Government, Workers Seal Salary Deal

30 JAN, 2020
Leonard Ncube
Victoria Falls Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

GOVERNMENT and civil servants’ representatives yesterday agreed on a salary increment ranging between 133 percent and 172 percent, which will see the lowest-paid worker earning $2 500 per month starting next month with the highest paid getting $4 631.

The Apex Council said the package was a mere 31 percent of what they had tabled.

The increment would be backdated to January 1.

There will also be a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) based on the total package, also to be paid starting February and backdated to January.

Since civil servants had received their January salaries, the workers will be paid the difference in four equal instalments starting February until the end of April, when another salary review is expected.

Negotiating parties under the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) signed the agreement in the early hours of yesterday.

Speaking at a Press conference, Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said the deal was a provisional agreement while negotiations continued.

“We wish to advise our members that as NJNC we have reached a provisional agreement as we continue with negotiations,” she said.

“Having taken note of the challenges being faced by our members due to (the) rising cost of living and the state of the economy.

“In our wisdom we agreed that let’s continue to negotiate, but at least let’s reach some point where we can say for now we sign for something so that our members can get something to live on.”

Mrs Alexander said they had pressured Government to consider paying the January shortfalls over three months after failing to agree on a once-off payment.

She said their initial position was based on the October 2018 salaries, which they wanted matched with the interbank rate.

Mrs Alexander said the decision was a compromise for the sake of incapacitated  workers.

The Apex Council, which had earlier declined to sign the agreement, said they were motivated by the commitment made by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima on behalf of Government.

Prof Mavima had earlier told the NJNC workshop that Government was committed to social dialogue and that he would personally engage Treasury for better salaries.

He said the agreement was a critical moment for the country and will help restore normalcy in the civil service.

Government team leader on the Health Service Bipartite Negotiating Panel, Dr Maxwell Mareza Hove, said as negotiators they were elated to have struck a balance between workers’ needs and the national cake.

The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association advised its members to do everything possible to deliver public service as required.

ZIMRA Beats Revenue Target

30 JAN, 2020 - 00:01
Enacy Mapakame
Zimbabwe Herald

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)’s 2019 fourth quarter to December 31, revenue collection totalled $11,7 billion, which is 47 percent ahead of the net target and 651 percent above same period in the prior year, as the tax authority improves on revenue collection.

General inflationary pressures also caused the prices of goods and services to increase, resulting in higher sales values, which drove a positive performance of revenue heads.

This also comes as the authority increased its focus and implementation of the five-year strategy to 2023, which among other objectives seeks to see restoration of fiscal balance through improvements in tax collections, plugging loopholes as well as improve ease of doing business.

These initiatives are also in support of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), a roadmap to restoration of confidence in the economy as well as its eventual growth.

During the quarter under review, Zimra registered 5 400 new tax payers. Cumulative registrations stood at 21 333 as at 31 December 2019. This increased the taxpayer base to 172 497.

On a cumulative annual basis, Zimra collected net revenue of $23,19 billion against a target of $18,60 billion for the year ending December 31, 2019 which was 24 percent above target and 358 percent above prior year.

Net revenue to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio for the year 2019 stood at 18 percent against a regional average ratio of 15 percent.

In a performance report for the quarter under review, vice board chairperson Josephine Matambo indicated that among key focus areas, the authority will continue to implement voluntary and enforcement compliance strategies in order to increase this ratio while plugging any revenue leakages.

“The authority is intensifying efforts to plug revenue leakages through closing of smuggling loopholes, fighting and prevention of corruption by Zimra staff members and clients.

“The strategic partnerships between Zimra and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is yielding positive results in terms of prevention and detection of corruption,” she said.

Of the revenue collected, major contributions came from excise duties at 15,63 percent followed by individuals at 15,16 percent while companies and net VAT on locals accounted for 14,25 percent and 12,86 percent respectively.

On an annual basis, these were also among the key contributors as excise duty accounted for $4,1 billion while individuals, companies and VAT on local sales each accounted for slightly above $3 billion.

As inflationary pressures set in during the period under review, companies awarded cushioning allowances and cost of living adjustments which pushed individuals’ contribution.

On the other hand, companies recorded a positive performance during the quarter, which can be attributed to higher nominal profits by some companies coupled with increased use of mobile and electronic modes of payment which have an audit trail.

ZIMRA remains upbeat of surpassing the annual $57,58 billion target for 2020 despite the volatile economic environment as the authority increases focus on enhancing compliance in revenue collections, improving the ease of doing business as well as plugging loopholes to collections.

SA TEACHER LIVING IN WUHAN URGES GOVT TO HELP EVACUATE ITS CITIZENS

The coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city had already claimed the lives of 132 people.

