GABONESE HEAD TO AN ELECTION AS BONGO FAMILY SEEK TO RULE GABON FOR 60 YEARS

• About 850,000 Gabonese People will head to the Ballot on Saturday, August 26, 2023 in an Election that will either see the 64 Years old incumbent President, Ali Bongo, extending his Family’s 56 Years Grip on Power by 5 More Years or an Unprecedented Change of Guard in this Oil and Timber Rich, Central African Country.  16 Men and 2 Women are seeking to End the Bongo Dynasty by Unseating President Ali Bongo who is still recovering from a Stroke that he suffered in 2018.
• Ali Bongo took Power in 2009 after the Death of his Father, President Omar Bongo, who was in his 42^nd Year in Power when he Succumbed to Cancer on June 2009. The Two, Father and Son, have now Ruled Gabon for 56 Consecutive Years and may Rule for the next 5 Years to make it 61 Years in 2028, when Gabon is expected to hold another Election. A Constitutional Amendment passed on April 2023 abolished Term Limits in elective Positions, a Change that now allows President Ali Bongo to keep vying for the Presidency after every 5 Years.
• Albert Ondo Ossa: a Professor of Economics and former Cabinet Minister now running under a united Opposition-Alternance 2023 Ticket, is the main Challenger to President Ali Bongo in this Election. Prominent Figures who have stepped down for Ondo Ossa in this Opposition Coalition are former Prime Minister, Ndong Sima, former Advisor to President Omar Bongo Mike Jocktane, former Minister and MP Barro Chambrier, Businessman Therence Gnembou, Educationist, former Minister and MP, Paulette Missambo who is one of the 2 Women in this Election. Victoire Duboze, also a former Cabinet Minister now remains the only Woman Candidate in this Election. Ali Bongo’s former Vice President, Maganga Moussavou is also a key Candidate in this Election.

GABON Fact-File:

• Gabon is a Central African Country along the Atlantic Ocean Today Home to 2.4 Million People.
• Economically, Gabon is classified as an Upper Middle-income Country with a Nominal GDP of $ 21 Billion and a GDP Per Capita of $ 8,820. Gabon has the Third highest GDP Per Capita in Africa.
• Gabon’s Economy is largely dependent on Oil and Timber: the Country’s main Exports. Gabon is among the Top 10 largest Producers/Exporters of Oil in Africa, it’s also among the Top 10 African Countries with the biggest Oil Reserves. Oil accounts for over 70% of Gabon’s Total Exports, the Sector contributes 40% to the Country’s GDP and nearly Half of Government Revenue. Gabon is also the World’s second largest Producer and Exporter of Manganese.
• Gabon is the World’s Third Most Forested Country. 88% of Gabon is covered by Forest.
• In the most recent United Nations Development Program-UNDP’s ‘Human Development Index’; Gabon is ranked among “High Human Development” Category of Nations at Position 112 out of 191 World Nations. On the World Social Progress Index, Gabon is ranked at Position 105 out of 169 World Nations. The 2 Indexes take Account of Key Dimensions of Human Development that is; Healthy Life, being Knowledgeable-Education, a Decent Standard of Living-access to basic Human Needs, Safety, Personal Freedom and Rights, Foundations of Well-being and Opportunities for Progress among many other Indicators of Social and Human Development/Progress.
• On the latest Human Capital Index which is a Measure of Human Capital that a Child born Today in Gabon can expect to attain by their 18th Birthday in Terms of Education and Health Standards in their Country expressed in a Scale of (0-1). Gabon scored 0.5; the Second Highest Score amongst 46 African Countries in the 174 World Countries assessed by World Bank in their 2020 HCI Report. Mauritius and Seychelles had the highest Score in Africa at 0.6.
• On the most recent ‘Transparency International Corruption Perception Index’ Report that ranks 180 World Countries by their Perceived Levels of Public Sector Corruption; Gabon is ranked at Position 136 out of 180 Countries with a Score of 29/100.
• On the 2023 ‘Reporters without Borders- Press Freedom Index’ Report that ranks 180 World Countries by the Level of Press Freedom enjoyed by Journalists and the Media; Kenya is ranked at Position 94 out of 180 Countries with a Score of 58/100.The Rankings is based on a 0-100 Score;100 being the Best Possible Score-highest possible Level of Press Freedom and 0 the Worst.
• Located astride the Equator along the Coast of Central Africa; Gabon is a key Tourist Destination with 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Lope-Okanda Ecosystem and Relict, and Ivindo National Park. Other top Tourist Destinations in Gabon include,
• Pointe-Denis Beach, Loango and Akanda National Parks, Makokou and Kongou Falls, Fernan Vaz Lagoon, Mandji Island, Lastoursville, Lambarene, Lope National Reserve, Coco and Tropicana Sandy Beaches among others.
• The Colonial-Era CFA Franc is still being used as Gabon’s Currency.
• French- inherited from former Colonial Ruler-France, is Gabon’s official Language. Fang, a local Language is seen by many as Gabon’s National Language.
• Gabon is a Secular State. 85% of Gabonese People are of Christian Faith, about 10% are Muslims.
• Libreville is Gabon’s Capital City. Other big Cities in Gabon are Port-Gentil, Masuku, Oyem, Moanda, Owendo and Mouila.

