Zimbabwe: Ambrose Muthiniri letter to ZEC – “Re: National Patriotic Front (NPF)” (06.03.2018)

Opinion: The G-40 Party, New Patriotic Front (NPF) will not matter, because Mugabe rigged the game in favor of ZANU-PF and Mnangagwa!

That Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe want to play decoy and be involved in the coming election was natural. That has been received the recent reports from the Blue Roof. However, this should be anticipated by the ZANU-PF and the President. Emmerson Mnangagwa should expect that, so that the resigning of Mugabe loyalist and G-40 member Ambrose Mutinhiri, whose petition to African Union and SADC to intervene because of the coup in November 2017. Nevertheless, that doesn’t seem reasonable at this point, as the gearing up to the next election is more likely.

What is weird, but natural with the Mugabe involvement is that the G-40 group of ZANU-PF, the ones who has been kicked out and the ones feels left behind after the coup. Because of the Lacoste ones got into power with the strength of the military, who is now also in the cabinet and behind the scenes. That is known and that is making these people disgruntled. That was expected and surely the ZANU-PF should have foreseen this happening. It wasn’t like he went easy and swiftly, they had to bring the guns and show the muscle before he went and the President could return.

Mugabe is a con, he has been used to using the long-con, the men around him and his family know this. What is striking is the name of the opposition party, New Patriotic Front, as if the Patriotic Front was made between Joshua Nkomo and Mugabe in 1976, as it was partnership to gain more in possible talks with the Ian Smith Government and be united towards the cause of freedom. Even in the 1970s the ZANU under Mugabe was the military support important to him, while in ZAPU’s Nkomo was unchallenged leader. Their stature was different and there was reasons so, but later he would consolidate these parties, and therefore, we have the ZANU-PF.

Now, the Mugabe has outgrown the party he consolidated and created, the liberation party that freed the country from the British, but he never released the citizens from his grip. That is why him and his cronies, so-called comrades are planning to use a New Patriotic Front, use the old term of 1970s , in that spirit to facilitate themselves in the coming elections. As they are using Cde. Mutinhiri to usher it in. Like the G-40 can re-bran itself and become opposition. After the same leaders was used to loot, take and misuse for decades. They was used that people came out of fear and loyalty, now they have to create another venue, another loyalty, as Mnangagwa has inherited the party structure and the military support. The military support that Mugabe has needed and had since 1970s.

So for me the NPF, the Patriotic Front of 2018 isn’t powerful, it is mediocre at best. Since the machinery isn’t there. It is creating headlines and they wrote petition to the SADC and AU. But not that it would change anything, the AU and SADC hasn’t said “no” to Mnangagwa, neither has South Africa or anywhere he has traveled. Mnangagwa is the legitimate president, even if it was unconstitutional. Just like so many of the elections under Mugabe. Where he rigged himself and used the army to spread fear in the community ahead of elections.

There is more likely the Movement for Democratic Change and Nelson Chamisa who taken over the mantle after Morgan Tsvangirai. He is the Chairman and Presidential Candidate for the biggest opposition party and the levels of support has been shown by the recent rallies. The NPF is still just theory, even if the people behind is used to the long-con. They are not having the military support or the steady financing like the ZANU-PF under Mugabe used too. What might happen, is that ZANU-PF might do what it did to MDC-T and others. Where the NPF will get into trouble, the leadership will be detained and their supporters might also get into legal jeopardy. This is well-known if you look into the political history and acts under Mugabe.

Mugabe should know, that the revolution he led that ate the whole country, might in turn eat him. The same monster he created for total control with support of War Veterans and the Military, has now turned on him and his G-40 Group, which now might turn into NPF. They will have the same amount of support as Acie Lumumba, might be able to make headlines, but not run anything else than a sweat-shop.

NPF seems like a far-fetched deal, seems like a dream of party, with Mugabe loyalists and disgruntled members who has fallen out with Mnangagwa. If they think they can do this, they might have to run things from Rotten Row. We can just wonder if they think they have the capacity to run against the regime, the machinery that has been made for the President and not for the opposition. The state hasn’t changed that much since Mugabe was toppled, the same mechanisms are there and they have not left the building. The ones that has left is the pictures of Mugabe and the ones who believed the words of Grace.

