Let us unite with love; surpass in forgiveness! Vol. LXXVI No 279 1 August 2020 - Hamle 25, 2012 Price Birr 5.75 Page 5 Financial contribution surges sharply in the wake of historic GERD first filling Mining sector on the right track despite the pandemic PPPDS spends over 5 bln Birr for public procurement, secures 51 mln Birr from property disposals Page 2 Partitioning peoples along hostile ethnic lines and bulwarking a divisive mindset on a constitutional base, the previous administrative clique has created nine regional and two administrative cages putting puppets at the helm, eventually endangering the unity of Ethiopia…speaks Obang Metho Abune Petros, a monk martyred for Ethiopia’s freedom Ethiopian muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha Page 6 Page 2 Page 2 Page 7
Transcript
Let us unite with love; surpass in forgiveness!
Vol. LXXVI No 279 1 August 2020 - Hamle 25, 2012 Price Birr 5.75
Page 5
Financial contribution surges sharply in the wake
of historic GERD first filling
Mining sector on the right track despite
the pandemic
PPPDS spends over 5 bln Birr for public procurement, secures 51 mln
Birr from property disposals Page 2
Partitioning peoples along hostile ethnic lines and bulwarking a divisive mindset
on a constitutional base, the previous administrative clique has created nine regional and two administrative cages
putting puppets at the helm, eventually endangering the unity of Ethiopia…speaks
Obang Metho
Abune Petros, a monk martyred
for Ethiopia’s freedom
Ethiopian muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha
Page 6
Page 2
Page 2
Page 7
NewsPAGE 2 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020
BY YESUF ENDRIS
ADDIS ABABA-The financial contribution of the public to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has seen a surprising surge following the announcement of the completion of the dam’s first round filling, disclosed Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of the GERD.
Financial support from Ethiopians who are living in different corners of the world has gained a momentous raise, Hailu Abrham, Communication Director told The Ethiopian Herald.
Many more private companies are also showing interest to make financial contribution to the flagship national project, he said adding that Nyala Insurance has raised over 12 million birr while another individual along other company contributes 1.9 million birr on the same day, he stressed.
According to the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) 22 million birr bond has also been sold on the heels of the filling of the dam, Hailu added.
Furthermore, the number of subscribers to 8100A, SMS based fund raising scheme, has also reached over 1.2 million, he noted.
“We are working in collaboration with media outlets as mechanism of reaching out to the public since the COVID-19 outbreak has hampered all financial mobilization events.”
Meanwhile, the Office disclosed that it will launch a nationwide program tomorrow with an aim to share Ethiopians voice of equitable water usage to the rest of the world.
Financial contribution surges sharply in the
wake of historic GERD first filling
BY HIZKEL HAILUADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church plans to plant 7.5 million seedlings in different Churches, Monasteries and other prominent areas for this year. Of all the 5 million trees planted last year, 85 percent have survived, said Abune Samuel. In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald His Grace Abune Samuel Archbishop of Ethiopia Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC) further said that the church has planted about 3 million seedlings from last June 5. His Grace also added that the church is planting seedlings in collaboration with Norweigan Church Aid (NCA), different religions and EOC’s fellows. Particularly, the commission is implementing its forest development program at Amhara, Oromia, Tigrai, SNNPR and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. “The Church has more than 65,000 Churches and Monasteries, 75 percent of the monasttries are endowed with forests; ranging1-4000ha. These forests have been managed and
protected by Church communities who reside in and around the churches and Monastries,” his grace pronounced. Abune Samuel also suggested that planting trees must be the concern of each individual. Therefore in order to cop up with the environment and create a better atmosphere each religion’s community, government and nongovernmental institutions should support the green legacy campaign of the government. Yilikal Shiferaw, Commissioner of EOC-DICAC on his part told Herald that the Church has long history and experience in conserving and managing Church forests. The commission has budgeted 109,790,092 ETB for forest development program at the above listed regions. As to him, the finance is earned from NCA and Protestant Agency for Diakonia and Development (PADD).The commissioner also said that this church forest program has Ecological and socio-economic significance coupled with its spiritual and cultural functions. And the Church is working examplary activities in
conserving and protecting the environment. “Planting must not be the final stage for all of us. We must follow up the growth and survival of each seedling for a better result. Despite some challenges like deforestation, lack of boundary and land ownership and low regeneration, the church is doing its indispensable role in protecting and conserving the environment for many years,” Yilikal noted. He also acknowledges NCA and PADD for their willingness to work cooperatively with the church in forest development program. Meanwhile the organizations are also delivering short and long term trainings for the commission regarding forest development, he added. As to him, the project’s goal is creating sustainably managed and protected church forests contribute to human wellbeing and ecosystems rehabilitation in Ethiopia/ The Orthodox Church and other faith communities contribute towards Ethiopia`s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy.
Church plans to plant more than 7 million seedlings · Budgeted 109,790,092 ETB for church forest development
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
ADDIS ABABA – The Public Procurement and Property Disposal Service (PPPDS) said it has disbursed over 5 billion Birr for public procurement, and secured over 51 million Birr from the disposals of public properties during the 2019/20 fiscal year; in which its overall performance hits 85 per cent of the target.
PPPDS’ Public Relations Director Melkamu Defali told The Ethiopian Herald that of the total 5.1 billion Birr, the procurement of 2.1 billion Birr was conducted through the framework agreement made with public institutions; whereas the remaining was set
as strategic procurement, particularly for the purchasing of vehicles, wheat, and other electromechanical products.
In this respect, over 42 million Birr had been spent for the procurement of 110 vehicles of 42 public institutions, he added.
Melkamu also said over 51.8 million Birr has been secured from the sale out of use products such as used vehicles, and small pieces of metals among others.
According to him, both public procurement and property disposal services are conducted by a competitive bidding process and authorization of whether the bidding
companies are eligible for participation.
Melkamu explained that although remarkable performance was achieved, frequent cancelation of tenders has happened due to the outbreak of the pandemic-COVID-19 and other reasons that have still been impeding the bidding process and perhaps exposing the bidding companies to unnecessary costs and delays.
It was learnt that the Service is usually conducting two types of government tenders, national and international. National tenders are restricted to local companies’ participation, while international tenders are open for all including foreign companies.
PPPDS spends over 5 bln Birr for public procurement, secures 51 mln Birr from property disposals
ADDIS ABABA -- (ENA) Millions of Ethiopian Muslims have celebrated the 1441st Eid-al-Adha holiday across the country, amid COVID-19 pandemic. Eid-al-Adha has been commemorated over a millennium in mosques and public places where many Muslims turned out to observe the day in huge congregations.In every Eid-al-Adha holiday, hundreds of thousands of Muslims turned out for the Eid prayer in and around the Addis Ababa’s old stadium which is located in the capital downtown.But this year the celebration is unlike the preceding ones as the festival is shadowed by the spread of coronavirus pandemic, most Muslims celebrated the day with families and feasts.Muslims in many countries including Ethiopia clearly adhered to the World Health Organization’s guidelines with social distancing to help contain the virus and keep themselves secure. Eid al-Adha, which in Arabic literally means the “festival of the sacrifice”,
Ethiopian muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha
commemorates the story of the Muslim Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith.Muslims believe Ibrahim was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Ismail. The belief holds that God stayed his hand, sparing the
boy, and placing a ram in his place.It is to be recalled that last night, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has extended his wish to Muslims who are celebrating the 1441st
Eid-al-Adha holiday and other Ethiopians
across the nation.As Eid al-Adha is one of a popular Islamic holiday, during which animals are generally sacrificed, the meat from which is distributed to the needy.
