Bringing needed changes to Ethiopia: who and how?
Zekarias Ezra
October 18, 2007
Sixteen years have passed since EPRDF has assumed state power. As is the case under any regime, there are many progresses made but a lot still to be done. The government should and must bear responsibility for the lost opportunities, which are really many.
Following the remarkable election of 2005 in which the turn out was significant by any standard coupled with the election loss the incumbent has suffered, we have seen a real change of attitude and focus on the part of the governing party to listen and attend to the voters concerns. This action must be encouraged and appreciated.
Now to the main point of my thesis, that is, the changes Ethiopia now needs critically and who would bring theses changes and how to bring them. I would start of by raising one simple but basic question, which we should all raise and attempt to address in all honesty.
Do we want to see Ethiopia march on the road to a genuine democracy?
Please note no need to write a treatise on democracy. For this writer it simply means a relationship between responsible citizens and a responsive government that encourages participation in the political process and guarantees basic rights.
The fate of Ethiopia hinges upon the answer we, as a people, give to the above question. Lip service answers won’t cut here. Honest answers and attempt to address them will. The huge responsibility rests primarily on the government as well as on responsible opposition political parties. This is not to absolve the citizens of their fundamental responsibility of active participation.
I am not fond of the political parties and the dye-hard hateful political activists in exile. Granted, they may have a positive contribution to the political discourse of the country if they intend to do so. Frankly, if we are honest to ourselves, Ethiopians living abroad by definition lack the familiarity of the body politic, the social life, and the cultural changes taking place in Ethiopia lest we find ourselves arguing ‘ no change has taken place’ since they left Ethiopia ‘years’ ago. Such an argument, we all know, is a fallacy.
I am not stating they do not follow what is going on in Ethiopia. They do and they do so earnestly. But, that is not a substitute for living day in day out as Ethiopian in Ethiopia. So, manipulating, for various reasons and driven by blind hatred, the opposition parties in Ethiopia is counter-productive to say the least. We will come back to this point a little later. So, my sincere advice to the politicians’ abroad is this: Just help those at home to undertake a political movement from the ground up. Help them financially, materially and when asked offer sage wisdom.
Let me address what I think should be expected of the government, the opposition parties, and the citizenry.
The government
The government, more importantly the PM and the few top élites who immensely benefited from power, should take a hard look at what Ethiopia has become since they took power. Priding themselves and trumpeting on the few achievements they have made would not make them a government of the people, by the people, for the people, while millions of Ethiopians lives under abject poverty and in total hopelessness. The Ethiopian people deserve and need a government that would work for them, and not a government of the people, by the ruling political class, for the selected few, which is what we have in Ethiopia.
With the exception of the incredible voter turn out of election 2005, Ethiopia has a completely disillusioned citizenry, which stays out of the political process. The reasons: 1) Ethiopia has no political culture 2) There is no trust in the political process, and the government is doing all it can, it seems, to see to it that such trust will not exist. Sadly, the ill-conceived actions of the some of the opposition parties, as a self-appointed savior, have not helped at all either.
The government, the opposition parties, and the people know full well that the present condition of our society calls for a major reconstruction. Our numerous economic, social and political problems persist and worsen rosy statistics aside. I have no doubt that Ethiopia has the intellectual capital and the economic and spiritual resources to tackle these problems. The problem is our power seeking and power-holding politicians are evidently unwilling to take the needed actions. All too frequently they are mostly interested in gaining and keeping power at the expense of the people. Oh, yes, this is so true of some of the opposition parties too.
It's about time for politicians who have the intestinal fortitude to speak truthfully and act independent of party bosses. It is time for those with patriotic vision to step forward and begin the process of building a nation of government by the people for the people rather than incessantly focusing on nationalities and tribes. Nobody said it is going to be easy. But, it requires a willingness to take the steps necessary to embark on such a journey.
In reality, in the short term, it means putting forth a clear enforceable directive to the party functionaries ‘we are ready to win or lose in a clean election: no more intimidation, no more election marring’, referring to the up coming election and the same hold true for the next national election. It ONLY requires such a directive with a commitment to hold accountable those violating the directive.
Opposition Parties
First and foremost, the leaders of these parties must seriously examine their true intentions. Do they simply want to replace EPRDF and be EPRDF but under a different name? Or do they really want to bring about a real change?
For any one with a simple ordinary common sense, the recent opposition parties (Kinijit) disarray undoubtedly puts the true intention of this much-hoped party into question. Prof. Mesfin W/Mariam, contrary to the political mud sling thrown at him by the government and now by the disillusioned Kinjit, spoke the truth. And this truth is that the top officials of Kinjit’s dream has never been (nor is it now) to make a valuable contribution to the democratization of Ethiopia but political power for themselves.
