Genre: Editorial 

Published on the Ethiopian Herald on 29 March 2014

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink

 

BY WORKU BELACHEW
 

Ethiopia is pressing ahead with the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) meeting all international standards though Egyptian authorities opt destructive path. Upper riparian nations and downstream Sudan have recognized Ethiopia's natural rights to use the waters, and the latter has found the project beneficial for it reduces flooding, not to mention its impact to regulate the flow, and increases water volume in the river system.

Particularly during the previous three years, Ethiopia unveiled the relevance of the project to integrate the region apart from conquering age-old poverty that reigned in the nation.

Authorities in Egypt who still fall being prisoners of their rhetoric turn deaf ears to the genuine call of the upper riparian Nations and Sudan for cooperation.

The international community, in various occasions, tried and is still trying to calm down these authorities irrational temper. However, let alone external bodies, the authorities even could not listen to Egypt's own scholars and other analysts based in Egypt. For instance, few days ago, water expert from the AUC university in Cairo confirmed that Ethiopia’s hydroelectric dam will not hurt Egypt. Egypt-based water resource management specialist Richard Tutwiler said the Ethiopian dam will never stop the flow of water downstream to Egypt. But, boldly speaking, these few politicians and scholars speak and listen to their circles only.

No one, and nothing except scientific reasoning proves best to understand the downstream impact of GERD. Yes, it has huge impacts on them. These impacts, as verified scientifically, are positive. Reducing flooding that harms Sudan during Ethiopian major rainy seasons, reducing silt for downstream hydro dams, saving water loss in the Nile system, minimizing evaporation which amounts close to 14BCM in Aswan High Dam only.

So, why do these few Egyptian authorities are failing to see the benefits? The answer would not be as difficult as a space science, would it be? In the first place, they are still victim of colonialism sentiment. This sentiment clicks on their mind that upstream nations are obliged to abide in colonial “treaties”, if at all called treaties. Then, they miscalculate as upstream Nations must seek their blessing ahead of commencing any project on Nile. The fact they are ignoring is , however, as upstream States outdated the so called treaty, immediately after getting their independence. From its inception, Ethiopia— that remains independent through its history— objected the unfair calculation.

The other factor is, Egyptian political circles old fashioned attitude, i.e., controlling the Nile basin Nations by tailoring Nile as an issue of security has made them to stick on same wrong path than the huge benefit GERD would bring to the people of Egypt. Their own experts in the IpoE asserted as there is no significant harm resulting from the dam's construction. Through the effort of downstream Sudan and Ethiopia's commendable stand to clear every doubt about the dam, the three countries, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt made discussions to advance recommendations of IPoE. However, the Egyptian delegation was trying to put the process back to square one.

For Ethiopia, growth is a matter of survival, not a question of domination. For a landlocked and non oil economy, there is no option than investing hugely on its giant river to quench the demand for power. Indeed, we are investing accordingly with our local finance but the benefit is to downstream Nations as well. If there exists a politician in the World that complained a free lunch, it would obviously be the Egyptian political circle. The international community has told them the advantage they get, other upper riparian countries boldly send their messages on the dam's significance, Sudan has shown its positive stand, their own scholars have echoed as the dam has no harm but benefits. However, the political circle is using the matter only for cheap political consumption.

Few years ago GERD was a design on a paper, but today over thirty percent of its physique is on the ground, can be seen and touched. It consumed labour and finance in billions. Above all, Ethiopians, home and abroad, regardless of; age, sex, political and religious orientations, eagerly await to see its completion. And the current progress of the construction is beyond every body's exceptions. And this is a right time for Egyptian people to ignore the politicians empty rhetoric and to continue their genuine supports to the dam, as has been done so far by some of their scholars and analysts.

Published on the Ethiopian Herald on 24 March 2014

Genere: Editorial

No one stops:

• The construction GERD

• The flow of Nile

Recurrent famine and drought had visited Ethiopia and Ethiopians traditionally every decade. The fate of countless of humans and animals were simply waiting for the unmerciful death in their deathbed. During the 1984-85 famine for instance, an estimated death toll of over one million had been recorded. See Telegraph fact box for further (www.telegraph.co.uk).

But, what caused these catastrophic scenarios? The causes are not obscured even from a common man. Primarily, shortage of rainfall, not to mention wrong policy directions, played a daunting impact for crop failures. The agricultural practices which are still rain shower dependent should take the great share of the blame. The nation, for long time, has also been wrongly perceived as water abundant in Africa. In reality, however, all the nation's basins but one flows crossing boarder. To make matters worse, due to under development, Ethiopian farmers had to remain bystanders of the water resources. Still, the national water storage capacity is so insignificant, sources show that 97 per cent of the nation's rainfall joins cross-boundry water courses and departs the nation.

