Zimbabwe: Press Conference by the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association on the State of the Nation and Party as of 8th of November, 2017 (08.11.2017)

Age Limit: PM Rugunda uses senility, but it is okay that its the age of an average older care recipient!

When you become senile, you won’t know it.”Bill Cosby

Another day in the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the Parliament, as the discussed Raphael Magyezi Constitutional Amendment Number 2 are under review. This while many stakeholders are coming by, this time, the NRM could actually give some arguments for themselves. Not that they are any good or proper, because we all know the reason for the proposed amendment. Which is to spring to life, a life presidency for the long serving President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. To say otherwise should be treasonous or criminal, because we all know that the ones who doesn’t have positive consultation or helpful meetings with the public are either detained, tear-gassed or having trouble with the law like in Soroti or Lira.

Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda defense of the Constitutional Amendment today:

My opinion is that many things changed both in the NRM and politics. Views change, thinking changes, people’s age changes, and, therefore, it is not a surprise that after 20 year of the constitution, there is consideration and reconsideration of some of these situation” the Prime Minister told the Committee” (…) “Rugunda went on to say that,: “So, I think in this particular issue of age limit, it would be unfair to country to say somebody should not stand for President because he or she is 35 years and below” (…) “Age is not the best determinant for performance. People are able to perform differently. One can make a general statement that one becomes senile at old age, but some start at a young age” (Gyagenda, 2017).

Because of his mention in the end of senile age. I have to bring common knowledge of aging and what it does to your body and need for special care, when coming to advanced age. There for instance numbers from the United States, from the Health in Aging Foundation that says: “The average age of older care recipients is 75 years” (Health in Aging Foundation). That means the Age Limit is set on fixed age paradigm, that is ordinary in the West and also proves the need of more care to average human beings. Even if President Museveni is the only man with a vision in the Republic, he still is just made out of flesh and blood. With his aging and his hectic scheduled for the last three decades must have taken lots of his strength, but also made his body fatigued, since he hasn’t had months upon months end at luxurious hotels in Switzerland like his fellow Cameroonian dictator-buddy President Paul Biya. Therefore, the articles on old-age should be more fitting to paradigm of changing the constitution for this man himself.

Here is some quick brief article on the average age of 75 years:

As people age, they tend to deal with multiple medical conditions. According to the Alliance for Aging Research, the average 75-year old person has three chronic medical conditions and uses five prescription drugs, as well as multiple over-the-counter remedies. For many older people, the incidence of depression, incontinence, and memory loss are a direct threat to their ability to live independently. “Careful management of these conditions by a multi-disciplinary team becomes paramount to maintaining long-term health, vigor, and the capacity for personal growth and independence,” the AAR said in a report critical of current medical staffing ratios” (O’Boyle, 2003).

Therefore, it is strange that the NRM and their government want to open for people with more depressions, incontinence and memory loss. That is clearly neglect of the state and also of a transparent government. Museveni could have been biggest genius the world has ever since, but alas that is not the case. This is self-serving mission for himself and his family, the party is just puppets on the ride of it all.

So what I am hearing, is that the NRM want the average older-care patient as their President, I don’t know if I should be sad or shock and awe. But the latter is to depressing and I am only in 30s. I need to get to 70 years old myself and become generally depressed about the political affairs of the day.

Let’s be clear and know the reality. That the NRM will not open up or let any contest when they are 16 years or 18 years, because Museveni isn’t that age now. But he is soon clocking in 75 years and therefore, they need the sudden change within time. To say something else is lie.

The power lies all in the Executive, in the President, but that doesn’t mean it is rightfully his. Museveni has no plan to go, or leave or even be a farmer in his elderly years. Even if it means he will be travel more abroad for treatment. Since he has not built good health-care system in the republic. Therefore, he will be at the average of an older care recipient. That is what is waiting, not that it is humbling or justified. But there should be someone more sound and with vigor in the Republic, than a person who possible are becoming an older care recipient. This is just to be frank, since the PM Rugunda spelled out the senility bravado earlier today.

