their memory will live on.

With that in mind, their sacrifice and their hardships shall not be forgotten. That they took the bullet and ended their lives. Because of that, we the living has to battle this and continue to pursuit the truth and the vaccine. However, also have the clear-mind and spirit. Wanting the truth and the end-game of it all. Where we can beg to question, why didn’t you do more and what gives?

Why should I accept this massive amount of death-toll, when you could have contained it or used more powers in office? Why should I accept that you didn’t use the State of Emergency and acts to procure more equipments for the hospitals? Why didn’t you stockpile more in the sunny days and only started to buy umbrellas when it rains? Why didn’t you ensure more people where insured or was covered by the state to get treatment? Why didn’t you take the early advice and even the ones forewarning of this years ahead? Why, Why didn’t you?

How can you on a stack of bibles and in front of the Holy Father answer for you negligence and lack of due diligence?

Because, that is what you have to do. You didn’t play your part, but you ate the stake and drank the champagne. However, you did not secure the lives of the ones you represented. You let them die and that was on your watch. These people trusted you, but they shouldn’t have. Peace.

My letter to our predecessors: “I am so sorry for the world we left behind”

Aleppo, Syria

20^th May, Oslo.

Dear deceased and no longer living!

I am sorry for the world that befallen on you. That we the current living beings are not taking care of the world you left behind. That we in our egoistic and narrow minded spirit is continuing warfare, killings, looting and starving each other.

I am really sorry, that none of our leaders has learned from the past, which you try to teach us better. That the history and lessons we had by you, didn’t bear fruits. That we didn’t learn from the theories and the books of wisdom you left behind. I am so sorry, that your labor and dedication for a better future is dwindling away in rot and destruction.

I am sorry, that the world is a dangerous place, even as you tried to make it peaceful, that you tried within your means, to put forward mechanisms and organizations to keep us safe. That your negotiations and agreements, was made to secure borders and secure rights for all human beings. Instead we are ignorant of these facts and instead building drones to kill civilians. I am so sorry for that. We should have known better.

I am sorry that we have given all this powers to the corporations, made them legal bodies that operates in fashions and ways, that resemble slavery and also creates opportunities to extort nations. These corporations we have given power, to settle tax-scores and agreements that benefit the businesses, but not the governments nor the work-force, especially not the consumer in the long-run. We are accepting this theft for cheap products, but don’t think of the material cost nor the price of the labor of these fellow brothers and sisters. Which is countering the fight the previous generations did to secure a fair-pay and rights as workers in the industries and wherever you work. I am sorry, that we let this happen.

I am sorry, that we are not taking care of our planet, that we are filling it with plastic or any sort of garbage. We are floating it in the sea and we are destroying our forests, jungles, fjords and our soil in general. We are destroying our earth, we are worsening the climate change, the glaciers are melting, while we are drilling for more oil and gas. We are securing more coal and more uranium, while we are not sure of securing the damage after nuclear disasters, we already have had.

I am sorry for the next generation after us, that has to take care of this earth, that has to live in this environment, that has these political challenges, that has to rebuild these nations and republics. That has to find solutions to the trouble we left behind. I am sorry to you as well.

We should have known better, but we didn’t, I am sorry, we should have used the knowledge and wisdom of our predecessors, we should have used their time and opened our ears. Instead of piling up guns, drilling after oil and hoping that tomorrow never comes. That is how it seems. We didn’t think, we just let it go and never questioned the powers and the ones in top positions. So they could do something to stop conflict and stop the deaths of innocent civilians. We should have known better, but we continue like nothing.

I am sorry, we should have been better with what you left behind, but we didn’t, I hope when we meet again. That you forgive us and see that we should have taken your knowledge to heart and changed our ways. Not thinking about the next news-cycle, the next week, but been thinking about what leaves a mark for the next generation.

Sincerely yours…

The Writer of Minbane

Opinion: We never learn, the conflicts doesn’t stop!

