Taking river off its path, liberates waterway for development

BY WORKU BELACHEW

“I had not imagined that we can vanquish nature. I always accepted that we are under nature's control. In fact, when I see the Axum obelisks and the Lalibella rock hewn churches, something rings in my mind, regarding our forefathers wisdom when it comes to reigning over nature. The same day I watched that River Abbay is made to leave its natural course but slightly, I have reckoned that the missing link among the past and prevailing generations has been caught and gets its right place- and completed who we are,” says Deresse Fantaw whom I found on one of the streets of Addis while the official River diversion of Abbay broadcast on state television earlier this week.

Many others would also share the views of Deresse. No single person expected that Ethiopians can retrieve the legacy of their antecedents, may be for two things. One: apart from expressing deep grief with melancholic songs for lacking power and skills to exploit the river, no one dare proposed to use the river - be it from politicians, expressionists or whatever in the past few decades. In fact, the daunting colonial agreement that denied Ethiopia's right to use its own river which contributes 85% of waters for Nile also played its negative role for that, which is the second point.

As a young boy, most of the children of my time for instance sang “Beza Be' bega”- On that summer season- which we did not know who the author is. But, it narrates that couples were trying to cross River Abbay. The unfortunate girl, however, could not make it easily and the river engulfed her- each of them were forced to go their own way. The man lost his fiance. The merciless river consumed her body. And the man with agony promised not to forget her until his final breath least her soul rest in piece. As a young boy- too many of such songs, proverbs... that portray how Abbay is a ruthless dictator had been stumped in our memories.

All what we heard used to create a feeling that the river is one wealthy member of a family who is always there to ruin the lives of the rest members whilst being kind for their neighbours. So, literally who cares for such wicked guy ? A reckless guy who never pity his parents when they die because of famishment. His skinny brothers and sisters die before him loosing their weights- only with skins and bones. Well, let's not take this personification too far. Plainly speaking, on the days our country had been worst hit by drought this river still presented his blessings for our fat brothers abroad. It was unjust to die for luck of food while we can use our water only because non-African colonizers declare death on us to satisfy their bellies. Worse even, when some African brothers claim that the death must sustain.

Benefiting the neighbours or those who shares the waters is not a crime. But, shouldn't this guy (the river) care for member of his family where he is sourcing? When the river share its blessing for the family , the rest members also care for him so that he can accumulate more wealth and benefit both. And the cooperation among the neighbours and members of the family would undoubtedly lift up the whole matter to a more significant level- it would be easy to make sustainable and inter generational works.

But that did not happen over the past many many years. Abbay was blessing for others but curse for us. Now what we are doing is making it blessing in its source as well as along its entire course. In this case, we can care the river, we can increase the forest covers around the tributaries to further magnify its volume. All what is needed is cooperation. In fact, the blessings is abundant for all unless the former greediness intervenes again.

Now we have also reached an irreversible stage. River Abbay stubbornly flowed North in its 800 kilometres course in the past millennia before it crosses Ethiopian boarder until the GRD construction force it to take a short lived and man made passage.

May 28 once again championed in earmarking this historic day, bearing in mind that the sun also sets on the Military Junta on the same very day. History has already recorded this event as a unique day of our tracks, which displays Ethiopia's determination to see the completion of this dam that generates a 6 ,000 Megawatt of electric power- This is the equivalent of at least six nuclear power plants, according to sources.

To the surprise of everyone, there are still some individuals who claim the sustainability of that daunting colonial agreement. Humble reader, you can see how BBC reported the river diversion- even the headline tells that some individuals are against our efforts read as Ethiopia diverts Blue Nile for controversial dam build.

To my knowledge, there is no major controversy over the dam building. To further build mutual trust among the downstream countries a panel of expert is examining the impacts of the dam and is expected to bring out its final finding soon. In my view, those who cannot understand the benefits of a win- win relations would have argued on other merits than simply persisting in their idea which has been fossilized to destruct them.

Africa struggled to liberate itself from all forms of colonialism. Even late pan-African brothers and sisters bitterly argued as how the balkanization has impacted on Africa negatively. The colonial boarders do not consider the culture, language, ... of African people. Here the point this writer would like to stress is that, the colonial agreements are also based on the interest of colonial masters. Hence, individuals who still want the colonial agreements to function are manifestations of how the colonial disease is not still well mitigated in Africa.

No confusion, Pan-African brothers and sisters seriously debated over the post independence fate of mother Africa . Some of them camped debating that economic integration should come first while others battled to bring political integration first- which finally resolved in Addis Ababa and gave birth for the precursor of now African Union- OAU. The whole thing was to unify the continent. And without economic integration, like infrastructures, how can that comes into reality? There need to be roads that link the different economic communities, they need to share common natural resources fairly, the people and government in a given regional economic community should share experiences. This means, as to my understanding, the survival of one country need to be a guarantee for the survival of the other. This would be carried over generations and bring about boarder-less continent.

Contrary to that, if individuals are running to satisfy their short lived dreams, we make no history for the coming generation, but disease, backwardness, dependency and the likes- Don't you agree? The and Grand Renaissance Dam is, therefore, one factor to increase collaboration among countries that share the waters of Nile, particularly the down stream countries- Sudan and Egypt.

I bet, individuals or groups who conspires against the building of this dam, are not only Ethiopia's historic enemy but they are the regions' as well as continents monsters- with apology for using the term.

It is clear that the power generated by Ethiopian dams is shining in Sudan which gradually would make Sudan to substitute its thermal power generating units with electricity generated units. Ethiopia and Djibouti has also integrated with power. And such efforts would further replicated when the GRD sees completion. Without a need for a sophisticated calculation, it is such things that could bring regional integration and boarder-less Continent.

To wind up, congrats for all who are by the side of this singular achievement- Ethiopians has just started realizing man made canals, and after some time we would enjoy the completion of the dam.