What do you think? Peace.

Reference:

O’Boyle, Richard – ‘When Do You Need a Geriatrician?’ (2003) link: http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/geriatrician.html

Gyagenda, Mivule – ‘Rugunda Refutes His Party’s Claims That Article 102(B) Was Smuggled Into Constitution’ (07.11.2017) link:http://www.softpower.ug/rugunda-refutes-his-partys-claims-that-article-102b-was-smuggled-into-constitution/

PPS Molly Kamukama letter to Dr. Obuku Ekwaro – “Medical Doctors Issues Raised by Uganda Medical Association” (06.11.2017)

 

Opinion: VP Mnangagwa fall from grace; Now a open battle between Team Lacoste Vs G-40 within Zanu-PF!

Another Vice President has lost their job as a result of a fall from GRACE”Seretse Khama Ian Khama (President of Botswana, 7th November 2017).

We should know now that everything is prepared for succession of Grace Mugabe to become President, she is preparing through her allies within Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), though her alliance within the G-40 group, while trying to send the Team Lacoste out. This has now been done with the axing of VP Emmerson Mnangawa, but what they forget is the already tiredness of the Mugabe presidency and the eminent problems coming with elections and hyper-inflation. It is not like the rise of Grace Mugabe from Robert Mugabe will be smooth in anyways. This has even been reported in September 2017:

First lady Grace Mugabe was on Friday told to her face that she is the leader of the G40 faction in Zanu PF as members of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Team Lacoste launched a spirited fight back during a tense central committee meeting, it has been revealed” (…) “Betty Mutero, a key Mnangagwa backer, is said to have thrown the cat among the pigeons when she claimed that G40 wanted to kill Mnangagwa and that Grace was the faction’s leader. “She said G40 wanted to kill Mnangagwa so that Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko would take over as acting VP and pass on power to Grace in the event that Mugabe is incapacitated,” a well-placed source said. “She said G40 kingpins will then wrest power from Grace. She said the president was being lied to that VP Mnangagwa wanted to take over power from him.” (The Standard, 2017).

So when this sort of stories are coming in the months before the sacking, the Lacoste Team and the G-40 was clearly barricaded against each other. As Grace wanted to get the throne from her husband and be excelled to VP. This is as the allies of Lacoste could be costly, as the meager support for G-40 have been proven, as the Zanu-PF rallies has been booed and not been a festivity of joy of late. Grace Mugabe has been more vocal and trying to prove her role within the administration. Therefore, the latest move of expelling the Lacoste members might be costly in the long-run, while the throne will be moved to the G-40.

As this was reported today:

HARARE – Several allies of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa have been fired by their respective provinces, with the decision now awaiting ratification by the Zanu PF politburo.

There was a complete whitewash of Mnangagwa’s acolytes in Manicaland, where a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting held in the mountainous city of Mutare purged 38 of the former vice president’s allies. Zanu PF heavyweights, among them Cyber Security minister Patrick Chinamasa; Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; Scholarships minister Chris Mushowe; deputy minister of Health and Child Care Win Mlambo; former Cabinet minister Hubert Nyanhongo; deputy minister of Local Government Christopher Chingosho and Buhera West legislator Oliver Mandipaka, were expelled from the party. “There was a resolution that vice president Mnangagwa should be recalled and that we should find his foot-soldiers and make resolutions for their expulsions,” said Zanu PF Manicaland provincial secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera in announcing the expulsions. This comes as the provinces also stampeded to recommend the elevation of First lady Grace Mugabe, as Mnangagwa’s successor” (Zimbabwe Situation, 07.11.2017).