The Ethiopian Herald
Established in 1943Published daily except MondaysBy The Ethiopian Press Agency
Address- Nifas Silk Lafto Sub-city Woreda - 05, House No----
Tel- +251 111 26 41 98
BY STAFF REPORTER
Ethiopia, Morocco: Strategic partners in Africa
Ethiopia’s unreserved struggle against climate change
During the last couples of weeks Ethiopia has scored some success in some fields. One is the successful beginning of the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The other is the effective continuation of the seedling transplantation campaign which is part of the green legacy initiative. In a recent message, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also noted that “the mid-term review of this year’s Green Legacy activities shows hopeful progress and national capacity to set and achieve targets with more than 4.1bln. seedlings planted nationwide. Green Legacy is one of the core focus areas of the government because it has a direct impact on our economy and job creation endeavors.”One thing to add, the world renowned athlete Haile Gebreselassie has made a symbolic gift to Prime Minister Abiy. This is the main produce of electric car. This locally assembled electric car is vital in that it uses electricity which the country can avail more than fuel and also contributes to environment protection. It is a good instance for the efforts of the private sector that need to be encouraged. It is also worth mentioning the efforts of making sure that industries in the
country observe environmental protection measures. It is to be recalled that in recent years Ethiopia has focused on the growing the manufacturing industry sector especially through promoting the expansion of industrial parks. These state of the art industrial parks are effectively contributing in realizing the government’s endeavor of creating clean and green economy. All these actions add up together to bring about successful economic and social development for the country. Therefore, the government should continue to speed up the ongoing campaigns of seedling transplantation, and encouraging the opening of more carbon free industries. As mentioned above, the GERD can help the country generate about 6,000 MW of electricity. Beyond supplying electricity, the source of carbon free energy, GERD can greatly impact the environmental protection efforts of the country. The supply of electric power can help those who cut trees to use for fire wood. Otherwise, the plantation of trees would be to no avail.Furthermore, people would have access to more and affordable electric power to replace fuel. This will help reduce carbon emission as well as atmospheric heat. Many of the industries in the country are
also using electric power. Hence, the promising progress of GERD will support the efforts of building climate resilient economy. In order to further enhance the activity of the environment protection it is good to increase the role of the private sector and individual citizens. One of the ways to promote is to pave the means where they can benefit economically. The projects that the country started few years ago should further continue. The ongoing projects also need to include benefit schemes for farmers, the private sector and other actors.The green legacy initiative, the development of clean and green energy sources like the GERD and the promotion of industries that utilize clean energy are intertwined to each other and lead to fruitful realization of building clean and green economy.It is also worth noting that the effectiveness of Ethiopia in this regard is helpful not only for itself. It rather contributes immensely to the entire region and the continent. Hence, all countries should stand in solidarity to Ethiopia’s unreserved efforts.
Ethiopia is considered as a strategic partner for Morocco, regarding its important regional position and its role in sustaining peace and stability in the region of the Horn of Africa. The reforms in the economic sector are encouraging the private sector to settle their business in Ethiopia, which is nowadays attracting more and more the attention of the Moroccan companies. Ethiopia also provides a very attractive market and its Government’s policy of reforms is creating conditions to favor economic development, including through more foreign investment.
Among others, the fields of renewable energy, logistics, and education, etc., in which the Kingdom of Morocco has accumulated huge expertise, are also set to boost bilateral ties between the two countries to illustrate an African model in the South-South cooperation.
According to the statement sent to The Ethiopian Herald, the feast of the throne in Morocco is a day held on 30 July, as one of much rejoicing and festivity. While the Royal Palace hosts the primary festivities, the many cities, towns and villages spread across the country also make sure not to miss out on the joy. On this very special Day, His Majesty the King usually addresses the nation at some point during the festivities.
The current COVID-19 pandemic makes this year’s celebration special. Due to the global health crisis, it has been decided to postpone
all activities, festivities and ceremonies planned on this honorable occasion. But, it is still an annual moment for Morocco to enumerate numbers of achievements that the Kingdom has reached over the past years, under His Majesty’s wise Leadership.
As an emerging African power, Morocco has given more attention to its partnership with Africa, especially through initiatives in South-South Cooperation. In this respect, Morocco, being an African reference in the Agricultural sector, shares with many African countries knowledge, know-how, experiences and lessons learned, further contributing to achieving food security in Africa, by supporting sustainable agricultural production in order to benefit local farmers.
With the Ethiopian Government, Morocco is proud to establish a strong partnership in the field of Agriculture, through the OCP Company, mainly in the fertilizers supply and expertise sharing.
His Majesty’s 2016 visit to Ethiopia was a historic moment in the bilateral relations between the two countries. It allowed the signature of 12 Agreements, which include the MoU to set a factory for fertilizers production, named Dire Dawa Fertilizer Complex. Aiming to be a model in the South-South Cooperation, the plant is set to support Ethiopia reaching self-sufficiency in fertilizer production, with prospects of investing in its potential for exportation too.
In addition to the above, Morocco is working to enhance its collaboration with Ethiopia in
field of women economic empowerment. In this respect, Morocco has organized, on 03-04 December 2020, in collaboration with the Center for African Women Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), the First Women Continental Event, under the theme “Boosting Intra-African Trade: Women Taking The Lead”, which witnessed the participation of 08 Moroccan Women Cooperatives. The inauguration of this event was honored by the presence of Her Excellency Mrs. Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and His Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Moreover, a women Moroccan delegation, led by the Vice-president of the National Union of Women of Morocco (UNFM) has also paid a visit to Addis Ababa from 27-31 January 2020. The UNFM is Chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem and considered as the oldest and largest women organization in Morocco.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic fighting and thanks to smart Vision of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, Morocco witnessed an exemplary burst of solidarity at both national and African level.
At the national level, the Kingdom adopted a series of measures based on a preventive and proactive approach. Public authorities have been highly mobilized to provide support to the populations most affected by the slowdown in economic activity, in particular through the Special Fund launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, a Royal
initiative which has aroused a great surge of solidarity in the country.
At the African level, His Majesty King Mohammed VI gave his very high Instructions for sending Moroccan made medical aid to 15 African countries. The aid is intended to provide protective medical equipment to support the brotherly African countries in their efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This solidarity action is part of the implementation of the Initiative launched by His Majesty the King, on April 13, 2020, with His Excellency Mr. Alassane Dramane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Ivory Coast, and, His Excellency Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, to share experiences and good practices and establish an operational framework in order to support African efforts in the pandemic management.
In sum, the pace and scope of what we have achieved in a short time are extraordinary. We have a great deal to look forward and seize the shared willingness to boost bilateral trade ties and benefit from the huge opportunities to even greater cooperation between Morocco and Ethiopia.
By Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Ethiopia, Nezha Alaoui M’Hammdi in connection with the 21st anniversary of the enthronement of the King, Mohammed VI.
NewsPAGE 4THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
ADDIS ABABA - The government of Canada has been deepening excellent and very strong engagement with Ethiopia on a range of issues, particularly on combating COVID-19, enhancing the productive safety net programs, and in supporting efforts with women entrepreneurship, Ambassador of Canada to Ethiopia disclosed. Ambassador Antoine Chevrier told The Ethiopian Herald the bilateral relationship between the two countries is growing significantly on various perspectives. “As stated during the visit of our Prime Minister in February before COVID, the partnership between the two countries focused on the potentials for trade and investment.” As to the Ambassador, the two countries are developing relationship from economic perspective, particularly in attracting more businesses and investors coming to Ethiopia.Moreover, “the relationship has now focused on development efforts and humanitarian needs; that it will be diversifying to add
some more components,” Ambassador Antoine explained. According to him, the donation of 400 thousand face masks for African Center of Disease Control (CDC) will be distributed depending on the needs and priorities of African countries. The support of such face masks helps to test, trace and protect the pandemic together at global level. “We will continue conversation with the African Union, and the African CDC to see all the needs and to collaborate more. This is continental; of course, we are also working on support of Ethiopia’s effort in fighting COVID and its impact.” Canada’s support for Ethiopia is not only from health perspective but also food security and economic components through the long standing partner of the productive safety net programs, the Ambassador stated. “We realized that Ethiopia’s testing level is increasing on daily basis; which indicates the authorities are tracking, testing and tracing, even more understanding where the situation is and what the needs are.”
