
Burundi: CNARED-Giriteka – Communique de Presse (07.05.2018)



The people of the Kalerwe, Kampala and people from Mpigi District should worry about their sanitary positions and their water quality, as the Cholera outbreak is because of simple mistakes by the Ministry of Water and Environment, also by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) that hasn’t done their job. Because when 7 people are caught with the disease and put in a hospital. The whole local government combined with the Ministry should be finding the sources for the mixing of feces and water in the pipes to people of a certain area.
“A person can get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person that contaminates water and/or food. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – ‘Cholera’ 09.11.2016 link: https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/general/index.html).
Now one person might have been affect and transmitted this to his nearby kin or neighbors, however, this disease comes from practically bad sanitary areas and water quality. Where the lack of control over the water pipes and the sanitary efforts of the city in general. There are even speculations that the emptying of the sewage tanks costs 200,000 shillings at a time and people cannot afford it. So they let it all out in the midst of rain. Therefore, the mix and the conditions where Cholera could breakout and clearly it has succeeded.
This here is a lack of government control and reason of change of dynamics so that people can live in healthier conditions and not fear to get into bad cycles of more illness and capability of income. Due to sickness and shows the lack of good living conditions. If society and the state wanted, they would have a decent sewage system and securing that it didn’t mix in the streets. So that the sickness of cholera would be avoided, it isn’t that hectic. It do cost in urban areas to lay the pipes and set up a well-functioning sewage system, but when you do have that combined with a decent water-pipes, the waterborne sicknesses that can be fought and avoided. That should be a priority, especially for a republic striving to reach middle-income very soon.
The Republic has choices and should plan ahead to secure the citizens, so they can avoid getting ill, by waterborne diseases like Cholera. That should be a priority by any of the Ministries that are involved, if it is the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Kampala, Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and others should strive to succeed, that is if they care about the well-being and are serious in the part of society. If not they are their to pocket their salaries and live lavish, while others are catching diseases that can be combat by very simple means and also serious constructions of sewage systems. This would secure the health and well-being of the citizens. It wouldn’t be an issue at-large, if the state did offer this.
There are happening like this with that too, when pipes goes old or technical malfunctions, but its easier to become a major issue and spreading alerts, when the society doesn’t have the systems in place. It is more sufficient and healthy to actually install and build this. All of this isn’t revolutionary, even citizens around the world is paying levies on it to the state and counties to secure the water is clean and sewage system is functioning to satisfaction. Where the public can contact the directorate or county body to complain if it malfunctioning. That should be possible in the Republic too, unless the state and the leadership see this all as unreasonable. Please tell me, because then your blaming the public for your lack of oversight and control of basic functions in society. Peace.






“When it comes to a political disagreement like we have here (South Sudan), we must have a scientific approach to its resolution, should it be resolved by force or other ways? Force should be reserved for the enemy. A disagreement among brothers should not be resolved by force,” President Museveni said” (…) “Some people have been coming to Uganda. Malong [Paul] and others. They come and talk to our people. They want to start a war because they claim Salva Kiir is being controlled by some elders. But should that be cause for war?” Museveni asked” (Kasasira, 2018).
It is okay, that anyone want all the stakeholders, all the opposition militias, all the war-lords to a sit-down and settle differences. That is cool and that is good, if there was a substantial effort for doing so, but a leader like President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Is not believable in this grace. He is not the kind of man to this himself. He rather get rid of his enemies and settle the score in his favor. That is what he has done in the past and is known for. He peddles a fake-peace, signs agreements and when the opposition, thinks all is golden. He strikes with fierce force and takes it all. That is Machiavellian leader Museveni is. Instead of having a proper sit-down in Kasese, he burned the Royal Palace and killed guards like their where vermin. So, that the Ugandan President said this, is sort of poetic.
But if we go further down into history, into when he was still a warlord himself and not a 32 year long life President, he was still just mere guerrilla leader, which used force for his own benefit. This was the Nairobi Talks accord and agreement, which he first signed and later dropped like a cold stew.