So clearly the will to consolidate all power around Grace Mugabe is happening as Robert Mugabe is altered by his wife. Grace is de-facto leader and playing the cards of the party, since she is behind the sackings and expelling of fellow Lacoste MPs and Cabinet Members, also the VP Mnangagwa. This will not go down soft. That is why the State Media has a story today like this for the former loyal ally and VP:

Dismissed Zimbabwean Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused by state media of plotting to seize power. No sources were quoted for this information” (…) “In its editorial on Tuesday, the state-owned Chronicle newspaper accused Mnangagwa of attempts to stampede Mr Mugabe, who has led the country for thirty-seven years. “The President had warned his deputy time and again to desist from having grand designs to seize power unconstitutionally,” the Bulawayo-based paper said. The paper accused the removed deputy president of fanning divisions in the Zanu-PF, despite the public knowledge of Generation 40, a pro Zanu PF group, advancing the course of first lady Grace Mugabe (News Africa, 2017).

So the state is already assuming the role of making Mnangagwa the fallen and the treasonous character, even if he has been loyal all along to the paradigm of Zanu-PF. This is done to make excuses and certainty that he cannot establish himself in his role and neither tak away the G-40 takeover of the Zanu-PF. So that Grace can take his role, because the former VP was wrong and trying to overpower Robert Mugabe.

So the G-40 and Grace are using all tricks, but the part of Zanu-PF who are loyal to Mnangagwa will clearly make noise at the Delegates Conference in December, when Grace will most likely become the new VP by the delegates. Even if the disgruntled War-Veterans who has walked away and also the Team Lacoste. All of this is proving the ruthless formation all in and around her. That will not create a better environment, but it would secure her in the short-con, but not for the long-con.

That this can be costly and create friction is clear, as the Zanu-PF cronyism and the sackings to consolidate power, gives Grace and President less people to pay-off, but also new enemies. Since they have thrown them out and expelled them. They will not follow commands and be there for the Presidency, as they are disgruntled former loyalists. In the short term, President Mugabe and wife as VP might be successful in a family takeover of Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe. Even get her to succeed the aging husband, who has advanced age already.

Still, the axing of VP Mnangagwa should be seen as a sign of how the Mugabe family and G-40 wants to take total control of the party, to another level even leaving all of Team Lacoste behind. Like they have done with others in the past. They are just the latest part of Zanu-PF who gotten disenfranchised by Robert Mugabe and his closest allies. Peace.

Reference:

News Africa – ‘ZIMBABWE: STATE MEDIA ACCUSES SACKED VICE PRESIDENT OF PLOTTING A COUP’ (07.11.2017) link: https://newsafricaonline.com/2017/11/07/zimbabwe-state-media-accuses-sacked-vice-president-of-plotting-a-coup/

The Standard – ‘Team Lacoste vs G40: ED ‘poisoning’ triggers vicious fight’ (10.09.2017) link: https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/09/10/team-lacoste-vs-g40-ed-poisoning-triggers-vicious-fight/

Zimbabwe: “Mr Mnangagwa is now the most POWERFUL man in Zimbabwe according to A.Lumumba” (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHT69Evm_UQ

Zimbabwe: Termination of Employment as Vice President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (06.11.2017)

#ParadisePapers: MoFA Sam Kuteesa has moved his profits to the Seychelles (ENHAS to Katonga Investment)

It is now revealed that Foreign Minister Sam Kahamba Kuteesa, the former United Nations President for the General Assembly of 69th Session are now involved in the midst of the newest Paradise Papers, which is a continuation of the Panama Papers. These are revelation that shows how the wealthy are spreading their wealth to tax-havens.

The newest revelations inside the National Resistance Movement and the MoFA Kuteesa, who has been a loyal minister and NRM crony to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He through help of Appleby started a holding company, that being Katonga Investment Limited. The funds came ENHAS, which is the Entebbe Handling Services. The document revealed in the transaction was signed by fellow employees of Appleby, this being Malcolm Moller and Patrick Lee Mohin, they signed the company through 30th November 2012. Kuteesa was introduced by Justin Dibb. Dibb is a financial juggernaut who has taken part in deals on the African continent, as Chief Executive Officer of Allied Resources Limited and Managing Director of Dominion Petroleum Limited. So he has clearly made friends in and around the circles Kuteesa. Clearly the Petroleum based financier and director had some good advice for him.