As to Ambassador Antoine, it was important for the government to put in place some balance measures taken initially including the state of emergency along with the needs of people to continue their lives. This makes all feel comfortable; because if people stay at home, they can’t go to their work and market. Of course, “We are more concerned about the increasing number of infections from time to time, even if the testing level is increasing as well.”Ambassador Antoine also clarified that the Ethiopian authorities are taking the pandemic seriously, particularly in testing and tracking more. Putting efforts and resources on that direction is a good step to make the number diminish drastically, he added.Amira Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affair, African Union Commission, also told The Ethiopian Herald since global solidarity is important to fight COVID-19, the kind and financial donation of the government of Canada to the African Union and African CDC is more significant.
“On behalf of the African Union Commission and the African CDC, I received 400 thousand masks and 4.4 million USD from the government of Canada. There are also ongoing discussions between the government of Canada and the African CDC, in looking to other areas of collaborations.”According to Amira, since COVID-19 is a pandemic, all of us need to come together in unity and supporting each other globally. Africa has already decided in fighting COVID-19 as one; but, we need the rest of the world to provide support to Africa especially in strengthening our health system and the capacity to fight COVID-19 as well as in support of medical supplies. “Both the African Union and the African CDC are working very closely with Dr. Liya, Ethiopia’s Health Minister, and authorities of Public Health Institute,” she said adding, “there is a very good level of collaboration between the African CDC and the government of Ethiopia, and the whole countries of the African Union.”
Canada extends strong engagement with Ethiopia on health, economic components
• Canada donates 400,000 face masks, 4.4 mln USD to African CDC
BY STAFF REPORTER
ADDIS ABABA - The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa has handed over sanitary materials including hand sanitizers, sanitary pads, soap and other cleaning materials to needy students.
According to Press Release sent to The Ethiopian Herald yesterday the Embassy made the donation in honor of Nelson Mandela Day.
Neslon Mandela Day is celebrated internationally annually in honor of Nelson Mandela on his birthday, 18 July as per decision of the United Nations on November 2009.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, South African Ambassador to Ethiopia Edward
Xolisa Makaya affirmed the commitment of the Embassy to work with the center to assist the needy students. HE said positive changes begin with small actions.
“AS each person acts that fuels the momentum towards positive change, raising awareness and expanding he outreach of president Mandela’s values that entail fighting for justice helping people in need, promotion of peaceful resolution of conflicts, nation building and reconciliation” he added.
The Embassy made the donation to Birhan Yihun Ethiopia Center. Many of the children and women in the area live under challenging circumstances and most of them are single parents, the press release indicated.
RSA Embassy donates sanitation materials in honor of Mandela Day
Ambassador Edward Xolisa Makaya handing over the sanitary materials
Herald Digest THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 5
The Week in Review
BY HAILE DEMEKE
ADDIS ABABA - Ministry of Mine and Petroleum of Ethiopia said that the mining sector, which is critical to the realization of the homegrown economic reform, is on the right track despite the coronavirus pandemic.Ethiopia is working on expanding modern mining operations to save the mining resource from extravagance, according to Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. Ethiopia has diverse and huge untapped mineral resources. This promising potential coupled with improving government policies and regulations has helped the country to earn the needed revenue from the sector. As the country has a huge potential opportunity for exploration and development of a variety of minerals gold, tantalum, potash, platinum, copper and others, the mineral potential of the country is not yet fully explored.Ministry of Mines and Petroleum Trade Certification Director Betru Haile, told The Ethiopian Herald that the mineral export performance has improved due to various factors including the measures taken by the
National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). The Bank has made adjustments on the price of gold it purchases from traditional gold miners and traders. The price adjustment made by the bank has motivated the local gold producers to sell gold to the NBE, Betru said.The primary thing for the improvement of the sector is directives given by the bank. In addition to world gold price increment, border closure due to the coronavirus pandemic is among the factors which contributed for the sectors performance apart from the directives from the government. Ethiopia closed its borders with neighboring countries to curb the spread of the pandemic.To some extent the border closure has weakened the illicit gold trade that posed a major threat to the sector, and the closure of border forced illegal traders to join the legal market. The traders are looking for black market rather than retailing their product to the national bank of Ethiopia as the illegal traders provide high price for them. By considering this the bank adjusts price related to the black market. This will directly increase the amount of gold being sold to the bank, he noted.The promising raise of revenue earned from the sector is the result of the reform and
directives from the government. Following the directives from the government most of the mining producers are vending their product to the National Bank of Ethiopia. This will directly reduce illegal smugglers of the product. The ministry is working to improve the mining sector performance in collaboration with different organizations so to modernize the mostly traditional mining sector that has been incurring huge loss. The ministry is doing its level best to implement projects which are based on scientific knowledge and increase productivity. There are different problems which contributed for the loss of revenue of the mining sector. Illegal smugglers, remoteness of most of sources of mining products and lack of access to transportation, water, health, education and other social facilities in those areas make the situation difficult for producers.Lack of technologies while extracting the resources, lack of technical as well as financial support for traditional mining extractors, and illegal mining are said to be some of the major problems observed in the sector. On the other hand there is also lack of incentives from the government, limited
market access, and unable to add value to the products are also among the bottlenecks recognized by the corporation.By considering this, the government launched a directive which helps to improve the performance of the sector. Now the National Bank of Ethiopia is buying the product from the producer’s directly. Last year, the ministry collected revenue of 49.8 million USD. This year for the past nine months the ministry collected over 35.5 million USD from all mining, Betru says. Artisanal miners generate millions of dollars from the export of gold annually. Those artisans operate mainly in five regional states-Tigray, Oromia, Benishangul, Gambella and Southern Regions. But the miners have started supplying gold to the Bank after it established a gold purchasing center in these regions. Mineral export is one of Ethiopia’s major foreign currency earning. The country’s revenue earned from the sector during the past nine years has been declining slowly. But, in recent years the revenue earned from the sector showed some improvement as the ministry earned more than 208.12 million USD from gold export, contributing the lions share, he indicated.
Mining sector on the right track despite the pandemic
BY STAFF REPORTER
Economic reform has been one of the major focus areas of the incumbent since it took office more than two years ago. For this end, it is to be recalled that it has formulated a “Perspective Development Master Plan”, which is a reform plan to be implemented within the coming 10 years.
The government is currently gathering important input from relevant stakeholders in order to devise policies for the implementation of the master plan. Accordingly Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations has forwarded policy suggestions for the plan focusing on eight major areas.
The areas the Chamber focused on are budget, trade, doing business, competitiveness, finance, skilled labor, land and digital economy.
Recognizing the sweeping reforms of the reformist government that has been taking on all aspects of life in the economy, it conducted an input to the government policies to create vibrant private sector.
The first recommendation for the government to be implemented on its development policies recommended by the association is reducing budget deficit and debit burden. According to the association, debit burden adversely affects country’s overall economic development and Ethiopia is at a crossroads as it faces challenge of debit accumulation.
The association pointed out that Government Debt to GDP in Ethiopia averages 34.57 percent during 1991-2018, reaching its peak of 60 percent in 2018 from a record low 24.70 in 1997, citing World Bank report. In 2016, Ethiopia ranked 109th out of 186 countries, in terms of its share of debt to GDP, and the country claimed the 29th position in terms of debt per capita, position, it stated.
The increase in debt mainly attributed to increase public deficit and government’s capped the overall budget deficit at three percent of GDP through a general fiscal rule over the past years. However, the document of the association stated, the overall budget deficit in 2016/17 including grant turned out to be 3.4 percent of GDP. The gap was finance from both external and domestic sources through borrowing instruments.