Passengers at a train station connecting Hong Kong to mainland China, wearing masks as a preventative measure following a coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Kevin Brandt

CAPE TOWN - A South African English teacher living in Wuhan, China, said on Wednesday that she had not stepped outside her home in seven days.

The coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city had already claimed the lives of 132 people. It was reported that more than 6,000 people were infected with the virulent.

• Timeline of discovery and spread of coronavirus

Clinical signs and symptoms of the infection were fever and a cough with a few patients also presenting with difficulty in breathing.

Amy Pittaway said they were not able to return home as travelling in the city had basically ground to a halt.

“We’ve been trying and pleading with the South African government to get us evacuated because public transport has been shut down and grounded,” she said.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday said his Chinese counterpart had allayed any fears that South Africans living in Wuhan were in danger of contracting coronavirus.

CHINA VIRUS INJECTS FEARS FOR GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS

As authorities adopt drastic steps to contain the deadly virus, foreign businesses are braced for further disruption next month after the Lunar New Year holidays, which for now have shuttered most factories and offices in China.

Passengers wear protective masks to protect against the spread of the Coronavirus as they arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport, California, on 22 January 2020. Picture: AFP

AFP |

LONDON - From carmaking to electronics and tourism, the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China is infecting companies around the world with anxiety about the impact on their supplies and earnings.

As authorities adopt drastic steps to contain the deadly virus, foreign businesses are braced for further disruption next month after the Lunar New Year holidays, which for now have shuttered most factories and offices in China.

Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn said Wednesday it would keep its Chinese factories closed until mid-February and will allow local employees to delay their return after the new year break.

The move could affect global supply chains for tech companies that rely on Foxconn to manufacture everything from Apple's iPhones to flat-screen TVs and laptops.

Chinese tour groups are banned from heading overseas meanwhile, promoting jitters among foreign luxury brands and high-end retail hubs such as Paris and Milan. Airlines have slashed flights to China. British Airways and Lufthansa have stopped flying there altogether.

Iris Pang, China economist at ING, forecast global tourism numbers could plummet by 30 percent this year from last due to the outbreak, which has spread out of China to the rest of Asia, Europe and North America.

In China itself, Pang said, year-on-year retail sales growth could halve to 3-4 percent, possibly imperilling the government's promises to import more US goods under a recent deal aimed at ending a protracted trade war.

'NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LOOP'

"It is not necessarily the virus per se that is the problem for the world's economy," commented Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for Asia at OANDA in Singapore, after days of selloffs on stock markets in Asia, Europe and the United States.

"It is the self-feeding negative feedback loop on economic activity, and thus growth, it creates," he said, warning that a months-long crisis could even force the Federal Reserve to shift tack on US interest rates.

The extended holiday in China means the immediate impact on industrial production is limited for now.

Wuhan in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak in central China, is a hub for US, European and Japanese carmakers, and electronics suppliers. But now foreign countries are organising evacuation flights for their nationals out of the city.

And with China imposing quarantines on millions of people in several cities beyond Wuhan itself, while prolonging the break for a week beyond its scheduled finish on January 30, ripple effects for companies are inevitable.

Apple itself on Tuesday gave an unusually wide revenue forecast for this quarter, due to uncertainty about how the outbreak will affect its business.

Chief executive Tim Cook said Apple was working on "mitigation plans" to make up for any production loss from its suppliers in China, such as Foxconn, which accounts for the most US-bound exports by volume from Hubei province.

COFFEE AND CARS

Another emblematic US brand, Starbucks, declined to offer further earnings guidance after posting its quarterly results, citing "the dynamic situation unfolding with the coronavirus".

Mainland China is Starbucks' second-biggest market, with more than 4,000 outlets, and half of them have been closed by the outbreak.

After Starbucks, the fast-food chains McDonald's and Domino's are most exposed among US brands as a percentage of their global revenues, according to Guggenheim analyst Matthew DiFrisco.

Prolonged disruption will affect an array of other sectors. China is the leading producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are repackaged by Western drugs companies into many life-saving treatments.

In the immediate firing line around Wuhan are General Motors, PSA, Renault, Nissan and Honda, who have all adopted the city as a base for joint carmaking ventures.

Each says it is monitoring the situation closely, while Toyota is suspending production in China until at least February 9 given the likely disruption not just for its own staff but to parts suppliers around the country.

Another automaker tracking the situation is entrepreneur Elon Musk's electric car firm Tesla, which has only just started to roll out Model 3 sedans from a new "giga-factory" in Shanghai, its first plant outside the United States.

"Investors are already showing signs of nervousness over this health crisis and its broader economic impacts, which will potentially be felt well beyond China, which is a vital source of global automotive industry profitability," according to David Leggett, automotive editor at GlobalData.