ELECTORAL RAMIFICATIONS

48 Years old Top Gabonese Army General, Brigadier General BRICE OLIGUI NGUEMA was on September 4, 2023 Sworn in as Gabon’s Transition President after Overthrowing his Cousin, President Ali Bongo in a Bloodless Coup on August 30, 2023, Hours after his Declaration as the Winner of Controversial August 26, 2023 Presidential Election. The highly disputed Victory would have enabled the Bongo Family Rule Gabon for 60 Years. General Brice Oligui had been the Head of Gabon’s most Prominent Military Security Unit – the Republican Guard and Presidential Security Unit under President Ali Bongo.

PRESIDENT ALI BONGO took Power in 2009 after the Death of his Father, PRESIDENT OMAR BONGO, who was in his 42nd Year in Power when he Succumbed to Cancer on June 2009. Gen. Brice Oligui equally served as President Omar Bongo’s ‘Aide-de-Camp’ and Commander of the Country’s Presidential Guard.

The new ‘Committee for Transition and Restoration of Institutions-CTRI’ Junta led by Gen.Brice Oligui has placed President Ali Bongo and his Family under House Arrest. Ali Bongo’s eldest Son and right-hand Man, Noureddin Bongo and other Top Bongo Regime Officials have been arrested for what the Junta termed as high Treason, Drug Trafficking, Corruption, Money Laundering and other Economic Crimes.Without giving a Transition Timeline, Gen. Brice Oligui says the CTRI will move “Quickly but Surely” to “Reorganize Gabon’s Institutions in order to make them more Democratic and more in line with International Standards for Human Rights, Fundamental Freedoms, Democracy and the Rule of Law.”

ONDO OSSA; Alternance 2023-Gabon’s Opposition Coalition Leader has Criticized the Military Takeover terming it as 2 Coups in One; a Coup against his Electoral Victory and a Coup amongst the Bongo Clan. “He’s a Cousin of Bongo, how can I think he is different? It is a Palace Revolution; We are still under Bongo Power, this Young Man grew up in the Palace, I knew him as a Relative of Bongo, as all Gabonese know. Basically, I think the Bongo Family got rid of one of its Members. This is a Family Affair where one Brother replaces another. I’m asking CTRI to restore Republican and Constitutional order. The Electoral Process must be brought to a Conclusion, and the Results must be announced so that I can become the Legitimate President and then the Legal president once they have been validated by the Constitutional Court. I have no Doubts about my Victory. Everyone has the Results, including the Diplomatic Missions.”-Alternance 2023 Leader, Albert Ondo Ossa.

Brig.Gen.President Brice Oligui Inaugural Speech:

“As the former Ghanaian President, Jerry John Rawlings said, “When the people are crushed by their leaders, with the complicity of the judges, it is up to the army to give them their freedom.” It is with this spirit that on August 30, 2023, like a meteorite in the dark night, the Defense and Security Forces of our country took their responsibilities by refusing the electoral Coup d’état which had just been announced by the Gabonese Elections Center following an outrageously biased electoral process. The Republican Army refused to support a Crime which, once too often, would have cost the lives of many Citizens. The defense and security forces had a double choice: either kill Gabonese people, who would have legitimately demonstrated, or put an end to a rigged electoral process, the conditions of which did not allow democratic expression.

