Strengthening the democracy building process/Desta Hailu/
When it is said that the system our country follows is developmental and democratic, it is not just empty words. It is seen tangibly on the comprehensive changes that are achieved in development and democracy. Before I delve into discussing about the growing capacity of our democratic facilitating institutions, it is important to say few words about our economic development – so that it will not appear as if I have talked about one thing and left out the other part.
As it’s known, Ethiopia’s development for the past 15 years has been exemplary by growing rapidly and sustainably. Asia countries like Malaysia, India, Singapore etc… are called “Asia Tigers” for their rapid development. Our own Ethiopia is called “African Tiger” for the exemplary economic growth it achieved.
Our country’s developmental and democratic government and our nation, nationalities and people who have been the main protagonist of this achievement have been consistently performing for the past 15 years to the point of achieving an economic growth that has been lauded by the international community. The International Monetary Fund IMF has projected this will continue.
On its recent report, the organization has not only projected growth next year for the country but also the fact that Ethiopia’s economic growth will continue in stable manner. This shows that the economic development will continue well into the future. Since I have said this much on the economic development, I will turn towards to the main issue of the growing capacity of our development facilitating institutions …
It has been repeatedly stated that the issue of democracy is an existential issue for the new Ethiopia. This is said because our country follows a multiparty democratic system. Of course it is impossible to say that any democratic system is free of faults. It is obvious that the democracy building process will not go with the needed pace in a country like Ethiopia where past monarchial and dictatorial regimes left a legacy of undemocratic thinking, and a country that is at a beginner level when it comes to implementing democracy.
In order to solve this problem, the system has setup democracy facilitating institutions that it uses for self—correction. Out of these institutions, the house of people’s representatives, human rights commission, ombudsman institution, mass media, and civic associations should be mentioned. It is hard to say that these institutions have carried out their national role in terms of the undemocratic thinking that came rolling reform past regimes, considering their limitations in their capacity. However, as any line of thinking gains strength in due time, it is inevitable that their capacity and way of handling their work will get better and more modern.
For this, we can see the growing capability of the FDRE Human Rights Commission on the monitoring, investigation and support it provides on the FDRE house of people’s representatives (also consider the report it presented to the parliament after carrying out a deep and thorough investigation on the problems that occurred in some parts of Oromia and Amhara regions).
Although the capacity of these institutions is getting strong, but on this article, I will present the house of people’s representatives that is established as per articles 54 to 59 of the FDRE constitution as an illustration. In my belief, there is one thing the gaining of strength shows. That is; the fact that our country’s democracy is strengthening and bourgeoning in due time.
As it is known, democratic system bears a democratic house of people’s representatives or parliament. A political system that is chosen by the people has the right to lead the country’s polices and plans. The reason why a ruling party in any country gets this right is not because it’s an article that is stipulated on every democratic constitution. Instead I think the reason why ruling parties in countries that follow multiparty system implement this constitutional stipulation is because they have majority in parliament and tend to always win because they have a clear and concise program.
However, ruling parties in democratic system don’t do everything they want even if they are legal just because they have majority seat and can pass it through parliament. It should also be understood that the parliamentary democratic system strictly adheres and believes in this. And it is only a month shy from being 26 year since the government setup and started to implement this procedure. The extremist forces that don’t want to see this reality and fact are seen saying ‘a parliament that is dominated by a single party cannot supervise the executive branch’. In my belief, this line of thinking simply doesn’t go with the constitution. The fact that this thinking is wrong can be seen from the supervision and monitoring work the ever strengthening parliament does on the executive branch.
In my belief, supervising the executive branch is the task of the system itself in any country that adheres to a democracy – a self-assessment procedure. Although we are unfortunate in terms of getting an opposition that have excellent alternatives, it is ridiculous to think that the parliament will not supervise the executive just because the seats are taken by one pay – and also it is the same as not giving any credit to the strong supervision works the parliament is doing.
Here I want to be known that I am not saying that the presence of strong opposition parties are not beneficiary to the multiparty system as it is obvious the important role they can play in the democracy order building process. Thus, it would be wonderful if we have strong oppositions. But, if we are not fortunate enough to have them, then there is nothing to be done as the choice and decision is of the people who hold the ultimate power in the country.
Nevertheless, it is not appropriate to think that the parliament will not supervise the executive branch just because there are no oppositions in the parliament. There is no reason why the problems and difficulties of the people will be stifled and has nothing to do with the presence of oppositions in the parliament. Here, we can mention the parliament is doing a site visit on institutions of the executive branch and decisions are being passed based on their findings.
Following the site visit the parliament made on federal government institutions in Afar region, the parliament spokesperson Abadula Gemeda not only requested audit investigation on properties that are stored in Djibouti and at dry ports, but he also stated that government bodies that are identified as responsible will face legal and administrative measures.
I think this shows that the parliament is strengthening its capacity in due time, and that on top of supporting the executive branch, it also holding the responsible entities accountable. This also shows that when the parliament will carry out its representative role even better as it gains strength through time. It shows that our democracy building process is taking roots. And considering that the democracy facilitating institutions like the parliament elevate the democracy as they gain strength, they should be supported in building their capacity. As the strengthening of the institutions hastens the democracy order building, assess and support the executive branch, and help bring rule of law and accountability, I say they should be supported in strengthening their capacity.