There are bigger possibility that Chamisa has a change, if he builds momentum and actually has causes that makes sense not only in Urban areas, but in the rural regions, where sometimes they still only see Mugabe as their President. With this in mind, Mugabe can build a new party, a New Patriotic Front (NPF), but at this moment of time, he will not succeed. They might go after his wealth, after his farms and other corrupt acts of the past. Mugabe has gotten off easy, but if he fires back. Expect ZANU-PF and the military to use things against him. It is like he has forgotten this tactic and don’t think that doesn’t apply to him.

Mugabe has made himself wealthy, also other cronies too, they we’re all eating. Suddenly the winds changed and the military supported Mnangagwa, therefore, the Lacoste won over G-40. Instead of gracefully stepping aside, as Mugabe just lost his position, but hasn’t lost properties and the family has even tried to transport their flash cars to Botswana and abroad. Clearly, they are afraid of losing their possessions.

If they start using their power and leverage, which they still have, do they think they can beat the crocodile? Do they think the ZANU-PF and the military will accept it? Do you expect them to give up their power now?

I wish Chamisa could get a chance, but just like NPF has no chance, I doubt anyone will have anything on Mnangagwa, since he knows this game and is playing invisible chess as we speak. Just like he did in the days after he got sacked and into exile in 2017. Peace.

Ethiopia: The New State of Emergency Rules bans the most common ways of Communication!

The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defense Force (EPRDF) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Force (TPLF) are reinforcing the Command Post instructions and showing their lack of tolerance, neither their belief in liberty and freedom. As they are planning to further control the protests and the demonstrators in Oromia and Amhara. That is why there are putting up the ante and showing no mercy, as the Queerro has demonstrated and people have died over the weekend. That should not be forgotten, that in towns in Oromia, dozens of innocent citizens has died in gunfire from the Republics own guards. The ones supposed to defend them, not kill them!

The First ban of Communication:

The public should know that these social media posts are illegal and purposely aimed at affecting peaceful activities by terrorizing citizens, it said” (Asrat, 2018). So the Social Media, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and other Social Media sites are now illegal and will be cracked down on. This is like last year, when the shutdown the internet in the regions to stop the diaspora and other activists from spreading the word of the oppression done by the state. This will be in the same fashion, this time as well. However, now this time it is anticipated.

The Second ban of Communication:

The directives issued by the Command Post prohibit disrupting transport services, free movement of people, service delivery of private and public service institutions as well as closing commercial centers and shops” (Asrat, 2018). This second one is stopping people from closing their shops, deciding that the people cannot close road or bar people from moving around. Like the roadblocks and the stones in the roads are now illegal. This sort of peaceful demonstrations and closing of public space is now illegal. Proving that the state wants to limit the space of demonstrations and to give an outcry of the Queerro and the Amhara. This is in affect stopping the closing the silent ghosts towns and the blockades that both regions has done.

The Third Ban of Communication:

The State of Emergency also prohibits preparing, printing and distributing writings, displaying signs or publicizing messages that could incite violence via other means of communication”(Asrat, 2018). This is like obligated from the state, this is stopping the youthful messengers of the Queerro and other types of spreading the word. Even if the he-say and she-say will spread the words if the state likes it or not. They are not allowing people to write or spread any writings, any sort of communication. This is just showing how demeaning the state is and how concerned they are.

The Fourth Ban of Communication:

It also forbids importing or exporting publications and exchanging via mobile cell phone, television, radio, social media and other means of communication without license. It also prohibits disrupting delivery and distribution of basic commodities” (Asrat, 2018). We can really see that even using the phones is illegal to spread the messages, the Short Message Service (SMS) is even illegal. They cannot use the phones and the extended services, which a modern phone contains. They are already not allowed to use Social Media, so the SMS and TV messages, even Radio are showing that all types of content and spreading it is illegal.

Banning disobedience against work:

Moreover, it also prohibits being absent from work without enough reason, disappearing from work, strike and intentional underperformance as well as harming by any means public, government and private properties” (Asrat, 2018). The public is not allowed to be off work and demonstrate, they have to show-up and is obligated to do so. They just have to be at the office, at the shop, at the mill and whatnot because the Command Post says so.

If you believed anything good would come out of the new State Emergency, this proves how belittling, how disgusting and how far the state takes their powers to silence and oppress their own. These are their own citizens and they have less powers, than what kids has from their parents. It would be like constantly be in the time-out stage, the paternalism, where the TPLF and EPRDF are using all techniques to silence them. Treating the citizens like kids, that is why they are taking away what they see as privileges, like day-offs from work. Having the rights to close their own owned shops, the rights of using the phones, spread information through all sorts of communication, even spread all digital content with their fellow citizens. All of that is forbidden, while they are in time-outs.