This for a deal made in 2012 to make sure the funds for ENHAS are secured on a holding company or a shell company in Seychelles. Appleby Company even wrote a guide called ‘GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES IN SEYCHELLES’ which states this: “An IBC (or a shareholder thereof) is not subject to any tax or duty on income or profits accruing to or deriving from such IBC or in connection with any transaction to which the IBC (or shareholder, as the case may be), is a party (§109(1)). Notwithstanding any provision of the Stamp Duty Act 1975, (a) all transfers of property to or by an IBC; (b) all transactions in respect of the shares, debt obligations or other securities of an IBC; and (c) all other transactions relating to the business of an IBC, are exempt from the payment of stamp duty (§109(2)). The Exchange Control Act does not apply to an IBC or to any transactions relating to the securities of or in the IBC between the holders of such securities (§109(3)). The exemptions above are expressed to remain in force for a period of twenty years from the date of incorporation of a company under the IBC Act (§109(4))” (Appleby, 2014).

That would mean that Appleby Company combined with the agreements and tax exemptions in the Seychelles must surely be lucrative for ENHAS and Kuteesa. The UN Global Compact introduction of the company through the May 2013 and the words of Chief Executive Officer Georges Tytens said: “Entebbe Handling Services Limited (ENHAS) is a Ground Handling Company, handling over 20 scheduled flights at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda. We have a workforce of 729 staff. ENHAS is a registered member of UN Global Compact and we support and comply with the principles of the Global Compact” (Georges Tytens, May 2013). So the Kuteesa company are working directly on the airport and it is profitable, since it can extend their monies to secure accounts in the Seychelles.

So whatever the Foreign Minister earns on the business and ENHAS could practically go abroad and not pay taxes in Uganda. Clearly, the Appleby guidance of 20 years without paying tax as a IBC through them must have been good business for him. That is why he has done so. Peace.

Opinion: President Mugabe is a Goblin!

In the Merriam-Webster definition of Goblin says: “an ugly or grotesque sprite that is usually mischievous and sometimes evil and malicious” (Merriam-Webster – ‘Goblin’ link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goblin). For someone who has ruled the republic of Zimbabwe since 18th April 1980 first as Prime Minister and as President since 22nd December 1987. Clearly, he has had his time make the impression of being a goblin.

He has used tactics of oppression, he has even killed his opposition and consolidated all power of the republic around him. The Zimbabwean government are all built around him and his family. Therefore, the rising inflation’s and the problematic currency problems. The lacking yields of the agricultural industry, as it was a breadbasket of Southern Africa in the 1980s, but since then has needed aid and imports of food stuffs to survive. Combined with lacking institutional building, as it was built around him.

The use of army who was trained by North Koreans to silence certain parts of Zimbabwean public in the 1980s. To certify his rule and to conquer all hearts. The Elephant Brigade and the whole use of force to kill and massacres that silenced the opposition for decades. This with the economic oppression and the elitism in the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The ZANU-PF control and use of funds has decapitated and depleted the budgets as the Vice-President is billing the government for living at luxurious hotel in Harare. The same with his family who imports Rolls Royces and sell Zanu-PF regalia, while the amount of people living from hand to mouth is insane.

The courts are built and managed by Danish Aid, if they even still support the courts who are falling apart. The water system is down in Bulwayo and in Harare, it is so bad that the tap-water can be poisonous. This while Members of Parliament are getting payed for their loyalty in plenty, as the state pays them millions of dollars per year. The most fancy cars and splendid houses in the capital are owned by ZANU-PF Cronies or businessmen connected to the Mugabe clan. There aren’t anything the government are eating.