This year has been bloody and the doomsday switch is itching. The trigger fingers are used on dozens of battlefields. Some places with hope of peace and of just rule. It is other places, which is in dire need of change and quickly. The are continuation of wars and conflicts. Internally and across borders. There are possible new problems and making it more hectic. As so many nations have porous borders where militias and armies are floating in between. Since also even with supposed arms blockade to certain conflict zones, the merchants of death is delivering their loads.

The battles continues, the ramifications of innocent lives, villages burnt and kids disappearing. The utter violence and crimes against humanity. That get touched and burned for war-lords, generals and Presidents to stay in power. While AID and NGOs are afraid of sending help and often also stopped. The United Nations might have troops in the nearby area, but easier to get a towing vehicle, than armed supported of a IDP Camp. The insurgency and the escalations, the results is death.

It happens, as the world is looking at Premier League, NBA and Formula One. It is happening while Miss Universe is lost on a God-Forsaken Island. We never know why these innocent lives had to die. We just read the numbers in small notices in the papers and moves on.

That is not justice, that is not right. We didn’t learn anything. Nothing. It continues daily in South Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Yemen, Burma, Burundi, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Nigeria and the list goes on. To many nations have internal conflicts or conflicts across their borders. Where merchants are securing the deaths of the innocent.

It happen all through the year. It didn’t stop. It continues and we just watch. We let it happen right under our nose for all sort of different reasons. This isn’t the big-man complex within me, this is the man who questions the world order and wonder when will it stop. We should not accept these deaths. It could be me and next time you. Who knows when conflicts will strike our shores and our clan. We never know, the future is not written yet, but we can make sure that doesn’t happen to them. That we shield and stop the aggressors. The endless violence and death. The destruction of society, of families and of basic functions.

Where the men and soldiers with the guns are respected and the law, where the respect and protocol is bypassed. Where the institutions and the general code of law is undermined at any moment. Where the bullet has the final say, where the use of weapons and ammunition; is the final outcome to any trade. The justice is what the guns say and the ones that uses them. The ones that is supplying it, is making sure the vote get heard and the War-Lord get signed off.

The determination and the lack of will, the mismanagement and the international community lack of acknowledge the reality. The blood-thirst and the power-hungry individuals who rule and who uses this to silence the public. Send them packing and fleeing. Take their lands and the resources. Secure their future, while the majority is in utter disgrace in foreign lands. They fear and wonder when peace will be in their village and around their home. If it is safe and if the government will promise their safety.

This is what we should be afraid of, that people are afraid of their homes and their lands. That they are afraid of returning, because they know that they might lose their lives and also their children. This is the evidence of the crime that is committed. What is taken from these people. We learned nothing in 2017, as the conflicts are continuing and no peace in sight. No justice and no respect for human dignity, as more innocent lives are taken away everyday before their time. Peace.

Opinion: What use has a bulletproof coffin?

“Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.” – Ben Okri

I just have to ask, I know it is a foolish question, but ever since hearing that former Kenyan Minister Nicholas Biwott recently buried in a bulletproof coffin, what is the value of it? The person is beneath six-feet deep and cannot be touched. Unless, someone dig up the remains and start grave digging, which is not really respecting the dead. Alas, here we are at a situation where a former dignitary had it in his will. Just take a look!

“Former Powerful Minister, Nicholas Biwott, will be buried in a gold bullet proof coffin to protect him from enemies. In a will, Biwott said even in death enemies would be all over him. He therefore demanded that he be buried inside a bullet proof coffin so as to scare away people aimed at him. He also told his beloved ones to bury him in a golden coffin, to symbolize his social status. The tycoon’s coffin has been ordered from USA after it was established that a casket of this nature could not be found in Kenya. Anytime this week the coffin will arrive in the country under maximum security. Biwott was a man who constantly feared everyone and anyone. He was afraid of death. A secretive man, the former Minister never allowed any person near his compound unless it was a close family member. Even in death, it was his wish to be protected” (KenyaBytes, 16.07.2017).