MORE AIRLINES HALT CHINA FLIGHTS AS WHO CALLS EMERGENCY VIRUS MEETING

A growing number of governments - including the United States, Britain and Germany - have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China.

AFP |

WUHAN - Airlines began suspending flights to and from China Wednesday as the World Health Organisation called an urgent meeting over whether a viral epidemic that has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000 others should be declared a global health emergency.

The flight suspensions came as some countries began airlifts of their nationals trapped in Wuhan, the quarantined Chinese city of 11 million people at the centre of the epidemic.

Among 206 Japanese nationals who returned home Wednesday, 12 were hospitalised for tests after they reported they felt unwell or showed flu-like symptoms.

A growing number of governments - including the United States, Britain and Germany - have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China.

*The global spread of the coronavirus: Where is it?

China has urged its own citizens to delay trips abroad, with at least 18 countries having confirmed cases of the disease.

In Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation "deeply regrets" its reports last week that referred to the global risk of the outbreak as "moderate" instead of "high".

A meeting of WHO experts could on Thursday upgrade it further.

"I have decided to reconvene the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) tomorrow," Tedros said on Twitter.

British Airways was the first major airline to announce a suspension of flights to and from China, citing the travel advice of the foreign office.

It was followed by German flag carrier Lufthansa, one of Europe's largest airlines, which said all flights to mainland China would be suspended until 9 February.

The announcement included subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines.

Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Southeast Asia's biggest carrier by fleet size, said it would halt services to and from China from Saturday, and airlines from Myanmar and Nepal followed suit.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has reduced flights, citing low demand and the city government's response plan to the virus.

Meanwhile Kazakhstan, an important China trade partner, stopped issuing visas to Chinese citizens and said it would halt cross-border passenger train traffic and suspend flights.

In one of the most dramatic measures, the tiny Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea announced no travellers from Asia would be allowed in.

FOREIGNERS ESCAPE

China has taken extraordinary measures to try and stop the disease spreading, including bans on tour groups travelling overseas, suspending schools and extending the Lunar New Year holiday.

Most street traffic in and around Wuhan has been banned in an unprecedented quarantine effort, leaving more than 50 million people shuttered in their homes.

"This is the first day since the lockdown that I've had to go out," a man in his 50s told AFP on the mostly deserted streets of the industrial city on Wednesday.

"I have no choice because I need to buy food."

Countries have scrambled to get their citizens out of Wuhan safely, but have faced logistical, medical and bureaucratic hurdles.

A US charter flight from Wuhan with about 210 Americans on board - including consulate staff - was met at a California military base on Wednesday by emergency vehicles with flashing lights and personnel in white biological hazard suits.

The evacuees will be monitored for symptoms and sent to local hospitals if they are found to be ill, the US defence department said.

Some 250 French citizens and 100 other Europeans will be flown out of Wuhan on board two French planes this week.

The Italian government said it would send an aircraft on Thursday. Up to 70 Italians are reportedly in Wuhan.

France said it would keep its returnees in a holding facility in Paris for 14 days - the estimated incubation period for the virus.

Australia plans to house any citizens evacuated on an island normally used to detain asylum seekers.

HIGHEST PRIORITY

The number of confirmed cases across China climbed to 5,974, while the death toll nationwide jumped to 132.

The scale of the deepening crisis was emphasised with the total number of infections on the Chinese mainland exceeding that of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03.

But the death toll is so far much lower than SARS, which claimed nearly 800 lives around the world - with most fatalities in mainland China and Hong Kong.

The virus is believed to have originated in a wild-animal market in Wuhan, where it jumped to humans before spreading across the country as the peak travel period for New Year festivities got under way.

ECONOMIC PAIN

The virus has rattled global markets and started to dent an already-slowing Chinese economy.

Japanese automaker Toyota said it would keep its plants in China closed until at least 9 February.

Tech giant Foxconn said Wednesday that Taiwan staff at its vast network of factories in China do not need to return to work until mid-February, a move likely to impact global supply chains for tech companies that rely on the Taiwan company to manufacture everything from iPhones to flat-screen TVs and laptops.

The virus has also disrupted sporting events, with a women's football Olympic qualifier event moved from Wuhan to Australia.

Despite the precaution, the Chinese team was quarantined in a Brisbane hotel after arriving for the competition, according to Australian media.

"The whole world needs to be on alert now. The whole world needs to take action," Michael Ryan, head of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, told reporters in Geneva on Wednesday.

TRUMP ATTACKS BOLTON AS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL HEATS UP

Bolton's book reportedly says that the president wanted to freeze military aid to Ukraine until Kiev opened an investigation into Trump's political rival Joe Biden.

