Opinion: UK has double trouble with N. Ireland and Scotland; they deserve equal treatment like UK gets from the EU!

Well, the United Kingdom government has enough issues with the negotiations with European Union to think about their own fragile Union. United Kingdom is a forged Union between England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland + a few bonus British Isles that couldn’t create much fuzz. However, the Northern Irish and Scottish government main parties are forging possible problems for the United Kingdom. That is proven with the decision of closing the door to the European Union and trying to find out how the relationship with the rest of Europe will be.

Certainly the Tories and the Prime Minister Theresa May would like to have much power as possible and look as brilliant as she can. But she has obstacles on the way and her path was created with the trust put into the system. The fragile Union we’re hold because all parties felt they benefited. If Wales are losing millions of grants from European Union to building roads around Swansea, where will the lost funds come from? That is the sort of issues that Tories and the White Hall have to figure out.

That Theresa May are a conning politician is proven with her way and her track-record, she is reckless and not caring of the price for her glory. Therefore, she couldn’t get elected on the prospect of genuine ballots and with campaigning. She was wise to forge alliance and make sure the Brexiteers we’re part of vital roles in her cabinet after David Cameron stepped down as he took the loss like a gentleman. Still, PM May are more focused on achieving most possible for the Tories benefit, than understanding that the Northern Irish and Scottish initially want another path. That would make the Tories and the United Kingdom less powerful as their own Union would be slimming by the minute. Just take a look at the Scottish question as she put her mind into it as well.

PM May address new Scottish Referendum:

“Theresa May declared Brexit was “not a moment to play politics” today in a rebuff to Nicola Sturgeon’s demands for another Independence referendum during negotiations with the EU” (…) “The Prime Minister said the passing of the Bill authorising departure talks was a “defining moment for our whole country”, making clear she would not allow separate negotiations north of the border” (Murphy & Crerar, 2017).

Second Scottish Referendum:

“Sturgeon said her government’s mandate to call the second poll was “beyond doubt”, and, with the UK set for a hard Brexit, said she had set a timeframe that would allow Scotland the chance to decide on independence before it was “too late to choose a different path in a timely way”. She added that any vote would take place after the UK’s exit negotiations with the EU27 had concluded but before the Brexit process was complete – when uncertainty over Britain’s future will arguably be greatest” (…) “Sturgeon said any attempt by May to withhold permission for Scotland to hold a second vote would be “tantamount to the UK government, having sunk the ship with the Brexit vote, trying to puncture Scotland’s lifeboat as well” (Maguire, 2017).

Scottish Government stance in 2013:

“The advantage of independence is that the people of Scotland will have the sole and final say. We will not be taken out of the EU against our wishes as may turn out to be the case if we are not independent” (…) “ Within the EU there will be important opportunities for future Scottish governments to determine priorities and maximise the benefits of our membership” (…) “The Scottish Government, supported by the overwhelming majority of Members of the Scottish Parliament, believes that membership of the EU is in the best interests of Scotland. It is our policy, therefore, that an independent Scotland continues as a member of the EU” (Scottish Government, 2013).

So if you look at the History the Scottish government and the Holyrood House have been since before the first referendum been clear about the important of independence from rule from London and secondly the value of being a Member State in the European Union. As the Brexit negotiation and the United Kingdom leaving the state of membership, this is clearly not in the minds of the Scottish. They do not want to leave the European Union, but United Kingdom government does not want to relieve them.

The United Kingdom, the White Hall and the English men doesn’t see the Scottish as equal. Still, former Prime Minister David Cameron was a decent guy who gave this as an opportunity in 2012:

“The governments have agreed to promote an Order in Council under Section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 in the United Kingdom and Scottish Parliaments to allow a single question referendum on Scottish independence to be held before the end of 2014. The Order will put it beyond doubt that the Scottish Parliament can legislate for that referendum. It will then be for the Scottish Government to promote legislation in the Scottish Parliament for a referendum on independence. The governments are agreed that the referendum should meet the highest standards of fairness, transparency and propriety, informed by consultation and independent expert advice” (UK Gov & Scottish Gov, 2012).

So if the United Kingdom government and Scottish government could agree in 2012 for a Scottish referendum and could amend the Scotland Act of 1998 so there was legal framework to support this. But why hasn’t there been anything concrete for the Northern Irish, which has been a tool for Englishmen to control over the Ireland. But that is my understanding of it, and Theresa May continues on that, as Sinn Féin wants now to make sure they are connected together with the Republic of Ireland. Take a look!