It is with full responsibility that we said NO. Never again in our beautiful Country, Gabon. Without any Violence, Clashes and Bloodshed, the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions-CTRI changed the Regime which had Confiscated the Power of Institutions of the Republic for several Years, in Contempt and flagrant Violation of democratic Rules. We thank the people who spontaneously supported this Patriotic Act.

Our country deserves strong, credible institutions, healthier governance, more in line with international standards in terms of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law. With the Government that will be set up in a few days, made up of experienced people and people with proven competence, we will strive to give everyone reasons to hope for a better life. Here and now, I solemnly undertake to spare no effort so that, at the end of this transition, our country will be endowed with strong, democratic and credible institutions.

Today, the Happy Times dreamt of by our ancestors are finally coming to us. We therefore need profound Change. This is why I am already instructing the future government to reflect without delay on the mechanisms to be put in place in order to:

•Facilitate the return to the country of all political exiles.

•Amnesty to Prisoners of Conscience.

•Restore the scholarship for secondary school students.

•Financing the national economy with local partners and local financial institutions.

•Create synergy, with the support of local banks, for the payment of pensions for retirees.

•Revise the conditions for granting Gabonese nationality.

•Revise land laws in the Gabonese Republic.

At the end of this transition, with the contribution of all Gabonese development partners, we intend to hand over Power to Civilians by organizing New Free, Transparent and Credible Elections in Peace.

Honor and fidelity to the fatherland. Thank you.” – Brigadier General, Brice Oligui Nguema in his inaugural Speech after being Sworn in as Gabon’s Transition President on September 4, 2023.

The Two Leading Political Figures in Post-Bongo Gabon, Transition President, Brig.Gen Brice Oligui and Opposition Coalition Leader, Prof. Ondo Ossa met on Tuesday, September 5,2023, the Day after Brice Oligui’s Inauguration and shared the following Messages on their Official Social Media Accounts:

“My dear Compatriots, Today at my Home, I had the Opportunity to talk privately in Collegiality with the President of the CTRI. Let us Believe in a Better and Brighter Future for our dear Country, Gabon.”- Alternance 2023 Leader, Prof. Albert Ondo Ossa.

“Today I visited the home of Prof. Ondo Ossa with whom I was able to talk with, in a Friendly atmosphere, in a spirit of Frankness and Constructiveness.”- CTRI-Gabon’s President, Brig.Gen. Brice Oligui.

ZIMBABWE : ZIMBABWEANS DECIDE, 2023

6.6 Million Zimbabweans head to the Ballot to Vote for a President and 210 Members of Parliament as ZANU-PF: Zimbabwe’s Independence Party that has Ruled Zimbabwe since its Independence, seek to extend its 43 Years in Power. August 23, 2023 Election is being seen by many, as a Rematch of 2018 Election between the now 80 Years old ZANU-PF Candidate, President Emmerson Mnangagwa who Won the 2018 Election with 51% and his main Rival, 45 Years old ‘Citizens Coalition for Change-CCC’ Candidate, Nelson Chamisa who came a Strong Second with 45% of the Votes Cast.

• 10 Men and 1 Woman are seeking to Unseat the Sitting President, Emerson Mnangagwa, who is seeking a Second 5 Years Term. President Mnangagwa took Power on November 2017 after leading a Bloodless Coup that ended a 37 Years Regime of his Longtime close Comrade and Boss, President Robert Mugabe. Over 20 Political Parties will be Challenging ZANU-PF’s Grip on Power in this Election.

• Hyperinflation, high Cost of Living, Food Inflation/Food Poverty, Unemployment, Struggling Healthcare System, Corruption, Cronyism and Impunity, Violation of Human Rights and Freedoms, Looming Debt Crisis, Currency Crisis and the ever depreciating Zimbabwean Dollar, Western Economic Sanctions, are among Issues that continue to trouble Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans To-date. October 2022 Labour force Survey by ZIMSTAT says that only 3.3 Million out of some 9 Million Working-age People in Zimbabwe are in some form of Employment, 88% of the 3.3 Million being in informal Employment. The Survey also established that 48.8% of Youths between the Age of 15-24 are just “Roaming around the Streets” without Formal Education or Training.

EMERSON MNANGAGWA AS PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE, 5 YEARS LATER:

• In the Run-up to July 2018 Election; President Mnangagwa pledged to within his first 5 Years establish and operationalize Special Economic Zones and ensure Consistent Economic Growth of at least 6% per annum between 2018 to 2023.

