I think this article will be a lesson to the blind reports who are failed to see the good side of the government/the leader. Instead they are more focused on telling stories about the mistakes and problems of the country by ignoring the tangible result achieved by the excellent leadership of the country. Besides for a long time the media was dominated by westerner who do not have the appetite/gut to write any positive about Africa and you have did a good job in balancing the biased report of the westerners. Moreover, if such positive reports have appeared frequently in various web Medias, it will contribute positively in building the image of the continent. Finally this article is good news for the people of Ethiopia and lovers of Ethiopia.

Now this Journalist is telling us Zenaw's goodness and his intellegence for Ethiopians, a bit irony if not insult but anyway this world is so funny including this writer, I am sorry I wouldn't say journalist-yes for some Osama Bin laden is also knows what citizins want immaginary nations they (both Meles and Osama) may be thinking of.

Did the writter read where does Ethiopia stands in the list of international transparency?

Did the writter read that Ethiopia is the only country where Gold, not money can be corrupted?

Did writer knows the salary of Meles Zenaw (1000, 10K, 100K dollars) and his private account?

Did writer knows as we speak +9 million people are suffering hunger across the country

Which corrupted officials sent to jail? Howmany of them were convicted for the corruption?

The corrupted officials including are still in power, however, yes some who tried to challenge either his position went jail and accused for corruption...non-convicted...

yes there is some construction here and there where this writter migh have visited...but do you know how much money he has been given?

People like "chigiree" will never quit from blaming brilliant people like Meles.

"The Camels will never stop going and the dogs will never stop barking on them"

This emplies that Meles Zenawi will never stop working for development and prosperity of this country, Ethiopia and the stubborn people like this one will never stop opening their mouth wide...." Thank you the new writer , you could see the real situation of cuuren Ethiopia and you will see much more progress very soon.

This is a shame to hear from this guy praising Meles. It is an insult to the majority of us. Our country is divided ethnicailly since his regime came. We fled our country because of Mass Murders taking place everywhere in the country. Of course there are a small minority of Ethiopians "Tigre's" that has benefeted from him solely because he is from the same ethnic group. And the writer also forgot the useless war with Eritrea which has costed us dearly. In summary this regime is worse than ever seen in any account and it is a matter of time when the ethnic tension explodes in Ethiopia and we will see the next Rawanada in the next decade.

It is nice to here this kind of perspective from African brothers I appreciate it.Mr Meles is a great leader ever in our history but some dont agree on it, even me in some cases but The guy is determined to change our bad side that we got it from leaders in the past.however to me nothing is more important than pulling out my people from poverty.I will be in his side and I pray day and night to my Lord to keep him in power for the coming 12 years but I dont think he will agree with my idea.

Thank you all Africa

The Intrinsic genius of PM Meles Zenawi.

Washera_2000

March 16, 2008

I was preparing for a debate at the Ethiopian Television Network in Virginia on a variety of issues including the remarks of Senator Feingold on the senate floor of the Foreign Relations Subcommitte, Human Rights Practices in Ethiopia, the upcoming Ethiopian elections and whatever crumbs are left over from HR2003, when I stumbled across a document sent to me by a friend a while back. It was a Preliminary Draft (Not for quotation) prepared by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on "African Development: Dead Ends and new Beginnings". It was a 50 pages plus draft for discussion with selected extracts of a monograph under preparation. Over 190 references were also included at the end.

It has been a while since I concluded that the PM is a hard working and very intelligent individual. I must say I was truly touched by his analyses and supportive arguments in this document and also ended up well informed by the time I completed reading it. I hope to highlight some of his impressive arguments and personal views about how to tackle this vicious cycle of poverty and bad governance in Africa. I will also include definitions of a few economic terminologies that may sound Latin for the average reader.

The thesis of his argument is that the neo-liberal paradigm of pervasiveness and efficient competitive markets to promote economic development in Africa is flawed and as a result has failed. It has made colonial Africa a weakened and predatory state (rulers extract tax for their own use) that is rife with rent-seeking (making money by manipulating the economic and/or legal environment) political economy tittering on the brink of collapse.

