A sad observation
By Moges M.
May 10, 2006
For years, what we see in Ethiopia is that P.M. Meles making the LAW, and being above the LAW – because of this, Ethiopia is going around in vicious circle without any progress. Condition has now worsened because of the outcome of the last election in which he lost very heavily!
As a result, Ethiopia is in a worst situation of her history, ruled by a ruler who HATES his people and country. So when fear overwhelms the present so-called leaders, all what they seem to be doing is being involved in accumulating wealth with the country’s resources.
They know that they are not any more to be trusted in what they say, and they are regarded as liars, feeble, and meaningless leaders. They are only there to satisfy their own selfish desires. Their pass time instead has been spent for sometime now, trying to live a luxurious life and being as comfortable as possible, while the rest of the nation rots in squalor! We could all mind our business and let them have their own ways, BUT you can’t help being a very sad observer of it all!
For years, for example, they have been inviting investors, not for the sake of the country (as they don’t even check whether they are honest investors), but for their own good. As a result, land in Addis is being sold from the best possible areas, for millions and millions of Birr to investors. The Central Treasury itself does not know where the money goes unless it is forced to lie! There has been a case several years ago, when there was about 3 billion birr taken from the National Bank by Meles order, to build factories for his own PARTY. When the Governor of the Bank insisted that it was not right at all to borrow money from the National Bank and that it should be repaid – he was found dead mysteriously! So no one asks anymore where the money of houses rented to UN officials, foreign diplomats, or of taxes etc. goes, let alone money gained from the sell of city lands; instead they observe! The people have NO say and newspapers DARE report on such issues!
The Communist leader Mengistu had also done the same thing, but not in such a large scale. In fact, the money was put in his own private drawers and he used it as it pleases him, as it was found out later on after his overthrow. It is believed that the same practices is now is being repeated by Meles orders.
Having said all that, what’s so sad is to watch rural dwellers who have been uprooted from their lands, move into the cities, mainly Addis Ababa, as they have no choice! They come in masses seeking any kind of work available. They cannot be blamed to the steps they are taking for as humans, they need to go around seeking their basic needs.
The leaders turn blind eyes to this BIG problem, which eventually IS bound to bring their downfall. Meles has no heart for the poor - specially now since he considers himself the richest guy in the Africa - none of the miserable condition in this country has moved him an inch! In fact his own brothers and sisters are busy building a multi-complex building at the Old Airport.
What some of us humble educated Ethiopian people believe is that if the money, that they put away for their personal uses, were to be used to improve the rural areas, that can be one solution, since it will decrease such immense migration to cities – mainly to Addis Ababa.
As we know, the highest percent of the Ethiopian people’s occupation is farming. Now that land belongs to the government, Meles, if he cares, could sent out educated farmers with tractors etc. (having prepared for them settlement, with basic needs), to plough land around the rural areas, and employ the people out there to work on. Of course, the income will produces salaries to the workers while the government can take all interests. Infact, this means they will create MORE income for the Government as of course, after all, that is what is wanted!
In Israel, Kibbutz was used for such a settlement. In no other country as in Israel have voluntary collective communities played an important role as kibbutzim have played there. It played an essential role in the creation and DEVELOPMENT of the country.
Collective farm can still work in the development of a country with a communal settlement mainly focused on agriculture. Eventually it can also engage in variety of activities with possibility of high-tech ventures and other industries. This can be a collective farm village – often self-contained, but first sponsored by the government. People will need to share responsibilities and work at all times.
If government eventually agrees, members can own their settlement at the end. If that is case, children can be reared collectively and schools could also be built on the land. The rural area can gradually be developed in such a way. This has proved very effective.
This is only a dream. Unless there is a love for one’s country and people, such dreams can never be possible. In Isaiah 44:18: says:“ They do not know, nor understand, for God has shut their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.” Those who choose blindness, are given blindness so that they can experience the fullness of their choice and hopefully repent of it. Since this is so in Meles’s case, let us pray that he can once more take the opportunity given him to do what is RIGHT to this once a great country.
