Zimbabwe: More on Bond-notes as they are coming while the banks are cash-strapped as ever…

zimbabwe-cars-oct-2016

This week there are reports that some banks are only delivering cash of the value of $30 and most of it is in coins, not even bank-notes.

There are reports of cash crisis in Bulawayo, where the businesses and corporations are only allowed to take out cash in the values $100-300 at the banks.

The release of Bond-Notes has not delivered strength or given the citizens of Zimbabwe any more power in trading or living standards. The release of Bond-Notes only happens given the government new excuses to buy fresh cars.

Justas there are now reports of the Zimbabwe Development Fund used by the ZANU-PF and their Youth League to hold sham demonstrations in March as a counter to the #ThisFlag and #NERADemos. That proves what development funds are used to. What will so the vitalizing of the economy with the Bond-Notes?

This economy is so in shambles that the government has been reported sold over 25,000 baby Elephants to the Chinese, also tried to get farmers to swap from Maize to Millet to cash in on export of the crop instead of feeding their own.

All of this is happening as the nepotism of the government continues with the President son-in-law Simba Chikore getting a noble position in the faltering, but still viable Air Zimbabwe.

While this is happening the ironic so-called or somewhat of cornerstone of journalism are reporting about suit selling hawker in Harare, than all the cash-strapped issue the Republic has. But hey, the BBC has surely written enough about the Kardashians this week.

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This has been official reported:

“Zimbabwe’s vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa has just undone weeks of careful PR by the beleaguered central bank chief by saying the about-to-be-introduced bond notes will be a currency, if a report by the official Herald newspaper is to be believed” (…) “The Herald quoted the vice president on Friday as saying: “We need a mode of transaction which we can control in the country on the basis of security provided by the [African Export-Import] Bank 200 million.” (…) “will be able to have a currency that circulates within its jurisdiction” (…) “When reporter Bernard Mpofu telephoned Mangudya, he was reportedly told that his questions “did not help anyone” (News24/AllAfrica.com, 07.10.2016).

So the borrowed monies, that will add on debt to the nation and most likely give the country more inflation as the county is already cash-strapped by the little cash given to the citizens from the banks.

Next up is the 2008 formula and make emergency notes with Trillion upon Trillion in value to seal the inflation and debt level made by the government.

The Robert Mugabe only cares about himself and keeping his power at this point. Therefore he pays of his men with cars and bigger bonuses while the others who are not needed by him are in long lines asking for breadcrumbs and little given to them. Nearly none, and not even given to them what they have worked for because the banks doesn’t even pay out the salaries or needed cash to pay of their rent and food. Peace.

Footage: On 5 October 2016, AfDB President Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina receives his African Passport, symbol of continental integration

Zimbabwe police fire tear gas at anti-Mugabe protesters (Youtube-Clip)

My take on it: To the man who threw the tear-gas back at the Police, your a hero and wish there more men like you out there! The Zimbabwe National Police Force continues with the Police Brutality towards fellow citizens when they demonstrats. Peace.

All of a sudden President Museveni wants to cater to the World Bank? I thought he didn’t’ want Foreign Interference in his Uganda!

Museveni Swears In

The World Bank has suspended their budget loans and the financial support for the Government of Uganda in this calendar year. President Museveni is seeing the ramifications of his inactions of fiscal policies and the way it’s interpreted. What the World Bank can question is the ability for the Ministries of Uganda to take loans in their own ways.

World Bank Statement on suspension of Development Funds for Roads:

Following the cancellation on December 21, 2015 of the World Bank supported Uganda Transport Sector Development Project, overseen by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the World Bank has suspended the disbursement of funds for civil works in two other projects in Uganda. Those projects, overseen by the UNRA, are the North Eastern Road-Corridor Asset Management Project and the Albertine Region Sustainable Development Project which are suspended pending a review and strengthening of the capacity of UNRA to adhere to the required  environmental and social standards. We are continuing to work with the Government to ensure all Bank-supported projects help Ugandans improve their lives while protecting the poor and vulnerable” (World Bank, 2016).

World Bank Statement earlier in September:

The World Bank Group took a decision to withhold new lending to Uganda effective August 22, 2016 while reviewing the country’s portfolio in consultation with the Government of Uganda.  We continue to actively work with the Ugandan authorities to address the outstanding performance issues in the portfolio, including delays in project effectiveness, weaknesses in safeguards monitoring and enforcement, and low disbursement. We reiterate our commitment to doing everything possible to work closely with the Government of Uganda, as well as with other stakeholders, to support the country’s development and ensure that all World Bank-supported projects deliver tangible and long-lasting results to all Ugandans, especially the poor and vulnerable” (World Bank, 2016).

