We Shall Overcome!

We Shall Overcome!
I believe the time has come! It is time for a new look in Ethiopia, the time to make sure someone with the legitimate support of its people and expertise in governance is given the chance to govern. The argument that if EPRDF collapses, Ethiopia will become another Somali is not going to sell in the open market anymore. We used to think the EPRDF government could lead Ethiopia towards economic development with relative autonomy. But that approach has been on test for almost 20 years and the time has come to try a fully-fledged democracy. I believe Ethiopians are ready to embrace a real democracy where the rule of law is applied and where the people choose and remove their leaders in a democratic process.
We want an Ethiopia were every individual regardless of ethnic background, age, or gender can have equal rights under the law. No one person is above the constitution and the law of the land. Every civil servant that occupies the people’s office must leave it when the people decide it is time for a change. No more bickering about the ideology of ethnic-based tribalism – it is time for us to tackle the core challenges that face Ethiopia: poverty, hunger, illness, and population growth that is faster than economic growth.
Despite the current administration’s media campaign about its accomplishments and its rigged economic growth reports, everyday Ethiopians struggle to see the next day while the political cadres become creative in their corruption. While the majority of Ethiopians are swallowed by severe poverty, various cadres are selling the land that rightly belongs to poor Ethiopians and asking investors to deposit their bribe money in banks outside of Ethiopia. Countries like Abu Dhabi and Dubai have become their safe havens. The last 20 years have not improved Ethiopia; rather, Ethiopia’s challenges are now even more complicated. Ethiopians are still going hungry, many more are suffering from malnutrition, and the list of failures of the current administration gets ever longer.
All these social problems have accumulated over a long period. Hence, it will take time to address them. Let us start addressing these great challenges by framing the discussion, finding a direction and identifying a desirable and realistic outcome. Let us debate the vision we have for our country; let’s debate methods rather than tribal issues that are limiting and ethnocentric. Let us respect one another and let us respect views, discussions and debate based on science and knowledge, rather than fall into the same old endless cycle of emotional but pointless bickering.
I believe all Ethiopians – the Gambela, the Somali, the Oromos, Tigri, Amara and all the great ethnic groups – make our country one of the great countries on earth. Our diversity is our strength, not our weakness, and we should not let anyone use our strength as Ethiopians to exploit and destroy our great nation. In Ethiopia, every ethnic group contributed a great deal to the country we became and every ethnic group will contribute to the Ethiopia we want to make for the future. Our parents, grandparent and great-grandparents fought to protect and preserve our national identity and independence; now we want a country where our children and grandchildren can have economic, political and social freedom.
I believe the Ethiopian people are stronger and more united under the same flag and one country. Ethiopia will never be like Somalia or any other country that is going through civil unrest because most Ethiopians understand that a united and strong Ethiopia, governed by democratic principles and law, is a benefit to every Ethiopian. No one ethnic group will benefit by seceding from our union. On the other hand, every ethnic group in Ethiopia would benefit by staying united. Hence, there is no incentive for any ethnic group to secede from the union. But we know that dictators use patriotism as a scare tactic to shield themselves from social revolution and popular uprising. This is evident in recent social uprisings in North African and the Middle East. For God’s sake, even Gadafi is using the same tactic! And indeed EPRDF is a master of such tactics.
All Ethiopian parents, regardless of where they are on the map, want a roof over their heads, a good paying job, a good school for their kids, and security and protection from their government. These are not much to ask, but Ethiopians have not had a government that is accountable to their demands and needs. Every government that has come and gone wanted to stay in power as long as possible. Every injustice they have committed along the way is their means to their only real social and political goal – staying in power!
Since the spring of 2011, we have been witnessing history in the making in North Africa and the Middle East. The fever is spreading like a wildfire and unnerving every dictator in and around these regions, including our own government in Addis Ababa. The Meles administration decided early on that it is not going to wait until the wildfire gets to them. Instead, they have enacted measures to unite the nation against outside forces. By shifting the revolutionary energy towards external enemies, the administration thought it could avoid the fast-approaching wildfire. To this end, the Meles administration took two measures:
1. Reignite the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea by accusing the Eritrean government of aspiring to make Addis Ababa like Baghdad. I’m sure we all have seen the graphic pictures and videos of terrorist acts in Baghdad. By painting such horrific pictures, the administration is attempting to stir anger toward the Eritrean government and harvest the fruits of fear while it successfully diverts every frustration the Ethiopian people have away from the Meles government. I believe the Eritrean government is innocent, and the Meles administration’s actions are politically motivated to divert the anger and energy of the Ethiopian people towards Eritrea rather than the Meles administration.
2. The administration is also playing the patriotic card by creating media hype about the dam they are planning to build on the Red Sea. One could ask, what is wrong with the government creating media hype? But the main agenda is to steer nationalistic feeling across the country and to acquire the support of the people for the central government in its endeavor. Such a strategy successfully shifts the attention off the Meles administration and its wrongdoing and concentrates every attention and energy into building the dam – and potential war with Egypt. Needless to say, the administration has partially succeeded in shifting the attention of most Ethiopians from the revolution around them to the Red Sea Dam. The Administration even took a second step by sending an envoy to North America to discuss the dam and other economic development issues. The goal of the envoy is to divide Ethiopians who support the administration’s agenda and people who do not support it. Most people who support the agenda honestly believe the envoys are sincerely patriotic and concerned about the economic development of Ethiopia. They do not see the political manipulations. The fact is, every Ethiopian wants Ethiopia to prosper and be great again, but the people who oppose the Meles administration understand that the goal of the envoy is to divert the people’s attention from the revolution to economic issues and to divide Ethiopians. Finally, the envoy is a tool to measure the extent to which Ethiopians and opposition forces are organized and galvanized against the EPRDF.
Furthermore, the administration is very clever at creating and sustaining tensions between Ethiopia’s ethnic groups and their political organizations. If various ethnic groups in Ethiopia unite under the ideology of democratic principles that respect minorities and treat every individual equally, EPRDF knows its survival will be in great danger. Therefore, the administration uses scare tactics to stay alive. “If the Oromo people come to power, they will expel other ethnic groups in their region and secede.” “If the Amhara come to power, they will take us back to the feudal system and dominate other minority groups.” “If Meles loses power, people are going to go after Tigre.” We know all the arguments are far from reality. Oromos, Amaras, Tigre and all the other great ethnic groups in Ethiopia are not in conflict with each other; we are united to fight poverty, dictatorship, corruption, and ethnic tribalism. A man’s worth is measured by what he can do for his country, rather than what ethnic group he belongs to. We shall overcome divisive scare tactics, we shall overcome ethnocentric tribalism, and we shall respect every ethnic group’s language, culture, and identity as they make Ethiopian culture richer and diverse.
Despite the creative deception tactics and maneuvering, it seems everything that can go wrong with the Meles administration is going wrong. Who will be the scapegoats for the rapid inflation that is sweeping the economy? Is it the import-export traders? How about the 5.6 million who are hungry in Ethiopia? I guess they have not figured out who to blame yet, but I am sure they will find someone. The bottom line is: Ethiopians are united more than ever, and EPRDF is incompetent, unqualified, and corrupt. The time for change is approaching swiftly!