He should have written in his will a nuclear safe bunker or a big tunnel inside a mountain, because who will shoot bullets into dirt and hope to hit a skeleton. Unless, he where he be buried with a fortune of bobs and get swarms of people digging for cash. However, that is not the case; apparently, he is buried with a bulletproof casket. A special design and kind, it amaze me.

Since he has already left for the afterlife. Not like he ghosts or the spirits cannot pass through a special made coffin. They can penetrate or reside wherever they like and that is within their power. Not as if the soul on its journey through the afterlife can decide its fortune, that is all up-to the almighty. If he grants salvation or whatnot. The bullets of the past, which is something a person has to answer for in eternity and it, is not changed by the special burial ground.

Clearly, either I have misunderstood something, the value or grandeur effect of such an investment, such a buy for eternity. That someone would go that far and order, fix and import such an artifact. Still, it boggles me, the misuse of resources mixed with the fear the person must have. Certainly, also the wealth and the stature as he can afford while living to buy such a thing.

If it was a bulletproof hat, a bulletproof car, bulletproof vest or bulletproof windows at someone’s station, as an executive, president and higher official, I can understand that to certain degree. That is while still breathing. Breathing and living, while avoid being killed. However, when you are already dead, these measures seems rather used up and has no meaning. Like you can have the nicest palace and biggest bank account. That will not be a part of your casket, but will be part of your legacy. That is what you leave behind to the next generation.

That is just me though, the simple-minded man I am, what about you?

Kenya: LFA condemns shooting of Mrs. Kuki Gallmann in Laikipia, urges swift restoration of law and order (23.04.2017)

Kenya: Statement by Rt. Hon Raila Odinga on Laikipia Attacks (23.04.2017)

Opinion: Democratic Party and Uganda People’s Congress turns more and more into NRM-Lite!

“Power is a curious thing. Who lives, Who dies. Power resides where men believe it resides. It is a trick, A shadow on the wall.”  ― Lord Varys (Game of Thrones).

“Adjective: Denoting a low-fat or low-sugar version of a manufactured food or drink product” (…) “Origin: 1950s: a commercial respelling of light, light” (Oxford Dictionary – Lite).

This here isn’t something based on evidence, but more a genuine feeling I have is not only one I share, but many others. There is something at stake and someone who has agreed the negotiations so these so-called opposition parties isn’t really so. That is why the Uganda People Congress has some MPs in the Cabinet and the same with Democratic Party. The same can be said that both of these parties, still have slots or parts of the delegations to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Arusha.

What we do know is that James Akena, the newly concurred leader of UPC could easily do some trade-off with NRM in 2015. That isn’t just mere speculation as his party did decent and there haven’t been any controversy or lashing out from NRM MPs towards the UPC in ages. Secondly, the DP has become the good DPs and the ones that even are parts of NRM Celebrations. There is something up with these two parties, just like Uganda Federal Alliance and Beti Kamya all of a sudden is a bigger support of the NRM government than the former NRM historical’s and the NRM hardliners.

The President and his NRM CEC must see their State House visits as a blessed and ease ways of figuring out how to undress the opposition and how to deal with them. All needs a meal-ticket, the question is who will give in to the regime and at what cost. Therefore, the arrangement and the deals behind the close doors show the conning way of the illegitimate regime who uses all sorts of methods to undermine the opposition. The FDC has clearly given in too, in my book, with even becoming the shadow-government in Parliament. Something the FDC NEC shouldn’t have considered and agreed upon, because when NRM together with the President agreed to get a UPC minister and DP minister, it would be hard to have shadow-government with members from these parties. That would be rare and weird to explain.

We can even wonder if Norbert Mao even cared of losing his slot as Member of Parliament in the 10^th Parliament, as the DP was behind Amama Mbabazi Presidential Candidate through the The Democratic Alliance (TDA). Why I say that now? Since he is snickering and defending the NRM on NBSFrontline, attacking Lord Mayor Lukwago and the FDC when he can, just as we would expect Akena, since he has been bought sometime during the 2015. The price and the value of the UPC is for him and his closest allies to know.

