The All-Party Plat-forum is doing well
Amen Teferi
In my view, the monstrous events that we had strived to grappling with, in recent times really require both the temperament and resilience of democratic citizens who are endowed with the cleaver insight of an intelligent politician who can work unperturbed under the daunting influences of the changing circumstances that could even defy the judgments of an experienced public administrator.
I am also very much impressed by the sensibility of the ruling party as it manage to display the composure of a seasoned political organization in handling the difficult matters that we recently saw emerging and tend to push it into the tight-spots. Coping up with these soul-searching predicaments, it has tried to fully grasp the kernel of the matter that deeply concerns our nation and its people by way of scrutinizing its performances over the last 15 years and finally came-up with a suitable solution that would surly address the legitimate grievances of the public.
At any rate, we are still witnessing that Ethiopia is boldly journeying to democracy and prosperity and it has now reached at a place where it can see a bright light at the end of the tunnel – a tunnel dug by the iron fingers of poverty. This tunnel is blindingly dark and it can only be lighted with flames of an undefeatable spirit of a visionary leader who has the knack to dispel the intricacy of structurally embedded poverty that must again be combined with an indefatigable determination to tread on the arduous path of development.
The government has shown an unprecedented readiness to rectify arrangements and procedures that opposition parties have found to be unfavorable to their political activism. It had also vowed to support media practitioners and institutions operating without being defiant to professional ethics and compromising the rule of law.
The media is encouraged to seek, impart and disseminate information that would expose illicit actions and ensure accountability and good governance. The government has also committed itself to promote investigative journalism and guarantee the full implementation of the freedom of information Act.
Above all it has committed itself to dispel the preponderance of rent-seeking orientations and practices to ensure the supremacy of developmental political economy. The government also determined to dry-out the quagmire that would allow rent-seeking ideologies and tendencies to thrive. Redoubling effort in this regard would push aside the major obstacle in the journey to our renaissance.
As I have already mentioned the government has also shown its resolve in strengthening the multi-party democracy, which could be substantiated by the “all-party” forum that has been working for almost a year now.
The ruling party has understood that excessive adversarial politics would tarnish and spoil the common mission of any political community. In fact, adversarial politics is said to create the right conditions for effective scrutiny of the government, and for genuine debate. However, when political adversaries are blindly engaged in an unbridled powers struggle driven by zero sum-game principle it would lead the democratic system to crisis. Thus, the party vowed to create platforms where it will have genuine consultation with opposition parties.
The joint forum established to promote close working relationships among political parties. This forum also serves as a catalyst to improve the culture of adversarial politics without undermining the core values of a democratic system. The Plan has put in place mechanisms that could facilitate consultations between the government and opposition parties on every major national issue. Moreover, it also aimed to strengthen political participations citizens to promote deliberative democracy.
The government believes that the current rapid economic development and our surefooted unity are the result of the federal democratic constitutional arrangement that recognize the full diversity of the nation. Ethiopia’s sustained, accelerated and inclusive double-digit growth is in fact the fruit of the genuine democratic system it has launched two decades ago and the need to deepen our democracy still exist.
Now, deepening our democracy is a serious matter that assumes a gravity of life and death. The government that has launched such a huge project like the GTP really needs to have committed and law abiding public servants and officials who have the gut to uphold the public interest over and above their selfish agendas. The ruling party does not need spineless camp followers who would sell their political oath short.
Notwithstanding to the fact that we have cumbersome tasks to straighten the cultural setbacks and to unknot the meshes of backwardness we have to take decisive steps in deepening our democracy and ensuring the sovereignty of our people through an ever increasing popular participation.
The ruling party EPRDF has engaged itself in self-scrutiny platforms and identified various shortcomings that it claimed could deplete the democratic and constitutional system. It has reaffirmed its position and expressed its resolution to address the identified shortcomings.
The party has duly acknowledged the malaise effect of rent-seeking activities that is rampant in the urban areas, which it perceived as acute problem that damage its political, social and economic agendas. It has made it clear that rent-seeking and corruption are its most avid nemesis and if left unheeded it will lacerates and frustrates its health and existence as a party. Rent seeking practices and corruptions will in fact pull the rug from under its feet and hamper the economic growth and foster inequality as well.
The ruling party is overhauling democratic system and its governance which is evidenced by the “all-party” plat forum where it is negotiating with opposition parties. Just this week the political parties forum have announced progresses made so far and the opposition parties seem to be optimistic in their engagement with the ruling party.