AFP |

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ratcheted up attacks on his former national security advisor John Bolton, whose upcoming book could harm Trump's impeachment trial defence.

Bolton's book reportedly says that the president wanted to freeze military aid to Ukraine until Kiev opened an investigation into Trump's political rival Joe Biden.

Democrats want Bolton to testify at the president's ongoing Senate trial, and there have been growing indications that enough Republican senators could support the demand.

In an early-morning tweet, Trump again attacked Bolton - whom he fired in September - saying the hawkish former advisor had begged for the job and shown poor judgment.

Trump said Bolton "got fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now."

Calling Bolton, and potentially other witnesses, to testify could prolong the impeachment trial and torpedo efforts by the White House to bring proceedings to a close this week.

The accusation that funds were withheld from Ukraine for Trump's own political purposes was at the heart of his impeachment by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.

Four Republicans would need to join Democrats in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 edge, to allow testimony from Bolton and others.

Trump's former White House chief of staff, retired general John Kelly, on Tuesday threw further doubt on Trump's conduct.

"If John Bolton says that in the book, I believe John Bolton," Kelly said.

WHITE HOUSE BARS BOLTON BOOK RELEASE OVER 'TOP SECRET' MATERIAL

The National Security Council said after a preliminary review of the manuscript - a vetting process applied to any White House employees writing books - that it contained 'significant amounts of classified information'.

AFP

WASHINGTON - The White House on Wednesday said that former national security advisor John Bolton cannot publish in its current form a book reportedly containing explosive evidence concerning President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.

The National Security Council said after a preliminary review of the manuscript - a vetting process applied to any White House employees writing books - that it contained "significant amounts of classified information'.

"Some of this information is at the TOP SECRET level," the NSC said in a letter to Bolton's lawyer Charles Cooper, adding that "the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information."

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Can Learn from China’s Counter-terrorism Efforts

By Ronald Kato

The Sahel region has seen an upsurge in violence in recent years. The violence has mostly come from militant groups and sometimes ethnic animosity.

In Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, attacks have significantly grown in frequency and casualty figures. Both military and civilian installations have come under fire.

The Sahel is a vast, mostly arid region just below the Sahara desert. The region’s governments say they are battling a jihadi insurgency. Some groups are affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

As expected, the response has been mainly military in nature- a regional force known as the G5 Sahel made up of troops from Mauritania, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have been conducting counter-insurgency operations backed by the French military.

Experts have called for the demilitarization of the Sahel.

Yet countries seem only prepared to double down on the violence. A January 14th meeting in Pau between French president Emmanuel Macron and the Sahel leaders vowed to strengthen the military alliance. The government in Ouagadougou is arming vigilantes to defend villages.

The factors responsible for the rise in extremism in the Sahel are multi-dimensional and complex. The residual effects of the war in Libya, disenchantment with government, communal grievances and fights for resources are just some of the causes.

Unresolved communal grievances, a lack of government investment and the absence of a proper system of devolution of power has driven many young men into hands of extremist groups.

Without a careful rethink of approaches, violence will only breed more violence.

China has been in the news lately for allegedly interning over a million Muslims in its northwestern Xinjiang province. Beijing has dismissed the figure and says the so-called camps are actually re-education schools meant to de-radicalize people exposed to extremism by a separatist-cum-terrorist movement known as East Turkestan Islamic Movement. It is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States.

The movement was responsible for deadly attacks on civilians in recent years. Some of its fighters are reportedly in Syria fighting for al Qaeda linked groups.

The group exploited poverty and unemployment to radicalize young people. Beijing quickly responded with social programs to create jobs.

Former extremists graduate from the centres with employable skills. On top of providing vocational training to former and prospective extremists, China has ramped up investment in Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu, Inner Mongolia and surrounding provinces. These regions host critical infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

These have meant jobs for young people and got them to re-imagine life away from extremism.

Granted. China’s model can be criticized for its moral and ethical questions, but it has been effective in keeping the country safe. Authorities in Xinjiang say there has been no terrorist incident in the region in three years.

While other countries can afford to fly troops and jets to bomb faraway lands, China couldn’t. The extremists were its own people.

Governments in the Sahel face a similar dilemma. You can only kill so many. Investment in the security sector should be backed by even more investment in social programs.

Put simply, terrorism is a global phenomenon but all extremism is local. While lessons can be learned from cases far and near, an approach which carefully diagnoses causes and designs a localized response based on prevailing complexities, realities and peculiarities are desirable.

The Sahelian countries are too poor to afford a long war. Even if they could, a war on their own soil would be hugely destabilizing and would further weaken already weak governments.

The time to de-escalate is now.