Prime Minister Theresa May to Northern Ireland:

“Speaking as she delivered a statement to Parliament on last week’s European Council meeting, Mrs May said: “There are a set of circumstances which the secretary of state for Northern Ireland has looked at this issue, and it is not right to have a border poll at this stage” (…)  “What we should all be focusing on is bringing the parties together to ensure that we can continue to see the devolved administration in Northern Ireland working, as it has done, in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland” (Newsletter, 2017).

North Ireland Referendum:

“Now, Sinn Féin’s new leader, Michelle O’Neill has said that Northern Ireland should hold a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom and joining the Republic of Ireland “as soon as possible” (…) “A referendum on Irish unity has to happen as soon a possible” (Loughnane, 2017). “There is an urgent need for a referendum on Irish unity as the British government has refused to listen to the majority of people in Northern Ireland over Brexit, according to Sinn Féin” (…) “Ms O’Neill said Brexit would be a disaster for the economy and people of Ireland. “To us in Sinn Féin that increases the urgency for the need of a referendum on Irish unity and that needs to happen as soon as possible” (O’Brian, 2017).

So when you see the pattern you see how the Tories says that Northern Irish and Scottish Government shouldn’t play government or play on their wish of what could be in their best interest, since White Hall and Tories knows better. Even as the Brexiteers and Tories negotiations haven’t started, how the Brexit will end is still uncertain. Therefore, there is little evident that the Central Government in London can deliver to Edinburgh or Belfast. They could just secure their own interest, why should the Northern Irish or Scottish perspective get much traction when the Prime Minister already claims their will is not important now!

The Tories government could have understood their wish and given them a chance, but instead the London acts superior and as royals inside the Union. They are doing what they have claimed the Brussels European Commission has done to them. That is the acts of Theresa May is what the United Kingdom and His Majesties Government (HM Gov.) said about the European Union and their bureaucracies. So that London should be careful to address the Scottish National Party and Sinn Féin are righteous in their will and opinion.

That the Scottish government want a new referendum is understandable if the same government that we’re adamant and clear in their will of being a Member State in 2012; would not change their opinion in such short time. That the Northern Ireland wants to be secure that they have soft borders and has a genuine relationship with rest of Ireland and Dublin. That shouldn’t be seen as strange, it is shorter road to Dublin than to London.

If the Tories government think they can override Belfast and Edinburgh, than they are doing the same as the Brexiteers have claimed all along the Brussels did to London. It is time for the Tories to wake up and smell the coffee.  They have to either decide if they want it black, or with milk or even sugar. Tories want it all in the bag and have the biggest trade-off with the European Union, but if they lose the Scottish and Northern Irish.

So the London government should offer a token and give them a timeline and let them have polls inside the parliaments in the other states that are part of the Union. Since the United Kingdom was allowed to discontinue the Member State status within the European Union, so the Northern Ireland and Scotland should be able to if they want to leave London alone. Peace.

Reference:

Loughnane, Alan – ‘Sinn Féin call for referendum on Northern Ireland leaving the UK’ (14.03.2017) link: https://www.joe.ie/news/sinn-fein-call-referendum-northern-ireland-leaving-uk-581421

Maguire, Patrick – ‘Nicola Sturgeon calls second Scottish independence referendum’ (13.03.2017) link: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/03/nicola-sturgeon-calls-second-scottish-independence-referendum

Murphy, Joe & Crerar, Pippa – ‘Brexit ‘not a time to play politics’ says Theresa May in clash with SNP over Scottish independence vote’ (14.03.2017) link: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/may-clashes-with-snp-over-call-for-new-scottish-independence-vote-a3489266.html

Newsletter – ‘May tells Sinn Fein not right time for border poll’ (14.03.2017)  Link: http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/may-tells-sinn-fein-not-right-time-for-border-poll-1-7866494

O’Brian, Tim – ‘Pressing need for vote on Irish unity, says Sinn Féin’ (13.03.2017) link: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/pressing-need-for-vote-on-irish-unity-says-sinn-f%C3%A9in-1.3009166

Scottish Government – ‘Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland’ (November 2013)

United Kingdom Government and Scottish Government – ‘Agreement – between the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Government on a referendum on independence for Scotland’ (15.10.2012)

House of Lords leave another Amendment to make Brexit harder for the Tories and PM May!

