| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
ELECTION TURNOUT DEMONSTRATES HIGH PARTICIPATION AND DISCIPLINE
Ethiopia's first multi-party election took place on Sunday throughout the country with the exception of regions 2,5 and 13 where it has been postponed due to reasons of logistics. Sunday's voting was the first of its kind in the country based on a democratic constitution leading to the formation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Marking the end of the transition period that began in 1991, the election focused on the Assembly of Peoples' Deputies and on the formation of the Regional Councils which assure self- government for nations and nationalities.
No less than one thousand observers were on duty at the polling stations while some 250 others came from 17 countries and international bodies to witness the event. The voting process was conducted smoothly and with notable participation and discipline. Polling stations were properly guarded by police to ensure the safety and security of voters.
There were some 40,000 polling stations throughout the country and each polling station was intended to accommodate a minimum of 1,000 voters within one day. Intensive explanations and briefings had been given to voters before voting began. This greatly minimized the number of ballots likely to be disqualified due to mistakes caused by voters when placing markings on ballot papers.
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) was assured of landslide victory. This is largely believed to be the popularity of the its programme among the vast majority of the Ethiopian people.
Some observers described the election as a good beginning for the success of democracy in Ethiopia. They advised the existing democratic forces not to be complacent about their achievements in the current election, but to work for the consolidation and strengthening of democratic rule by working for the good of the people.
It is expected that results of the election will be known in about a month's time. Already after being collected from the polling stations, the results indicated the lead secured by candidates fielded by the EPRDF.
Earlier in the week, radio and TV debates conducted by campaigners gave insight to the electorate about the future challenges facing parliamentarians and regional administration council representatives of working for the defence of the rights and interests of the people.
PRESIDENT MELES CALLS FOR COORDINATED EFFORT TO EXPAND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COOPERATION
In a brief visit he paid to Dakar, Senegal, invited to address the Third African-African American Summit on May 4, 1995, President Meles Zenawi called for a concerted approach to tackle the debt problem facing Africa.
President Meles said that it is difficult to attain meaningful economic development in Sub-Sahara Africa unless urgent steps are taken to find ways and means to overcome the debt crisis. He stated that the African-African American Summit could sensitize public opinion in the United States so that a solution to the problem could be pursued in a sustained manner.
Speaking on Afro-American cooperation in general, President Meles said that the growing influence and the weight of African Americans in the U.S over decision-making could facilitate in a very tangible way the impact that African Americans can have over the course of events in Africa.
The degree to which African Americans can have a meaningful influence over developments in Africa is closely linked with the level of influence they have within the United States, President Meles said.
The corollarly is also valid, he added, in that it is only when Africans put their houses in order and when they make themselves and Africa a worthy partner for economic cooperation and for business venture that they can be taken seriously in the United States and, indeed, anywhere in the world.
Referring to the fight against corruption, President Meles said that coordinated efforts between Africans and African Americans as well as friends of Africa in journalism, academia and in the business world or in other professions is vital to stamp out the evil. The need to fight this evil is not only urgent but is also one of the major challenges for the rehabilitation of African economies and societies.
President Meles, who returned home on May 5, held talks in Dakar with many African leaders and the U.S. Secretary of Trade, Ron Brown.
ROLE OF WOMEN AND POLICY CHANGES STRESSED IN RED CROSS DAY MESSAGE
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) has to devise a strategy to enable women, particularly those in rural areas, to achieve self-reliance, said Prime Minister Tamrat Layne, Patron of the Society, in a speech he delivered in connection with international Red Cross Day on the eve of May 8.
The theme of this year's Red Cross Day was "Dignity for All; Respect to Women". Prime Minister Tamrat stated that the Red Cross Society has to work towards liberating women from famine and persecution which dominated their lives in the past, and encourage them to be actively engaged in development activities.
Since this year's Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is different in many respects from previous observances, taking place as it does on the wake of a free and fair election in Ethiopia which is laying down the structure of a democratic form of government, it is a day on which Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies throughout the world take stock of their past achievements and prepare to face the challenges prevailing within their respective countries, Prime Minister Tamrat said.
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society is no exception, added Prime Minister Tamrat further stressing that the society is better placed today to carry out the theme of the Red Cross Society than others because it operates in an environment in which much is being done to implement national policies that promote women's interests.
Fundamental changes have taken place to deal once and for all with the oppressive and dictatorial rule of the past and open wide opportunities for women to defend their rights, safeguard justice and participate in development, Prime Minister Tamrat said.
Prime Minister Tamrat mentioned the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia which guarantees the rights of women and enhances their participatory role. Equally, directives have been issued to be applied both at the central and regional levels, so that today women who were once vulnerable to discrimination, wars and famine, are looking forward to a bright future determined to enjoy peace, democracy and development, he said.
Prime Minister Tamrat went on to emphasize that the Red Cross Society must make the best out of these developments and must pool together its manpower and material resources together to strengthen the activities of women. The society should devise plans and programmes in which women can play an active part, he said.
Since the structure of government has been changed giving rights to local people to decide their destiny in accordance with the federal system of administration thereby enabling them to shape the humanitarian work of the Red Cross from the grass-roots level, and since development strategies in the country are rural-based and all-embracing rather than focusing on groups or small sections of society, Prime Minister Tamrat emphasized that the Red Cross Society has to re-examine its objectives in light of these changes, and should, in fact, carry out structural and operational adjustments that are attuned to the new conditions re-assessing at the same time its relations with the community.
