Monthly Archives: March 2020

Life Before Debt: Africa Demands Debt Relief To Face Pandemic

Current African News

re posted from                                E.I.R. Daily Alert Service

Life Before Debt: Africa Demands Debt Relief To Face Pandemic

March 27 (EIRNS)—The African nations are calling for a suspension of interest payments on their multilateral and sovereign bond debt due in 2020, so as to free up $44 billion to confront the coronavirus and its economic impact. A moratorium on principal as well as interest is urged for the “fragile” African nations, such as the Sahel nations, Central African Republic, and others.

This call was made after a (virtual) crisis meeting of the continent’s finance ministers on March 19, and reiterated in a statement directed to the G20 before it began. (“Three Things the G20 Must Do To Support Africa in COVID-19 Pandemic”).

Our nations will coordinate the logistics and delivery of testing equipment, they wrote, but we require international help to upgrade our health infrastructure, as well as support the existing facilities. For example, most pharmaceutical and medical supplies consumed in Africa are imported, they point out.

The ministers calculate that Africa needs an immediate economic stimulus of $100 billion (in addition to $50 billion already committed by G20 nations and an additional liquidity line for the private sector and small to mid-size enterprises). The proposed waiver on interest payments would generate $44 billion towards that.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed went further, in his “Three Point Proposal” to the G20. He proposed that a “Global Africa Health Emergency Package” be put together to help supply medical equipment, test kits, and protective clothing to the continent, but on top of that, Ahmed urged that all interest payments on government loans be not just suspended, but entirely written off.

“In addition, we suggest the remaining debt be converted into long-term, low-interest loans with 10 years grace period before payment. All debt repayments will be limited to 10% of the value of exports.”

Source:  https://larouchepub.com/

Evictions in Durban on the First Day of the National Shutdown

Current African News, Health, South Africa

re posted from                             ABAHLALI baseMJONDOLO

Evictions in Durban on the First Day of the National Shutdown

Friday, 27 March 2020

Abahlali baseMjondolo

Evictions in Durban on the First Day of the National Shutdown

On the first day of the national Covid-19 lockdown the eThekwini municipality has evicted residents from the Ekuphumeleleni settlement near Shallcross in Ward 17. Today at about 14pm nine motor vehicles labelled Calvin Security came to the Ekuphumeleleni settlement, which was first established as a land occupation in October 2019, to tear down people’s homes. No Court Order was produced and therefore the evictions were illegal and criminal. They were also in violation of the rules governing the national state of disaster.

Eight shacks were torn down while 17 others were marked with an “X” and “ABM” indicating that Calvin Security are planning to come back to evict again. The building materials for the eight shacks that were destroyed were pulverised and left in small pieces. A number of people have been left with injuries.

continue reading Here: Source:

Evictions in Durban on the First Day of the National Shutdown

URGENT DEMAND TO CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Current African News, Health, South Africa

URGENT DEMAND TO CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

The South African government has placed the country under lockdown for 21 days. Today is Day 1.

The government under President Ramaphosa has made no provision for the millions of South Africans who earn a daily living.

NO PROVISION AT ALL

Yet again they have forgotten that millions of South Africans still live in informal settlements.

Self isolation is not possible if you live in severly over-crowded districts.

Self isolation is not possible if you live in informal settlements where even basic services are not provided.

President Ramaphosa you have made no plan to deliver even basic provisions of food.

You have made no plan to give even small sums of cash to those who must work on a daily basis in order simply to eat.

President Ramaphosa you will not even provide hand sanitizer to those who need it most.

You have refused to meet with the leadership of Abahlali baseMjondolo. You refuse to allow them to continue their essential work within communities, work that they do because your government will not acknowledge the existence and need of so many of your people.

If the government of India can provide cash and provisions to its millions of daily-wage earners then South Africa with a fraction of India`s population certainly can.