If not abated soon, an economic projection made also show that the ratio will be reaching as high as 75.5 per cent in 2025, the association noted, if the debt burden trend is not managed within short period, the extent of the problem could be worse.
Financing gaps between revenue and expenditure, account deficit mainly due to trade imbalances and weak export performance, government over investment in the economy, illicit financial outflow and slow structural transformation, extensive and inefficient government expenditures, luck of domestic institutional capacity and absence of regulation in state borrowings
are among the key factors that worsened deficit and debt situation, it stated.
Increasing trade is the second fundamental policy recommendation by the association. Ethiopia’s export earning with the GDP has dwindled from 12.48 percent in 2013 to 7.74 in 2017, it noted. This has created severe shortage in availability of foreign exchange. The total import-export in 2017/18 stood at 15.2 billion and 2.8 billion USD respectively, yielding a strategic trade deficit of USD 12.4 billion.
To contribute to the structural transformation increasing the export trade is the key issue, according to the recommendation of the association.
Easing doing business environment is also the third fundamental concern by the association recommended to the reformist government. Creating vibrant private sector, the government should ease doing business environment by enacting suitable policies and implementing the policies on the ground properly.
Improving completion is also another key issue commented by the Chamber. In this case since competitiveness is key to boost productivity and quality, the association calls the government to design development programs and policies that could foster the country’s competitiveness through productivity improvement.
Since access to finance is becoming another hurdle in doing business in Ethiopia, improving financial access is also the key
issue for the continued development of the country which need an urgent solution, according to the Chamber.
To provide skilled manpower in every sector, parallel with expansion of educational access focusing on quality to create improved skilled labor is also another key issue which the Chamber advised the government to implement strict quality measurements in the sector.
Since access to land is another key issue for development, the AACCSA noted that, it calls the government to give due attention to solve the limitations in ensuring and holders tenure security and the resulting inefficient and ineffective land related investments. In this regard, flexible and business friendly policy environment is required to respond to the growing demand for land and to enhance the contribution of land.
The last but not the least recommendation but AACCSA is the need for information communication technology investment and digital economy improvements. As digital economies are reshaping consumer behavior, social interaction, business models and government activities, it stated, Ethiopia needs digital transformation to provide industries with unparalleled opportunities for value creation and productivities.
Implementing appropriate digital infrastructure could greatly stimulate e-trade and e-commerce, which in turn creates new market places, it stated.
Chamber forwards inputs for proper policy to realize vibrant private sector
Herald Digest THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 6
Herald Tips Flashback
Abune Petros, a monk martyred for Ethiopia’s freedom
BY HIZKEL HAILU
Eight decades have passed since the death of martyr Bishop Abune Petros who became martyr on the 29th of July 1936, in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in the struggle against colonialism and oppression.
Abune Petros was born in 1892 to a farmer family in the town of Fiche, located about 115 kilometers north of Addis Ababa. He got the baptismal name Hailemariam that means power of St. Mary. As the custom of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) tradition he got a special bishop name that is ‘PETROS’ with the Ethiopian title for a bishop which is ‘ABUNE’. He chose early to study the EOC deacon and priest education.
At the age of 24 he took the EOC oath and became a monk. He grew up and became a principled and well-known teacher around the monasteries in Fiche and Wolayta areas. Since 1918 to his day of execution, he has served as teacher and priest at different churches and monasteries. And he was nominated to be one of four bishops of Ethiopia, with the title and name ABUNE PETROS in 1928.
When the Italian fascist Mussolini’s army invaded Ethiopia in 1932, Abune Petros followed with Emperor Haile Selassie and the Ethiopian defense forces to the northern front. During that time he saw the undiscerning terror and violence of the invading army: He saw how the invading army with the help of nerve gas and technologically advanced weaponry burned down the forest and villages with innocent civilians and at last won the war at Maichew.
Abune Petros began his crusade against the invading army’s terror and killing machinery. He went further and condemned all the violent actions and killings of civilians by the invading army. The fascist army sent letters to win the support of the popular and respected bishop Abune Petros to its camp, to accept the powerful army of Italy as government and stop with his preaching against the violence of the army on civilians and the patriots.
If he did this, they promised him the best residential quarters and a peaceful life in Addis Ababa. Yet, he refused to accept the offer and stayed in fasting and prayer in the monastery of Debre-Libanos. He further continued his teachings and preaching to the people to stand-up for their belief and conviction and that God would visit the downtrodden people of Ethiopia soon.
The Italian authorities in Addis Ababa who saw and heard him preach wanted by all means to stop Abune Petros from preaching and inciting people to resistance. However, since he was a very popular and respected
bishop, many in the Italian authorities would rather win his support to accept the Italian authority in Ethiopia than imprisoning or killing him.
The soldiers were given order to arrest the Abune and bring him to court for treason against the Italian occupation. While he was in prison waiting for court appearance, they tried to convince him to accept the Italian occupation. And finally gave him the following ultimatum: To stop preaching against the occupying army’s violence and terror against civilians and the patriots, accept the Italian authorities in Addis Ababa and finally condemn the patriots as bandits. Otherwise, he was told that he will lose his life.
Abune Petros refused to comply with the ultimatum set by his tormentors. After this a quickly assembled court sentenced Abune Petros to death. The news of the death sentence on the popular bishop of Ethiopia spread over the whole country.
“When Abune Petros came to the place of execution and was given to say his last words, he took his hand cross and removed the blue cloth that was wrapped around it and blessed the people at the four corners of the world and said the following last words: ’My country men do not believe the fascists if they tell you that the patriots are bandits, the patriots are people who yearn for freedom from the terrors of fascism.’
Bandits are the soldiers who are standing in front of me and you, who come from afar, terrorize and violently occupy a weak and peaceful country: our Ethiopia. May God give the people of Ethiopia the strength to resist and never bow down to the fascist
army and its violence! May the Ethiopian earth never accept the invading army’s rule,‘ Ethiopian Orthodox church newspaper Vol. 1, No. 8.9.10, 1945.
After that a swarm of bullets from the execution platoon pierced and killed the beloved bishop Abune Petros. The fascist army wanted by any means to cover up the crime they did against Abune Petros and Ethiopia by forbidding everybody and all writings about his execution. Because of his popularity both inside and outside of Ethiopia they thought it might injure their policy of occupying Ethiopia due to the domestic and international opinion that grew against this act. However hard they tried to stop the publicity, the example of Abune Petros shines in all people who love the truth unto this day.
Above all, the fascist army lost all credibility from the domestic opinion, many found courage after this to leave the occupying army’s stronghold in the capital city to join the patriots and fight for independence. The patriotic resistance grew more in strength and lead to a sooner freedom of the country from the fascist occupation. The popular Ethiopian Poet-Laureate Tsegaye Gebremedhin has illustrated the last days of Abune Petros life by a theatre play called: “Petros at that Hour”.
A statue of Abune Petros was raised in the capital city Addis Ababa after the freedom, as a reminder to coming generations of: his unwavering stand for the truth, his unbending courage to stand up against every form of violence against humanity, his integrity and commitment not to give in for short term gain or threat.
”My country men do not believe the fascists if they tell you that the patriots are bandits, the patriots are people who yearn for freedom from the terrors of fascism. Bandits are the soldiers who are standing in front of me and you, who come from afar, terrorize and violently occupy a weak and peaceful country: our Ethiopia. May God give the people of Ethiopia the strength to resist and never bow down to the fascist army and its violence! May the Ethiopian earth never accept the invading army’s rule.”
A statue of Abune Petros
PAGE 7
Saturday Exclusive
See the bigger picture As tribalism is nothing other than animalism
BY MENGESHA AMARE
Would you please tell us how the center-periphery relations of the past administration affected the unity of Ethiopia?
