The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
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www.sdvoice.info
• Thursday, April 2, 2020
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AFRICAN MINISTERS FORESEE
‘BREAK THE GLASS MOMENT’ WITHOUT MAJOR DEBT RELIEF
By Lisa Lives Global Information Network Multilateral lenders and investors are being asked to pony up a modest stimulus package that would halt the spread of the coronavirus in Africa and keep economies from crashing under the weight of debt-servicing costs.
IMF committee called it a “break the glass moment.” The package is about 5% of the agreed upon stimulus package agreed to this week by U.S. legislators and signed by the President.
Once a borrower from wealthy countries and institutions, Africa is now saddled with crushing debts to China ($143 billion), international debt markets ($55 billion), other banks, commodity traders and the so-called vulture funds.
Muslim religious groups, maintains that instead of paying debt, resources should go to reducing poverty and providing healthcare and education for those most in need.
“African finance ministers are right to call for a moratorium on all interest payments,” wrote Tim Jones of Jubilee UK, a partner group. “In the face of a huge health and economic crisis, halting debt payments is the fastest way to keep money in African An international activist group has countries.” seen it before. Inspired by univerSouth African Finance Minister Tito sal faith traditions, Jubilee USA, a On news that the IMF will cancel Ken Ofori-Atta, chair of a World Bank- Mboweni put a fine point on the mat- coalition of Jewish, Christian and some debt payments for poor coun-
African finance ministers, at a meeting last week, calculated that an injection of $100 billion—including $44 billion in debt-servicing wavers—would put off the likelihood of a recession and protect growth rates from falling further behind—now at 1.8% from 3.2% earlier this month.
“There is a big likelihood of a recession,” said Bartholomew Armah of the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca) in a press interview. “Our previous forecast should be seen as conservative because it was done at a time when the actual number of (corona) cases in Africa was low.”
ter. “To say we are not trembling in our boots about what might be in the coming weeks and months is an understatement.”
tries, Jones wrote: “All poor countries that are being hit by the economic impacts of coronavirus need to benefit from this debt relief, regardless of the extent of the outbreak of the virus within their own country. “Many countries are already in debt crisis and the economic impact of coronavirus is only going to make that worse. The IMF needs to ensure its loans are not used to bail out previous lenders, but instead help countries restructure debts. Otherwise, people will suffer through austerity and public spending cuts.”
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE UNLEASH HANDWASHING
WATER CANNONS
DURING VIRUS LOCKDOWN By Lisa Lives Global Information Network
AND MORE IN NEW POP SONG BY UGANDAN SINGER
BOBI WINE By Lisa Lives Global Information Network
Photo: B. Wine
Despite efforts by President Cyril Ramaphosa to enforce a pandemic lockdown at South Africa’s overcrowded slums without violence, defense forces were reported to be joining police in firing on the community with rubber bullets and water cannons. Visuals of the heavy-handed treatment were seen in news broadcasts around the continent and on social media. The lockdown was launched with tighter restrictions than in other countries, and included bans on any sales of alcohol and cigarettes and even barred exercises outside the home. “Our people will be looking to you to give them reassurance, not as a force of might but as a force of kindness,” the President said in a TV broadcast. “They must know that you will be looking after them.” But in contrast to those gentle words, video images showed a soldier kicking and beating civilians caught after the lockdown. Water cannons and rubber bullets were
fired to disperse people lining up outside food shops— a permitted activity under the lockdown. Police were accused of tasering and beating a man to death after the man was caught going to buy beer. Media reports said he was beaten with a hammer. According to the Financial Times, South Africa’s middle class was mostly able to stockpile supplies days before the lockdown. By contrast, in poorer townships and inner city areas were workers were recently paid, lines were longer. Meanwhile, as the countr y’s positive cases jumped to 1,326 — t he highest on the continent — President Ramaphosa announced the government will soon launch a 10 000-strong medical project to screen people for the virus. Three people have died so far from the coronavirus. Other lockdowns around the continent include: Zimbabwe, starting a three-week lockdown on Monday, Lesotho will go on a 25-day lock-
down. Ghana has announced a twoweek lockdown Accra and Kumasi starting Monday. Residents will only be allowed to go out to buy food, water and medicines and to use public toilets. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s sprawling capital, Kinshasa, was meant to go into lockdown for four days, the measure was delayed after the announcement caused a spike in the price of basic goods and worries about unrest. And in neighboring CongoBrazzaville, President Denis Sassou Nguesso declared a health emergency and announced a 30 day lockdown in the country, combined with a night curfew, from Tuesday. In the Sahel, Burkina Faso, the capital Ouagadougou, will be quarantined for two weeks from Friday and in Mali, the government has imposed some anti-coronavirus measures, including a night-time curfew, but said a long-delayed parliamentary election would go ahead on Sunday.
Ugandan pop star and opposition ons and invested heavily in curtailing leader Bobi Wine, who describes the voices of the people.” himself “a singer, an activist and a member of parliament” is known for As the coronavirus spreads across his “must plays” – and his latest tune Africa, he said, “this is the time for “Corona Virus Alert!,” is definitely them [the continent’s leaders] to remember that a functional healthone of them. care system is not only a benefit for The lyrics remind listeners to wash the poor but also the rich, because their hands to stop the spread of the right now, as we stand, they cannot new coronavirus. But there’s another travel abroad for medical care. They message – namely that time has have to face the same ailing medicome for Africa’s leaders to put more cal care to deal with them. And this resources into building health care should be a message to them.” systems that serve both the rich and the poor. In his new song, “Corona Virus Alert,” Wine and collaborator Nubian “I hope that this song communicates Li highlight prevention measures to the people of the world that we against the virus, which now has have the ability to play a fundamen- been reported in at least 46 of Africa’s tal role in stopping the spread of this 54 countries. virus,” he says on a BBC video. Wine’s real name is Kyagulanyi Wine and collaborator Nubian Li Ssentamu. His criticism of Uganda’s highlight prevention measures government has made him a leader against the virus, which now has of those opposing longtime President been reported in at least 46 of Africa’s Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the 54 countries. East African country since 1986. Museveni is expected to seek reelec“For a long time we have been calling tion next year and Wine says he will out the government of Uganda, like challenge the president. many governments on the African continent that have neglected the His video can be heard on YouTube healthcare systems,” said Wine. under the song title: Corona Virus “They have invested heavily in weap- Alert!