Neoliberalism was a right-wing libertarian political philosophy that gained ground a great deal after the stagnation crisis of the 1970s and the Developing World Debt Crisis of the 1980s. As articulated by John Williamson's Washington Consensus, it felt that government control over the economy was inefficient, corrupt or otherwise undesirable. As a result it proposed a means of transferring control of the economy from the public to the private sector. Specifically, Williamson's list included 10 points: 1) Fiscal policy discipline, 2) Reduction of public spending in education, health and infrastructure, 3) Tax reform, 4) Moderate interest rates, 5) Competitive exchange rates, 6) Trade liberalization, 7) Liberalization of inward FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), 8) Privatization of state enterprises, 9) Deregulation, and 10) Legal security for property rights. Thus the neo-liberal paradigm was put into action in many countries including South America. Its disastrous dead end in the African context has been chronicled by many respectable economists and Nobel laureates and PM Meles Zenawi proposes an alternative approach to get out of this dilemma.

He argues that the state should not be restricted to protecting individual and property rights in the form of services like the Police, Judiciary, Prison and Military (Night Watchman State), but must actively participate in the social and economic development of its citizens. Letting the market do its wonders has wondered off the target for too long. He proposes a paradigm shift (major change in certain thought patterns) to create a proper blend of norms, values and rules for a needed accelerated economic growth and social transformation. He refers to this as a Democratic Developmentalist Paradigm and backs it up with an impressive argument for the establishment of a dynamic agrarian democracy, much like the one advocated by Thomas Jefferson and help it evolve into a mature urban democracy.

He proposes to convince the developed countries to put their money where their mouth is. In this age of globalization where African countries are important as sources of transnational security threats, a breeding ground for drug trafficking and killer diseases as well as hundreds of thousands of refugees generated by failing states, it behooves the developed world to invest in his win-win proposal. He points out that pulling Africa out of its misery and into a successful democratic development will be in their basic economic interest.

PM Meles goes into specific steps to follow to accomplish this, like removing the vertical linkages of patronage in the rural areas, political reforms to remove the predatory state (rulers extract tax for their own use) and overcome rural marketing problems, promote civic engagement through horizontal networks and associations, promote civic virtues and democratic pluralism including religious and ethnic pluralism. Although the skeptics may question his methods, he strongly believes that is where the NGOs and donors (FDI) should direct their resources.

Not only does he believe that the doctrine of "There Is No Alternative (TINA)" be replaced by "There Are Thousands of Alternatives (TATA)" precept, but that his highly articulated vision is the best among such alternatives and with the right leadership that works toward a global and a solid domestic developmental coalition, the African state can be rebuilt and the pervasive rent-seeking phenomenon drastically reduced.

PM Meles expostulates convincingly that in an environment where most (3/4) of the agricultural production is non–tradable and leads to low income, production constraints and limited growth of rural farm and non-farm income is the rule. He proposes a mechanism for removing this demand constraint through increased productivity through technological change and decreasing transaction costs. This in turn will lead to greater sale outside the locality in greater volume and/or value which boosts farm income. The non-farm activities will get a shot in the arm and further increase demand for agricultural products completing this virtuous (not vicious) cycle. To break the dead end that has been made worse by the failed neo-liberal agenda, PM Meles proposes a massive investment in rural physical infrastructure, in market support institutions, in institutions for technological capability accumulation and government intervention to save agriculture for the credit crunch ( a state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high) that it finds itself in.

He chronicles how financial institutions have failed to perform their task of mobilizing savings and directing them toward profitable investments. He goes on to detail the issue of high interest rates, high incidence of non-performing loans, excess liquidity and low savings to accounts that has made them risk averse because they are operating almost in the dark. The absence of tax returns, proper audit reports or the absence of proper information on businesses has made them skittish about loans to ordinary businesses or the average guy. The financial sector liberalization as advocated by the neo-liberal dogma did little to resolve the problem and Meles believes that it contributed even more to the above dilemma. The liquidity in some banks was so excessive that some banks have been known to turn away savers.

Mr Jerry Okungu,

How could you write this artice while staying only two nights in Ethiopia?

Those blind people like you who only look at the empty buildings and write without doing detail studies are the ones who failed the poor African people.