Targeted rehabilitation of former extremists and people at risk of being radicalized backed by robust social services, access to justice, more power to local governments and leaders will help to calm tensions and probably start important talk about dialogue. Most importantly, they would deprive armed groups of fresh recruits.

These countries should demonstrate to their enemies and most importantly to their citizens that they are in charge. The feeling that the Sahel is under attack by foreigners seeking to occupy it has only bred more violence, suspicion and mistrust.

While bombings and other large scale violence have become largely acceptable as legitimate and proportionate responses to terrorism, it is a whole new ballgame when you are hitting your own, on soil that you share.

China’s experience can be replicated in Africa with adjustments to best suit local realities and peculiarities. Nigeria and Somalia are already doing some sort of rehabilitation for former militant fighters.

Mozambique too, in southern Africa is battling increasingly bold Islamist fighters in its north. So far, the response has been to dispense as much violence as possible. It has not worked and probably will not.

China’s Xinjiang approach has been criticized by mostly the West but it should be credited for being proactive and innovative. There can be things to add to it such as safeguards to avoid the model being used against activists and the opposition but there are critical lessons to learn from it.

The writer is a senior journalist at Africa News and a fellow of the China-Africa Press Center. Ronald is interested in how China and Sino-African relations are covered in the news media.

SPLM-N al-Hilu Says Not Concerned by Government-Agar Deal

SPLM-N Al-Umda (R) shakes hands with Hemetti (L) after the signing of the peace framework agreement while Tut Gatluak (C) applauds on 24 January 2020 (SSPPU photo)

January 26, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The SPLM-N led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu said he is not concerned by the framework agreement on South Kordofan and the Blue Nile states signed by the government and the SPLM-N led by Malik Agar.

The Sudanese government negotiating delegation on Sunday returned to Khartoum after the suspension of talks until 4th of February for more consultations.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Khartoum, Mohamed Hassan al-Thaishi said that the framework agreement signed with the SPLM-N Agar has laid the political and security foundation for all negotiating tracks in Juba.

Reacting to this statement, Jack Mahmud, spokesman of the SPLM-N al-Hilu negotiating team said they are not concerned about the deal with Agar group.

"Al-Taishi’s statement expresses the vision and point of view of the government delegation, as well as of the signatories to the agreement (...)," said Mahmud.

"The SPLM-N affirms that it is not concerned with the framework agreement signed between the Transitional Government and Aqar/Arman group, even if it is supported by the other tracks," he further stressed.

Talks between the government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu are deadlocked over the secular state as the government says this issue will be discussed at the constitutional conference but al-Hilu group says it has to be settled at the peace negotiating table.

Al-Taishi in his statements pointed to the government efforts to break the deadlock stressing that the SPLM-N al-Hilu refused to make any concession on the secular state.

“Although the government made more than 5 proposals on this point, we failed to reach a consensus on it,” al-Taishi stressed.

Mahmud blamed the government delegation for returning to Khartoum without informing them through the South Sudanese mediation.

Also, he reiterated their " full readiness to continue the peace talks, despite the stalemate on the issues of secularism and the right to self-determination".

Agreement with northern track

On Sunday, the Sudanese government and the "Northern Track" signed a final agreement in the capital, Juba, after discussions on land ownership and development issues, people affected by Merowe Dam in Northern Sudan.

Before to construct the 9km dam, the government displaced some 70,000 people from the area covered by the reservoir lake, mainly the Manasir, Hamadab and Amri tribes.

(ST)

More Than 11,000 Sudanese Refugees Arrive in Chad: UNHCR

Photo: Refugees who fled the conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region carry belongings home at dusk at Djabal camp near Gos Beida in eastern Chad

January 28, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - Over 11,000 Sudanese have fled West Darfur to neighbouring Chad following the tribal clashes between Arab tribes and Massalit during the last week of December 2019.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 54 people have been killed and 60 people injured as a result of the tribal violence.

“Clashes in El Geneina, in Sudan’s West Darfur State, have forced more than 11,000 people to flee as refugees into neighbouring Chad since last month,” said the UN refugee agency.

The UNHCR added that most of the refugees were already internally displaced people and when attacks happened in West Darfur in late December 2019.

The tribal clashes of West Darfur have displaced some 40,000 people including 32,000 from three IDP camps (Krinding 1, 2, and Al-Sultan camp), and the rest from Kreding, Bab Al Jenan, Dar Al-Salam, and Dar Alnaiem.

During the first years of the conflict in Darfur, hundreds of thousands of people from West Darfur fled to Chad. El-Geneina is located at 20 km from the border.

The UNHCR says that the number of Sudanese refugees could reach 30,000 people saying that the rate of refugee arrivals risks outpacing the capacity of aid groups.