Otherwise, things can’t go on like it is for LONG, as the Almighty is sure to intervene in His OWN time. Meantime, long live Ethiopia to see one day its God given right! And as for most of us, we will stay observers until His great Hand moves to redeem our nation.
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As a result, Ethiopia is in a worst situation of her history, ruled by a ruler who HATES his people and country. So when fear overwhelms the present so-called leaders, all what they seem to be doing is being involved in accumulating wealth with the country’s resources.
They know that they are not any more to be trusted in what they say, and they are regarded as liars, feeble, and meaningless leaders. They are only there to satisfy their own selfish desires. Their pass time instead has been spent for sometime now, trying to live a luxurious life and being as comfortable as possible, while the rest of the nation rots in squalor! We could all mind our business and let them have their own ways, BUT you can’t help being a very sad observer of it all!
For years, for example, they have been inviting investors, not for the sake of the country (as they don’t even check whether they are honest investors), but for their own good. As a result, land in Addis is being sold from the best possible areas, for millions and millions of Birr to investors. The Central Treasury itself does not know where the money goes unless it is forced to lie! There has been a case several years ago, when there was about 3 billion birr taken from the National Bank by Meles order, to build factories for his own PARTY. When the Governor of the Bank insisted that it was not right at all to borrow money from the National Bank and that it should be repaid – he was found dead mysteriously! So no one asks anymore where the money of houses rented to UN officials, foreign diplomats, or of taxes etc. goes, let alone money gained from the sell of city lands; instead they observe! The people have NO say and newspapers DARE report on such issues!
The Communist leader Mengistu had also done the same thing, but not in such a large scale. In fact, the money was put in his own private drawers and he used it as it pleases him, as it was found out later on after his overthrow. It is believed that the same practices is now is being repeated by Meles orders.
Having said all that, what’s so sad is to watch rural dwellers who have been uprooted from their lands, move into the cities, mainly Addis Ababa, as they have no choice! They come in masses seeking any kind of work available. They cannot be blamed to the steps they are taking for as humans, they need to go around seeking their basic needs.
The leaders turn blind eyes to this BIG problem, which eventually IS bound to bring their downfall. Meles has no heart for the poor - specially now since he considers himself the richest guy in the Africa - none of the miserable condition in this country has moved him an inch! In fact his own brothers and sisters are busy building a multi-complex building at the Old Airport.
What some of us humble educated Ethiopian people believe is that if the money, that they put away for their personal uses, were to be used to improve the rural areas, that can be one solution, since it will decrease such immense migration to cities – mainly to Addis Ababa.
As we know, the highest percent of the Ethiopian people’s occupation is farming. Now that land belongs to the government, Meles, if he cares, could sent out educated farmers with tractors etc. (having prepared for them settlement, with basic needs), to plough land around the rural areas, and employ the people out there to work on. Of course, the income will produces salaries to the workers while the government can take all interests. Infact, this means they will create MORE income for the Government as of course, after all, that is what is wanted!
In Israel, Kibbutz was used for such a settlement. In no other country as in Israel have voluntary collective communities played an important role as kibbutzim have played there. It played an essential role in the creation and DEVELOPMENT of the country.
Collective farm can still work in the development of a country with a communal settlement mainly focused on agriculture. Eventually it can also engage in variety of activities with possibility of high-tech ventures and other industries. This can be a collective farm village – often self-contained, but first sponsored by the government. People will need to share responsibilities and work at all times.
If government eventually agrees, members can own their settlement at the end. If that is case, children can be reared collectively and schools could also be built on the land. The rural area can gradually be developed in such a way. This has proved very effective.
This is only a dream. Unless there is a love for one’s country and people, such dreams can never be possible. In Isaiah 44:18: says:“ They do not know, nor understand, for God has shut their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.” Those who choose blindness, are given blindness so that they can experience the fullness of their choice and hopefully repent of it. Since this is so in Meles’s case, let us pray that he can once more take the opportunity given him to do what is RIGHT to this once a great country.
Otherwise, things can’t go on like it is for LONG, as the Almighty is sure to intervene in His OWN time. Meantime, long live Ethiopia to see one day its God given right! And as for most of us, we will stay observers until His great Hand moves to redeem our nation.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