Mr Okungu, did u really to see and understand the GDP of Ethiopia? For you information, the GDP of Ethiopia is lessthan that of Somalia, a county who hasn't government in the last 15 or so years.

Mr Okungu, those buildings that you have seen are built by the looted money of the Ethiopia people.

Mr, didn't see you that many, many people of Addis Abeba are still sleeping under bridges and drainage culverts?

I am sorry for you

What we should all be clear about is that Ethiopia is a developing country, and a least developed and at the bottom of the rung, at that. This being the case, it should have been apparent to the oppositions that there are overwhelming diverse and complex problems hindering progress in the political, social and economic sectors. As shown in this writing, most of the criticisms leveled at the government by the oppositions are lies, fabricated, exaggerated, etc. These criticisms emanate from a limited number of vociferous persons who, strangely enough find time, besides working to earn their living, to churn out a flood of articles. How do they do that? Simple, most of them do not conduct research; they sit down and cook articles, not supported by facts but based on their biases, fabrications and repeated ad infinitum boring allegations. What they seem not to realize is the fact that the country and the system of governance have reached a point of no return. They have made themselves irrelevant and lost credibility and respectability. Generally, people judge others by what they are themselves. They are guided by ‘what would I have said or done if I were in the shoes of the person(s) being judged.’ It reflects what kind of mind set they have. Some are positive: understanding, sympathetic, supportive and give the person(s) concerned the benefit of the doubt. Others are negative: selfish, jealous, suspicious, unforgiving, revengeful, etc. Apparently, many of the persons in the oppositions fall under the second category. It seems that they have lost their faculty for reasoning. They are very angry having lost power, wealth, integrity and dignity. They are hopeless; no amount of logical reasoning could enable them to see and accept truth and reality. Some of those in the oppositions are victims of heresy. They have never been to Ethiopia during the rule of the incumbent government. They have been mislead by the diehards who are blinded by their prejudices, jealousies and hunger for power. Their knowledge of the current situation in Ethiopia is based on the oppositions’ versions and therefore one-sided, i.e., biased and based on wrong and deceitful information. Even many of those who visited the country and observed first hand deny of any progress achieved. The exceptions keep quite either to deprive credit to the government or for fear of being labeled traitors, Weyannes, hodamoch, etc. What is surprising is that some of the Diaspora Ethiopians return from visits to Ethiopia with horror stories of poverty as if they have not only seen it but experienced it themselves or their relatives or their friends before emigrating. As the saying goes, ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ There is no magic wand for creating instant democracy. It takes time for democracy to take root, especially in the diversified traditional Ethiopian society comprising about 87 ethnic groups. Contrary to what the oppositions allege, significant progress has been made in politics, democratization and related areas. Of course, as in other governments anywhere, mistakes have been made. Innocent people have suffered. The oppositions are partly to blame for misinforming and inciting students and others to achieve their agenda. Had it not been for their obstacles the process of democratization and therefore governance and respect for human rights, would have, by now, attained higher levels. Sustainable peace and stability are essential preconditions for enhancing the democratization process and improving the grinding poverty of the Ethiopian people. Anything that undermines these preconditions cannot and should not be tolerated. Individuals or groups who are guided by and practice ‘the end justifies the means’ and undermine the peace and stability, and therefore the development process that is underway in the country, should be considered enemies of the people and human rights violators. The poor country and people cannot afford further distractions by such elements.

Indeed this is a breath of fresh air! It is refreshing to read the truth about Meles Zenawi's effort to transform Ethiopia into a model of what a nation can accomplish within a short number of years; and thereby reversing the wrongs of several generations. The unbiased and objective reporting of a fellow African on the accomplisments of P.M. Meles Zenawi brought tears to my eyes. It was a great piece of reporting.

It would be great if P.M. Meles Zenawi served Ethiopia for another term. However, if Meles sticks to his plan not to seek another term, I am confident that his successor, who ever he may be, will carry on the current policies of EPRDF, and the business of serving the Ethiopian people will continue unhindered.

Great understanding!

This sounds a paid adverstisement for Meles than fact. The reporter should be ashamed of himself, to call himself as such.