President Museveni writes to the World Bank:

“President Museveni has written to the World Bank (WB) promising that his government is addressing the structural gaps and other loopholes that compelled the bank early this month to announce withholding of more than $1.5b (Shs5 trillion) in new lending until further notice. The President’s letter to WB, also copied to senior officials in the Ministry of Finance, is part of efforts by government to salvage the loans and save many projects whose failure could have wide economic and political ramifications” (…) “The other guidelines that finance officials will table in Washington, he said, is for all projects to have a “component of benchmarking by Parliament” before the loans are approved. Previously, he explained, ministries would push to get loans whose absorption and project implementation plans are not ready. “For all loans that have not been absorbed, I have evidence where the ministers say they were ready. But by adding a component of benchmarking, they have to justify the request and also satisfy that they are ready.” (Musisi, 2016).

These two statements prove the sentiment of World Bank towards the Government of Uganda and their Parliament how they spend and allocate their monies. As the structures of the Parliament are not budget-wise or coherent enough to be trusted with foreign money! So they have suspended and shown their acts towards the government who has used the loans as they please.

Here a proof of recent legislation that gave a free pass to the Members of Parliaments and the Government of Uganda how they can act without any supervision. Just read this lines!

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As shown by me before in 2015:

 “(5a) In addition to subsection (5), a loan raised by the Government as a temporary advance by the Bank of Uganda, which does not extend beyond a financial year shall not require to be approved by the Parliament” (P5, 2015, PFMA).

So if President Yoweri Museveni writes with the sweetest words, this legislations is active and gives way to the Ministries to take out money without filling it in the Ministerial Policy Statement before Financial Year Budget 2015/2016 or any year else as the small term loans can be taken by ‘Ministry for Higher Education and Sports’ can borrow 1bn from Bank of Uganda (BoU) without questions if it supposed to a be short-term loan. And the best it doesn’t have to be questioned the validity in Parliament.

President Museveni forgets that part and that he has created and accepted the loopholes of the economy because the legislation has been servicing him and his cadres. Therefore he feel compelled to write to ask for it and promise to fix it. The World Bank knew he made it happen and therefore seen enough of his ruthless behaviour and his mismanagement of funds.

And if President Museveni took time to read through the reports of the Auditor General John Muwanga and the Inspectorate of Government under the Inspector Government (IGG) Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza has in the recent Financial Year 2015/2016 written staggering amount loopholes and fiscal maladministration. This being that funds that is allocated not paid out on time and also unaccounted funds, even misspent funds in many ministries of the recent budget year 2014/2015. With this in mind, the President should read some of it and make sure they have procedures and will power to create government institutions that works properly.

Instead, Mr. President you have focused more on yourself and the same with the MPs who are greedy and known for seeking their own interest instead of their citizens. In this regard that the President pleas for the bailout World Bank loans are a bit too much for me; this from a man who said this not too long ago:

“I wouldn’t ask these foreigners, but I would never accept these foreigners to give me orders about Uganda. Or about anything in the world! They got their own countries to run. Let them go and run them. Uganda is ours. Nobody gives us orders here” – President Museveni at Kololo Independence Grounds Speech while celebrating the “Double Victory” on 9th April 2016” (Minbane, 2016).

So these man pleas when needing, but acting all bold when rigging the election. As he fixed the economy this way as he has had 30 years to make it this way. This is the powers of being the Executive for so long and he has seen how the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) do their loans to the governments in the past. I am sure he knows very well as he has been a recipient all his life. That’s why it’s so strange that he accept being told how to run his business now… when they suspend and sanctions his needed loans to run his operation and his government. But when they we’re doing it he could tell them to go to hell.

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It is like a moment of Nostalgia when it comes to this. President Museveni pattern are just like this. He continues to counter his own argument from a few months ago. This will happen again, but I hope the World Bank continues to stifle the “Old Man with the Hat”. Because he will one minute speak his peace and offer pleasant gifts, next moment he will be on the war-path and spread venom and after that try to fix it, but usually too late.

But the recommendation from World Bank isn’t a quick fix; it is a systemic change of policy of the economic framework that is there. Something the President already knows very well, as he earns his coins on the system he has ushered in. Peace.