• On Agriculture, Mnangagwa promised to facilitate the Irrigation of at least 200 Hectares per District and Operationalize Zimbabwe Agricultural Commodity Exchange. He also promised to Issue Land Security Tenure Documents i.e. 99 Years Leases and A1 Permits. He also pledged to diversify Agriculture to include other Agricultural Products other than the dominant Tobacco and Wheat.

• On Healthcare, Mr. Mnangagwa promised to establish at least one New Hospital per District by 2023 and ensure that the Country’sTreasury allocate at least 15% of the National Budget to Healthcare in line with the Abuja Declaration.

• On Mining, Mnangagwa promised to support Beneficiation and Value Addition of Minerals by setting up Quotas for minerals including Platinum, Lithium, Diamond and Chrome Ore to be beneficiated or refined locally and impose Levies and Taxes on Exports of Raw Minerals. Zimbabwe has the biggest Reserves of Lithium, Platinum and Chromite/Chrome Ore in Africa. Zimbabwe has nearly 40 Recoverable Minerals that include Gold and Nickel. President Mnangagwa promised to amend Amend Zimbabwe’s Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 21: 05 to transform the Mining Industry.

• On Energy Mnangagwa promised to increase Power Generation by operationalizing Kariba and Batoka Hydro Stations, Shilands Power Station, repair and revamp Bulawayo Power Station and extend Hwange Power Station 7 and 8 and Connect all Rural Areas with Electricity.

• On Transport, he promised to operationalize NRZ and revamp Railways Infrastructure along Victoria Falls-Bulawayo-Harare-Mutare; Somabula-Rutenga-Chicualacuala/Beitbridge; Bulawayo-Plumtree and Chitungwiza-Harare Fast Rail. Develop Sub-regional Routes Lion’s Den-Chirundu towards Kafue, Harare-Nyamapanda towards Moatize; Beitbridge-Chicualcuala and Harare towards Makuze. Dualise Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu; Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls; and Kwekwe-Nkayi Road Network and regravel 300 Kilometers of Roads per year in all Rural Provinces by 2023.

• On Water, Mnangagwa promised to Construct the Gwayi-Shangani; Mutange; Musami and Kunzvi Dams, and Wenimbi Pipeline, and start a National Program to enhance and improve all Water Purification Plants.

• On Education, he promised to construct 2000 Schools by 2023, repair and establish at least one Vocational training Centre in every District.

• On Housing, Mnangagwa promised to deliver at least 1.5 Million affordable Housing Units by 2023.

• On Business and Manufacturing, President Mnangagwa promised to accelerate implementation of Ease of Doing Business Reforms, Enact Corporate Governance Bill, Recapitalize the Industrial Development Corporation and Implement SADC Industrialization Strategy.

President Mnangagwa and his ZANU-PF Party did not publish a New Manifesto for his 2023 Re-election Bid saying the past 5-Years Record speaks for itself.

FRONT-RUNNER Nelson Chamisa, a Lawyer and an Ordained Pastor says Zimbabwe’s Crisis is essentially a Crisis of Governance. In his “New Great Zimbabwe for Everyone” Manifesto, Chamisa and his New CCC Party says: “the Citizens Movement’s Philosophy places God First and Citizens at the Center for the flourishing of Happiness, Freedom, Peace, Unity, Justice and Properity to blossom Life, Liberty, Dignity, Security and Prosperity of each and every Citizen.” In his Manifesto, Chamisa has promised to build a $ 100 Billion Economy and create 2.5 Million New Jobs.

The Only WOMAN Candidate in this Election: Elisabeth Valerio and her UZA Party has her Manifesto pegged on 4 Pillars: Accountability, Stability, Dignity and Advancement.

The late Morgan Tsvangirai’s troubled ‘Movement for Democratic Change-MDC’ Party had Fielded Douglas Mwonzora who recently, controversially withdrew from the Race Citing Unfairness from the Electoral Commission-ZEC after disqualification of several MDC Parliamentary Candidates.