Meles is paying huge amount of money for PR rather meeting the needs of the Ethiopian people. I can guarantee you either this guy is bought off or a reporter who writes by talking with someone who takes him to nice lunch or bar.

I have never seen a report about Meles positively written in decades unless from his staff. So is this guy in or what is going on?

In the U.S.Meles is spending over $150,000 a month lobying some of the major lobbyist such as DLP. Now, he decided to buy reporters, why pay high price for a Washington PR machine.

Meles has made Ethiopia a basket case by using communist economic policy, by introducing ethnic division, by controlling land, industry, telephone and the Internet. Except in North Korea there is no regime that keeps such a monoploy. Meles system is stiffling polically and economically.

In 2005, he refused to give up power after 80% of people rejected him. He scared to give up power because of the excess, corruption and the killing he committed.

Meles is an arch enemy of Ethiopia and for that matter he is not even like Ethiopia and he is more fond Arabs than the Black people.

As guerrela fighter against Mengistu, he created such a hate for Ethiopia, he never overcome that hate. He is ruling as if he is at war with the people and the country. He is giving Ethiopias land to his Arab friends such as Sudan after he voluntarily decided to make it landlocked by allowing Eritrea to seccede without even negotiating access to Eritrean ports.

I salute the reporter for selling out to the worst enemy of Ethiopia, and the worst dictator in the history of Ethiopia.

I thought corruption was in government. Now it is sipping into the media.

What is left for Africa? Ethiopia is starving more than ever under Meles, more are fleeing and dying in the process, what in the world make this guy write such a lie?

Even if the reporter was selling out, I am suprised the editor did not question such a lie. What is going on? I can not wait for response and retraction from the editor?

Dawit from America

I really was immpressed to read the article titled " Ethiopia: Meles Zenawi Knows what citizens want" by Jerry Okungu, on the allafrica.com.

I would love to thank Jerry Okungu for writing what you have seen in Addis, the Capital of Ethiopia. These days it is not unusual to find reporters from every corner casting in the media views rather than facts they saw. So I want to assure you that you won my admiration for writing the facts.

I would also have been much happier had you got a chance to go out of Addis to visit the achievements his excellency Meles Zenawi and his government have succeeded in the agricultural sector where aroud 80% of the population of Ethiopia is engaged. You would have had the chance to see the living standards of a large number of farmers being changed to the better.

We are having farmers creating wealth through hard work in their farm lands supported with enhanced agricultural inputs from the government side.

In my opinion Meles not only knows what the citizens of his country would want but also he is capable of addressing serious issues in the continent.

"VIVA Meles Zenawi"...I wish you a longer time in power so that we can see your dreams for Ethiopia and horn of Africa being fulfilled.

Interesting article, unlike many other journalists who sniff only the downside and report with a lot of biased, misinformation, this one is focused in the positive concrete, deniable facts. Also we how to consider how complex the problem in Ethiopia is and how deep rooted is the poverty. Moreover we should Not expect democracy and free-speech overnight, it is a process that we have to exercise and develop it. It is obvious this journalist will be attack from many irrational anti-EPRDF (Meles’s party) but that is what a journalist is, reveal what other overlooked. Prosperity to Africa! Ephrem

Yes, Melese government has done many many good things to ETHHIOPIA but his government also has many many weak points which can only be corrected by particpatory democracy. Parties like EPRP are just has no place in Ethiopian politics any more actually EPRP has to be considered as worst as derg actually more. Especiall, now in North AMRICA since they do not have any followers they are taking over the churches of Abuna Merkorios and Zena as their last frontier to stay alive. down with EPRP enemy of Ethiopia Melese govt. can do better and I applaud for what has achieved so far under his leadership. GO Melese!!!

Ya, Meles Zenawi knows what his people really want. This man is the best man, an exemplary leader which our country has ever seen in its history. Okungu, I would feel nothing if this was said by the non-Africans. Nothing makes us happy than being appreciated by (getting a reaction from) our African brothers and sisters. I like the way you see at the issue Dear Jerry Okungu. May God bless you. Even if the critical comment was on some failures of the government, definitely it is equally thrilling, as a comment from an African brother or sister has no hiden ajenda - except to bring some positive changes to the people. Am totally unhappy by the positions always taken by non-African people (the so called observers and watchdogs.) God bless Africa and its people. Bravo Jerry Okungu for showing the world our African positive mind. Bless you, again.

