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HAN
Note:  IGAD
Breaking News (HAN) January 30th, 2006.
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Ethiopia: Economic growth amidst all challenges
Nairobi (HAN)
January 30, 2006 - Ethiopia ’s third national election was all but a success of the nascent democracy in the country until it was marred by the post-election violence instigated by opposition hardliners. Some opposition groups together with anti-peace elements craved for the tarnishing of the country’s image following the elections.
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According to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, the country at present stands on the right track of
development.
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Some fellow citizens in diaspora called for development partners of the country to stop or reduce development aid to Ethiopia claiming that third national election had been rigged. However the situation in the country is not as what opposition parties wished it to be. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi gave press conference last Friday to local journalists on current national issues of the country. According to the Prime Minister, the country at present stands on the right track of development. Despite post-election problems the country’s economy is still growing. The country’s mainstay of economy is agriculture and crop production accounts the lion’s share of the total agricultural activity. Accordingly field assessments made by international and local bodies on crop production proved that there would be a 15.1 growth of crop harvest this year. This enables the country’s economy to show a double-digit growth maintaining last budget year’s pace. On top of that the Prime Minister Meles noted that export increased by 33 per cent while investment and bank loans showed progress during the year. Oil seeds, spices, cereals and teff accounted the major part of the country’s export. This implies that the country’s export is no longer dependent on a sole product, coffee as it used to be the case before and the farming system is shifting in to the production of cash crops. Prime Minister Meles also indicated post-election problems had no tangible impact on the country’s economy, however he acknowledged that probably the economic growth would have been even higher had the problems not been unleashed.
Following the detention of the perpetrators of violence in the wake of the election some opposition groups and their supporters had anticipated that the country would be isolated from its development partners and poverty and instability would grow high. Even some media reported that the country’s development partners have slashed aid. However according to Prime Minister Meles no development partner has so far demanded to cut or reduce aid, indeed they are looking for a new way of channeling their support as opposed to the direct budgetary support they used to provide in the past. However, the government objects the reason put for the change of the development aid scheme. Their reason, which claims that the government has taken inappropriate measures following post-election violence, is distorted and baseless.
Most of all, Ethiopia should at least reduce its dependency on development assistances. Presently the country is capable of covering its regular budget and expenditure for the main capital projects. So development programmes will never be interrupted should development partners intend to reduce aid.
With regard to the issue of violent instigators, who are now facing the court of law, some people including foreign bodies propose that their case demands political decision than taking it to court. However the government has relentlessly sought peaceful solutions for differences with opposition groups until they changed the whole issue into violence. Now the issue is a matter of respecting the rule of law and the constitution of the land. The government has been tolerating and will go extra mile to bring opposition hardliners to a peaceful forum but when it comes to the constitution the government will never negotiate. Thus, the measures taken against CUD hardliners and their accomplices who breached constitutional order were meant to protect the constitution. So now their issue is out of the hand of the government and it is up to the court to pass decisions upon them. However, the government is always ready to further dialogue with the remaining opposition party members as long as they respect the constitutional order. In this respect the government has agreed, for instance, to hold talks with the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement and United Ethiopian Democratic Forces and is also waiting for those who were elected under CUD until they come for dialogue in an organized manner.
The other issue, which is related with the third national election, is the Addis Ababa Administration. The government has made the necessary preparations to hand over the administration to the elected party, CUD. Unfortunately the party declined to take over. The issue is now pending and waits for the decision of the House of Peoples Representatives for a lasting solution.
In fact, it is a significant leap to register 15 per cent growth and there will be better future for our country as long as we maintain the momentum. And the government is committed to do its level best to maintain the achievement and enable the farmers score better results in the coming seasons. As Prime Minister Meles indicated in his interview with journalists over the week, it is a great victory for our farmers that they are able to sell their produce at a better price this time unlike some past years. It is also quite motivating that the farmers have become keen enough to produce export oriented crops being aware of the global market situation. The government is desirous still to support the farmers to continue so and will facilitate conditions to provide them with the necessary inputs for better harvest in the years ahead. With the path of democracy and with intensified efforts of development the country, thus, would continue to develop building a better future for its people.
HAN
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