The Democratic Process in Ethiopia

LESSONS YET TO BE LEARNED – Conclusions

In conclusion:

Pointing at government policy mistakes and its failures alone will not suffice for any party to takeover. A self-respecting party needs to come up with a clear vision, valid alternative policies, and the ways and means of achieving superb goals for Ethiopia . As the former US President, Lyndon B. Johnson, said, ?Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a Master Craftsman to build it?

At times, the opposition appeared like an ah-hock committee than fully integrated political machinery. It had a common aim of defeating the government, but not much else. There were clear leadership gaps and failures on many fronts, which could not keep members in line. There seemed to be no focus on the long-term goal and protracted struggle, or a coherent strategy. Aside from insults and the poking of holes in the policies of EPRDF, it seemed to lack a well-articulated vision and a long-range plan for the nation.

Just because one has a Ph. D. in this or that subject does not necessarily mean that person automatically makes a better leader for a country. Political leadership is a complex set of skills acquired by getting involved in parties and organizations. Education helps, but primarily, it needs something special. It is like playing a musical instrument. One can become proficient and play a few good tunes, but to become a master musician, an artist; it requires something special ? a talent!

As we said before, unguarded speech and confrontational approach, without something to back it up, does not work. It only produces negative results. Leadership in this case calls for a different approach. After all, however small they may appear to us, this government introduced these democratic processes. Transferring Political Power, figuratively speaking, is like taking meat from the mouth of a lion, or The Leviathan, ? a monster. It takes a skilful lion tamer, with a soft and charming voice, and an endless capacity for patience. We need a charismatic leader with these qualities. Belligerence will not accomplish much.

Beyond belligerence, some even say the Derg Regime was better than this government. Clearly, that is absurd. Perhaps for the few former Derg members, now in the opposition, this could indeed be true. It might well have been better for them then, than now. As for a million and a half Ethiopian refugees that returned from many years of exile in the Sudan , Kenya , Djibouti , and the Somaliland , there can be no comparison. This is not to say the EPRDF government has not made many serious mistakes. It has, and some may even be unforgivable. However, to compare EPRDF to the Derg Regime is unconscionable.

Did we have any political parties campaigning during the Derg era? How many privately owned magazines and newspapers were there? Did anyone get airtime on National Radio and TV to speak against Mengistu? Where then is the comparison? These days, refugees are flocking from the Sudan and Eritrea into Ethiopia . How many Ethiopian refugees are there fleeing the country? Some blinded by politics cannot see the truth even if it hits them between the eyes, and so they continue to make these outrageous comparisons.

The lessons listed above may be ignored because many have become polarized. However, it is the hope of this writer that at least some will learn and prepare for the next round of struggle five years from now. If the process is to continue, it is paramount that the government should loosen or remove many of the hurdles and legal gridlocks it has erected. If the PM is truly genuine to usher democracy to Ethiopia , it cannot come with these gridlocks or with the vision of one person, or one party alone. The public need to be involved, the process needs to be well defined, the participants carefully screened, the dance well planned in detail and choreographed ahead of time, with nothing left to chance. Every eventuality must be considered and planned carefully, from the ceremony of power transfer to the last details of leading the PM to his place of permanent residence with full honor, a lifetime unit of personal security guards, and a generous stipend.

If the PM transfers power peacefully, it will be to his advantage, and to the benefit of the nation. He would be The Master Craftsman to have accomplished this heroic and historic feat and set precedence. He would turn into a living legend, a Statesman of Ethiopia and Africa . Generations to come may sing his praises. If he does not, however, he would be just another failed leader in the string of deceptive and failed leaders. It would prove he cared less about leaving a lasting legacy than wielding power. History, the ultimate judge, will neither forgive, nor forget the errors and blunders he has committed while in office. Furthermore, he will have security guards to watch over him, either in-house, as Haileselassie was watched over until his dying days or as Mengistu is now being watched over by guards, night and day in exile. History teaches us again, and again the lion or The Leviathan are, in one way or another, finally captured and caged ? or worse yet, killed, unless they voluntarily relinquish the public office they hold and the power they wield.

This PM, however, has repeatedly stated his commitment to the democratic process, and one needs to give him the benefit of the doubt. Free speech introduced by this government is no mean achievement, thus the arrested journalists must be released, and pursue their trade with full press freedom. This author has great hopes for the future of Ethiopia and believes that this PM, in spite of the recent grave setbacks, may still keep his word, and establish democracy in Ethiopia . We may all live to see the end of an era ? The Era of Principalities, ? and the dawn of a New Age of power transition by peaceful and democratic means.

G. E. Gorfu

Dec. 20, 2005 (Nazret.com)

20 Dec 2005 By gegorfu