Dear Journalist

I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for the good observation and correct comments made on our Prime minister.Am happy to know that we have this kind of optimist and professional African journalists.It is this kind of step and positive will that can help we Africans forward and reach the level where the other world is now.It is not to say lets hide the negative face of our leaders but to tell both the strong and weak points so that they will be able to have both the courage and responsibility to shape their governance that leads to prosperity.And for the negative and bad side of Africa we have the Western media who do not need permission nor moral to tell.

I fully agree with all the comments made on Mr.Meles.Am proud to be in this generation to see such a wonderful, capable,intelligent leader. I would also like to mention that Ethiopia is a country that is not meant only for Meles.Lets all contribute our share to make our country to be where it is planned to be by our governmnet.Stop talking but act,work,innovate,invent,invest......Lets leave the politics to politicians and work,as all of us (Ethiopians)can not be politicians.

Meles Zenawis legacy 1. corruption and looting of the national treasures of the country has never been so bad. Even the national bank of Ethiopia's reserve gold has been looted and replaced with fake gold.

2. The countries economy is completely owned by companies owned by the ruling clique.

3. The whole government is controlled by one family that is derived from a tigrian ethnic group which comprises only about 8% of the population.

4. The entire army is controlled by the same ethnic group except those from other ethnic groups needed as cannon fodder for Meles Zenawis adventure in the region. Many of them forced in to the army by economic hardship that is created by Meles Zenawi.

5. Members of other ethnic groups that submitted to Meles Zenawi,s rule are armed enough, segregated and conditioned at the time of conflict to be able to obliterate each other but never to challenge his own ethnic and private army.

6. Militarily, and economical the only region that is protected by highly equipped private army and by infrastructure that is built by the wealth that is luted from the rest of the country is only tigray.

7. Meles Zenawi has prepared the country to collapse completely at the time when he is forced out of power leaving only tigray the region where he and his comrades came from to be able to stand on it's feet become a refuge from any one reaching them.

8. In the country more and more people are facing starvation every year only to be kept alive by a generous food donation from it's masters in the west who are bailing out Meles Zenawi to save his face so that he would do their biding if not for ever one more day at a time.

Ethiopians are not only in hale on earth but sitting on a time bomb that not only threatens there existence but would drawn the entire region in to turmoil and Mr. Jerry Okungu is telling them they never had it better.

To beles:

...I am afraid you may not be an Ethiopian ally but someone with interest to see us divided...may be you are purchased by enemies who wish to see more divided Ethiopia. Your words are sourced from angry,racist and sick mind I advise you better see a psychiatrist.

Look you are addressing us (Ethiopians) as they and them in your comment...that tells me you are not an Ethiopian. Why don't you try to visit Tigray...?

I agree with what is written,perhaps there are some people who can't see all these changes. am just saying that when are we Ethiopians witness these changes? the people shouldn't always worship the past leaders not knowing that they were those who put our country to hell.....am just saying it from my previous knowledge. know that i am not fan of the gov't rather honest individual. I know what most ethiopians would think on my comments.....hahahaha. " God bless Ethiopia"

i think, this can breifly shows what Meles has done all over the country inparticular addis ababa.I am hoping that he will stay in the office for the next ten or more years in order to finish excellent job he and his government started.

negatu Toronto

This is the reality in Ethiopia at present. I think action speaks more than words do. It is helpful for the people and the country. At the ends of the day people need to see and test tangible results of development. God Bless Ethiopia and its brave sons and daughters.

Well, yes Meles knows what citizens want. The fact is the change, we have to look back before one decade Addis Ababa how it used to look like. I agree Zenawi is an intellectual person and Ethiopia needs individuals like him.

May be the so called journalist asked drivers on the streets of Mekkele not Addis. How could you see in two days what Ethiopians couldn't see in 17 years. May be Meles borrowed him his own glass. It isn't surprising though given how corrupt some Africans including journalists are. I think it just costed Mr. Zenawi a couple of hundred dollars to make you write this.