“Mr. Museveni never helped to carry out the peace accord, refusing to take his post as vice chairman of a reconstituted military council or to nominate members to the council” (Rule, 1986). “Mr. Museveni, who signed a peace accord last month in Nairobi with General Okello in an effort to end years of bloodshed, characterized his participation in the peace talks as ”very painful” because he was sitting there ”with the criminals across the table.” He said he agreed to the accord because of pressure from other nations, which he criticized as being more interested in opening roads for trade than in the future of Uganda. He said his followers had made it clear they would not take part in any government in which ”criminals” were involved. The accord was never put into effect, and Mr. Museveni moved on Kampala a month after it was signed” (Rule, 1986).
That is why I have a big trouble with Museveni as a mediator. Not only his army is involved with the SPLA and even has a defense agreement (MoU) with them. Which means he is impartial and is indirectly a trading-partner and weapon-brother of President Salva Mayardit Kiir, which should be a no-no for anyone. However, that is not the worst issue, its a serious breach. But its the knowledge of how he himself was to settle the score and take Kampala in 1986.
In 1985 December, as the Okello Government was finalizing the Cease-Fire’s and putting down arms as the Nairobi Peace Agreement was supposed to do. Museveni armed to his teeth, continued to fight the government army and within a month took Kampala from him. That was the immoral acts and securing his NRA/M the power. Which he haven’t ceased since. So he calls the other parties and the other politicians at the talks in 1985 as criminals, however, he didn’t follow the agreement either. So, he isn’t as noble as he think he is. He used force to get his way, when he needed it. He used force against his brothers to take power and never let it go.
That is why he is the wrong guy to mediate anything. He will kill the ones who steps in his backyard and tries to take his cattle. A man who signed an agreement, but never had plans to follow it. As he wouldn’t be muffled in a coalition, which he couldn’t control. Is a man whose supposed to mediate in a conflict between various parties with different interests and motivations? Nah, you cannot be serious.
President Museveni shouldn’t be the one to trust this with, he will make sure President Kiir gets a head start and gets the weapons he needs to smash the opposition, to smash the rebel outfits and make sure the militias are dying. That is what Museveni does, he doesn’t speak peace. Unless, you leave him in peace in power. Than, you can do whatever you want. Please, remember to him your tax too. Peace.
Reference:
Kasasira, Ridsel – ‘Why Museveni is urging Kiir, opposition to hold talks’ (06.05.2018) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/-Museveni-Kiir-opposition-South-Sudan-SPLM-Igad-Machar/688342-4546986-30js91/index.html
Rule, Susan – ‘REBEL SWORN IN AS UGANDA PRESIDENT’ (30.01.1986) link: https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/30/world/rebel-sworn-in-as-uganda-president.html
Rule, Susan – ‘REBELS IN UGANDA TAKE CONTROL OF CAPITAL, BUT BATTLES CONTINUE’ (26.01.1986) link: https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/26/world/rebels-in-uganda-take-control-of-capital-but-battles-continue.html

While reading through books in my “library”, looking through and reading again Franz Fanon for inspiration and for enlightenment. There was two paragraphs that was fitting Uganda in 2017. It was like explaining the state of the National Resistance Movement. It was like he painted the picture and shown the reality in the flesh. That his visions of 1960s, could still be the same today, with no changes, but with the same attitudes and the same state of affairs.
What is special about this is that while in University in Dar Es Salaam, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni wrote with Fanon in mind in his thesis there. Therefore, he would have read this in the past, but has forgotten the knowledge of the wise-man and intellectual. Fanon is perfectly saying what we all are seing today, nothing seems to be left out. Unless, you have the newly minted taxes and the rising debt made by the elite.
However, here is the part I felt was really like today:
“In these poor, underdeveloped countries where, according to the rule, enormous wealth rubs shoulders with abject poverty, the army and the police force form the pillars of the regime; both of which, in accordance with another rule, are advised by foreign experts. The strength of this police force this army are proportional to marasmus the rest the nation. The national bourgeoisie sells creasingly openly to the major foreign companies. Foreigners grab concessions through kickbacks, scandals abound, ministers rich, their wives become floozies, members of the legislature line their pockets, and everybody, down to police officers and customs officials, joins hands in this huge caravan of corruption. The opposition becomes more aggressive and the people arc to latch on to its propaganda. Hostility toward the bourgeoisie is now manifest. The young bourgeoisie, which seems stricken by premature senility, ignores the advice proffered proves incapable of understanding that it is in its own interest to veil, even slightly, its exploitation of the people” (Frantz Fanon – ‘The Wretched of the Earth, P: 117, 1961).