Reference:

Government of Uganda – Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 2015

Minbane – ‘Don Museveni says “I would never accept these foreigners to give me orders about Uganda”; Time to cut the direct donor assistance to the government budget of Uganda and after that let Don Museveni eat alone!’ (10.04.2016) link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/httpwp-mep1xtjg-20m/

Musisi, Fredrick – ‘Museveni sends delegation to plead with World Bank over loans’ (30.09.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-appeals-World-Bank-over-loans/688334-3399642-g0djk7/index.html

World Bank Group – ‘World Bank Statement on Withholding New Lending to Uganda (13.09.2016) link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/httpwp-mep1xtjg-3fl/

World Bank Group – ‘World Bank Statement on Suspension of Roads Projects in Uganda’ (08.01.2016) link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/httpwp-mep1xtjg-1jx-2/

PBO: Kenya is borrowing without all requisite policies in place (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENLwLw0K6jY

“The government is borrowing without proper revenue planning or policies that factor in revenue growth challenges. This, according to Parliament’s Budget Office, coupled with the growing need to finance projects, will see the level of Kenya’s debt increasing in the coming year, which is already a cause for concern for some” (Kenya NTV, 2016)

Opinion: 10th Parliament MPs proves that their Greed is more important than the Government programs and running expenses!

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This is growing concern not because of the World Bank suspending loans and funds to the development projects or anything else. The ways the allocated funds and tax funds are used in the 10th Parliament shows their level of reckless spending and no concern of accountability.

This happens on the week the Daily Monitor shows reports of 80% of Primary Teachers that teach who can’t read while being government civil servants. These Teachers are the ones learning their inabilities to the future. So the misappropriate funds for the Educational Sector comes into fruition. The Universal Primary Education is surely improperly balanced together with the mismanagement of buildings and salaries; if they get salaries that usually never on time, teachers can wait for months upon months to get their pay. There are enough fallen and depleted schools.

While the Education Sector is in shambles the Members of Parliaments are allocating more money for their private cars. So they can drive around like King-pins in their constituency. They can ride around in the Toyotal Land Cruiser Prado and feel special while their citizens they represent have teachers who can’t read and supposed to teach Vincent grammar. That is just so special ignorance of their duty those 30 years of the Movement should have had enough time to make difference and not make the schooling system weaker.

This is happening in the week that the imported Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARDs) where National Medical Store (NMS) are distributing medicines, but they are sold more expensively locally than internationally. The Ugandan population are doing the same as Americans who pays an extra fortune for their EpiPen Auto-Injector. Together with the other issues around in the Hospitals like Uganda Cancer Institute and their breakdown of hte Cobalt 60 Teletherapy Machine. That still isn’t fixed and was the only one in the great nation.

While the Health Care and Health Sector are not as functional as it should be. While this is happening the MPs have allocated funds and bought Tablets or Ipad’s for a fortune for themselves. Because these MPs need tablets to write notes and such even if am not sure Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda or Vice-President Edward Ssekandi can even use one of them. So they spending a on this while medicines are missing or empty at a time or another.

The MPs salaries, the MPs Allowance and the MPs wish to exempt their salaries from Tax. Together with appropriating lots of funds for travelling for days to the United States and Boston for a Seminar; together with the extended funds for burials, this is happening so they can have an extravagant lifestyle into the casket.

This is happening while the government institutions and programs are weak or nearly non-existence. They have surely ghosts like the ghost SACCO Mzee gave to a non-existing organization. While the MPs representing their people are living like royals in the National Assembly with fancy cars and houses while the unemployment levels are still strong and the educations of their kids are made by teachers who can’t even write. This shouldn’t be happening, but apparently it is.

The Governance is not really happening. Because the government are not steering towards any place, they are walking on clouds and not taking steps to change the deteriorating state of education and health care.

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This is happening while the Government are adding more debt and is by end of the year having over UGX 26 Trillion. This is happening while the Roads Development that been borrowed to Uganda National Roads Authority from the World Bank has been suspended. So the worsen economic situation together with lack of funds for fiscal cash proves the weakness of the economy and the national policies.

This is happening also while the Ugandan Government has to tackle more refugees in Adjumani and other districts towards South Sudan as the neighbour continues with internal fighting. This together with the fluid borders into Democratic Republic of Congo. This has been done with armies and guerrillas in the past to get resources something that has led to another expensive debt to DRC for the Ugandan State.