Thank you for the opportunity. The issue of center-periphery relationship is an issue that needs to be well addressed. In fact, the issue of what is traditionally regarded as periphery has long been neglected and actors of the region have been deprived of their rights to determine the essential affairs of their country. The amalgamation of peripheral localities with the center is a very important step to push the country forward.
As it is unthinkable to cut or ignore any part of our body, we cannot ignore some parts and take care of the other. In simple terms, no part of the country shall be regarded as more important, and any other parts as less important. As I always say, a country is like a human body. For a person to function well, all parts of the body should be healthy.
For a country to be prosperous, all regions, zones, woredas, and kebeles, from top to the bottom echelon, have to be given due emphasis and equal opportunity.
When it comes to our context, there has been something intentionally done, especially for the last twenty-seven years, for the country not to get united. Hence, the problem is not on the periphery, but the whole country is infected by the system that was put in place. The system was not genuine, not based on truth, integrity, unity, and fraternity, it was not transparent too. Even the constitution of the country, from its very birth, was formulated to intentionally disable the country. It stipulates for example at its preamble, “We the Nations, Nationalities, and People of the country.” It is a means of segregation and disunity. It doesn’t say, “We Ethiopians.” Even no one knows who are Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples distinctly. This is a big problem when it comes to the periphery, which does have great significance in holding the country together.
The bigger portion of the country has long been neglected so long. The failure started from the very beginning to make the country unhealthy, non-prosperous, and unstable. And these things have to be corrected for the national interest of the country, for its existence and national sovereignty.
When we say national sovereignty, it doesn’t mean that some regions are more important than the others. All national
Recently, The Ethiopian Herald had a stay with Obang Metho, Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia Executive Director. He is also a chairperson of ‘I am a Human Movement’. He has touched upon a range of ideas with regard to the overwhelming socio-political issues of the country.
Enjoy reading!
boundaries are part and parcel of this country and they deserve every necessary protection and care. In doing so, the people who make up the nation-state can enjoy equality. If we can go back to the last 27 years, these are people who were fleeing to the jungle in the name of oppression and became liberation fronts. We have so many liberation fronts.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the Oromo Liberation Front, the Sidama Liberation Front, etc. We have so many liberation fronts. From whose shackles were they going to liberate from? The truth had gradually revealed. These people were not against oppression. They rather were anti-Ethiopian forces. So they are liberating themselves from Ethiopia, incredible.
The ones who came to power after the Derg, introduced their tribal agendum-ethnocentric agendum, which was totally a poison massacring a generation. And they dressed it up a suit of federalism.
It was another system to control and monopolize the resources various areas do have. They simply introduced the system to easily control the country with a systematic divide and rule.
They partitioned regions by assigning numbers and inculcated hatred in the minds of every citizen of the country. You cannot cage a human being in order not to run away. They made nine regional cages and two city administrative cages. The first cage is the Tigray region, the second cage is the Afar region you name….the cages created after tribes.
For example, Gambela or Oromia or Amhara or Tigray is not a tribal, but a geographical location. Gambela is the name of a geographic region. Given a particular tribe is entirely entitled to that area, they are to oust what may be labeled as “the other” out of their tribal zone. How come! This system has never favored the country as a system; it was purely a narrow-minded ethnocentric agenda, not a unifying agenda.
Worse even, the name ‘Ethiopia’ has been given a negative connotation, even today. Surprisingly, the late prime minister never called the country by the name ‘Ethiopia’; instead, he always called it ‘this country.’ The group all in all didn’t have any sense of Ethiopianness. They used to have it like the
one who needs the milk but not willing to nurture the cow. Similarly, peripheries were consulted and called whenever they had been needed otherwise they were nothing in the issue of the national agendum.
In every region, puppets were put simply in the name of self-rule, but in reality, there were people from another cage that belong to these anti-Ethiopia groups-mercenaries of the ruling party-TPLF actively acted on the decision-making.
In all regions, the decision making bodies are not from that responsible region, local area, but from another cage. For instance, if you take the case of Gambela, simply personalities from that cage have been assigned, but you can never find Okelo, Gatlok, or others at the forefront of the decision-making process. Look! They had also plundered the national resource what the peripheries do have.
Simply, all the peripheries in particular and other regions, in general, were not ruled in a participatory manner. Those individuals who were supposed to be leaders of respective places had been put behind bars, killed, forced to flee the country, and even disappeared for an unknown reason. Besides, they had been labeled as anti-democratic force, anti-peace elements, and anti-development sects or members of oppositions designated as terrorists.
It is well recognized that the most fertile lands are found in the peripheries, but have not yet benefited the local people. The national resource has been abused, in clear terms.
For instance, the elites took salt from Afar, the fertile land from Gambela, etc. Only four regions were at the decision-making table for the whole country setting the Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, Afar,
Harari, and Somali states aside. They were administered by surrogate leaders, which was not really fair and legitimate. How those leaders from another area without knowing the norm, needs, requirements, and other facets of the local community can develop that area?
All the aforesaid regions are wider than the Tigray region in terms of population, landmass, and fertility, how come these regions were not part of the decision-making elements of the country, what makes them an Agar or auxiliary. These regions have been discriminated in terms of location, in terms of people, in terms of resources, too.
That hell system would never lead the country forward. What Dr. Abiy Ahmed has come up with is a good initiative. It’s promising and workable. You cannot put grade for a family saying that this kid is first and that kid is second, all are equal. However, this might work for the level of development parameters like third world countries or first world ones. We cannot say within a country one is first, second. Unfortunately, TPLF wrought all ways as per their ill-intended and anti-Ethiopian stance. However, Dr. Abiy doesn’t allow this to be repeated at all, I hope.
It is an action, not the sayings that count. Now the marginalized or the peripheral parts of the country are part and parcel of the national decision. Hereafter, these people will develop a sense of belongingness as they enjoy their rights to decide on the future of Ethiopia. They are the real administers of their own localities; work hard to advance their regions.
These people can now elect their representatives; this is federalism, unlike the fake one earlier, which was rather a tent of hide and seek game.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020
Obang Metho, Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia Executive Director.
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PAGE 8
Saturday Exclusive
Some say Dr. Abiy has come up with a superficial and surface change, not a radical one. What is your reflection in his regard?
Undeniably, a leader can build the country; a leader can destroy a country. A leader can bring more prestige to a country and a leader can take away its reputation. A leader can build unity; a leader can disintegrate a nation.
Millions of Ethiopians highly supported when Abiy first came to power. I was the one, even. I didn’t support him because he is an Oromo, I didn’t support his ideology, his belief, but his being an Ethiopian has won everyone’s hearts and minds.
Ethiopianness cannot be compromised. Even he once said, “When we alive we are Ethiopians, when we die, we will be Ethiopia.” This is a clear manifestation of his love for his county. Those who hate being Ethiopian dislike his stance.
No king, no ruler, no guerrilla fighter has given us Ethiopianness, only God gave us this golden nomenclature or naming.
Hence, anyone that tries to take Ethiopianness from us will never succeed. The seed of discord has deliberately been sown to swallow Ethiopianism over the last 27 years, but Ethiopianness has never perished.
The very thing that needs to be well comprehended is that democracy is a process. It is not an overnight act. Strong institutional and constitutional reforms are the key to the transformation of the country.
The questions as to where did we start, where are we now, to where we are going? should be taken into account. True, Abiy has overcome the backward ethnocentric system that snatches the pride of the country.
He advocates the change of the constitution, that is why those who have been using it as a fortress are shouting and creating havoc in every part of the country. The constitution justifies the “us” and “them” narrative. Someone could be killed only because s/he is not from here. Devastating!
Unless we deal with the wrong expressions and proclamations, we cannot move forward. A radical change has to be inserted in the system to come up with a democratic culture. We should root out the system that takes away our unity, freedom, fraternity, pride, and denies our existence as Ethiopians, favors a few. It takes away our humanity replacing ethnicity, a poison to the country and its people.