Today the Conservative Party government under Prime Minister Theresa May got their second amendment added on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The first one was set on the paradigm of securing the EU Citizens living already in the United Kingdom, so their safety wasn’t a bargain chip for Brexit Secretary David Davis or for Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, when the negotiations with Brussels starts. Surely, today is another blow for the all-controlling, fearing to give any indication of how she wishes the Brexit to go. Since, now it has to be explained in Parliament and become open negotiations in Parliament, before the Brexit becomes a reality. The House of Lords has twice decided to amend the government and give them a harder task to finish the work the majority of people in the United Kingdom wanted in 2016.  Just take a look!

“Parliamentary approval for the outcome of negotiations with the European Union

(1) The Prime Minister may not conclude an agreement with the European Union under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, on the terms of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, without the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

(2) Such approval shall be required before the European Parliament debates and votes on that agreement.

(3) The prior approval of both Houses of Parliament shall also be required in relation to an agreement on the future relationship of the United Kingdom with the European Union.

(4) The prior approval of both Houses of Parliament shall also be required in relation to any decision by the Prime Minister that the United Kingdom shall leave the European Union without an agreement as to the applicable terms.”

The lords had a majority for this amendment that was significant as the ones who was content we’re 366 lords, while the ones voting together with the government we’re 268. The result is massive for the anti-government agenda and making it harder for the Tories to succeed. However, if the Tories government feels betrayed by the Lords, but if they do then their concern of the value of people and transparency isn’t important.

The unelected Lords actually care’s for accountability and transparency as they are appointed by the queen, a state commission or different peerages. Therefore, this is ironic that the men who are appointed care for the vote and open process of Brexit in Parliament. That shows actual the deepness of the institution as PM May would have kept the people in the dark and whatever deal she and her team had gotten from Brussels. She would have thrown around like a medal and an Olympic Gold Medal. Still, she would have done it in all in silence and only done PR stunts when needed.

The Tories should respect the amendments as they are done with good intentions, and these are put in order so that the Brexit will happen with thorough procedures and institutionalized precautions that give less harm to the citizens and businesses. Since the effects and the actual price for the loss of EU Membership will come into the spotlight. As much as the benefits of being a Member State also get lost on the way and the new forged agreements and such has to be put in order, as the states might be separated the initial thought is that they still trade and has connections. Though not on the same legal grounds or on the near the level they have today.

Brexit will be hard, how hard none can really know as the EU might prove their point with this one, as it hasn’t happen before in the Union. Still, if they want to save face and not get more nations questioning the acts of the Union towards a former Member State. Peace.

South Africa: R7.5 million in theft, fraud and corruption uncovered at Joburg Market (06.03.2017)

Opinion: The Tories lost in the House of Lords and has to build the Brexit negotiation on shaky grounds!

brexit

The Tories, the Conservative Party Government run by Prime Minister Theresa May lost out in voting in the House of Lords, as the bill will continue with amended text that the Lords voted on. This is the proof of some humanity in the British people, not just scare-mongering people who fear the immigrants and the newly settled people from Central Europe. Therefore, the election is a proof that the Tories negotiation team with Brexit Minister David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson cannot use citizens who has immigrated to the United Kingdoms as pawns in the negotiations with Brussels and the European Union.

The Tories negotiations team have now a harder task as they cannot use the EU citizens in the United Kingdom as a bargain chip for the UK citizens inside the European Union. There are more than enough things to figure out as the businesses and movement of people has to resolved, what sort of status the UK citizens and UK government will towards the European Union. As the Member State privileges goes away when the membership is terminated. That has many implications that are still unknown as this sort of negotiations isn’t something that occur on regular basis. Therefore, the statement of voting this amendment to the law clearly violates parts of the idea for the Brexiteers!

“Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town moved amendment 9B, in clause 1, page 1, line 3, at end to insert: “( ) Within three months of exercising the power under section 1(1), Ministers of the Crown must bring forward proposals to ensure that citizens of another European Union or European Economic Area country and their family members, who are legally resident in the United Kingdom on the day on which this Act is passed, continue to be treated in the same way with regards to their EU derived-rights and, in the case of residency, their potential to acquire such rights in the future.” (United Kingdom – House of Lords, 2017).

eu-bill-2017-p2

 

This is hit in the nuggets for those who thought that United Kingdom Independence Party and other Brexiteers could get a field day without any consequence. By all means there will be a different atmosphere not only as an outsider to the Union, but also inside the British Isle’s like what about Northern Ireland and Scotland, Wales and Jersey will be there as they are so integrated that cannot leave the building. But Scotland and Northern Ireland are a different tango, as Scotland might have second referendum on freedom from London and Newcastle, while Northern Ireland even get own internal issues combined with the free-movement to the Irish Republic as well.