The bitter sacrifice paid by the people of Ethiopia has now become a ticket for the existing proper development trajectory. International organizations such as the World bank and IMF have made their testimonials for the economic boom of the nation. The drawn-out distorted image of the nation has now been improved significantly. And Ethiopia could never seek a charity single from its esteemed global partners. Today, Ethiopia has already embarked upon a five year,GTP which would be concluded in less than sixteen months. As per the national ambition to pull its millions of citizens out of poverty, various mega projects are underway.

Utilizing its surface water resources, for a landlocked and non oil Ethiopia, therefore, is a recipe to sustain its growth and abolish poverty. Documents have proved it that, power demand projection shows a 25% annual increase in the last five years and 32% in the current. That is why, the nation is investing hugely in renewable energy sources. The people of Ethiopia, child and adult, though could not get international financiers hand to meet this ever increasing energy demand, is building the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Most astonishingly, the finance that has been drawn and is being drawing from these innocent people—who have tightened their belts not to see previous catastrophic famines — would also brights downstream nations' future. Indeed, the Nile riparian have come on board understanding the mutual benefits. Downstream Sudan has also practically proved how a regulated flow of water is a plus for its farmers after the building of Tekeze hydro dam.

Still, few inflexible politicians of Egypt keep “campaigning” against the GERD. Ethiopia never want anyone to tell her what water means for the life of Egyptian people. Yet, we need the people of Egypt to know that we share the same destiny. No one, can stop Nile from flowing. Just, the waters turn a turbine and joins its natural course with a regulated flow to bless African brothers and sisters in Sudan and Egypt. In fact, this is not far from the knowledge of Egypt's politicians, but they are deliberately confusing their people to arouse emotions and distant the people from internal affairs.

Since the inception of the dam's building, exactly three years ago, Ethiopia and Ethiopians have been speaking the same language. The dam would never harm downstream nations, it rather has a lot of blessings. The dam would increase the volume of waters of the Nile basin, it reduces Siltation in Aswan High dam to uplift efficiency of their hydro power generation. And baseless fear and propagating as Egypt's farmers are “at stake” from the early stage is not African solution. As has been proved by International Panel of Experts in which Egypt were represented and accepted the result, the dam has no negative impact. Therefore, distorting this fact deliberately to confuse the international community, though they never succeed, would backfires to themselves. And this fact could be proved from the living IpoE's recommendations.

The only ambition of Ethiopians is to sustain our growth and development without harming anyone near or far. We neither drive others to hunger nor need others to sing charity song for us being onlookers to our resources.

Quality urban service delivery: A call of the day

 BY WORKU BELACHEW

Genre: Editorial 

Published on The Ethiopian Herald, Friday , March 15 

Tsehay Wolde-Gebriel, a resident of Addis Ababa expresses her ambivalence regarding the ongoing development effort in Addis Ababa this way: “In terms of construction such as railroad and other road projects, the city is really stepping forward. In addition, most shabby looks of the capital have now been exchanged for magnificent edifices.” Diametrically opposite to the achievements she mentioned, Tsehay seriously criticizes gaps which are disappointing her and other residents. “The delivery of basic service in the city is at stake. Water and electricity supply disruptions have become common and transportation scarcity has already appeared as a defining attribute of the capital,” she sadly says. 

 

 Residents of the capital, regardless of age and sex, with no doubt, share her feelings.

Addis Ababa is now in a renewal process. Heavy construction vehicles and machines are common to see here and there, demolishing previous neighbourhoods which were too unsafe for residents. Bulldozers, dump trucks ... roar day and night to turn these neighbourhoods into a livable one. To the contrary, problems that may originate from poor coordination of municipal bodies and/or failure to dispose one's responsibility are leaving residents with lots of discomforts. In view of dismantling these difficulties, in various occasions, key decision-making entities of the city and other stakeholders, attempted a lot joining hands. Though one could not say all their efforts is back to square one, the improvements seem to be so sluggish. Due to that, damages on public utility lines are rampant. These damages apart from cutting residents from service provision, they are accounting for delaying of constructions on the scheduled time.

In light of overcoming some of these challenges, Forum for Social Studies (FSS) — a policy think tank registered as an Ethiopian Residents Charity—had brought government decision-makers, representatives of civil societies and the general public under same roof earlier this month. A document which FSS published puts it that the capital has a long way to go in ensuring effective public provisions. Further, the workshop underlined that the city is lagging behind in urban service delivery and a lot is to be desired on its side.