Meles is great for those who appreciate apartheid rule. He is great if you are a Tigrean. For the rest, he is just another blood thirsty dictator like his predeccessors.

Thank you Jerry Okung for your obsevation. Some people in my country (Ethiopia) love to trust the opinion or observations of individuals other than Ethiopian. If I've said sth like u no one like to listen to me but when it comes from sb outside they're atleast willing to listen. No one should deny what our PM His excellency Meles Zenawi has accomplished unless and otherwise he/she is blind, irrational, unreasonable, illogical closed and narrow mindedand. What we should all know is that PM Meles and HIs government started from a scratch in every aspect. I have a question for those who consider themselves as patriotic and who cann't see what has been done by PM Meles's government. What has been your contribution for the betterment of Ethiopia???

Try to be Humanistic.Ethiopia is one of the Country who get the most help from Europa and other helping country. e.g. The Airport was help from germany.The Engineer who design is living in Nurenberg Germany(German).I know him personally.He never wants to see Ethiopia in his life because of dirty government. -I can tell you ,many,many.... So Meles Government is just Fascism or He is a Fascist. -e.g If you are a good Maths teacher that is enough about you but in fascist land you are forced to be like a cader for Meles other wise you will lose ur job. just an example.I can tell u 1000 cases.

I am afraid in the future to think about Tegrean Children. Try to think of our hero Africans leaders they all have in commen the love of there People. Meles is the revers.

Hero is a man who learns from his mistake. we are humanbeings . we have bad side and good too. i think he learnt from the past ,his mistake even he still does it , he seems trying to connect with the people. one thing he need to know is that he is on power because the the people are the, so he has to realize that.

Mr. OKungu, I appreciate your effort to write your observation. However I think it is a short sighted assessment based on the improvements of the skyline of Addis as seen from Bloe road or the airport but not on the life ground level deep in the hearts of the city. Let me start from histroy- how he came to power. He and his colleagues started as separatists who wanted to librete Tigrai from the rest of Ethiopia. They succeded to weaken the Facist regime which was already in the verge of free fall by its own misdeeds and popular distisfaction. Then your intelegent man percieved the opportunity to liberate the region he wanted to while at the same time controlling ann dismantling the country he dspised including it Histroy, territory and highly skilled and eductaed manpower. Do you know that he is allergic to the Ethiopain flag and history. Have you ever headr of any leader who defends another nation against the country he leads? Why do you think is that Ethiopian intellectuals are among the highest immgrants in the western world as well as in other African nations? Is it because the econimc growth is a healthy one? Have you ever investigated who owns most of those new high rise buildings (directly and indirectly). Taking of the roads and communications developments have you evr heard of there is a something called structural adjustment program pushed by IMF/WB and closely tied to loans. I am sure you have observed simillar developments in your country and Kenya, tanzania etc if not more. Going to the rural areas you will still see raods and schools, health cebters built at a fast rate but let me invite you to go and see their services. And dotn forget that these are also part of the IMF/WB or other bilateral loan funds. If he has not implemeted these he wouldnt be able to recieve the extra money and free the tax payers money for his private security, invstements etc. Yes, he is briliant but that is used for silencing the people and looting. Have you ver notice what happened in may 2005 and afterwards. On the international level he is the smartest depolomat and knows how to wean favor of those with special needs (USA etc) or prople who are very superfacial. I appreciate your ideas and observations but I feel they are too superfacial. So please write like a mature journalist right from the root not from what is observed in luxurious hotles, airports or city night life.

His Excellency Mr. Meles Zenawi is the right person that ETHIOPIA NEEDS......Education should be giveN to each and every individual that could change our old days thinking... Therefore, lets put our hands together only for the best of ETHIOPIA - The HOLLY LAND.

Thanks,

This president of Ethiopia is proven tous again and again that he is the man of the ppl not fake or propaganda like the others president are.IN 2001 i had been in Eritrea and saw when the president comes to the city, the city was drowned of security agents and in fact we eritreans are going backward than forward why are we struggle to have such a leader than making different alliances who dont even resist 2-5 years????????????