“UNHCR teams on the ground are hearing accounts of people fleeing after their villages, houses and properties were attacked, many burnt to the ground,” said the refugee agency.

The new refugees in Chad, are currently living in several villages around the town of Adré of Ouaddaï region which already hosts 128,000 Sudanese refugees.

(ST)

Sudan Reforms Defense Industry Structures

Sudanese army wheeled infantry fighting vehicle deployed in Khartoum after the imposition of the state of emergency on 23 Feb 2019 (ST photo)

January 26, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese army announced the reorganization of the defence industry groups to adhere to the goals of the December revolution and to achieve greater transparency in its various activities.

The Military Industry Corporation which is part of the defence ministry was established in1993 to increase the fighting capabilities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and localization of the military industry.

In a statement released on Monday, Amer Mohamed al-Hassan SAF spokesman for the armed forces announced that MIC’s restructuring is consistent with the goals of the Sudanese revolution aiming to reshape the national institutions.

Al-Hassan stressed that the comprehensive restructuring of the military industry was based on the requirements and strategy of the next stage as well as the role of the corporation to supporting the national economy and youth employment.

"The restructuring process of the defence industries is based on two basic elements: harmony and symmetry between the components of the military industry in addition to strengthening supervision and structuring of these components."

The MIC’s activity includes the production of weapons, including tanks, ammunition, vehicles, electronic industries, communications equipment, aviation, air and marine defence.

Also, the corporation has several five industrial complexes.

Debt Arrears Prevent Sudan from International Financial Support, Not Terror List: U.S. Nagy

January 27, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - What hinders Sudan’s access to international financial support and loans is the heavy external debt arrears, not its designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), said Tibor Nagy U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs.

Speaking from Khartoum in a telephonic press briefing on Monday, Nagy had to explain several times his government policy towards Sudan and the ongoing process on Sudan’s removal from the blacklist.

The US top diplomat repeated that le removal is a process requiring to deal with many issues in reference to the sanctions on Darfur and financial compensations for victims of terror attacks which have reached over seven billion.

"We are talking about (that) more than SST. Sudan is a partner," he said before to add ’"Negotiations are ongoing but I am optimistic".

"There are thorny issues. We want a successful Sudan but I can’t go into technical issues but we are working it. I wish we can give a time frame,"

Later, he had to speak again about the SST role in Sudan incapacity to deal with financial international institutions (IFI), he said that following the lift of economic embargo on Sudan in 2017 Sudan can freely deal with these institutions.

"There are a number of other criteria; for instance, Sudan has considerable arrears to international financial institutions which prevent those international financial institutions from making additional loans or grants to Sudan, so that’s one of the problems," he added.

"So the issue is, number one, reputational; number two, it is the arrears that Sudan has built up that will need to be negotiated in the future," he stressed.

The U.S. senior diplomat further pointed out that U.S. laws order its representatives at the World Bank & IMF to vote against any loans or debt relief to countries on its list of states that sponsor terrorism.

"The SST really refers much more to how the United States is obligated to respond to Sudan’s request for broad projects and programs in international financial institutions," he said.

Friends of Sudan group members recently said they are willing to write off their loans to Sudan but the U.S. veto prevent them from doing so.

They further asked Trump administration to remove Sudan from the SST list to enable them to invest in the improvised country in order to support the democratic transition that Washington asked for.

On 14 January, U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale urged Sudan to pay financial compensations to family members of people killed or injured in terrorist attacks.

"The Under Secretary underscored that compensation for the victims of terrorism remains a priority for the U.S. government," said the State Department in a statement after the meeting.

(ST)

Protest in Khartoum against UAE Firm Recruiting Sudanese to Fight in Libya and Yemen

Protesters outside UAE embassy in Khartoum with a banner saying Sudanese are not mercenary and call to return youth back on 26 January 2020 (ST photo) ( January 26, 2020 (KHARTOUM) -

Sudanese demonstrated in Khartoum on Sunday to protest against sending young Sudanese men by an Emirati company to Libya and Yemen after telling them they would serve as security guards in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

During the past two days, several reports appeared on the social and the S24 TV about Sudanese youth who travelled to the UAE after signing a contract with the UAE-based Black Shield Security Services Company to work as a security guard in private companies and other establishments in the Gulf country.

When of them who recently returned to Khartoum explained to the S24 TV, how they had been collected from the airport and taken to a far military training camp in the desert. He also spoke about how he managed to return to Sudan, the manipulation and psychological preparations to convince them to go to troubled Libya and Yemen.

Dozens of Sudanese organized a protest in front of the UAE embassy in Khartoum, on Sunday, carrying banners reading "No to mercenary activities", "No to charlatanism", "No to deception".

Most of the protesters were representing families that their sons are now deployed in Libya after receiving training in the UAE military camps.