Participants of the workshop took this opportunity to deliberate on the various ways out of this challenges. For instance, in terms of dealing with the ever acute shortage of transportation, increasing the number of mass and multi-modal transportation systems was sought-after as a short and long term solution.

Such discussions are so essential to identify gaps and brainstorm on the possible solutions. Hopefully, the various researched inputs collected from the workshop would be a steadfast ground to better serve residents of the capital.

However, there are also menaces which are still disappointing residents and visitors of the capital. Apart from the solutions suggested in the said workshop, transportation problem could also be addressed through strict control on the available modes. There are hundreds of code three support giving taxis, for instance in the capital, but most of them, if not all, never put their route plate in a visible place. Hence, they “serve” on routes they could collect extra profit only, particularly when transport officers are absent from terminals.

Be that as it may, public utility lines could be spared from damage by timely relocating them. Moreover, road constructions should not be causes for basic service disruptions such as water and electricity. Relevant bodies, need to cooperate and do construction without affecting residents. Particularly, potable water has no substitute. When disruption occurs to this important service, residents would be exposed to additional cost and wastage of their time. Worse, persons with physical disability and elders could hardly cope this problem. Thus, other short lived options need to be put in place until water pipes can be permanently relocated. This could include, installing community tap water in nearby areas, installing temporary pipes or dispensing water by water tank trucks....

Most importantly, completing road projects timely stand as the major one to give the problem a lasting solution. Still, we should not start from zero. One can take ample lesson from Bole road project which had seen completion timely. The promising progress being seen in the LRT project could also be another.

In a nutshell, the city administration along with key stakeholders need to stringently work to best address complaints of residents such as Tsehay. 

 

 

Walking the talk,  Women's advancement

  BY WORKU BELACHEW

To day Ethiopia is marking Women's Day for the 38^th times at a national level under the theme: “Gender Equality is the Foundation of Our Development Plans and Renaissance.” To brainstorm on past, present achievements and future directions as well as to close gaps felt in the course of women empowerment the day would be so monumental.

Compared to other countries in Africa, women in Ethiopia played unrivaled roles in the social, political and economic fronts though they were denied recognition. We can mention Etege Taitu Bitul, who also led army unit during the battle of Adowa. Not only that, women in Ethiopia was also placed at the helm of a government, Empress Zeweditu MeneliK II and Queen Shaba for instance. However, even these women were facing tough challenges due to the wrong attitude of the majority to wards women. Thus, women had to be in a harsh situations until recent times.

These days, countless of girls have been enrolled in various schools, colleges and universities. A significant number of women are also making decisions in a range of government, non government and private organizations. In most rural part of the country, as documents show, women and girls have already started enjoying their rights. In a nutshell, their involvement in the over all development of the nation shows a marked increase.

True, the involvement of women in every development endeavours has equal meaning with improving the livelihood of a given society or a nation. The way out to avoid domestic and international conflicts is to bring as many women to a leadership position, and to a negotiating table. No women in the world appreciate warfare. To transform a society, the gearshift functions better when women operate it. At a family level, they shape the future of a nation. Government structures with inadequate number of women lags behind and achieves so little. What we can learn from the footstep of the developed world is that empowering a women is synonymous with transforming a society. Most growing economies in the world, also cast out previous daunting attitudes towards women.

In the effort of poverty eradication that Ethiopia has been engaged so far, a great deal of achievement has been registered. With no confusion, this achievement could not have been real, had women and girls been denied their right place. Be it in decision making or whatever their role has been immense. One can see handful of women in a political decision making posts. Countless of women have organized themselves to ensure the respect of their rights. They are also benefiting themselves in the economic wise after getting organized in micro and small scale enterprises, both in urban and rural areas. Apart from creating jobs for themselves, they have also created thousands of jobs to their neighborhoods.

In fact, one could not dare say that the landscape is completely comfortable for women. Yet, there are discomforts that are handicapping women not to attain their visions. Some individuals have still got it hard to accept as women can do everything that men can. The men's world seems still dominating, particularly in developing counties like ours. Blockades are still here and there. Therefore, this day should be a day to renew our commitment to shape wrong attitudes. It creates a unique opportunity to translate the rhetoric into practice and respect women.

As the old adage goes: “women are half the society.” But beyond that, women are everything in the society. Society assured its existence because of women. If women is to afraid all the pain from conception to birth and caring a young, society will not keep existing, does it? But, nature makes them so strong. And these strong part of a society who also are mother of a society should get the right respect, but not in rhetoric. We all should walk the talk.

Women also need to continue the struggle against backward attitudes through their various associations. The good practices attained thus far in this respect can be intensified and used as an instrument to shape the attitude of every segment of the society. In addition, every stakeholder, as has been doing so, need to press ahead with its supports to empower women in all spheres of life.