It just show how insane and afraid the state is of the message, of the power of the written word and the content that question their authority, because they are afraid that they go from being kids to teens. Who rebels against their parents and doesn’t want to follow, what they see as unfair rules. Its the state who hasn’t seen how the kids has grown, they are having a thinking mind and are justified to their freedoms and liberty. To grow and become their own person, not just having their free minds and liberty. Not being chained because the TPLF believes so.

You know the state has lost their value, lost their purpose and lost their way, when the people cannot communicate and cannot use the ordinary means of passing content between each other. That is so controlling and so outrages, that the TPLF should have a time-out, not the citizens who are losing all privileges. It is insane and showing how little value liberty, freedom and the representation of the oppressed has. They can lose everything so a little elite can have everything. Peace.

Reference

Asrat, Amare – ‘Command Post urges public to carry out normal day-to-day activities, reject social media intimidating posts’ (05.03.2018) link: http://www.fanabc.com/english/index.php/news/item/11485-command-post-urges-public-to-carry-out-normal-day-to-day-activities,-reject-social-media-intimidating-posts

Is the UAE using DP World Ports Deals to get diplomatic leverage now?

The Dubai based port and container company, that has catched a lot of flack within this week. Both with their devious deal, that the Federal Republic of Somalia dismissed, after Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World went into a co-venture over the Berbera Port. If that isn’t enough internal and diplomatic squabble, nothing is. As the United Arab Emirates are even trying influence more politicians over deal on the Horn of Africa. As they have already had the power to get a 30 year deal in Somaliland.

However, that deal has been under fire and people have wondered if the Mogadishu government has accepted it or done so with a favor. Since, this is still a government facility and important hub. That other nations like Ethiopia would like to have their stake in. Secondly, DP World has already another agreement on the horn in the port of Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT). That deal was done in 2006 and got binned by the government of Djibouti late February. So, the 30 year deal in Djibouti has already gone south and if the UAE government business want to interfere on the horn, they still have leverage in Somaliland. Where similar deal was made and the same concession of the port. Therefore, in the similar time-span and leadership, you can wonder if the Somaliland leadership signed similar agreement as the Djibouti counterparts, who has now canceled it there.

As that is happening, there is news of building and operating a Banana Port in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the agreements and the plans between Kabila’s government and DP World is appearing. Where the state will generate development and roads into the interior from the port, so the state can ensure the port that gets the containers and exports into the DRC. This is a big deal with amazing amount of funds going both to the Kabila cronies and the spending from DP World to upgrade the port there.

Since the writings notes of the 21st February 2018 Council of Ministers said about it:

The 5 texts on the Construction of the Banana Deep Water Port (the Proclamation of Harmonization of Views on the Contract Clauses of the Collaboration Agreement and the Shareholders’ Pact) and the Collective Agreement on Delegation of Service Public: the draft decree approving the Banana Deep Water Port Construction Agreement, the Muanda-Banana Estate Industrial Estate Decree and the Shareholder Corporation’s Shareholder Agreement. Banana Deep Water Port), the Council decided to visualize the project at its next meeting prior to any final decision on it” (COMPTE RENDU DE LA 8 ème REUNION ORDINAIRE DU CONSEIL DES MINISTRES, 21.02.2018).

Therefore, the DRC Government is planning to finalize an agreement with DP World, who has already had questionable agreements in Somaliland and Djibouti. This is not also to extend the arm of the company, but also give the UAE more involvement on the continent. As they have already ports agreement in Senegal and Somaliland, as they lost the one in Djibouti. Therefore, this would be possible now in the DRC.

We can now, see the diplomatic arm and business goes hand in hand, this through the port and UAE are using means of giant sums of infrastructure building, to get the government happy and ready to sign over their port control to the company, who happens to be state-run. This gives Dubai more power and also more control over the container business and handling of goods in these countries. As well, as the questionable dealings, are gaining the political elites, but not giving back to the community as a whole.

We can just wonder if this is a useful tool for Dubai and UAE to gain more political leverage in and around on the African continent, clearly it is working and getting reactions. We have to see if the Federal Government of Somalia, will do more than just canceling and dismissing the tripart agreement between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World. Just have to see how this can affect the relationship between FSG, Somaliland and DP World. Also, if the DP World really making itself ready to takeover the Banana Port. They are clearly, making influences and throwing money around to gain important infrastructures, like the ports. So, they can have leverage when concerning political games like in the Qatar Crisis. Peace.

Statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on the Terrorist Attacks in Burkina Faso (02.03.2018)

Burkina Faso – Service d’information du gouvernement: Communique (02.03.2018)

Ethiopia: The Parliament approved the State of Emergency – “Nothing good will come out of this!”

It was anticipated and now it’s official, that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Front (EPRDF) are using their powers to quell demonstrations, by any means and now by the sanctions of the Parliament. The TPLF will really answer the protests and done so by approving the State of Emergency, which the military and the TPLF supported. This will really advance the brutality and the killings in Oromia and Amhara. Where the protest has been the loudest. That is where the Aghazi squad and their fellow peers has assaulted people in their homes, killed dozens of people and hospitalized unknown amount of people, since the State of Emergency came into effect.

“Addis Ababa, March 2, 2018 (FBC) – The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) today approved the State of Emergency declared by the Council of Ministers on February 16, 2018. The House approved the decree by vote of 395 in favor to 88 against, with 7 abstentions. The emergency rule was declared to protect the constitution and the constitutional order, ensure freedom of movement and rights of people to generate wealth by maintaining their unity and equality. Incidents in violation of the constitution and the constitutional order as well as that could pose threat to the country have been expanding in some parts of the country since recently, it was stated. People living in various parts asked the government to give them the necessary protection as a result of these violence and conflicts, it was noted. The emergency rule was declared as the threat posed to the country has reached to the level where it could not be prevented and controlled by the regular law enforcement, according to the government” (Fana Broadcasting Company – ‘Ethiopian parliament approves State of Emergency’ 02.03.2018).

As seemingly as Sergey Lavrov and Rex Tillerson passes by Addis Ababa, they are still putting in full effort to silence the people. They are using the parliament to stop the demonstrations and circumvent the constitution for their benefit. This is done to make sure the uprisings in Amhara and Oromia are silenced by any means, as the Command Post orders lately constituted. There isn’t nothing in this, that is positive. It will only lead to more oppression, more death and more harassment of the citizens. The state will ensure to kill civilians, take away their rights and shut down any protest by anybody. Even if they are spreading political information or not. The TPLF is so afraid for losing the control, that they are killing their own people to rule. It is insane, but also the reality.

This State of Emergency is made to ensure the TPLF stays on top, by the guns and for the guns. This is not made for progress or for peace; it is just a quest to stay longer in power. The people are besieged in their towns are under a military occupation. This is fellow citizens and the ones these people are supposed to represent and they are answering with military force against civilians. Who only have demonstrated for fair representation of their group and their people! That is clearly a violation of their rights, concerning these fellow leaders in Addis. Who are now using the SOE to quell and silence them.

When concerning this SOE, there isn’t anything positive, it is just making the people prisoners of the conscious of the TPLF. They are all just taken for granted and losing their rights, because one political party wants to rule them all. The EPRDF, the TPLF controlled entity, is now forcing itself and using the military to stop the others from speaking up. It could end bloody, it already has taken lives and continues to do so. Even as the world leaders pass by, greet and walks away. Nothing is done to spare the innocent and the ones who just want a fair ruler. That is apparently, to much to ask for the Amhara and Omoro, who just have to follow the guidelines of the Tigray. It isn’t beautiful, it is despicable and disgraceful. No honour, nor bravery, just brutal enslavement of the minds, because of one groups who has the idea of total domination.

The Parliament agreed with it, even as many abstained, many didn’t even show up. That shows the discontent is beyond the reach, if it had been favourable, it wouldn’t have had that many people voting against and have that many representatives not showing up. That is just the sense you can have, after all of this.

The SOE will be brutal, will be fatal and will only bring destruction; nothing good comes out of this. Nothing at all and the people who deserves someone to represent them, are seeing their leaders sending soldiers to their homes, to their streets and to their meetings. The SOE will just be another reason for killing, detaining and silencing the people. Nothing, nothing good comes out of it. It only brings more hurt to the civilians, who just wished to have someone that actually represented them and their needs. Peace.

Somalia: Ministry of Ports and Marine Transports declares the Agreement between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World Berbera Port as “Null and Void” (02.03.2018)

DP World: Ethiopia Acquires 19% Stake in DP World Berbera Port (01.03.2018)

Eritrea Ministry of Information Press Statement on Ethiopia: “Repetitive lies cannot bury the truth” (28.02.2018)