So, the opposition camp in Ethiopia must rid of themselves such self appointed power-seeking individuals and focus on building the democratic culture of the nation one brick at a time. They must unite and effectively organize the citizenry. They should use the willingness and generosity of Ethiopians abroad, not as a ladder to quench their thirst of political power, but to mount powerful grassroots efforts to reach out to the millions of concerned citizens ready and able to bring about the needed improvements. They must start a social movement. That is, work hard to form an alliance of people and organizations that share dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs and have a vision of a better Ethiopia, not simply hatred against the current leaders. Again, nobody said it is going to be easy. In fact, it is hard and difficult. A true and real social movement requires persistent collective actions in which the populace is alerted, educated and mobilized, over years and decades, to challenge the power-holders and the whole society to redress social problems or grievances, and restore critical social values of justice and equality. In the present Ethiopian reality, the magnitude of the effort needed to bring about the political changes requires the participation of many individuals and organizations, a mega-coalition -- a coalition of coalitions.
Depending on the actions of the government, the struggle would or would not be arduous. The outcome is certain: however long it will take the social movement will eventually succeed. So, my message to the opposition: Think long term, it is a cause worth fighting.
But this running around in foreign capitals pleading for a chastisement against Ethiopia under the pretext of helping the democratization process is a total baloney. Genuine democracy will be achieved when the people—not external actors—demand government accountability. International protocols may be needed to assist failed states or regions within states, and intervention procedures may be needed when a state constitutes a significant threat to the rights of its citizens or to the global population. Ethiopia’s situation is no where near to this to warrant the application of international protocols.
The people
The truth is, for any democracy to work it needs not just an engaged citizenry, but an informed one. In this regard I find it fascinating to read the State of Massachusetts founding document. Two centuries ago the founders wisely thought this same notion important enough to enshrine it in the state's founding document: "Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people," they wrote, are "necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties." This is still a valid notion today as it was two hundred years ago. So, the burden lies with each of us as citizens. A lot of groups and interests in Ethiopia try to manipulate public opinion using fears, ethnic differences, etc. Yet a democratic society, even in the best of circumstances, depends on its citizens separating the wheat from the chaff, forming good judgments, and putting pressure on their representatives to act accordingly. If ordinary citizens can't do this or don't want to devote the time and energy, the country suffers. We need to have discriminating citizens who sift the genuine from the fake.
Following the remarkable election of 2005 in which the turn out was significant by any standard coupled with the election loss the incumbent has suffered, we have seen a real change of attitude and focus on the part of the governing party to listen and attend to the voters concerns. This action must be encouraged and appreciated.
Now to the main point of my thesis, that is, the changes Ethiopia now needs critically and who would bring theses changes and how to bring them. I would start of by raising one simple but basic question, which we should all raise and attempt to address in all honesty.
Do we want to see Ethiopia march on the road to a genuine democracy?
Please note no need to write a treatise on democracy. For this writer it simply means a relationship between responsible citizens and a responsive government that encourages participation in the political process and guarantees basic rights.
The fate of Ethiopia hinges upon the answer we, as a people, give to the above question. Lip service answers won’t cut here. Honest answers and attempt to address them will. The huge responsibility rests primarily on the government as well as on responsible opposition political parties. This is not to absolve the citizens of their fundamental responsibility of active participation.
I am not fond of the political parties and the dye-hard hateful political activists in exile. Granted, they may have a positive contribution to the political discourse of the country if they intend to do so. Frankly, if we are honest to ourselves, Ethiopians living abroad by definition lack the familiarity of the body politic, the social life, and the cultural changes taking place in Ethiopia lest we find ourselves arguing ‘ no change has taken place’ since they left Ethiopia ‘years’ ago. Such an argument, we all know, is a fallacy.
I am not stating they do not follow what is going on in Ethiopia. They do and they do so earnestly. But, that is not a substitute for living day in day out as Ethiopian in Ethiopia. So, manipulating, for various reasons and driven by blind hatred, the opposition parties in Ethiopia is counter-productive to say the least. We will come back to this point a little later. So, my sincere advice to the politicians’ abroad is this: Just help those at home to undertake a political movement from the ground up. Help them financially, materially and when asked offer sage wisdom.
Let me address what I think should be expected of the government, the opposition parties, and the citizenry.
The government
The government, more importantly the PM and the few top élites who immensely benefited from power, should take a hard look at what Ethiopia has become since they took power. Priding themselves and trumpeting on the few achievements they have made would not make them a government of the people, by the people, for the people, while millions of Ethiopians lives under abject poverty and in total hopelessness. The Ethiopian people deserve and need a government that would work for them, and not a government of the people, by the ruling political class, for the selected few, which is what we have in Ethiopia.
