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Another Hope Coming
Amen Teferi
The ruling party reiterates that democracy, development and good governance are existential issues for Ethiopia and its people. Such is the gravity of the aforementioned three issues, and that the EPRDF had promised to address problems related with these issues with the urgency driven by the notion of ‘’we run out of time.”
As many commentators had routinely affirmed bad governance is the prime-mover of the havoc and political crisis we are facing over the last three years and if the government continues to be unresponsive to the people’s needs, in turn the public will ignore the government. Yes, if the government is not willing to listen to the rightful demands of the public, then it is preparing the recipe of its demise.
Therefore, what is needed now from the EPRDF is to put its money where its mouth is. Hence, it is high time that it assesses its conditions and proposes candid solutions for the ills that are ruin the laudable success it has registered in the last two decades. Procrastination is the evil silently gnawing the party noble qualities of the EPRDF. It is high time to purge its rank of members who are irresponsible and unrepentant, put the public through a terrible ordeal, brazenly infringe rights, and in no way empathize with the public. It is high time that the ruling party ensure that the public demands are met and must encourage the public to participate in a meaningfully way in its own affairs. This requires the taking of practical steps that encourage members and fellow citizens to come to the fore and wage a crusade against anti-people elements.
The public’s grievance that good governance and justice are non-existent, that rights are routinely violated, that corruption has become rife, and that government officials at all levels are laws unto themselves ought to be seriously taken.
I feel that we, the citizens, are also accountable for the egregious situation our country has faced now. Nonetheless, as vigilant citizenry that could stand up for its constitutional rights cannot be created if legitimate complaints of the public are dismissed or neglected by officials that are not empathetic towards the legitimate demands of the citizens, the blame will finally goes to the ruling party. On one hand, the citizens must be encouraged to speak out their grievances, on the other public officials need to promptly address the concerns of the general public without downplaying the public opinion by simply attaching some derogatory labels or tags. No opinion should be stifled, whether that opinion is congruent or contrary to the official line.
In fact, EPRDF is trying to refurbish itself repeatedly conducting brutal self-assessment. EPRDF had identified its main deficiencies and vowed to eradicate them. EPRDF’s 10th organizational congress had transpired the commitment of the leadership in combating bad governance, but the fact on the ground tells us the effort made so far is far from being satisfactory.
The problems identified by the congress are serious; and if the party fails to address them in time, then it will lacerate the hard-won victories and diminish praiseworthy accomplishments of the organization. Hence, the leadership needs to put the resolution of the congress into action. The Front must thoroughly vet everyone of its member and unhesitatingly take action to purge bands of charlatan cadres who try to shroud themselves with high-sounding catch phrases and slogans of the party. The party must always be on the alert to understand the devious character of rent-seeking cadres who wish to lurk in the organization to advance their selfish interests.
Based on developmental state paradigm, the ruling party has been able to design a pragmatic developmental strategy, which is tailored and adjusted to the country’s unique socio economic structure. The experiment has resulted in unprecedented mobilization of resources and outstanding economic performance in the country’s history. However, the staggering double-digit economic growth success story is accompanied with another shadow story of endemic rent seeking practices, which becomes the greatest threat to the nation’s steadfast economic growth and national security. EPRDF has vowed to dispel this threat and in recently held regional party’s conferences where member organizations of the Front have renewed their resolve to take action to dismantle the network of rent-seekers and corrupt officials.
EPRDF has formulated its political policies based on firmly held beliefs that flatly contradict to all sorts of rent-seeking political economy. If the EPRDF presses hard to put its promises into action, it will definitely leave indelible impress upon the historical trajectory of the country. So far, it has made measureless contribution to the growth and the transformation of Ethiopia by usurping the values of the developmental state.
The ruling party has made commendable effort to drive away the pervasive rent-seeking political economy and replace it with a political economy that would promote and ensure an all-inclusive economic development. Here, active citizenship or the full involvement of the people in a variety of political forms is important.
The ruling party has unmistakably understood this fact. The various public forums it has conducted across the country have pointed out the dissatisfactions of the public and PRDF had vowed to accede to the demand of the public in ensuring good governance. Thus, it has declared its commitment to work hard to address the discontents of the people in the field of good governance.
Public hearing conventions organized by the government and the ruling party have helped to identify important issues of public concern and the congress has committed to address those problem by rendering of satisfactory public service and by getting rid of the inefficiency of appointed officials, corruption and maladministration. All parties have identified similar bottlenecks that have compromised their revolutionary disposition.
Recently EPRDF has called on its members to exert the utmost effort in order to execute the resolutions of the Front and has also acknowledged that it cannot get anywhere without the participation of the public. To win the hearts of the people its words should suit to its action. If, however, it fails to deliver its promise, then it will provoke public fury.
Though the ruling party has played important role in bringing remarkable economic growth in the country, yet it has failed to contain the rampage of rent seeking behavior and practice that is infesting the structure of governmental apparatus at alarming pace. Now is the time to prove itself to the general public that it has spines to rectify its follies and be a popular party as it once was. We see another hope coming with recent congresses of member party of the Front.
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