There are enough of issues ahead for the Tories as PM May doesn’t want to left with the short-end and nothing to show for it. She might get quick trade deals with New Zealand, South Africa and other dignitaries, but the Union trading is surely important now and will be in the future. The British Pound and the inflation will also be hold barren by the equation of possible business and how the financial tools of the United Kingdom looks after the Membership is terminated.

That can also be said by the citizen’s possible movement and the other aspect of government that might be altered by the end of membership. This will create another Europe, where UK is close, but still further away than today. The Brussels and their Member States might retaliate, but they should just show the way of decency as the whole world will see how the EU is tackling it. The way African Union tackled the Kingdom of Morocco left the Union and came back.

So here we are where the United Kingdom Government or the Tories has to make the best out of the House of the Lords decision to amend the withdrawal as the days before the Theresa May starts the process of revoking the membership. This will be rough and the agreements, the rhetoric and the slander will be at all-time high as the uncertainty along the way will be unbearable. The European states and the United Kingdom would like to have decent deal and reasonable end to the affair. What we can wonder if the UK and Brussels will cope with trying to think about the future and not just present runs of elections an popularity today, as this withdrawal will put in order the way it works to walk-away from Brussels paradigm, as it has only really been put in order how to become a Member State and what the State has to do to become a Member.

Let the tricky days come. Peace.

Reference:

United Kingdom – House of Lords – ‘European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill’ (01.03.2017) links: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/lords/lords-divisions/?date=2017-Mar-01&itemId=1&session=2016-May-18

Opinion: A 93 year old, apparently doesn’t need succession!

robert-mugabe3-660x400

The President of Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe, the man who is in the psalms, who was written to stay as a leader and even be voted on after death, that is if Grace Mugabe, the first lady gets her wish. The Zanu-PF which was created by him as he mended to parties together when he got rid of a rival; so many forgets the past history of how ZANU became Zanu-PF. The Patriotic Front was sucked into the merger for the political ambition of President Mugabe, as he swallowed and got rid of Joshua Nkomo. Nkomo also lost his party as it became one party Zanu-PF.

Therefore listening to the President and leader of decades upon decades Mugabe had to say this on his 93rd birthday:

“PRESIDENT Mugabe has warned ambitious lieutenants in his party who are angling to succeed him to stop fanning divisions, saying he will not be pressured into appointing his successor” (…) “He slammed succession-driven factional divisions in Zanu-PF, called for unity in the ruling party, and reaffirmed his position that whoever would succeed him was going to be chosen by the people through an election” (Gono, Mukarati & Tshuma, 2017).

The man who will run and continue to be the kingpin, the grand master of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe will not leave the republic and the reign before his last breath. The lasting regime and the will to stay is not only for his benefit, but for his closest allies and elite. The ones who drives flash cars in Harare, who owns the banks and export resources to abroad, also the ones who sells special-made cakes, lays chips and all sort of imported goods. That is who keeps breathing air into the Zanu-PF regime and Mugabe’s continues reign.

The ones who thinks this isn’t eating he system, isn’t costing the republics coffers, the possibility for good governance and accountability are not there with a man who rules and give the rules, without following any common-sense himself. A man has used any trick possible in the book and use all sort force to gain his will.

Are now imposing him and continuing his ill-will reign with the force of his army and sometimes like in the past mercenaries or paid forces from North Korea even. Because Mugabe doesn’t believe in democracy, but in his power to reign by all means!

Also, so his family can benefit and earns wealth on his reign. The Mugabe clan must surely have become rich from all of these years. If not why would he not step down and give way for somebody else? That is because he knows that all that is created around him and his family de facto disappears the day he leaves. However, the Mugabe name will tarnish history of a liberator turned Orwellian master. Nobody foresaw the transformation, but over time he has showed more and more traits of a scrupulous leader who use any means to stay and to forge the power around him. Therefore, the ones near him and the first lady are loyal fellows with no spine. If they had spine they would be beaten by the Police in protest, getting produced in courts or starving, even lacking civil service salaries. That is the means of lacking of governance and institutions as it all is and has been all Mugabe.

So there is no surprise, that the future casket President and the one ruling into death. So why be subtle about it. That is not the need of the Mugabe regime now. They are beating civilians, detaining civilian activists and silencing the opposition. Therefore, they feel invisible to anyone who thinks they can bring down President Mugabe. Peace.