“The state, which by its strength and discretion ought to inspire confidence and disarm and lull everybody to sleep, on the contrary seeks to impose itself in spectacular fashion. It makes a display, it jostles people and bullies them, thus intimating to the citizen that he is in continual danger. The single party is the modern form of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, unmasked, unpainted, unscrupulous, and cynical” (Frantz Fanon – ‘The Wretched of the Earth, P: 164, 1961).
If this wasn’t like reading about the Ugandan experience in 2018, I don’t know, but I felt like it. All the reports, all the news and the state of the NRM. The army and Police force is the pillars of the NRM, not the popularity, neither is the fight against poverty in the midst of vast wealth for the elites. That are also involved with foreign money and exports, that is not interconnected with the whole economy, therefore, the riches are getting vast amount of money, while the trickling down isn’t appearing. Also, the knowledge of ministers, MPs and elites acting with corrupt behavior and misusing state funds is common, as long as the State House is on it too and get their cut. Therefore, Fanon is like mirroring the experience of 2018. This is something he wrote in the 1960s, maybe a bit earlier. But published the first time in 1961. Still relevant today and should he warning. That some things doesn’t change.
Fanon can paint a picture of the NRM of 2018. He does it 57 years ago. And its still viable and shows the reality of what the President delivers in Uganda. The Republic is a disgrace, all the empty pledges and promises from 1986. Just like the President wrote in his own thesis in 1971:
“It is the work of the most conscious activists to arouse the masses, raise their political consciousness and give them a vision of a better future and the knowledge and will to oppose existing exploitation by all future means. It is incumbent on the activists to make the oppressed people realise the latent capacity in them to smash the centuries-old exploitation and become masters and beneficiaries of their labor. It is only through raising the consciousness of the masses that the subjective conditions for a revolution will be created” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘Fanon’s Theory on Violence: Its verification in liberated Mozambique’ 1971).
So now he has become the man that oppress, the man that exploits the Republic and are the man behind the elites and corruption that Fanon says underdeveloped nations have. His description is straight out of the NRM of today and their actions towards the public. The use of the police and army to keep grips, while eating of the public plate. That is why the worlds of rebellion and activism from the President is also relevant as he was studying Fanon himself in 1971. A decade after Fanon published the book, which of both of us has taken pieces from.
Uganda needs a better vision for the future, but the guidance cannot be by Museveni. He has forgotten the knowledge and wisdom Fanon had. Museveni has forgotten the tales of rebellion and the tales of resistance, therefore, he has used the army and police to oppose defiance. That is because Museveni has forgotten the reasons why revolutions are created. No one knows when that could happen, when that could spark, but the lack of delivery, the lack of governance and institutions, will sooner or later explode in his face.
No matter how great his police and army is, because you can detain a dozens of activists, but you cannot keep the whole people hostage. You cannot do that, you cannot stop a revolution. You can try, but if it really appears. Then the shallow organizations in and around the NRM will fall. That is because oppressed understood their power that they had latent and could use to topple Museveni. Peace.

The Constitutional Court on the 4th May 2015 accepted the third term on the reason, that the first term where the President was elected at a temporary measure by the National Assembly and not by Universal Suffrage, hence, the legality of the Second Presidential Elections and the third term. This was done to secure that and establish reasons for justification to do so. Even if that altered the Arusha Agreement, by a technicality.
Now on the 17th May 2018, the CNDD-FDD are taking a step further, beyond the measures of 2015, so that ahead of 2020, the President can run again and again. Rule indefinitely. Without any legal provision standing in his way. The ones that had an issue 2015, should have issues now in 2018. But their voices are not heard. Many have during the previous years been silenced, detained or exiled. That is a mere fact of the architect of destruction, that this President has resided over.