Am really happy to see such commenatries from african brothers which i think can give hope and align ones vision from darkness to some thing bright. Like any mundane nation, Ethiopia has a lot of enemies from within and outside. But in my opinion there are some fellow citizens who doesn't want to leave a stone unturned to destroy the incumbent party in Ethiopia. I do agree with these people as long as they fight to snatch power with out compromising the on going development, stability, and democratic process.

But what we are seeing from current so called oppositions or supporters is that they want to play with our fates. They want to disrupt, destroy and defame anything touched by the incumbent. This is totally wrong. Inaddition to what is mentioned by our fellow there are a lot of things which are accomplished by the current government. Take education, forgetting the hundreds of the newly built schools, the no of universities has been riased from two(2) to thirteen (13), the no private colleges and university colleges has reached to 50s from null. On the democratic process (with its problems) people have started to organize themselves under any kind of ideologies and are running for parliament and loccal councils, which was unthinkable some years later. People are discussing sensitive issues on the newspapers to the extent like "Whether it's feasible to wage armed struggle against the governing party" refer to the last edition of 'Awramba times' local news paper

To summarize my comment, it's good to see people (esp. African journalists) to see the bottle as half empty, as i think this will awake people to sniff the good things under progress.

thanks man, MP

THis man is proved to us and shows us that he is the man man of the ppl. in 2001 i had been in my country Eritrea and saw the president,when he arrived the city was drowned of his security agents.What a shame!!! We Eritreans why dont we struggle to have Meles as president than to build an alliance of opppositions who dont even resist 2-5 years struggle?????????????

Who the hell are you lier... Tring to pretend Eritrean, you must be Pente or poor Ethiopian. Meles is a piece of shit, not even..even.... even thousand time close to Eritrean leader Assais Aforki!,,, Eritrea pple by them self are security agents, and they like to pay respect of their leader that's how we grow up . Meles need no respect.. and now poor Ethiopians uhh believe what ever Meles says, you will be just fine uhhhhh. Ethiopia is a Cancer of Africa... We don't need Ethiopia....remove it.... disgusting, AIDS.

Well said Mr.Okungu! The Ethiopian opposition is so much consumed by hatered that it is unable to see what you've witnessed in your short stay. Most of the people who are against melles are those who believe that they are the God Chosen ones to rule this country. Melles is the redeemer who will who will save Ethiopia. Thank You

For over 300 years, South Africans have been subjugated and tortured by White (European) apartheid. We Ethiopians especially the Oromo people are being tortured by black (African) apartheid. You may be surprised to know when Meles Zenawi and his Tigray minority ethnic mafia controlled "political party", massacring & oppressing the majority, if not exaggerated the third largest Ethiopian ethnic group in Africa. But as allay to USA, Meles Zenawi's dictatorship may be ignored by the so-called "freedom-loving" Western allies. Even when the United States became involved in the conflict in neighboring Somalia, it chose Ethiopia as its regional partner, providing support for former guerrilla leader Meles Zenawi. The U.S. has even given its approval to North Korea’s Kim Jong-il to sell weapons to Meles Zenawi. A former medical student, Meles Zenawi began his political career by joining a Stalinist guerilla group in 1974. Twenty-one years later he gained power after overthrowing Ethiopia’s much-reviled dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam. In order to satisfy Western demands for a multi-party democracy, Meles created puppet parties for each of the nation’s major ethnic groups, while the real parties boycotted his elections. In 1998, he subjected his people to an unnecessary border war with Eritrea that caused thousands of deaths. He agreed to international arbitration to settle the border, but when the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruled against him, Meles refused to abide by the decision and kept for Ethiopia land that belonged to Eritrea. Meles Zenawi's ethnic Tigray mafia dictatorship in Ethiopia as abhorrent as it is, it remains to be seen if it can stand the test of time & the Ethiopian people's volcano, cooking under his ethnic dictatorship.

It is always welcome to see fair and health comments similar to what i just read. Yes Ethiopia is booming in many fronts and is fair enough to appreciate such efforts being done by the government and people of Ethiopia.