Zimbabwe Fact-File

• Zimbabwe, a Land-locked Southern Africa Country, Home to the 11^th Century Kingdom of the Great Zimbabwe is Today Home to 16.7 Million People.
• Economically, Zimbabwe is classified as a Lower Middle-income Country with a Nominal GDP of $ 21 Billion and a GDP Per Capita of $ 1,267.
• Agriculture and Mining are the main Contributors to Zimbabwe’s Economy: Tobacco, Wheat, Lithium, Gold, Nickel are some of the Main Exports from Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has the biggest Reserves of Lithium, Platinum and Chromite/Chrome Ore in Africa. Zimbabwe has nearly 40 Recoverable Minerals.
• In the most recent UNDP ‘Human Development Index’; Zimbabwe is ranked among “Medium Human Development” Category of Nations at Position 146 out of 191 World Nations and Number 132 out of 169 World Nations on the ‘Social Progress Index’. The 2 Indexes take Account of Key Dimensions of Human Development that is; Healthy Life, being Knowledgeable-Education, a Decent Standard of Living-access to basic Human Needs, Safety, Personal Freedom and Rights, Foundations of Well-being and Opportunities for Progress among many other Indicators of Social and Human Development/Progress.
• On the most recent ‘Transparency International Corruption Perception Index’ Report that ranks 180 World Countries by their Perceived Levels of Public Sector Corruption; Zimbabwe is ranked at Position 157 out of 180 Countries with a Score of 23/100.
• Zimbabwe is a leading Tourist Destination with 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Victoria Falls, Mutarazi Falls, Lake Kariba, Masvingo- the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Chinhoyi Caves, Chiremba balancing Rocks, Natural History Museum, Hwange, Matobo and Mana Pools National Parks, are some of Zimbabwe’s top Tourist Destinations.
• ZANU-PF Regimes have continually attributed Zimbabwe’s Economic and Financial Troubles to Sanctions slapped on Zimbabwe by the United Kingdom, United States and the European Union back in the Year 2000 after President Robert Mugabe’s Radical Land Reforms. President Mnangagwa’s Effort to have the Sanctions lifted by paying Reparations to some 4,500 White Farmers who were kicked out of Zimbabwean Farmlands by President Mugabe to Resettle some 300,000 Landless Zimbabweans, has not borne Fruit, the historical Sanctions remain. The late President Robert Mugabe defended his Radical Land Reforms by saying they were meant to Correct Colonial Land grabbing and that he was only returning the Farmlands to the Rightful Owners.
• After Years of experimenting and struggling with many different Currencies in the Face of Inflation and Hyperinflation that in 2008 hit a World Record of 500 Billion Percent, forcing the Country to Print a Record 100 Trillion Zimbabwean Dollar Cash Note, and a Record of 8 different Foreign Currencies all being used as Legal Tender in Zimbabwe sometime in 2014: Zimbabwe is now experimenting with Gold Coins and a Gold-backed Digital Currency in a bid to prop and stabilize the Zimbabwean Dollar.

ELECTION RESULTS

On August 27, 2023: PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa was Declared the Winner of Presidential Election with 2.3 Million Votes or 52%. This Now clears Way for his ZANU-PF: Zimbabwe’s Independence Party that has Ruled Zimbabwe since its Independence in 1980, to extend its 43 Years in Power with 5 more Years. CCC’s NELSON CHAMISA once again finished Second with 1.9 Million Votes or 44%. Mubaiwa Wilbert of the NPC finished Third with 53,517 Votes according to Electoral Commission-ZEC Declaration.

President Mnangagwa’s Party, ZANU-PF also Won the Parliament Race, bagging 136 out of the 210 Elective Seats. Chamisa’s CCC Won 73 out of the 210 Parliamentary Seats. Gutu West Constituency Election was postponed.

“Nelson Chamisa who dismissed the entire Election Process and its Results as a “Blatant and Gigantic Fraud” also said he was the legitimate Winner. There is going to be Change in Zimbabwe whether Zanu-PF People want it or not. It’s not going to be easy but there shall be Change. We will not wait for Five Years, there has to be Change Now and we are going to lead in making Sure Change comes to Zimbabwe, we put a full Stop to this Madness, whatever it takes.”- Nelson Chamisa in a Statement.

Incumbent, President Mnangagwa expressed his Satisfaction with the Process and Results of this Election. “I am Grateful for the Trust you’ve placed in me through the Election. As we move forward, let us remember the Strength of our Nation lies in Unity and Stability. Regardless of our Affiliations, let us work together for the Progress and Prosperity of Zimbabwe.”- President Emmerson Mnangagwa. On those disputing the Results, President Mnangagwa said, “those who feel the Race was not run properly know where to go and complain”.