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Ethiopia: Why Only Zenawi; Why Not Mussolini?
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The Monitor (Kampala)
OPINION
7 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Hussein A. Kiflu
After having read an "East African Perspective" by a regular New Vision columnist on May 2 under the title Meles Zenawi Knows What Ethiopians Want, I automatically developed the urge to react with a piece titled "Zenawi's enduring ability to charm foreigners." But, then I took my time over the weekend and perused Mr Jerry Okungu's assessment of Ethiopia vis-à-vis his perception of Mr Zenawi.
As I am no economist, nor am I any good to support my facts with figures, I was afraid Mr Okungu might have buttressed his praise of Mr Zenawi with some new hard facts that appeared on the horizon since my departure to exile in January 2007.
Unfortunately, no matter how I wished for a miracle so that what Mr Okungu wrote could be true, all I came up with is just panegyric unbecoming of a columnist that has respect for facts.
Mr Okungu tells us about his reflection at the Addis Ababa Airport for the second time in less than five months. And, so he says, despite the "unflattering" human rights records, the "man" namely Zenawi, has done well for Ethiopia.
The basis of his conclusion stems from a two nights stay in Addis along with observation of massive construction efforts beginning with the new airport that seemed to have dazzled him out of his wits.
He also "informed" us of Mr Zenawi's increasing popularity with ordinary Ethiopians such as taxi drivers. Again, with two nights stay, apparently in one of the new hotels he says has "mushroomed" under the able guidance of Mr Zenawi, he was able to note Ethiopians' happiness with Mr Zenawi's ability to manage their resources and taxes. He praised him too for his high intolerance of corrupt public officials.
He also told us that the development of infrastructure that includes the provision of water, electricity and communications services has already spurred service delivery, food insecurity, education for all, health care and decent housing for thousands of Ethiopians.
He summarised by calling on Zenawi's peers to emulate him by concentrating on infrastructure first for the betterment of life and creation of wealth and to turn their attention on the "softer" issues of human rights and freedom of speech later, or probably never.
As it's clear from the tone of Mr Okungu's writing, my view as a refugee from the repressive regime of Mr Zenawi will be rejected as a perennial whiner with no alternative solution.
However, Ethiopians in 2005 gave their verdict to the opposition which came up with clear vision and alternative solution. What's more, during the run up to the election, Mr Okungu's avid reader and stickler for details shied away from public debate with the opposition candidates.
As to service delivery such as electricity, even the ambassador here in Kampala will not deny Addis's rigorous loadshedding. Water too in most areas of Addis is scarce that residents are forced to be up beyond midnight to wait for droplets from their taps.
Without mentioning the plight of the people in the countryside, I challenge anyone to look behind the newly constructed tall buildings.
Note also the cronyism and tribalism behind these new hotel businesses that brings misery to poor residents by causing displacement. Also check some basic facts about Ethiopia from sources such as CIA Fact Book which is updated as recently as 2008.
You'll be amazed to find out that there isn't much difference between the ungovernable war torn Somalia and Mr Zenawi's Ethiopia - ranging from corruption to killer diseases. Most of all, refrain from telling lies by quoting taxi drivers where even graduates from Ethiopian universities find it difficult to communicate in English.
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In short, Mr Okungu's suggestion for Africans to emulate Prime Minister Zenawi is an insult to their intelligence on account of construction of "hotels' and infrastructure.
After all, fascist Italy too contributed to the infrastructure of Ethiopia amidst attempts to steamroll patriotic resistance of Ethiopians with mustard gas.
Mr Kiflu is an Ethiopian refugee in Uganda
Mr. Kiflu, the assesment made by Mr. Okungu has no political bias as you and your follower yetale have. You said Mr. Okungus assesment was made on just a two night visit that is true; if he had passed more nights he could have told you lots of facts on what have been done and are being done. So please enjoy your exile until the ruining regime that you are eager for comes.
I see no objective in the argument of Mr. Kiflu. The article can be compared to the ugly monotonous cry of the sheep in "Animal Farm”: "Two legs bad! Four legs good!" Jerry referred Ethiopians’ comment about their country; while kiflu has his evidences hidden somewhere in a CIA abstract. In Ethiopia, English language classes start from primary school. I can safely say that every taxi driver in Addis can comfortably communicate in English language. For that matter, language is of little importance when one needs to express a genuine feeling. By the way, Kiflu,... [Read Full Text]
Well written and well thought-out article! Good job Hussein! Under Meles Zenawi's watch so many people have gone from a comfortable life into poverty, and only very few have become very wealthy. This is part due to his ill conceived policies, but mostly due to his tribal favoritism. according to UN's HDI Ethiopians are not by any measure better of today than they were in 1991 when Zenawi came out of the desert to capture power by shear luck.
What a disgusting display of ignorance and being loose with facts and a misrepresentation of reality. One has to respect and support PM Meles Zenawi's policy of agriculturally led economic development and the main guiding principle being poverty reduction. It has already bear fruit and accepted as fact even by World Bank. It made an assessment just this week that Ethiopian economy is about to to have a duel take off in both economic and service accelerated growth, and will support Ethiopia in that endeavor. Ethiopia today enjoys the fastest economic growth in non oil producing African countries. Unless you... [Read Full Text]
I did not read Mr. Okungu's story about Zenawi's leadership achievements but I believe Mr.kiflu's summary suffices for me to comment on the issue. If Okungu believes that Melese Zenawi is the best leader for Ethiopia then my simple conclusion is that either he (Okungu) has no the faintest idea of Ethiopian politics and/or he is totally ignorant of the socio-political situations currently prevailing in Ethiopia or else ( I regret to say that he must be a hired individual that has little respect to his profession). Melese has been the most hated tyrant in... [Read Full Text]
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