These all mishaps emanate from the constitution that advocates ethnic federalism. A step Dr. Abiy has gone, ranging from changing the name of the party to Prosperity is viable and promising. Constitutional and institutional reform has to be made real soon as there is no prosperity without freedom, quality, justice, and democracy.
Proponents of the regime before Abiy are still demolishing bridges, burning factories, spoiling societal thinking. Those who are going to be buried with their ethnocentric ideology, a bread and honey for few, are still here with their tribal, primitive, backward thinking. We have to fight all these if we are to bring about a prosperous Ethiopia.
These people do not liberate themselves let alone liberate Ethiopia. As long as they are here, it is difficult to hit the intended target. Most definitely, they will liberate and fatten their pockets at the expense of the mass—innocent Ethiopians. The big fear for these people is unity as it is a nuclear weapon that devastates their divisive policies.
They are afraid of unity, Ethiopianness, because unity is Ethiopianess and it is love, pride, freedom, fraternity, harmonious living.
As long as we are alive, Ethiopianness will pass to the next generation through blood and gene.
Individuals are heard of saying that the system is turned out to be a unitary one. What is your understanding of their utterances?
They will never understand, they do not, cannot understand as the saying goes in local language Amharic, “The one who deliberately sleeps never wakes up”.
They said the constitution is not respected, but they themselves are violating it time and again. As to them the right way is their own way as they think under the tenet of “My way or no way,” which is a chauvinistic and evil-minded stance.
The very important thing here is that we are in the 21st century, bogging down in the past systems, of Menelik’s, Hile Selassie’s, Meles’s, and what have you, does not sound. This is purely a dead imagination.
With such a mentality, one can let alone lead the country, they cannot lead themselves and their family. Ethiopians have lived over the last 3,000 years in loving one another. This unity is unbreakable and untouchable, these people will not succeed. They make us develop fear about unity, equality, and fraternity to prolong their tight grip on power.
Education is not only going to school; it is a means of knowing our rights, responsibility, and discharge what is expected of us.
For example, the elderly in the early times were much better than the ones who consider themselves educated today. When
the Italians tried to divide Oromo and Amhara, they could hardly succeed for the bond among the Oromo and Amhara had been strong.
Today we are living in a country where schools and health institutions have burned down and property destroyed, some have ordered the youth at home to destabilize the nation because Shashemene is not theirs, Zeway is not theirs. It is quite unfair and unacceptable. They shall look into themselves.
We shouldn’t give attention to these few individuals because they are part of the destructive forces at home. Besides, they are who have drunk the ethnocentric political ideology-a divide and rule weapon, and intoxicated with hatred ethnicity, ethnic extremism, and ethnic backwardness.
Some diaspora stands against the administration of Dr. Abiy. What is your comment on this?
I think the government has to take strong action. They have whistled a horn because they are living in countries where the rule of law is respected. Those people who are disseminating hate speech living in Canada, America, Australia, and others should be reported to the respective authorities. They don’t have future, hope, and aspiration for their country—Ethiopia— to prosper. Basically, they are not Ethiopians. Our government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should monitor them; those who make us kill each other should come before the law wherever they are.
We have to tell the world that we have to fight for Ethiopianness because our humanity came first before our ethnicity. We cannot ask Americans or other overseas to free us; it is we who can make free ourselves. We know how can it be done, and every world
”Partitioning peoples along hostile ethnic lines and bulwarking a divisive
mindset on a constitutional base, the previous
administrative clique has created nine regional and two administrative cages
putting puppets at the helm, eventually endangering the
unity of Ethiopia,‘
Obang Metho
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020
PAGE 9
Saturday Exclusive can support us. It is we who will define our future, our fate for our children for our country’s prosperity. The young people are brainwashed not to love their country, not to establish unity by monsters and hatemonger elements.
We have long aspired to create Ethiopia where everyone is equal; everyone has got electricity, hospital, and proud of being an Ethiopian at large.
Would you elaborate on the concept of tribalism?
Tribalism kills, it is a disease, is a poison, the most evil thinking. God created a human being for a human being as a human being is a social animal. An African saying ‘UBUNTU’ you are here because I exist.
Tribalism is the opposite of that. I don’t need you. It opposes the principle of the law of nature. Backward and short-sighted principle. Inhumane principle. The outcome of tribalism was vividly exhibited in Rwanda, Yugoslavia, etc.
There is only an animal that eats itself, its race. It’s an animal that only cares for itself. Simply, tribalism is animalism. Being a human is a responsible body. Not only is responsible or self but also for others. Tribalism pronounces my stomach first, my click first, my group first.
Me alone would never work. We need each other, but tribalism we dislike others. We have practiced tribalism for the last 27 years. The zero-sum game where my tribe takes all has not worked at all.
At the end of the day, the system itself will destroy people. What makes these people is lack of knowledge, lack of wisdom, lack of responsibility, and a combination of greed, lack of purpose.
Does unity mean oneness as some are complaining about it?
Let me give you a very god example herein. I am a person. I do have many parts of the body: you can see my eye, my ear, and the combination of all that makes my being. The country is the same. Every ethnic group is a mosaic of colors that make up a beautiful country. But unity is the monster for them as it was on the division that they worked on since they were in the desert.
Equality, love, fraternity, harmony, and peace prevail overlie, theft, wicked system, and deceitfulness. Unity is functioning together, sharing things together, getting voices loud together, developing, and making a difference together.
Unity is a deliberately framed bond and it is caring, sharing, loving, of which we have deprived for the last 27 years.
Do you have something to say about land grabbing in Gambela?
Not land grabbing, it was life grabbing. When you take away the land, you take away the livelihood. There are many places with fertile lands in Ethiopia; we can simply call these places the breadbasket of Ethiopia. Gambela is one of them. To your surprise, we have enough water, resource, fertile land to feed Ethiopians let alone the state.
TPLF knows that Gambela, Benishangul…do have fertile land….
When they came across someone who
resisted their evil act of taking away the livelihood (land), their response had been killing and throwing behind bars ...they took away people’s land putting their interest first…took the thousands of acres of land and used to fatten their [belly].
TPLF cadres, not the local people, even in the list of 2,000 people you could hardly find the name of a local people. These people were there to destroy not to build.
Thanks to the Administration of Dr. Abiy, the regional government restored the land to make the local people benefit from the resources. Some 600,000 acres of land in Gambela was allotted for development but not yet developed.
I do have a document comprising the list of so-called investors close to 2,000; all of them are from one region. They want the resource; they do not want the people. The truth is the locals’ lands were taken away in the name of investment. Now most of this land is abandoned, no activity is going on because they have not invested in it.
The TPLF members were there to plunder the resource; it is exactly what took place. This had been the case witnessed everywhere. The destruction is still taken place in Gambela. The place is potential enough to feed the country. After the coming to office of Dr. Abiy, some of these people disappear. The regional government has taken the land back. Some 600,000 acres of land were taken from Gambela, but it has never been developed.
The first phase of dam filling is over what does it means for all of us?
This is a pride, a great step for every Ethiopian who knows its meaning. It is a God gift for us.
It is in simple terms an issue of national interest and the survival of Ethiopia. The water comes out of our beautiful land, motherland-Ethiopia, it is our own water and Ethiopia contributes over 86 percent of it, so this country has to benefit out of its golden resource. Our leaders contributed, have been contributing a lot to the development of the nation. For instance, Meles Zenawi laid the foundation, Hailemariam followed up and Dr. Abiy Ahmed completed.
Thanks to Eng. Simegnew Bekele, too, he had contributed a great deal to make the dam real despite the wrong acts of hatemonger ones. It’s our water. What is being done is entirely founded by all Ethiopians, it was envisioned by Ethiopians, and it was funded and filled by them.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) filling is tantamount to nourishing Ethiopians’ heart, mind, and soul and is paving the viable way to success and highly rejuvenates renaissance.
