DREAM TEAM III

Ezana Sehay

15/10/2010

I have always been mystified by the snowball or domino effect of life, aren’t you? I mean think about it! When faced with a couple of mishaps, everything goes or seems to go bad, or vice versa.

Take today’s Ethiopia! Every parameter; social, political, economical… you name, indicate a positive trend. Any one following the news about the country can notice the good news rolling .which is making Ethiopians optimistic about the future more than ever.

Politically: the polarizing extremists view is in its coffin ready to be buried for good. Moderation is gaining momentum .reconciliation and reaching out to those who renounce violence is on truck.

Economically: despite the stubborn global crisis, Ethiopia’s economy keeps growing at an impressive rate, fueled by expanding middle class and domestic consumption.

Socially: for years the governments have been insisting that the image of a divided Ethiopia is nonsense. That it is the political class –politicians, activists, and zealots that is polarized. Not ordinary Ethiopians. The fact that the country could be so stable in such violent neighborhood is a dramatic testament to the above claim.

Ethiopians are convinced the country is on its way up and nothing can pull it down.

Recently, as we always do, I and a bunch of friends were ready to celebrate our new year together. Most of us arrived at one of the Ethiopian restaurant where we had reservation. However, one of our friends comes about half an hour late. As soon as he arrived he apologized for being late, and as he was about to take his seat one of us asked him why he is late.

The late coming friend answered-‘I had to call home [Ethiopia] to say happy New Year’

Well ‘, in that case, you are excused!’ said another of us.

‘So how your folks are back home? Asked another. To which the late coming friend responded by saying

‘Great! Everyone is great!’ He then continued ‘you know what father said? ‘He said everything is so wonderful, even the rain is plenty.’

I then joined the conversation by asking him, if he doesn’t consider that good news. The friend who happens to be a Medrek supporter, turns towards me and said ‘tell me Ezana! How is it that everything is so dandy? I mean did Meles recruit God too!?’

As I mentioned earlier, this conversation occurred in a restaurant. So obviously we weren’t alone .our friends remark [God being an EPRDF MEMBER] was heard by others seated next to our table and echoed that with laughter.

In fact, that lead to more political humors being exchanged – which in turn lead to more interaction among all the patrons of the restaurant - which made the evening and night one of the pleasantly memorable one.

But seriously folks, despite what my friend’s humorous assumption, the reincarnation of Ethiopia didn’t happen by divine intervention. the credit belongs to the foresighted and hard working members of the ruling party.

When EPRDF come to power, it promised to lay down a foundation for new Ethiopia, a free, just, equitable and respected Ethiopia. In the course of the last 19 years it has been working hard to achieve that pledge by introducing new and fresh ideas.

In 1991, inspite of its military might, [mind you, it had just decimated a war machine that terrorized not only the Ethiopian people but neighboring countries too] , EPRDF invited all groups who were engaged in fighting the fascist Derg regime to join it and formed an inclusive transitional government. –A first for Ethiopia.

When drafting the new constitution it sought and achieved the participation of scholars, intellectuals, civic, religious, and community elders -- Another first.

Once it planted the seeds of democracy, it created an accommodating atmosphere for political plurality where competitive elections are held every five years. – You guessed right, this is also a first.

It conceived a foreign policy that has put Ethiopia in the leadership role on regional and continental issues. Oke! This is not a first. The emperor was also good at that .however; the country’s reputation was badly damaged during the Mengestu regime. E PRDF has managed to elevate the country’s global status with pragmatic policies that supplement the national interest.

The overall outcome of these and other EPRDF policies has created a robust and confident Ethiopia, which has been picked by the United Nations as the country most likely to meet the millennium development goal on time. In fact all indications are the economy will grow exponentially and the country will achieve mid-level income status sooner than we expect.

Ethiopia’s remarkable economic performance is driven by one of the most successful agrarian revolution ever witnessed. The government has made its priority to ensure food security and is committed to turn the country in to a basket case which can feed not only itself but also the region as a whole. It is on track to do just that. The proof is the nation’s harvest has risen from 10 million tons a decade ago to about 25 million tons by the end of this harvest season.

Despite its success Ethiopia’s green revolution which focuses on small scale farming [empowering the ordinary farmer] ,was doomed by westerners as an inevitable failure. Almost every year the so called western experts or modern day Paddocks keep telling us haw Ethiopia will starve to death. Almost every year Ethiopia proved them wrong.

This is an important reminder to beware of ‘experts’ who claim to know what the future will bring.