If it fails to do this, he said it would lack the means of overcoming dependence and securing the full participation of the majority of the people. Prime Minister Tamrat Layne finally called on the members of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society to contribute their share to the success of their organization by advancing the current theme. "Respect to Women and Dignity to All."
DEAN EXPLAINS PURPOSE OF NEW ETHIOPIAN CIVIL SERVICE COLLEGE
The Dean of the new Ethiopian Civil Service College, Dr. Fasil Nahum, said that the ultimate goal of the college is upgrading the skills of Ethiopians who will bring about the "democratization and economic development" of the country.
Dr. Fasil, who was recently on a visit to the United States on a mission to establish sister school relations, told the United States Information Service (USIS) that the cornerstone of Ethiopia's democratic reforms, began in 1991, is the creation of a federal system of government which provides "federal regions" with significant authority over local affairs. But first, he said, Ethiopians must be trained to handle those awesome responsibilities.
"In order to be able to handle these challenges, we need trained manpower. We need people trained in law, in economics, possibly in several other fields. And so we are trying to fill the gap in as short a time as possible by training civil servants, that is the main problem that we are facing right now. How do we fill these positions in the courts, the administration, the local legislatures, in order to be able to tackle problems of democratization and economic development?" Dr. Fasil said.
Dr. Fasil pointed out that the Civil Service College, presently run under the Prime Minister's Office, began only a year ago with a class of 400 students drawn from the different regional administrations. The college's faculty number about 20, including both Ethiopians and foreigners. Many faculty are drawn from the country's professional civil servants: judges, ministry officials, and special advisors granted leave to teach on a visiting or part- time basis.
The Dean of the Civil Service College pointed out that besides faculty, it is in need of material assistance, especially computers, books and a fully functioning library.
Highlights of the Week (May 2 - 8, 1995)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the release in Mogadishu of abducted Ethiopian diplomat Yamani Abdi without any ransom that had been asked by the captors. The ministry said that Ethiopia had summoned her diplomats to Addis Ababa and this did not mean that the country has closed its mission in Mogadishu.
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The Addis Tyre Factory has started a project at a cost of 223 million birr to raise its output to over 200,000 tyres and 160,000 rubber tubes yearly, Ato Reda Tamrat, General Manager of the factory, said. Ato Reda said that the new project that includes expansion, promotion, machinery modernization and construction will be completed in the near future. The completion of the project helps the country overcome shortage of tyres and open-up job opportunities for about 160 persons. The factory currently produces 120,000 tyres and 60,000 rubber tubes it was reported. **********
A three-day consultation meeting attended by women representing NGOs and women organizations from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Sudan was held under the theme "Strategic Initiatives for the Horn of Africa (SIHA)" here in Addis Ababa. Closing the meeting Mrs. Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, Chairperson of the SIHA, said that all concerned bodies particularly women's organization should fight to mobilize and organize women in the region to promote peace, democracy, social justice and human rights along with ensuring the equality of women in decision-making. The participants noted that ending war, maintaining peace, encouraging governments or factions to reconcile and encouraging the initiatives of the regional governments to mediate the peace talks at all levels are the four major objectives which they all should work on before, during and after the Beijing Conference.
********** Developing countries must learn from the mistakes of the developed world which led to a number of global environmental challenges as a result of the unsustainable path of industrialization they followed, Ato Desta Mebratu, President of Chemical Society of Ethiopia, said. Addressing a one-day national workshop on ecologically sustainable industrial development, Ato Desta urged planners and promoters of industrial development to be at the forefront in promoting the Ecologically Sustainable Industrial Development (ESID).
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An agreement providing for the execution of development projects at a cost of over 4.1 million birr in Region 3 was signed between concerned regional bureaux and Save the Children UK at Bahir Dar. According to the agreement, the projects lasting until 1998 include improving the services of three clinics and equipping Mekane Selam Health Station with various facilities and the construction and maintenance of a 67 - km Sekota-Zukuala road. Over a million mothers and children are expected to benefit from the health service promotion projects, according to the agreement.
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During a stopover at the Bole International Airport on his way to Senegal, Dakar, Rwandan President Pastor Bizimungu said that the situation in his country is returning to normal and the recent incidents in some regions are under control. President Bizimungu said that the Ethiopian contingent serving under the UN Mission in his country is successfully discharging its duties on the border areas between Zaire and Rwanda.
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Due to the expansion of irrigation projects and human settlements the fatal disease bilharzia was now a real health threat in the country, Dr. Hailu Birre, a medical parasitologist of the Pathology Institute of the Addis Ababa University, said. Dr. Hailu said that several years ago bilharzia was confined to a few areas in northern Ethiopia, but now there is no part where the disease has not made its presence felt. Twenty years ago in Metehara and Wonji two out of one hundred people were sufferers of bilharzia; now about 80 percent of the children in those areas are victims of the disease, Dr. Hailu said.
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Message-Id: 199505181918.PAA07967@orion.sas.upenn.edu
Date: Thu, 18 May 1995 12:49:56 -0400
From: Faraz Fareed Rabbani frabbani@epas.utoronto.ca
Subject: Weekly Report Vol 3.No.10 (fwd)