President Ramaphosa unless you address this crisis immediately you are condemning people not to death by disease but death by starvation.

 

demand issued by PD Lawton for africanagenda(dot)net, 27 March 2020

 

SA Coronavirus Lockdown: Dear Black People, Take Yourself Seriously

British Financial Empire, Current African News, South Africa

re posted from                                           BLACK OPINION

SA Coronavirus Lockdown: Dear Black People, Take Yourself Seriously

March 25, 2020

By Andile Mngxitama

If I have R100 and I give you one rand, it’s fokol, right?

Let’s stop behaving like drunks after being given a total of R2 Billion from the collective wealth of over R207 Billion of the Oppenheimers and the Ruperts.

Let’s get up from our knees. It’s pathetic.

Last year alone, after removing Jacob Zuma as President of South Africa (SA), Johann Rupert made R11 Billion and the Oppenheimers made R6 Billion. They made this profit in just one year.

Moreover, the total wealth of each of them suggests that:

i. Johann Rupert is worth R103.4 Billion; and
ii. Nicky Oppenheimer is worth R102.98 Billion.

The total state allocation for this national coronavirus lockdown is a mere R13 Billion (R2 Billion of which is sponsored by Rupert and Oppenheimer). It is significant that all of this allocation goes to the same white monopoly capital (WMC).

In the meantime:

R0.00 has been allocated for the 3 million in the informal sector which includes hairdressers; hawkers; car guards; car washers; errand runners; and hustlers of all manner and way – they say they will make a plan; and
ii. R0.00 has been allocated for the unemployed and there are no plans at all for them

continue reading Here: Source:

https://blackopinion.co.za/2020/03/25/sa-coronavirus-lockdown-dear-black-people-take-yourself-seriously/

China is There for Africans

Belt and Road, Current African News, Ethiopia, Health, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

China is There for Africans

by PD Lawton   24 March 2020

Back in January when Covid-19 was spreading across China, messages of solidarity were pouring in from Africans across the continent. Many events were held across Africa, such as `health walks`, to raise money and awareness of what the Chinese were going through.Concern for the Chinese people among so many Africans was a very real thing. In response to a message of solidarity from Namibia`s President Hage Geingob, Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming said:

“This is genuine support from real brother and sister and we value it. We cherish the support; it has given China great momentum to win this battle against the virus. The virus has no borders, we are in the same global village.”

The ambassador and head of the Chinese Mission to AU [African Union], Liu Yuxi, wrote earlier in March :

“Since the outbreak of epidemic, AU and African countries have stood firmly with China. Many state leaders have sent messages or called us to support China’s fight. Governments and peoples of many African countries have offered assistance.

AUC [African Union Commission] chairperson Faki repeatedly expressed his solidarity with Chinese people. Some African students in China volunteered to go to the front line of this battle or worked as volunteers. The unbreakable shared future and profound friendship between African and Chinese is embodied in the action of our African friends. A friend in need is a friend indeed. We will cherish the generosity and brotherhood of Africa and keep them in mind forever.”

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202003/12/WS5e6998b9a31012821727e6f6.html

Now today it is beautiful to see how China is responding as Covid-19 hits Africa. It is not just the extraordinary efforts that the Chinese government is going to but also the Chinese private sector and Chinese individuals who are now reciprocating that solidarity.

On Wednesday 18 March a video conference was held by Bejing. Officials from China’s Public Health and Customs Departments, as well as medical experts were able to share information and advice with representatives from 24 African states. The conference successfully had 300 people joined by video link.

China`s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said :

” China will continue to provide assistance within its ability and put into place health cooperation under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.”

https://www.focac.org/eng/zfgx_4/zzjw/t1758716.htm

https://www.focac.org/eng/zfgx_4/jmhz/t1757097.htm

According to Geng Shuang China has already provided testing kits and medical equipment to a number of African countries. Furthermore medical teams from China are actively helping and advising to control the spread of the pandemic.