DP’s Mao on the other hand is worrying, that Fred Mukasa Mbidde went so easily and elected into the EALA, also how little care the DP has given to the DP Cabinet Member Florence Nakiwala. Who could have thought the party would trade these folks that easily? That without any worry and without care has let it go, that they have set the standard of being a mediocre party who has no courage and no fighting spirit.

Maybe, Mao has gotten tired of fighting as the campaign he himself has a Presidential Candidate was sour, it wasn’t a joyful journey as the promises and the ride against the police force wasn’t ideal. Therefore, the battle even for his own MPs place got lost and as a leader who isn’t in Parliament, while the ones in Parliament are getting cosy with the NRM. That might be why Mao is complied with the forged friendships and trading in Parliament, to make sure they can gain the most. Still, the value and integrity of DP is dwindling, with every forged agreement with NRM makes them more and more alike, less different.

The NRM regime and NRM caucus in Parliament is adding DP and UPC, they are just turning into branches of the regime instead of being rooted on their own and on their own framework. It is just like Mao and Akena, just shift-bosses instead of being their own factory leaders. They work less for their own product and delivery, more and more to please the Executive through agreements and negotiations.

That is why the NRM has swallowed their paths and the lacking spine of DP and UPC has given way for this. Therefore, the current affairs and state makes them like a light version of the NRM. For this reason DP = NRM Lite and UPC = NRM Lite. Both parties are old and have a long history; they were established long before NRM, still the abolishment from Obote, made the other obsolete. So Museveni’s trick of being in the shadows of these parties before and after the parties, this is essentially killing of the multi-party system. That the NRM are tarnishing the DP and UPC to becoming NRM knocks-offs.

All of this is mere speculation, but still, there aren’t any official agreements in public between UPC and DP towards to the NRM, but their friendliness and co-operations are evident of certain negotiated deals. You will not hear Akena or the UPC complain about the NRM, just like Mao suddenly defends on national TV their position towards NRM and attacks Lukwago. There is just some uncertainty of how and what they have done behind closed doors. Beyond a shadow of a doubt some worrying signs that can and should be questioned, especially not accept as the acceptance of these parties to the NRM gives way to establish deep concerns of the value of opposition at all in Uganda. Since the DP and UPC have been thresholds for such, now it is FDC, even with a FDC NEC who doesn’t concern their legitimising the Parliament.

We all should ask and question the recent efforts from DP and UPC as legitimate opposition, even as parties without connections or how possibly they have accepted agreements with Movement. This surpass the judgement and the recognition of their existence, it is more the mere fact of lacking attention to transparency and accountability, as they are giving way to a regime who certainly does not care about procedures or acts or rule of law. The parties are therefore giving the Movement acceptance and are silently supporting their rule with these sorts of acts. Certainly, something the founders of these parties would turn in their graves and wanted to resurrect to adjust the malfunctions of these parties. Peace.

MPs turn violent, exchange blows after meeting Interior CS (Youtube-Clip)

“Two members of parliament from Laikipia County engaged in a physical confrontation as they emerged from a peace meeting convened by interior affairs cabinet secretary joseph Nkaissery at harambee house. Laikipia north MP Mathew Lempurkel clashed with nominated MP Sarah Paulata Korere during which they are reported to have exchanged blows and kicks. Both MPs recorded statements with the police accusing each other of assault” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016)

Monitor the “Pangani six”,Bahati legistlator Onesmus Ngunjiri tells kenyans (Youtube-Clip)

“Bahati MP Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri has urged Kenyans to monitor the six Jubilee and Cord legislators popularly known as Pangani who were charged with hate speech to make sure they do no spread hate speech ahead of the 2017 elections” (Daily Nation, 2016).

Kenya: Politicians using hate speech, ethnicity as campaign tools (Youtube-Clip)

“A section of prominent Kenyan politicians are using hate speech as a campaign tactic. This is according to Ushahidi, a crisis mapping tech company in Kenya. Daudi Were is the CEO of the company, and he affirms that there is indeed a worrying trend of tribal spurring and incitement especially on social media” (Africa News, 2016)