A great deal of capital has been pumped into the dam from every walks of life ranging from a firewood seller poor woman to high profile investors and every sort of negotiation, as well as physical works, has been carried out patriotically to reach this level. Thanks to the management and every Ethiopian, it has been made real.
Since the dam is being built and funded by Ethiopians themselves, we are not supposed to ask permission from somebody to fill the dam and this is the first step as a long journey is waiting for us in the future. This activity is for sure a great victory for all of us, which is the victory of humanity, the victory of peace, the victory of self-dignity, etc. It is really a pride we have registered successfully. All Ethiopians are extremely excited and proud of their being Ethiopians and it is a success after hundreds and thousands of years. We have to strengthen our unity and harmonious way of living.
“Our country is our life; national interest should always come at the forefront because it is a matter of the existence of Ethiopia and then Ethiopians. It is our land, it is our water, and we have to reap the benefits out of it without imposing significant harm to sisterly downstream countries.”
Ethiopians’ future prosperity has laid a base and been put on an unwavering foundation. What is expected of us hereafter is strengthening our unity more than ever before and leveling leeway by which enmities have taken advantage of attacking us. We have to know the value of a country and work for the growth and development of this time-tested great nation. Unless we all move in unison and fortify our love and fraternity one another, no one can come and act accordingly to push the country forward and make it a tower of prosperity.
Even one dam is not enough for Ethiopia; we have to dam a lot on our rivers.
When we stand together, we win, when we divided we fail. Ethiopianness and unity matter the most. The success we have witnessed within the shortest time possible
is the outcome of standing together; I can say it is the second Adwa, a victory of humanity, a victory of morality.
What do you call the people who are working closely with Ethiopia’s rivalry?
“The perfidious individuals who are closely working with nemeses at the expense of their country’s national interest are monsters and cursed ones and need to be scrupulously eyed at as they have never refrained from their ill-intended and wicked agendum. Surprisingly, there is no terminology for them to call that fits their diabolic spirit.”
Honestly speaking, we cannot give them a single terminology to call, even a criminal and disloyal. These are people who are not using their mind for unity and love to thrive; rather for destruction plundering, quarreling you name it…
They don’t have a love for their country, instead, they are Bushmen, they don’t have patriotic gesture, they do have ears, but not hear, do have eyes, but not see...
They don’t know Ethiopia and its people and are not Ethiopians, they are traitors always sow discord among the young generation. They are not willing to hear and learn from others. They all the time work to create a clash between Amhara and Oromo people, Wolayita and Sidama, Oromo and Somali people, etc. They have left no stone unturned to destabilize the nation.
Hatred, killing, hostility, jealousy, narrow-mindedness all evil are seeds of these irresponsible groups.
The heinous crimes perpetrated in Arsi, Arbagugu, Bedeno, and other places are living proofs for the monstrous deeds of these irresponsible groups. Over the last 27 years, so many people were killed for no reason, even we don’t know where some others are.
A number of people were suffering during the reign of this mafia group.
They killed one generation and destroyed the country. They had no a dream to develop the country apart from fattening their pocket at the expense of many innocent Ethiopians. They are still under the blanket of their backward and malicious mentality. It will swallow them one day.
We have to educate the generation about the significance of unity, history of their country, the truth not the power prolonging scheme, tolerance, to have a patriotic society. As they lack imagination, self-esteem, and self-dignity, they have to stop functioning somewhere.
We have to teach children saying, “Unity in diversity is a beauty and power to create a prosperous Ethiopia of which we are highly proud.” The one besides you is your sister, your brother, your ally not enemy, etc. so the saying goes “United we stand, divided we fail.”
Let me cite one thing here, have a look at a flower, one flower, it is beautiful; see again several flowers-a mosaic of flowers source of beauty. It is much more mesmerizing. The 80 socio-linguistic groups of Ethiopia should be regarded as the boutique of flowers, imagine how attractive and charming we are!
God bless us! Long live Ethiopia!
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020
Equality, love, fraternity,
harmony, and peace
prevail overlie theft,
wicked system, and
deceitfulness. Unity is
functioning together,
sharing things together,
getting voices loud
together, developing,
and making a difference
together.
PAGE 10
Fast Forward
The need to revamp CRGE plan for equitable economic growth
BY HIZKEL HAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020
Ethiopia is one of the fast growing economies in Africa and in the world (IMF, 2010). It plans to
achieve climate resilient and green middle income economy status by 2025 with zero net emission. This ambition has been formalized in the Ethiopian GTP.
Documents revealed that a Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE) of Ethiopia was developed in 2011 and launched at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Durban, in 2011.
The overriding development agenda of the GTP is to sustain rapid, broad-based and equitable economic growth path witnessed during the past several years and eventually end poverty (GTP, 2010). The GTP envisages that the country’s GDP per capita would grow from 378 USD in 2010 to 1271 USD in 2025. Besides, the CRGE strategy projects that the contribution of agriculture will diminish from 42 percent to 29 percent, indicating migration of jobs from the agriculture sector to industry and services (MoFED, GTP, 2010).
There are social, economic and others big challenges posed by climate change. Unfortunately this challenge cannot be addressed by the effort of one country alone. Although Ethiopia is poised to do whatever is necessary and within its capacity through the Country’s CRGE strategy, climate change requires a global response.
The CRGE has three complementary Objectives: first it aims for fostering economic development and growth. And while ensuring abatement and avoidance of future emissions, i.e. transition to a green economy is its second objective, improving resilience to climate change is the last one.
The CRGE strategy also has four pillars. While adoption of agriculture and land use efficiency measures is the first pillar it mainly concerned on reducing deforestation by agricultural intensification and irrigation of degraded land. Protection and rehabilitation of forests for their economic and ecosystem services including as carbon stocks, deployment of renewable and clean power generation and use of appropriate advanced technologies in industry, transport, and buildings are the rest of its pillars.
Kibebework Getachew, Forest Ecosystem
Service Valuation and Carbon Measurement Director at Environment Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC) said that the commission is working on the CRGE plan.
She stated that different research has been conducted in order to actively practice the plan despite some challenges like lack of sectorial integration to adopt and interpret the plan. She also recommended that it is important to strengthen the implementation of the strategy. And the government and all stakeholders should work cooperatively to achieve this plan, she noted.
Documents also revealed that GDP growth of Ethiopia has direct correlation with rainfall availability. Therefore, for Ethiopia, development and implementation of a holistic CRGE strategy is imperative. It is a key to address poverty, enhance economic growth & ensure sustainable development of the country
Meanwhile, Tilaye Negussie, Forest Sector Transformation Director at the Commission said that the current forest coverage of Ethiopia is estimated to be 15 percent adding that forest cover estimation is not done annually.
“A study conducted in 2016 shows that the contribution of the forest sector for GDP
is 12.8 percent including timber and non-timber forest products. It must be said that Ethiopia has a huge potential for forest development and could reduce the huge import bill estimated at more than USD 300, 000,” he added.
Tilaye further stated that the forest sector is critically important for Ethiopia’s economic growth and development. For example the long-term survival (useful life span) of the Grand Ethiopian Renascence Dam (GERD) will depend on the protection and restoration of the landscape around the dam, and further away from it.
Moreover he stated that forest conservation is not totally the task of the government. But each stake holder especially religious institutions and NGOS should work hard in this area, he noted. As to him, giving the severity of land degradation, deforestation and forest degradation and huge mobilization of resources is very important.
“The contribution of various actors has been, is and will be important. Already, there are several places of worship and NGOs that are involved in rehabilitating degraded lands through planting tree seedlings, water and soil conservation,” he pronounced.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
Currently, over 50 companies are engaged in the investment of automotive industry in Ethiopia, particularly in assembling vehicles starting from the Bajaj up to heavy trucks. According to the Metals Industry Development Institute, local based companies are also investing in the sector, especially in exporting their automotive products to the neighboring countries which is currently showing a growing demand in this respect.