Ethiopia - Ban on used cars a testimony of incompetence

Ethiopia - Ban on used cars a testimony of incompetence
It is indeed long overdue! But the deeper question is why it took them so long to understand there was something wrong with the current policy they have emplace? Clearly there are so many wrong-headed policies in place today that are not getting attention and blocking the capacity to transform Ethiopia for the better. I could list numerous problems in policy and Administrative capacity, which are critical for the development of the economy, for the well being of its people and the welfare of its vulnerable citizens. The question is why these problems are not addressed in timely fashion? I can list a whole lot problems but above all the main problem is incompetence in the Administrative office to study current policies, evaluate policies and eliminate policies that are not delivering intended result and implement new policy or improve exciting policies.

It is indeed very difficult to accomplish such complicated tasks by hiring incompliant cadres who alien their political affiliation with the current administration. Ethiopia must come to a grip that the core challenges of our institutions are lack of able leaders. It is clear that Ethiopia has the most cheep and abundant manual labor in the world. However Ethiopia has also the list able managers, and leaders in the world and the very small leaders we have are working in the private sectors because they could make more money in the private sectors than working in government sectors. Hence, it is not hard to imagine the qualification and skills of the people who work in the government sector.

What should the government do to improve government capacity in delivering its policy and facilitating growth? I strongly believe the government could accomplish capacity, competency, and growth if it is willing to change some of its current practices and eradicate its current policies that are blocking progress in Ethiopia. The first action that is needed in government institution is hiring skilled Administrators who are not politically assigned. This action will free skilled Administrators to implement policy based on good research and result. So creating a room for career administrative with no political alliance. Second, government should implement steps to keep these Administrators from fleeing to the private sectors for better pay and opportunities. That means paying skilled public Administrators competitive salary with the private sectors so that government could retain its skilled, disciplined, goal oriented leaders to lead government agencies towards competency, better service, and growth to the broader economy.