Reference:

Gono, Vincent, Mukarati, Levi & Tshuma Nduduzo – ‘NO PRESSURE ON SUCCESSOR: President speaks on party divisions, bond notes’ (26.02.2017) link: http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/no-pressure-on-successor-president-speaks-on-party-divisions-bond-notes/

Breaking News: Competition Commission reaches settlement with Citibank N.A. for colluding (20.02.2017)

south-african-rand-4

Today, the Competition Commission has filed with the Competition Tribunal, a settlement agreement reached with Citibank N.A. for being part of the forex trading cartel.

The Commission found that from at least 2007, Citibank N.A. and its competitors had a general agreement to collude on prices for bids, offers and bid-offer spreads for the spot trades in relation to currency trading involving US Dollar/Rand currency pair. Further, the Commission found that Citibank N.A. and its competitors manipulated the price of bids and offers through agreements to refrain from trading and creating fictitious bids and offers at particular times.

Citibank N.A. will pay an administrative penalty of R69 500 860 (Sixty Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Rands). This figure does not exceed 10% of Citibank N.A.’s annual turnover in the Republic of South Africa. Citibank N.A. undertook to cooperate with the Commission and avail witnesses to assist the prosecution of the other banks that colluded in this matter.

On 15 February 2017, the Competition Commission referred a collusion case to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution against Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, BNP Paribas, JP Morgan Chase & Co, JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A, Investec Ltd, Standard New York Securities Inc., HSBC Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Credit Suisse Group; Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd, Commerzbank AG; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Nomura International Plc., Macquarie Bank Limited, Citibank N.A., ABSA Bank Limited (ABSA), Barclays Capital Inc, Barclays Bank plc (Respondents).

“This settlement was done to encourage speedy settlement and full disclosure to strengthen the evidence for prosecution of the other banks,” said the Commissioner, Tembinkosi Bonakele.

Ends.

For more information or for media enquiries, please contact:
Sipho Ngwema, Head of Communications
012 394 3493/ 078 048 1213/ SiphoN@compcom.co.za

Black First Land First march to the South African Reserve Bank (19.02.2017)

blf-sarb-march-14

Public Protector’s preliminary report found that ABSA illegally benefited from apartheid cash injections from the South African Reserve Bank.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, February 19, 2017 – On Friday, the Black First Land First (BLF) movement marched to the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) (APO.af/JsJaEi) to demand that the institution act on the Public Protector’s preliminary report which found that ABSA illegally benefited from apartheid cash injections from the SARB.

BLF joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) recently in a march to ABSA headquarters (APO.af/Y21xVq) to demand that #ABSAmustPay. The Public Protector, Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane, found that ABSA should pay R3.2 billion.

BLF said they wanted the SARB to take seriously and act on findings of the CIEX report, which investigated money stolen during the late stages of institutionalised apartheid. The report found that R26 billion could be immediately recoverable.

The aim of the march was to also implore the SARB to punish corrupt banks, ABSA, Standard Bank and Investec, which the Competition Commission found (APO.af/VsZ1A9) had manipulated and fixed the rand/dollar price.

#ThisFlag: “Pastor Patrick Mugadza did not beat about the Bush, his message is clear Mugabe must fall” (Footage)

“Today I am in Solidarity with Pastor Mugadza #mugabemustfall. Pastor Patrick Mugadza did not beat about the Bush, his message is clear Mugabe must fall. We have heard enough suffering and it’s high time we liberate ourselves from Mugabe’s tyranny. He is being denied his liberty because he exercised his right to freedom of speech and behaved like a true man of the cloth who advocates for social justice and good sound governance” (Lynda Tsungie Masarira, 19.02.2017)

Opinion: Please, Pastor Evan Mawarire not run for President!

evan-mawarire-profil-photo

“If the opportunity presents itself . . . why not?” Mawarire said after he was asked about his presidential aspirations during an interview on Thursday” (…) “I don’t want to close the door on myself,” he added” (…) “He said “let people be allowed to do things that they feel and see if they will be able to bring change” (Machamire, 2017).

Let’s be perfectly clear, I respect and want to honour the activist and caring citizen Pastor Evan Mawarire, for his struggle and commitment for a better Zimbabwe. I salute you and your work for a better nation. Zimbabwe deserves liberty, freedom and justices for others than just the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) elite, like President Robert Mugabe and Gucci Mugabe.