Now, the automotive industry in Ethiopia reached to the highest level, mainly in assembling of electric vehicles. Last Monday, Marathon Motors Engineering announced its first electric automobile assembled in Ethiopia. Marathon Motors presented its first electric vehicle as a gift to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed. The company also avowed to continue manufacturing electric vehicles.
Institute’s Communication Director Fite Bekele told The Ethiopian Herald that, although the automotive industry is on its initial level in Ethiopia, the sector’s development is showing significant growth.
Fite stated that currently around 50 companies are engaged in the automotive industry, assembling from three-wheelers
up to heavy trucks; and are exporting their products to the neighboring countries in addition to satisfying the local market demand.
In the 2019/20 fiscal year, these automotive companies assembled about 6,900 different types of vehicles and trucks locally amidst many challenges including COVID-19.
In terms of finance, over 751,510,000 birr has been generated from sale of assembly products. Additionally, by exporting heavy trucks to neighboring countries twice a year, Ethiopia earned over 80,600 US Dollars, the director stated.
Locally, higher government officials are mostly using locally assembled vehicles to promote local products and the market at home for local products is growing. This helps the country to save foreign currency and at the same time contributes for the development of the sector particularly in job creation and technology transfer, the director noted.
“Now, as we hear this week from Marathon Motors, Ethiopia’s automotive industry is started assembling electric vehicles, using the latest technological advancements in the sector”, the director stated. As to him, this is a significant development in the sector especially in introducing latest
technology transfer.
In addition, this new initiative of starting assembling electric vehicles at home is pro Ethiopia’s green legacy initiative launched to combat the negative impacts of climate change. This sector is new and environmental friendly investment that will help the country’s prosperity journey of building climate resilient economy, Fite said.
He also stated that, since Ethiopia is importing oil with huge foreign currency, electric vehicles will save country’s foreign currency expenditure since it uses only electric charge.
For Fite almost all kinds of heavy trucks are assembled locally with limited amount; and the experts engaged in the sector are mostly youth educated Ethiopians. Hence, this shows us Ethiopia gains access to the latest technologies in the automotive sector, which is growing rapidly in recent years.
According to Fite, access to market in the automotive sector is high both locally and in East Africa. As to him, currently local market companies are exporting locally assembled vehicles to neighboring countries like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
At this time, the share of the locally
assembled products in Ethiopian market is still insignificant although it grows from time to time. To make the local companies competitive in the market and to boost their productivity capacity, Ethiopian government recently announced the huge decrease of excise tax rate to encourage the import of new cars, Fite stated.
According to Fite, the recently implemented excise tax rates inspired local companies to develop the sectors development and their productive capacity on daily basis.
Related to facilities to the electric motors and vehicles, Fite said that, access to charge for vehicles is not a major issue since Ethiopia is working to develop its energy access across the country. At this time, access to charge may not be available since there was no such technology in the country. Although few disabled motors are using electric charges, it is easy to expand the charging facility.
Since most accessories are imported, foreign currency limitations are the main challenge to the sector in recent years. In addition, the outbreak of COVID-19 has also its own influence to the sector. To boost the productivity and competitiveness of the local automotive industry, Ethiopian government gives due attention in supporting the sector, he stated.
Assembly of electric vehicles for backing green legacy initiative
Heritages PAGE 12 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2020
Utilizing potential from natural, man-made lakes in EthiopiaBY HAILE DEMEKE
According to research conducted by the center for national aquatic and fish research center under the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute has indicated that Ethiopia has the potential to cultivate about hundreds tons of fish every year from the artificial lakes that are created by the construction of dams in different parts of the country.
This number could double with the completion of the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Gibe III dam in the near future. However, the research team has warned that unless the necessary preventive measures are taken, the existing man-made lakes are on the verge of danger. This in turn could diminish the amount of fish the country can get from these lakes every year.
Addis Ababa University, Department of Zoological Science and President of Ethiopian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Association Dr. Akwak Geremew told The Ethiopian Herald that, Ethiopia has a number of natural and manmade lakes. Protecting and building mega projects like Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will help the country to utilize its potential.
Constructing dams provide a range of economic, environmental, and social benefits, including recreation, flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, waste management, river navigation, and wildlife habitat. Those natural and manmade lakes provide prime recreational facilities throughout the country like boating, camping, picnic areas, and boat launch facilities are all supported by dams.
There are a number of mini manmade lakes in Ethiopia which are used for irrigation purpose. Dams are said to be an important source of water supply and high importance for various other reasons. They supply the water for the various means including domestic use, irrigation purposes and also for the industrial uses. Those mini lakes
found in the country are ranging below 10 square kilometers. There are 29 manmade and 28 natural lakes ranging above 10 square kilometers found in different parts of the country, he said.
Among the natural lake found in the country Tana is the largest one. A short 45 minute flight from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar town will take to one of East Africa’s most prominent natural jewels, Lake Tana. Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia.
As to him there are so many endemic fishes in the lake. The place is open to the public and it is allowed to enter and visit, and the church. Lake Tana is also known for its selection of fish, of which more than 70 percent are endemic to the lake. Birds are also found aplenty around the lake. Recognizing its natural and cultural importance, UNESCO welcomed Lake Tana to its Biosphere Reserve list in 2015.
Another important water body is Lake Ziway which is found in the border of Oromia and SNNP. Ziway
is a freshwater lake that is located on the border between the Oromia Region and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region, about 100 kilometers south of the country’s capital, Addis Ababa.
Lake Ziway contains five islands dispersed on its freshwater surface, the largest being Tulu Gudo. Ziway is also known for its prolific birdlife, h i p p o p o t a m u s and others. It is perfect place to spend time in the area. If you’re spending time in the Rift Valley, and travel around the lake you can easily explore the wildlife under the expert guidance of local
fishermen.
If you travel three hours by car to the south of the capital you will found Lake
Langano, an idyllic lake perfect for a night or two of relaxation during a longer tour of the country.
Just to the east of Lake Langano is the Langano Nature Reserve. This forest is filled with a wide variety of birds and mammals, with some
being endemic to Ethiopia.
Langano is one of the principal swimming harbors for the locals. Tourists also come here from all over the
world to either sail or waterski in the soft brown waters of Langano. Some swim, while others lie in the blazing sun on the sandy shore of
the lake. There are also lodges which can give service for the visitors. In addition there are
hotels which provide services.
Baboons, hippos, and warthogs are a common sight at this lakeside forest. Two neighboring eco lodges on the far side of the lake loan modern mountain bikes so you can explore the network of trails that wind through the lake’s nearby forest.
Langano is one of the principal swimming harbors for the locals. Tourists also come here from all over the world to either sail or waterski in the soft brown waters of Langano. Some swim, while others lie in the blazing sun on the sandy shore of the lake. There are also lodges which can give service for the visitors. In addition there are hotels which provide services.
One of the best lakes to fish in Ethiopia, Lake Awassa is located 270 km to the south of Addis Ababa, and is the smallest of the Rift Valley Lakes. With beautiful views, come beautiful hotels. There are many luxury resorts built around the lake.
Originally known as Lake Margherita, Abaya is a red lake located east of the Guge Mountains in the Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region of Ethiopia. Sediment suspended on the surface of the lake is responsible for the lake’s characteristic red hue.
Lake Abaya is famous amongst birdwatchers. A breadth of bird species are found here, with white pelicans, black heron, and bright pink flamingos among the most common sightings. Located just south of Lake Abaya is Lake Chamo. With a catchment area of about 18,000 sq km and a depth of only 10 meters, this lake is known for its large population of crocodiles.
Lake Afdera is a saline lake that is in the Danakil depression in the Afar triangle. Barely visited, this lake has a 160m depth and is fed by underground streams.
Salt has been extracted from Lake Afdera for centuries and during your visit there you might see dozens of camels carrying up to a hundred kilos of salt ambling around the Danakil depression.