What we have as of now is an embarrassment not only to the government but also to the general public. The people are sicken tired of corrupt office holders who don’t even understand what it meant to be a public servant. The whole culture in the public institution should be restructured so that people who work in public sector understand very clearly what their main task is: public servants task is to serve the public. However this very simple idea is lost in the mix and public servant took a role of authority, and the public as servant. This mind set has to be changed and public institution should be instill to its rightful place which is defend the public interest, facilitate economic growth and the betterment of the broader society.

May God Bless Ethiopia and, may God bless those who work hard to change Ethiopia for better.

Ethiopia - Ban on used cars a testimony of incompetence

Personal Productivity from Management Theory - Maslow

May 4, 2009

This is the second of a four part series examining how management theory can be applied to help improve one’s personal productivity.

Abraham Maslow lived from 1908 to 1970. He started studying Law in New York, but soon transferred to University of Wisconsin where he switched to psychology and earned a Ph.D by 1934.

Maslow developed a theory known as the hierarchy of human needs. This hierarchy is usually represented as a pyramid. On the bottom are needs such as food and shelter–the basic needs of the human body. At the top of the pyramid are the categories of esteem with self actualization (reaching your potential) at the top. Here is a representation of the hierarchy:

Self Actualization Esteem Love/Belonging Safety Physiological Needs

Maslow said that people start with the lowest level of this hierarchy and that their basic motivation comes from trying to meet their needs sequentially at each level. Any time their needs aren’t being met, their motivation always reverts to meeting the needs at the lowest unfulfilled level. So, someone who doesn’t have food will not be motivated to try to get esteem and respect.

Let’s say we have a man named Smith who finds himself in a new city with no money, no job, and clothes that are barely adequate for the climate. Smith’s first priority is going to be finding a place to stay and getting something to eat. He is also going to start looking for a job in order to meet his physiological needs on an ongoing basis. At this point in his life, he is unlikely to start looking for a girlfriend or try to become a leader in the community. While both fulfill human needs, they aren’t motivating for Smith until he has the lowest needs met.

Smith finds a job at a chemical plant, gets an apartment and buys some decent clothes. He has enough money for food. His physiological needs are being met. Now the second level of needs becomes a priority. At the chemical plant, Smith realizes that he is working with very dangerous chemicals. After witnessing a few accidents, he becomes concerned for his safety. Eventually, Smith finds a job or different position where he feels safe. Maybe he also buys some locks for his door, or gets an apartment in a different neighborhood. While he is concerned with and focused on safety, Smith isn’t going to go out and join the Rotary Club. His need for esteem takes a back seat to his need for safety.

As Smith moves up the pyramid, he gets married, joins some social community organizations, and begins to think about the meaning of life and whether or not he is really achieving his potential.

If, at any point, one of the lower levels is missing, Smith’s focus will change to concentrate on that level. This explains why people often do things that will ruin their reputation (their esteem) when they feel that they aren’t being loved by their spouse. The need for love and to belong overshadows the need for esteem.

When managing people, you use the hierarchy to make sure that they are being rewarded in a way that enables them to meet their needs. When managing yourself, you need to do the same thing.

If you want to be productive, you need to be concentrating primarily on the self actualization tier. Situations where you are constantly needing to deal with lower tiers will sap energy from the upper tiers. Here are a few things that will help do that:

• Don’t over-extend your finances. If you have to worry that, you won’t have the money for housing and food, and you are forcing yourself to deal with the lowest tiers.
• When making decisions, be sure to factor in safety. Don’t buy an incredible apartment in an area of town where you won’t feel safe.
• Find and marry someone who will make a good spouse. While marriage is work and you should never take your spouse for granted, many people put all of their energy into short term relationships to try to fulfill mid-level needs.
• Invest in friendships with people you respect and who respect you. Recognize that you need people to respect you. Deep friendships can provide for the need to be esteemed.

Obviously this isn’t any type of a formula for meeting all of your needs. However, if you recognize that you want the bulk of your energy to go into self actualization, you can make decisions that will help you focus on achieving as much as possible.