Pierre Nkurunziza and his party is planning to become a life-President without any questions or anyone trying to topple him. His rules are law, his acts are holy and his words is more valuable than alle the treasures of the world. Nkurunziza is securing his own position, therefore, the lack of progress or lack of effort in the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, where the regime has handpicked the parties and the times for talks. Where opposition parties are handpicked and their voices not really heard. Why should they be heard? They are just obstacles ahead and not worth anything. If Nkurunziza got his wish, they would just disappear or go into exile, instead of bickering over his republic, that he owns.
It’s not like he has a fantastic track-record, as the in July 2010 he got 91,6% of the voters. Also, in the third term elections of 2015, after getting the Constitutional Court Approval, he got 69,41 % on the 24th July 2015. This after many opposition leaders was hunted down, killed, detained or exiled. Therefore, no real election in 2015. The coming in May 2018 is more of the same, the result will in favor of the President and the results will be a formality, as expressions against is illegal and media is hounded too. Not just foreign media houses, but local radio headquarters are burned and such.
Here is the Arusha Agreement from 2000:
“She/he shall be elected for a term of five years, renewable only once. No one may serve more than
two presidential terms” Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi (28 Aug 2000).
Just like the Arusha Agreement, the 2005 Constitution Article 96 says this:
“The President of the Republic is elected by universal direct suffrage for a term of five
years renewable one time” (Burundi Constitution, 2005).
So, the Referendum now, is only made for Nkurunziza, not for the betterment of the Republic. It is just so his vicious attack on the Republic can continue, where he is fighting the voices of freedom, liberty and justice. As he is consolidating all powers and securing himself the power for life. Nothing else is in the background. He has done it step-by-step, used all tools at his disposal and has no other plan.
The Statement from the Council of Ministers said this in this regard:
“The Commission has therefore examined the constitutional provisions that are the source of imperfections while keeping unchanged, the provisions that have the merits and democratic values that guarantee stability and peace, the protection of the political opposition, the protection of the rights and interests of minorities, the protection of the independence of certain institutions and, above all enhancing the legitimacy of the constitutional order. As the main proposals of the Commission, it is proposed a semi-presidential and semi-parliamentary regime, its main characteristics being that the head of state is elected by direct universal suffrage with his own prerogatives, who shall not be deposed unless high treason, with a Prime Minister Head of Government and responsible before Parliament and from the parliamentary majority. The President will be assisted by a Vice-President of Ethnicity and Political Party different from those of the President of the Republic. With regard to the executive power, amendments are proposed to take into account the new constitutional system proposed. Regarding the legislative power, provisions have been identified to be amended in order to comply with the Treaty of the East African Community, the principle of absolute majority voting except for organic laws, resolutions, decisions and important recommendations where it is proposed a majority of three fifths” (MEDIA RELEASE CONSECUTIVE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY CABINET MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 24th OF OCTOBER 2017, 25.10.2017).
However, it is ironic, that the CNDD-FDD talk of democratic values, while making sure their only leader, the fountain of honor and the greatest leader ever in Burundian history Pierre Nkurunziza, can dismantle the Arusha Agreement and change the Constitution to fit his narrative. That is not for democratic principals. That is lie, they know its a lie, but they say it so they are not getting detained, silenced or into exile. They are pleasing their master and his agenda.
The parts proposed amendment says: “No procedure of revision may be retained if it infringes the national unity, the cohesion of the Burundian People, the secularity of the State, the reconciliation, the democracy or the integrity of the territory of the Republic.”. Also adds the Presidential terms from 2 to 4 terms. Therefore, the National Unity, means the unity under the banner of the President and no one else.
To say otherwise at this point is naive. Is to be under a rock and forgetting what the authorities has been doing to keep him on top, while the rest is his minions.
The elections and referendum on 17th May 2018 is for securing life presidency, not to make sure the republic is better off with better democratic values or just laws. That is all lie and managed language to make sure the ones who don’t know what the CNDD-FDD are doing and how they doing it. There will surely be troubles for the ones voting no, for the ones not contributing funds for the referendum and also all the madness they have put in play.
So now, expect that Nkurunziza is a life President, the Imboneza yamaho, the almighty for ruler of Burundi. That is the end-game. There will be more referendums for Nkurunziza, when he is officially done with the fourth term or starting it. He will make sure the public changes it again. This is what we have seen with his idol Museveni. Nothing new here, just another republic.
This is just sad. Peace.