A mother said that her son in his latest call with her three days ago said that he had been deployed at an oil field in Libya after receiving military training in the UAE.

Earlier in January, the Sudanese government announced it had withdrawn troops from Yemen.

There were reports about the deployment of Sudanese troops from the Rapid Support Forces (SRF) but the government denied having troops in Libya. Also, UN panel of experts on Sudan dismissed the claim saying they had no evidence of such presence.

Similar statements about the forced recruitment of Sudanese youth had been made by their relatives saying that their sons were not aware until the last minutes about where they will be deployed before to arrive in Libya.

Some of the relatives said in their statements claimed that the Black Shield asked their sons to wear the RSF military uniform.

Observers in Khartoum estimate that over 300 Sudanese youth have left for the UAE under contracts with this company.

In a statement attributed to Black Shield, the company denied allegations of "deception and misleading" its employees about the nature of the jobs it offers, or the worksite.

"The company reserves its right to take any legal and judicial measures against everyone who has offended the company," further said Black Shield in its statement.

Some of the protesters denounced the government silence and called on Abdel Fattah al-Burhan the head of the Sovereign Council and Abdallah Hamdok, the prime minister to take action against this company and to bring their relatives back to the country.

After the collapse of al-Bashir’s regime, the Sudanese government enhanced relations with the UAE which is known for its hostilities to Islamist regimes and its alleged support to the Libyan renegade general Haftar.

However, there are calls among the ruling Forces for Freedom and Change to not take part in the regional conflicts particularly the embargo against Qatar, the civil wars in Libya and Yemen.

(ST)

U.S. Envoy, Ministers Discuss Economic Situation in Sudan

January 26, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Donald Booth on Sunday discussed the economic situation in Sudan with the Sudanese ministers of economy and mining.

Booth arrived in Khartoum following talks with officials in Saudi Arabia and Qatar about ways to support the ailing economic situation in Sudan.

The ministry of finance said that Minister Ibrahim al-Badawi discussed with Booth the economic reforms he plans to achieve through the 2020 budget, to address the financial structural imbalances.

Also, al-Badawi called on Booth envoy to back their efforts for the removal of obstacles preventing bank transfers between the two countries.

Sudan is still a state sponsor of terrorism and banks fear to deal with the Sudanese banks despite the lift of economic sanctions two years ago.

"The two sides also agreed on the importance of the donors’ meeting to be held before the middle of the year," further said the statement.

Last December, it was decided to hold the donor conference in April but the host country Kuwait asked to postpone it to May or June 2020.

For his part, Energy Minister Adel Ali Ibrahim informed the U.S. envoy of the reforms achieved in the energy and mining sector to eradicate fraud and corruption in line with the demands of December Revolution.

He also reviewed the multiple opportunities to invest in the mining sector and discussed with Booth the opportunities in the oil sector.

The visiting diplomat expressed hope to see US companies invest in Sudan, especially since the energy sector in Sudan is still attractive.

(ST)

President Al-Assad Chairs Meeting on National Project for Administrative Reform

28 January، 2020

Damascus, SANA – President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday chaired a meeting on the stages of implementation of the national project for administrative reform and what has been achieved in his regard.

At the beginning of the meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Imad Khamis and a number of Ministers, the final draft of financial disclosure which will be reviewed by the Cabinet in preparation for passing it, as this role should have a positive impact on strengthening the values of integrity, equality, and transparency in institutes, which would help prevent corruption, curb illegal earning, and protect public funds.

Administrative Development Minister Salam Saffaf reviewed the results of the preliminary stage of the national project for administrative reforms at the Ministries of Local Administration and Environment, Public Work and Housing, and Finance, particularly in terms of human resources management, amending the organization and administrative structures, the problems that had been revealed during implementation, and means for addressing them.

Public Works and Housing Minister Suhail Abdellatif and Local Administration and Environment Minister Hussein Makhlouf reviewed the new organizational structure of their Ministries, which address the problems related to administrative inflation in old structures, as well as the results of evaluations for workers in central departments and the training courses which will result from them in order to improve work quality and efficiency and achieve optimal use of available human resources.

For his part, Finance Minister Maamoun Hamdan pointed out to the loopholes in the existing organizational structure in the Ministry and the steps being taken to address them and implement the optimal organizational structure for the Ministry and its establishments.

President al-Assad gave instructions to begin applying the preliminary stage of the administrative reform program in the rest of the Ministries concurrently according to the steps employed in the three aforementioned Ministries, as well as focusing on a number of main points that raise work efficiency at public establishments and achieve optimal investment in the human resources that are available at these establishments and that would join them in the future.