Make sure that your work isn’t constantly being interrupted trying to “fix” things on lower levels. If you find yourself constantly worrying about lower tiers, look for ways to change those tiers. Often, these will be lifestyle changes. It may mean downsizing so you aren’t worried about finances. It might mean getting a safer vehicle.

Being highly productive is unlikely to happen by chance. By recognizing your needs and making a conscious effort to meet them proactively, you will be setting yourself up to succeed.

The claim should be human decency, rather than regime change

We must not divert the core concern of the Oromo people, and the broader East African concerns. The Oromo people concern is the concern of humanity; it is not nothing more or nothing more. Social harmony, respect of every human being regardless of social class, race, and ethnicity is at the core of human decency. Every human being deserves a decent living condition, education and equal right under the law. Ethiopian politics has been based on ethnic groups affiliation, many people rejected this idea, I have endorsed this idea because I so a potential human emancipation in this proposal more than other proposals on the table. Some argued that this kind of politics will flam tribalism, ethnic hostility and the like, I can understand their point of view, however I found it amusing that most of the people who take such a position has been from a socially privileged ethnic group, and don’t want to see a social status decline in their part. So their premise is more self centered proposal, rather than more oriented to solve a generation ethnic hostility and domination between ethnic group.

The current administration done a great job in recognizing every ethnic group as equal under the law, the administration also gave some relative power to regional ethnic groups which I’m strongly supported and endorsed. Ethnic groups today speak and learn their mother tang without any restriction; this is a great progress in Ethiopia. Many cultures that are restricted, controlled, destroyed for great extent are now rejuvenated and assuming meaningful role in multi ethic, multi culture, and language Ethiopia. There are many social progresses that can be noted in the country today. Ethnic groups in Ethiopia have more represented in the political process, they are respected, and recognized as Ethiopian. I am not saying all the straggle is won, but what I am saying is there is great progress in Ethiopia.

There is a great problem in Somali land of Ethiopia, it is clear now to many Ethiopian that they have many ethnically Somali brother and sisters and they have to embrace them and fight for their communal and humanitarian right. The present conflict in Somali region shows how every ethnic groups should work together to advance social justices, equality and liberty to all Ethiopians regardless. We have read and watched many documentaries and articles about Somalia regions and the humanitarian crisis, many reporters and humanitarian agencies reported that the Ethiopian government is violating the international codes. Many countries demanded the Ethiopian government to do more and to prevent the humanitarian crisis, but the Ethiopian people didn’t say anything, they didn’t demonstrate in support to the Somali brothers and sisters of theirs. Ethniopian people have not learned to cooperate between ethnic groups, political organization for the sake of humanity.

Social justices and human decency should be at the core of the Ethiopian people. The Ethiopian people should stand up for each other whenever there is a human right violation in every region of Ethiopia. They have to stand up and fight whenever there is a human right violation. I have followed up the human right violation in the Gambela region of Ethiopia. Many people killed by government agents, clearly there was a human right violation of minority ethnic groups. The many ethnic groups in Gambela region are Ethiopian, and they should have equal right and protection under the law, but the Ethiopian government didn’t give them those human rights they deserve. But what is very disturbing about this case is that the Ethiopian public also didn’t stand for those minority groups. They didn’t demonstrate for their brother and sister. Rather they stay quiet and watched when their brother and sister suffer.

The central equation that is in front of the Ethiopian public is weather the Ethiopian public understand the importance of solidarity between every ethnic groups, equal right under the law, liberty, justices, and economical progress, government capacity building, and more transparency in the political process.

Many political critic and political opponent of the current administration make it appear that the regime change in Ethiopia will solve every social, political, and economical, and environmental problem Ethiopian face, and that is fare from reality. They argue that the Tigry people are controlling everything, the politics, business, the military and the like. Some people claim that they are developing their state disproportionally and the rest is falling into deep problem. But from a critical point of view all of these claims don’t hold. Theses clams are designed to create hostility between ethnic groups, sustain the old politics that is based on ethnic affiliation rather than human decency. If the Ethiopian people are decent they fight to every injustice, corruption, and power abuse, rather than participate in them. The support and stand for human decency, justices, equality, and liberty rather than standing for a political organization, which flame ethnic hostility as a base for their claim of regime change. After all most of the Ethiopian public is straggling because of corrupt office holders who use their public office for rent, they are straggling because of lack of vibrant economy, and many more, and the Tigre ethnic groups are also suffering the same as every ethnic groups in the united Ethiopian ethnic groups. The claim that Tigre people are not suffering just not true because we seen Tigre people suffer as much as other Ethiopian.