It is nice to hear such an encouraging and constructive comment from an external observer and or african brother journalist. I realy care the list about the number of days he has been in Addis to make such worthtrusty note. If someone neccessarily have to stay long within inorder to forward his opinion about the country general situaton, then, why should we value the diaspora oposition's voice as if it reflected a reality. We should outrightly start to reject what ever critics is made by the vocal diaspora. Because most of them haven't been in Ethiopia due to their bad deeds to innocent Ethiopians.

To the end what interests me is, does the writer made a true remark or not? And in my opinion he absolutely did a true observation about the credible changes that has been undertaken in Ethiopia and the magneficent talent, dynamism, ability, determination, courage and what not of PM Meles Zenawi and his administration. I would love to see Meles one more term in the office, just for the sake of good to Ethiopia and Ethiopians and ofcourse against Ethiopia's enemies. Ethiopia's endmies, include Shabia and some of the so called oposition goups who work hand in hand with anti Ethiopian savage groups. God bless Ethiopia!

Dinqeem Worq!! How can you compare Melix Zerawi with Gold. He even doesn't deserve to be amed. He is as ibbet as that of cows. The worst person ever sat in finfinne palace!!!!

I am living in Addis Ababa....What can we say for the people who opposes the views of the writer? What I can say is "The Camels will never stop going and the dogs will never stop barking on them"

Mehari from Addis

Since Meles has a fear no body to replace him. he made a law no his party member to replace a prime minister/to became a leader, even on his illness time nor to his natural death. Even previous feudal kings had their successors, 'algawerash'. what he put this country at dangerious risk of such conseqeunce after him? beside his thristy of dictatoring.He is sick of megaloMania.

This article is a flowery one. I wish it were true. The writer of this article saw Meles Zenawi's regime from outside and so I can say it suffers from superficiality and partiality. If the writer had the courage or willingness or professional commitment to go a little deeper into people's lives, this article could have been different.

Meles paid in cash and in other ways this guy as Haile Selassie and Mengistu bought many Africans to depict an impoverished and backward Ethiopia as a great African nation. It is very sad that many people sell their souls for money and luxurious lifestyles. Jerry Okungu without doing any research on Ethiopia, he preaches the people who are suffering under the criminal regime of Meles Zenawi from abject poverty, famine, war, terrorism, genocide, and massive human rights violations. It is useless to waste time with this kind of person who has no morality and conscience.

Africa produced many leaders who sold their brothers and sisters to slavery; it is still producing intellectual, politican, and business pimps who victimize Africans to accumulate money and then lie about it. These includes Meles Zenawi and Jerry Okungu!

In a two days visit if one able to make a conclusion of such magnitude about the developement of a country as he/she tried to articulate, I have a dought to recognize your claim as a foreign visitor rather you either a paid advertiser or one of the TPLF member who try to paint their misups. But the reality cannot be painted by words. Let me assume you are a forgin visitor, the fact that you were very impressed by the building in Addis, let me start asking if you know who owned those buildings that you highly admired ?

The Ethiopian economy is partilly owned by the TPLF non governmental sector - EFFORT, originally formed as NGO and sheltered the protection of the TPLF leadership where half of the country's economy is owned by this NGO. Does the this foreign visitor know this?

Does this foreign visitor know the distribution of wealth among ethnics, since the country, on Meles's eye, divided by tribe?

Does this foreign visitor knows how much the Ethiopina people are frastrated by the rising cost of living and joblessness?

Does this foreign visitor knows government officials at any point in the ladder, the level of corruption, froud, and luck accountability the worst level in the country's history?

Does this foreign visitor knows there are over 9 millions Ethiopian under starvation?

Does this foreign visitor knows the tribal confilict in the country reached to the highest level and it is because the leader whom you admire highly - Meles's policy caused this problem?

I dought you do, only saw the look at the front of those buildings that covered the blood stain of the Ethiopian people behind those walls.

Some of you try to supplement the so called foreign visitor, I have no dought you are complementing each other. As much the previous leaders have suffered great deal a judgment day will come. But what really suddened by is unable to learn the despicable path of the past and repeat the same history of greed, selfshness, and haterid.