It is so bad with pay for soldiers and civil servants, that there has even been open battles between soldiers and police officers in the central business district of Harare. This proves the mental and breakdown of government support, when they are late paying their security officers and the ones who are on the barricades for this depleted state system. That the state doesn’t have resources to tackle drought, lack of medicines in the hospitals, the load-shedding of power and to get the citizens out of unemployment. As many are struggling to import and export through South Africa, and the diaspora in South Africa is the reason for the existing foreign exchange that are currently there.

The oppression and abiding poverty is the reason for this and Mugabe has no trouble with it, as long as his family can afford a luxurious house in Dubai, stay in hotels in Johannesburg, ride Rolls Royces and travel to Singapore for health care treatment.

For someone who has been the Executive for 37 years, 6 months and 18 days should have delivered some good governance and institution, instead it has been built around him and he is still in-charge. With that in mind, he is a goblin, even a hob-goblin. We can say doing this to his own people is evil and malicious. When he couldn’t use any of his time to make sure people had industry and continued the success of agricultural exports as it did when he took power in 1980. This is certainly like goblin. Goblin Robert Mugabe, at your disservice! Peace.

Opinion: Kadaga is trying to clean her hands from the ruthless days of eviction at the Parliament!

The Parliamentary Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has written letters in the end of the October to both Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura and to the State House, meaning a letter to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Both letters trying to clean her hands of the shady affair and clean of the dirt of her own actions. Even if everyone with a clear mind knows there are enough reports of her actions in the days ahead and after.

Because Kadaga was in-charge of suspending 25 Members of Parliament and they we’re cleared out of the Parliament by the Special Force Command on the 27th September 2017 after days of in-actions and noisy opposition members, stopping the proceedings. The IGP Kayihura was even at the Parliament at a meeting with Kadaga making sure the proceedings happen as it is. Therefore, the answer from President Museveni on the letter is revealing as the security officials combined with Members of Parliament, and Kadaga was a special security meeting at the State House on the 25th September 2017. This is just days ahead of the clearing the Parliament.

This was all done so the Raphael Magyezi, the Constitutional Amendment No. 2. of 2017, the amendment that will lift or remove the Age Limit for any President and in particular the President Museveni. Which Kayihura and Kadaga has been really loyal too, so the letters that are sent is just showing deflection of what really happen. That Kadaga doesn’t want to be in charge of letting strangers into the court and wants to deflect it on other people. While the President doesn’t take responsibility and neither does Kayihura. They feel safe in their positions, while Kadaga used their hands to stop the opposition MPs.

So I have a hard time believing that she knew nothing, since the reports of a meeting on the 27th September together with the IGP Kayihura, this was all to settle the score and clear the Parliament. Especially know that people knows about the planned meeting on the 25th September at the State House. All of the timeline proves that the Speaker Kadaga wanted to use her power and connections to silence the opposition. Also to make sure they were arrested by Special Forces Command and detained at random locations in and around Kampala.

We know now that President Museveni will not take direct responsibility, since he went away from the meeting, but clearly Kadaga knew what happen there and also at the meeting. Something that doesn’t comply with her letters and the time before the sanctity of the Parliament was destroyed by the one in charge. One of them was Kadage, this letters was her trying to forge her public display and not involved, while the two meetings one in State House day ahead and another one earlier in the day before the Plenary Session on the 27th September proves the involvement of Kadaga.

This is just the start of the revelation, if not Kayihura or others from the meeting at State House starts to speak as well. Then the revelations will spark more fire and might even damage Kadaga more, as she is the one in-charge of protocol and clearly knew that sending in strangers into the Plenary Session are a violation of the code of conduct within the Parliament. This is someone anybody knows and has respected, but clearly, that message or memo from above. Certainly, someone needs to teach her this, since she is the Parliamentary Speaker. Kadaga should have known this. Peace.

Age Limit: Rebecca Kadaga’s letter to President Museveni on the 23rd October 2017 and Museveni’s answer today by Parliament Telegram (03.11.2017)