Senegal was one of the first countries to react to the pandemic, closing public places, borders and grounding all but essential international flights. They copied China`s approach and also requested their help. Currently China is helping to convert a large sports arena in the capital, Dakar, into a field hospital, fully equipped in preparedness.

On the 23 March, President Macky Sall, declared a national state of emergency. He announced a 64 billion CFA ( 97.6 million euros)Solidarity Fund to support the economy and guarantee medical and food supplies. The hotel, restaurant, transport and press sectors will benefit from partial tax rebates.

Senegal is among the top 5 African countries most affected. The others being Morocco,Algeria, Egypt and South Africa.

The government has said that cases of covid-19 are rising and that it is no longer a question of `imported cases` but that the disease is now in communities. Between Friday and Sunday cases increased by 86%, 36 cases up to 67. The cases are not confined to Dakar but from other areas across the country as well.

On Sunday 22 March, a consignment containing 5.4 million face masks, kits for 1.08 million detection tests, 40,000 sets of protective clothing and 60,000 sets of protective face shields , arrived in Ethiopia. The emergency aid will be distributed as quickly as possible by Ethiopian Airways to 54 African states. The consignment is a donation from Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202003/22/WS5e776689a3101282172810d8.html

Kenyan medical teams are now regularly getting on-line help directly from Wuhan. According to Wang Guan of the radiology department of Wuhan Union Hospital:

“How to diagnose patients quickly and accurately is key to preventing the spread of novel coronavirus. In Wuhan, CT is widely used as an important diagnostic tool. We have rich diagnostic experience.”

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202003/23/WS5e78b4cda3101282172815b6.html

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe said of China`s collaberation:

“This is an extremely important step in terms of knowledge sharing and it gave us a tremendous amount of knowledge which we believe will also go a long way to assisting our people.”

https://www.newsghana.com.gh/africans-hail-chinas-efforts-in-curbing-covid-19-keen-to-learn-its-experience/

In Zimbabwe the Chinese embassy has funded the equipping of Wilkins Hospital in Harare which is to be the country’s main isolation and treatment facility as part of a nationally co-ordinated plan for Covid-19.

The Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun, said:

“As a good friend and brother, China has been working closely with Zimbabwe from the very onset to keep the country safe from the virus.

At this testing moment for Zimbabwe, the Chinese government, business community, academia and people from all walks of life are eager to assist Zimbabwe.”

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2020-03/20/c_138896364.htm

Zimbabwe is not only grateful for the work at the hospital as well as donations of goods and equipment but particularly appreciate the scientific skills sharing from Chinese medical staff. Zimbabwean health minister Obadiah Moyo said:

“We want to compliment the Chinese government for their scientific approach in solving the COVID-19″

In Liberia there are now 2 confirmed cases of Covid-19. The Liberian government have asked China for more collaberation to fight the disease. Liberia has already received on the 18 March, the first of several medical supplies donated by China. These include masks, protective clothing and gloves.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2020-03/19/c_138892979.htm

Troubled Libya could become one of the hardest hit countries. Restrictions were enforced on Monday 23 March. There are no confirmed cases as yet. The Libyan authorites have turned to China to collaberate with them in preparedness.Bard-Addin Al-Najjar, director of Libya’s National Center for Disease Control said:

“Beijing offered to help countries that have difficulty facing COVID-19. We want help from the Chinese experience and (we need) medical equipment,”

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2020-03/18/c_138888939.htm

Namibia, which has a particularly strong relationship with China, will be receiving 1000 testing kits as part of its national preparedness program. China`s ambassador to Namibia has said:

“We will offer and will do whatever we can to support Africa to strengthen the precautions.”

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2020-03/06/c_138847477.htm

Earlier in March, Chinese medical teams worked together with Zambian officials to pre-warn Zambians of the dangers of Covid-19.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2020-03/10/c_138862978.htm

China is to start construction on a new facility for Africa`s CDC ( Centre for Disease Control) located in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. It is a personal flagship project of President Xi Jinping who views it as being extremely helpful as a means to address disease in Africa, thus increasing well-being and the dignity of life for all.