So the struggle and hard work for social justice and a transparent society is worth every second that Mawarire uses for it. That Mawarire has been and is the leading champion of the poor and the ones who doesn’t have the courage to stand against the Zanu-PF elite, is not only Noble, but a proof of that for him it isn’t just words for him. Mawarire is a man I look up-to and wished I had the same drive against corruption, impunity and unjust behaviour from central government.

Since of that, I want to say to him something that is strange, but what I had in mind when I saw his interview in clips on Al-Jazeera this morning. On the aftermath that the Zimbabwean people will be electing President Mugabe even when he is dozing off in his casket. That is sad state of affairs and the proof of lacking governance in the Republic. Still, I want to ask Evan Mawarire, don’t go for public office!

Why? You might risk your voice and your possibility to trade your ethics and your standing amongst the ones who fight for justice. Mawarire you will trade-off against a rigged system and in the midst of burning of fire. The opportunities to be traded and negotiated away as the offices and the positions are offered. Just look at how the little power and the lesser acts of government titles has eaten away the changing rhetoric and public standing for Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

With that in mind, I am afraid of the future of Pastor Evan Mawarire and his #ThisFlag movement, if it goes from an activist and political influencer to being a political party. Than the initial organization and acts will be to comply and working in harmony with the political structures, instead of changing and knocking on the doors of a rotten regime.

All that matters is rule of law and stop the impunity, it might resurrect and get people active in ways that never has happen before, might even create more havoc and more public uprising than when MDC and Tsvangirai in 2002:

“he Zimbabwe registrar-general, Tobaiwa Mudede, declared that Mr Mugabe had won a fifth term in office after the results from all 120 constituencies were returned. He said Mr Mugabe had won 1,685,212 votes against 1,258,401 for challenger Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)” (…) “We foresaw electoral fraud but not daylight robbery,” Mr Tsvangirai said. “We find ourselves unable to endorse the purported election of President Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s president in this election. It’s the biggest election fraud I’ve witnessed in my life.” (McGreal & MacAskill, 2003).

So when he did this in 2002 and was 78 year old, now that he is 93 years old and still going, even running for next term in the coming election. The place and time for Evan Mawarire is problematic. Tsvangirai was running a big campaign and even did everything right before losing to a fraudulent election in 2002.

The same might happen as the Zanu-PF machinery will be in all-out and with all force against anyone going to question the Mugabe Administration. They will all suffer and struggle a hazardous part, no matter on what ethical ground or what policies that Mawarire will run on, the risk of losing all goodwill and all the activists. You cannot drain the system and drag it automatically with you. The people will easily be behind a man who has integrity and has the moral backbone as you have Mawarire. You are a rare breath and one out of a few. Therefore I don’t want to risk what you have for the uncertainty.

The uncertainty, the lacking machinery and the strength against the biggest and longest serving party for one-man party under Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Mugabe has been able to get enough loyalist and enough monies to pay off the ones that could question him. Certainly he will pay and rig the next election like ever before. Mugabe will use security forces, the police and army veterans to vamp-up the people to be behind long-serving president by any means.

President Mugabe, will be fierce and unapologetic against Mawarire, he has already addressed him in unfavourable ways. Therefore don’t run if you want to weaken your station and your space. You have loyalty because you have nothing to lose! Your place as an activist and a voice for the people is more worth than a title and raise for public office. You might lose many on the way, as your views and ideas of health-care, industrial policies or taxes might shrug the people of Bulawayo off! Mawarire, you never know if your policies and your programme will be selling in the minds of all Zimbabweans. No matter how Draconian the current leadership and administration is.

So please honourable and steady freedom fighter, activist and the voice of the people, don’t run for public office, don’t trade off your place and risk losing your integrity and work for justice for silver coins in office and as a politician. So many good leaders and honourable men have been eaten by office and by political life. Don’t be another civilian loosing it’s wealth of integrity over cheap tricks in office. This is a little plea from far away. Just a reminder of your power and your reach as the man you are now! Peace.

Reference:

Machamire, Farayi – ‘I would run for Presidency’ (18.02.2017) link: http://nehandaradio.com/2017/02/18/run-presidency-mawarire/#sthash.JBnCg5eU.dpuf

McGreal, Chris & MacAskill, Ewen – ‘Mugabe victory leaves west’s policy in tatters’ (14.03.2002) link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/mar/14/zimbabwe.chrismcgreal

#ThisFlag: “Back to the issues. The dreams of our youths have been stolen and we need to salvage those dreams somehow” (Footage)