The fear of starvation surged in 2008 – thanks to soaring oil prices and global crop failures caused by climate change led to riots in some countries. But if you ask Ethiopians haw the crisis of 2008 affected them most will respond by saying ‘what crisis!’ That is because the government has managed to stave off food related threat with sound and proven policies.

In fact if the REVOLUTIONARY DEMOCRATS are to be accused of these days is their excessive confidence, which is the country, will do so well it will decline all foreign food aid before 2015.

Evidently, the government is enjoying skyrocketing approval rate. So, what is the secret of the party’s success when others have failed miserably? At one time or another Ethiopian political field has been inhabited by many political organizations or parties. However, only the EPRDF not only survived but triumphed. The reason is the front has always managed to elect a visionary leadership, a leadership that is worthy of the title of DREAM TEAM.

DREAM TEAM I, led the front to military victory over the Derg regime and in the process made it one of the most efficient political machines in the continent. DREAM TEAM II, formed after the internal policy and leadership evaluation of the 2000, led the country to its most successful decade ever. In addition that preamble leadership change is the one that set the stage for the long term evolution of the party.

Following the 2010 election in which the people accorded it an overwhelming mandate, the front promised to transform itself as well as the nation. Since then the people have been excited but apprehensive. On the issue of leadership succession, although they understand the importance of power transfer they were not quite sure if the upcoming party leaders are up to the task.

As for the country, the government has laid out its policy revival in the form of ETHIOPIA’S DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION PLAN [DPL] , an ambitious plan that targets every sector of the economy, too ambitious in fact some have reservations about its success.

But don’t tell that to the Revolutionary Democrats .if the party’s ADAMA CONVENTION is an indication it looks confident, that it will take the country back to its glory days. Members of the front had gathered in Adama, the capital of Oromia, from September 15 -17, to celebrate an election won under the banner of Ethiopian renaissance and the upbeat assessment of the objective situation. This year’s convention was very unique in many ways. It was where party executives pledged to be responsible, creative and virtuous policy makers who commit for the common goal, to pull of a just and equitable society – by reconciling economic well being and equity so that no one is left behind. To me that symbolized the beginning of the metamorphosis of a classical revolutionary democratic front in to a vibrant future social democratic party.

One of the most memorable events of the convention was –when veteran leaders, honorable Addisu Legese, Seyum Mesfen, Tefera Walwa, Germa Beru, Arkebe Uqby and Kasu Ilala step off and let the next shift take its turn. They did so with utter pride and sense of accomplishment. I couldn’t agree more!

Then on October 5, on the second day of seating of the new parliament session the bell rung signaling the beginning of the new phase of the front and the nation. That was when Prime Minister Meles presented his cabinet members. A cabinet not only represents the heterogeneous society of our country, but also seems to answer any questions people might have. That;

- The EPRDF is genuine about leadership succession. -The front members are determined to take our country to a new frontier - The party is able to produce compassionate, motivated and dedicated men and women who can leadthe people.

When one study’s each and every one of the members of the cabinet - one couldn’t ask for anything more. It is safe to say, the prime minister has again managed to assemble DREAM TEAM III.

If you are wondering how the people feel about the new cabinet: according to initial media reports there is an enthusiastic public approval. What about the opposition’s view?

Keep in mind that , the formation of this dream team had coincided with other good news such as ONLF’S ground breaking peace agreement with the government and the release of ms Bertukan Mideksa. Unfortunately, in spite of these consuming good news the oppositions local or Diaspora have nothing positive to say. Well, the reaction of the Diaspora extremists is offcorse predictable. They are beyond pleasing especially now days. As their membership keeps dwindling and they get closer to the political black hole they’ve becoming more cynical.

What is surprising was the comment coming from the likes of Merara Gudina [the jerry Adams of Ethiopian politics]. When responding to a question posed to him in regard to the new cabinet, he scoffed it [the cabinet] saying ‘it lucks intellectuals ‘what the good doctor meant by intellectuals is people with PhD. This coming from a PhD holder who couldn’t manage one party let alone ran a country. A man who is known to put his personal or sectarian interest above the country.

Yes doctor! it takes hard work to achieve a PhD , but it takes more effort and tenacity to earn public trust and confidence. And if degrees are awarded based on merit and not exclusively on academic performance, each member of the cabinet would’ve been accorded the highest accreditation.

For the record, all the cabinet members happen to hold masters or PhD degrees. So they are not academic light weight either. But most importantly, these are individuals who compiled an outstanding public service record.

Congratulation is in order for the party and the prime minister for showing us the light at the end of the tunnel.

Eternal glory to those who lost their life and limbs, whose sacrifice has altered the course of our country’s history.

GOD BLESS THE MOTHER LAND!.