So the mismanagement and maladministration of the Movement that have had the time to fix it has apparently been more sucked into their own rich-elite oblivion instead of serving their people. That is why the MPs are so into fixing themselves up nicely while the other are living in midst of utter poverty. So the debt is rising and inflation is rising. So the value of shilling isn’t worth much while the imports are more needed. NRM Regime is not having a fiscal policy as they are loose with spending without having secured funding. While making grand plans without having the output to secure borrowing…

I am sure there more things that could be discussed, but this is more than enough for today. As the proof is in the pudding; the budget and the inflated expenses of the Parliament shows how little accountability and transparency of their acts are. This is with the knowledge of months after the General Election 2016… the State House we’re broke right after for those that forgotten. Since the State House had used it resources in the Campaign that cost fortunes and after the election they had to get funds to pay the running expenses.

You think the government should be carrying itself better after been ruling for 30 years, but they are not. They are running like lackeys thieving the little pieces they can instead of building. Therefore the MPs are running the mill like the ability is only counted for when they are pocketed. That is why the greed of getting brown-envelopes is coming when the Mzee needs bills to pass. They get both monies and valuable produce to sell after being in the National Assembly. So with this in mind, the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga should silence herself and take care of her people instead of blaming the media… because they account to the people and the MPs should be more careful spending taxpayer’s monies, instead they use the budget for their own sake and not for the citizens who bleed for this. Peace.

Zimbabwe’s economy slowdown sparks anger (Youtube-Clip)

“Many Zimbabweans are finding it increasingly difficult to live in a country where widespread cash shortages, high unemployment and delays in public sector salaries continue. Zimbabwe’s economy is flat lining while the budget deficit is ballooning, pointing to a worsening of financial difficulties. CCTV’s Maria Galang reports” (CCTV Africa, 2016)

Zimbabwe: I’m impressed by the Zanu-PF officially banning they’re own National Flag!

Evan Mawarire 13.07.2016

Well, President Mugabe has never been totally rational as his service has always been run on the emotions and the irrational belief that he is the only character that can run the Nation after the Smith Government. Now, the Zanu-PF is full circle as the #ThisFlag movement is so powerful that the leaked information on outrages part of business from the Southern African state comes.

That is not banning demonstrations, more police brutality that is so regular that the tongues get comfortable numb. The Zanu-PF the Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabiza have signed a document saying that using the National Symbol of Zimbabwe Flag is no illegal. If you import, produce or wear anything with the National Flag of the proud the nation you can get fined $200! If you’re unlucky you can get impersonated up-to 6 months. In the document surfacing is even saying that the ones doing this illegal activity as the manufacture or wearing as this is seen as an illegal activity.

This proves how far the nonsense of the ruling regime, the draconian laws that are into levels of ridiculous as before where they went it more expensive to go online and buy computers. The level of impunity, the National Assembly will soon make it illegal to jaywalk and will make traditional dresses illegal to wear as they represent the Zimbabwean idea. The Zimbabwean idea that isn’t made in the image of Mugabe or his Zanu-PF who thinks they own the people and their minds.

Zanu-PF you have impressed with me with your foolishness and this proves that you’re so far from legitimate government that can be as your soon also making the National Animal or National Bird from being printed on Merchandize. Kudos props and acknowledges the abuse of movement, freedom and liberty of the citizens of Zimbabwe.

The Citizens should be allowed without any questions honour the national flag and use it the way they see fit. The Government shouldn’t sanction it unless they would use it to detoriate or do unholy stuff to it. Like the Zanu-PF youth who burned it after a #ThisFlag demonstrations earlier this year. That Pastor Evan Mawarire and his organizing have hurt the Zanu-PF so much that they want to stop their own citizens from using their own National Symbol!

But hey, the Chinese are offering blood-money for you to build 650 seats in Parliament in Harare. So the Zanu-PF gets a pay day while using excessive force to silence their opposition. Peace.  

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Zimbabwe: Harere Central Hospital Memorandum – Re: Suspesion of Elective Lists- Drug Shortage (16.09.2016)

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Sobering message from Zimbabwe People First leader Joice Mujuru (Youtube-Clip)

“JOHANNESBURG , 18 September 2016 . Leading opposition figure Joyie Mujuru has urged Zimbabweans living in South Africa to effect change in their country through the ballot box.Addressing hundreds of Zimbabwean expatriates in Mamelodi on Saturday,the former deputy president says change is within reach” (eNCA, 2016)