With the exception of the incredible voter turn out of election 2005, Ethiopia has a completely disillusioned citizenry, which stays out of the political process. The reasons: 1) Ethiopia has no political culture 2) There is no trust in the political process, and the government is doing all it can, it seems, to see to it that such trust will not exist. Sadly, the ill-conceived actions of the some of the opposition parties, as a self-appointed savior, have not helped at all either.
The government, the opposition parties, and the people know full well that the present condition of our society calls for a major reconstruction. Our numerous economic, social and political problems persist and worsen rosy statistics aside. I have no doubt that Ethiopia has the intellectual capital and the economic and spiritual resources to tackle these problems. The problem is our power seeking and power-holding politicians are evidently unwilling to take the needed actions. All too frequently they are mostly interested in gaining and keeping power at the expense of the people. Oh, yes, this is so true of some of the opposition parties too.
It's about time for politicians who have the intestinal fortitude to speak truthfully and act independent of party bosses. It is time for those with patriotic vision to step forward and begin the process of building a nation of government by the people for the people rather than incessantly focusing on nationalities and tribes. Nobody said it is going to be easy. But, it requires a willingness to take the steps necessary to embark on such a journey.
In reality, in the short term, it means putting forth a clear enforceable directive to the party functionaries ‘we are ready to win or lose in a clean election: no more intimidation, no more election marring’, referring to the up coming election and the same hold true for the next national election. It ONLY requires such a directive with a commitment to hold accountable those violating the directive.
Opposition Parties
First and foremost, the leaders of these parties must seriously examine their true intentions. Do they simply want to replace EPRDF and be EPRDF but under a different name? Or do they really want to bring about a real change?
For any one with a simple ordinary common sense, the recent opposition parties (Kinijit) disarray undoubtedly puts the true intention of this much-hoped party into question. Prof. Mesfin W/Mariam, contrary to the political mud sling thrown at him by the government and now by the disillusioned Kinjit, spoke the truth. And this truth is that the top officials of Kinjit’s dream has never been (nor is it now) to make a valuable contribution to the democratization of Ethiopia but political power for themselves.
So, the opposition camp in Ethiopia must rid of themselves such self appointed power-seeking individuals and focus on building the democratic culture of the nation one brick at a time. They must unite and effectively organize the citizenry. They should use the willingness and generosity of Ethiopians abroad, not as a ladder to quench their thirst of political power, but to mount powerful grassroots efforts to reach out to the millions of concerned citizens ready and able to bring about the needed improvements. They must start a social movement. That is, work hard to form an alliance of people and organizations that share dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs and have a vision of a better Ethiopia, not simply hatred against the current leaders. Again, nobody said it is going to be easy. In fact, it is hard and difficult. A true and real social movement requires persistent collective actions in which the populace is alerted, educated and mobilized, over years and decades, to challenge the power-holders and the whole society to redress social problems or grievances, and restore critical social values of justice and equality. In the present Ethiopian reality, the magnitude of the effort needed to bring about the political changes requires the participation of many individuals and organizations, a mega-coalition -- a coalition of coalitions.
Depending on the actions of the government, the struggle would or would not be arduous. The outcome is certain: however long it will take the social movement will eventually succeed. So, my message to the opposition: Think long term, it is a cause worth fighting.
But this running around in foreign capitals pleading for a chastisement against Ethiopia under the pretext of helping the democratization process is a total baloney. Genuine democracy will be achieved when the people—not external actors—demand government accountability. International protocols may be needed to assist failed states or regions within states, and intervention procedures may be needed when a state constitutes a significant threat to the rights of its citizens or to the global population. Ethiopia’s situation is no where near to this to warrant the application of international protocols.
The people
The truth is, for any democracy to work it needs not just an engaged citizenry, but an informed one. In this regard I find it fascinating to read the State of Massachusetts founding document. Two centuries ago the founders wisely thought this same notion important enough to enshrine it in the state's founding document: "Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people," they wrote, are "necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties." This is still a valid notion today as it was two hundred years ago. So, the burden lies with each of us as citizens. A lot of groups and interests in Ethiopia try to manipulate public opinion using fears, ethnic differences, etc. Yet a democratic society, even in the best of circumstances, depends on its citizens separating the wheat from the chaff, forming good judgments, and putting pressure on their representatives to act accordingly. If ordinary citizens can't do this or don't want to devote the time and energy, the country suffers. We need to have discriminating citizens who sift the genuine from the fake.