These points include setting just criteria for holding job competitions after setting a map of human resources, vacancies, and job descriptions by the public establishments; reducing the number of Assistant Ministers along with the inflated administrative structures, particularly in administrative support departments, which leads to a decrease in the performance of establishments and increases spending; and addressing problems in the staff numbers of ministries based on analyzing the workforce.

The meeting was attended by the Health Minister, Social Affairs and Labor Minister, the Chairman of the Planning and International Cooperation Commission, and the Secretary of the Cabinet.

Hazem Sabbagh

Lavrov: Terrorists Positioned in Idleb Continue Their Provocations and Attacks

28 January، 2020

Moscow, SANA- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the terrorists positioned in Idleb continue their provocations and attacks on the neighboring regions, the Syrian Arab Army points and on Hmeimim airport.

During a press conference with South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Minister in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov added that the Turkish side should implement the understandings reached regarding the de-escalation zone in Idleb.

“ The terrorists target the humanitarian corridors in the countryside of Aleppo and Idleb to prevent the exit of civilians and take them human shields,” the Russian diplomat said.

Lavrov mentioned that a large number of terrorists were transported from Idleb to Libya in violation of International resolutions.

Gh.A.Hassoun

50% of Industrial Facilities Return to Production in Damascus Countryside

28 January، 2020

Damascus countryside, SANA_ Industry sector began to recover as a result of the governmental steps which were adopted to provide all facilitations, especially to establishments suspended or damaged due to the terrorism in the country.

The return of industrial plants and factories for production in Tal Kerdi industrial zone, northeast of Damascus city, continues with the completion of services and infrastructure there, according to those responsible for them, who confirm willingness to provide support and facilitations for all facilities to produce again.

More than 50% of the facilities and industrial plants in the industrial zone of Tal Kerdi,  resumed production, while others are still under maintenance.

“Thanks to the efforts made to rehabilitate infrastructure and restore services, more than 2300 industrial plants re-opened in Damascus Countryside,” Director of industrial zones in Damascus Countryside Asaad Khalouf said.

He added that the work is currently underway to rehabilitate the rest of the plants to resume production.

Authorities Ready to Receive Civilians Willing to Exit from Terrorists-held Areas

28 January، 2020

Idleb/Aleppo, SANA_ The authorities concerned, in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Army, continue their preparations, for the 16th day, to receive people wishing to leave the terrorists-held areas in Idleb and southern Aleppo through the humanitarian corridors in Abu al-Duhour, al-Habit and al-Hader, as part of the ongoing government’s efforts to return people who were forcibly displaced due to terrorism.

SANA reporters said that the logistic preparations are completed from the first day of opening the humanitarian corridors to receive civilians to be transported to their houses and areas that have been cleared of terrorism by the Syrian Arab Army.

Earlier, the authorities, in cooperation with army units, provided all logistic requirements at the corridors, including buses, ambulances, medicines, food supplies and medical teams to present emergency health services to the people.

Jabhat al-Nusra-linked terrorist organizations continued their criminal practices to prevent those who are wishing to exit the terrorists-infested areas through the humanitarian corridors, taking them as human shields.

Gh.A.Hassoun

Syrian Army Carries Out Concentrated Operations Against Terrorists West and Southwest of Aleppo

28 January، 2020

Aleppo, SANA – Syrian Arab Army units operating in Aleppo carried out concentrated strikes on gatherings and fortified positions of terrorists west and southwest of Aleppo city.

SANA’s reporter on the ground in Aleppo said that army units started since Tuesday morning carrying out concentrated artillery and rocket strikes on terrorists’ positions, destroying their fortification, gatherings, vehicles, and ammo depots in the directions of Khan Touman, al-Mansoura, Kafr Naha, and Kafr Dael and across al-Rashidin area at the western and southwestern outskirts of Aleppo city.

Hazem Sabbagh

Units of the Army Enter the Majority of Ma’arat al-Numan Neighborhoods in Idleb

28 January، 2020

Idleb, SANA-Syrian Arab Army units on Tuesday entered the major parts of Ma’arat al-Numan strategic city in Idleb southern countryside after fierce clashes with terrorist organizations.

SANA reporter, who was present in most of the army’s operation battlefields, said that the army units, following their domination on the majority of villages and towns in the surroundings of Ma’arat al-Numan, continued their combatant operations towards al-Ma’ara city and broke into the fortifications of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists and the affiliated groups.

The reporter added that the army units inflicted heavy losses upon the terrorists, who were positioned in the city, before their collapse and retreat into the north towards Sarakeb and Ariha cities.

He added that units of the army immediately started the operations of combing in the neighborhoods of Ma’arat a,-Numan and the surrounding farms. Meanwhile the engineering units began to dismantle mines and bombs in the liberated streets.

Mazen Eyon