The above examples of how China is helping, or as their press prefers to say, collaberating with Africa, in the Covid-19 crisis are just a few specific examples as China are assisting everywhere and anywhere they can in Africa.

What is really helping, not just in this pandemic situation, is the Belt and Road Initiative. As regards this pandemic or any other health crisis the infrastructure being largely financed and constructed by China changes everything in terms of access, delivery and speed. Beyond a crisis, the Belt and Road Initiative is progressing in Africa to develop and transform economies in order that Africans can share the future with China, and the world, on an equal footing.

La quarantaine pour les marchés et les banques centrales !

British Financial Empire, World Affairs

re posted from                              SOLIDARITE ET PROGRES

La quarantaine pour les marchés et les banques centrales !

mercredi 18 mars 2020

Tels des moutons de Panurge, les banques centrales continuent d’injecter des montagnes de liquidités pour enrayer la chute des marchés financiers. En vain. Les recettes qui marchaient hier sont impuissantes aujourd’hui ; pire, elles ne font qu’aggraver le problème.

Comme lorsqu’un avion franchit le mur du son, nous traversons actuellement une phase de turbulences dans laquelle les lois et les paramètres habituellement en vigueur ne sont plus valables. On tourne à droite, l’avion part sur la gauche ; de même, on injecte des masses de liquidités, la bourse s’effondre…

Dans de nombreux pays en Occident, des actions drastiques ont désormais été prises pour lutter contre la propagation du Covid-19 ; la France, l’Espagne, la Belgique et Israël — et sans doute bientôt les États-Unis et l’Allemagne —, ont suivi l’Italie dans les mesures de confinement et d’arrêt de toutes les activités non-essentielles à la nation.

Cependant, les mesures révolutionnaires essentielles pour endiguer la progression de la pandémie et surtout mettre fin à la destruction des capacités productrices des nations occidentales des 50 dernières années, n’ont pas encore été mises en œuvre. Les dirigeants continuent de se laisser déterminer par les mouvements irrationnels des marchés et par les pompiers pyromanes que sont les banquiers centraux.

continue reading HERE : Source:

https://solidariteetprogres.fr/chroniques-strategiques/quarantaine-marche-banques-centrales.html

THE NEOLIBERAL ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS NEAR DEATH, IT’S TIME TO BURY IT!

British Financial Empire, World Affairs

re posted from                                       LAROUCHEPAC

THE NEOLIBERAL ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS NEAR DEATH, IT’S TIME TO BURY IT!

By  ·  March 17, 2020

The neoliberal model of economy and finance, which has increasingly dominated the world since August 15, 1971, from its centers in the City of London and Wall Street, is heading toward a nasty implosion.  This is the only conclusion one can reach from reviewing the recent actions of central bankers, particularly at the U.S. Federal Reserve, which reflect heightened panic and hysteria, especially among bankers and traders.  In a rare Sunday announcement on March 15, the Fed said it will purchase $500 billion in Treasury securities and $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities, following the failure by traders and banks to sell an offering of 30-year Treasuries last week, as few buyers came forward.

At the same time, the Fed announced it will lower the rate on short-term emergency loans at its discount window from 1.75% to .25%; indicated another cut in the prime interest rate will come next week, following the .5% cut last week; and will coordinate swap lines with other central banks to prevent disruptions in overseas dollar-funding markets.  This latter move will cut rates on overseas dollar loans, to insure that foreign banks will have an adequate supply of dollars to loan to overseas corporations.

continue reading HERE: Source:

https://harley.larouchepac.com/the_neoliberal_economic_financial_system_is_near_death_it_s_time_to_bury_it?utm_campaign=20200317_weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_source=larouchepac