Zenawi doesn’t know Ethiopians’ needs
May 06, 2008
I write in response to Jerry Okungu’s article titled, “<i>Meles Zenawi knows what Ethiopians want</i>,†that was published in <i>The New Vision</i> of May 2. Okungu writes about his reflection at the Addis Ababa Airport for the second time in less than five months. He says despite the “unfla
Hussain Kiflu
I write in response to Jerry Okungu’s article titled, “Meles Zenawi knows what Ethiopians want,†that was published in The New Vision of May 2. Okungu writes about his reflection at the Addis Ababa Airport for the second time in less than five months. He says despite the “unflattering†human rights record, Zenawi has done well for Ethiopia.
His conclusion stems from a two-day stay in Addis during which he saw massive construction efforts, beginning with the new airport that seemed to have dazzled him. He also mentioned Zenawi’s increasing popularity with ordinary Ethiopians such as taxi drivers. It is amazing that after two days in one of the “mushrooming†hotels, he was able to gauge Ethiopians’ happiness with Zenawi’s management skills.
Okungu praised Zenawi for his high intolerance of corrupt public officials. He pointed to the development of infrastructure that includes the provision of water, electricity and communications services that has already spurred service delivery, food insecurity, education-for-all, health care and decent housing for Ethiopians. He called on Zenawi’s peers to emulate him by concentrating on infrastructure first for the betterment of life and creation of wealth, and to turn their attention on the “softer†issues of human rights and freedom of speech later.
As an Ethiopian who ran way from the repressive regime, I reject Okungu’s assessment. Ethiopians in 2005 gave their verdict. As to service delivery such as electricity, no Ethiopian would deny Addis’ rigorous loadshedding. Water in most areas of Addis is so scarce that residents are forced to stay out beyond midnight to wait for droplets in their tap. The plight of the people in the countryside is equally distressful. But one should look behind the newly-constructed tall buildings.
There is cronyism and tribalism behind the hotel business that brings misery to poor residents by causing displacement. Okungu can gain more knowledge about Ethiopia by looking at the CIA fact book and other sources. The facts about corruption and the death rate from preventable diseases are shocking.
Okungu’s suggestion that Africans should emulate Meles on account of construction of hotels and roads is misguided. Fascist Italy too contributed to the infrastructure of Ethiopia amidst attempts to steamroll patriotic resistance with mustard gas.
The writer is an Ethiopian refugee
living in Uganda
I write in response to Jerry Okungu’s article titled, “Meles Zenawi knows what Ethiopians want,†that was published in The New Vision of May 2. Okungu writes about his reflection at the Addis Ababa Airport for the second time in less than five months. He says despite the “unflattering†human rights record, Zenawi has done well for Ethiopia.
His conclusion stems from a two-day stay in Addis during which he saw massive construction efforts, beginning with the new airport that seemed to have dazzled him. He also mentioned Zenawi’s increasing popularity with ordinary Ethiopians such as taxi drivers. It is amazing that after two days in one of the “mushrooming†hotels, he was able to gauge Ethiopians’ happiness with Zenawi’s management skills.
Okungu praised Zenawi for his high intolerance of corrupt public officials. He pointed to the development of infrastructure that includes the provision of water, electricity and communications services that has already spurred service delivery, food insecurity, education-for-all, health care and decent housing for Ethiopians. He called on Zenawi’s peers to emulate him by concentrating on infrastructure first for the betterment of life and creation of wealth, and to turn their attention on the “softer†issues of human rights and freedom of speech later.
As an Ethiopian who ran way from the repressive regime, I reject Okungu’s assessment. Ethiopians in 2005 gave their verdict. As to service delivery such as electricity, no Ethiopian would deny Addis’ rigorous loadshedding. Water in most areas of Addis is so scarce that residents are forced to stay out beyond midnight to wait for droplets in their tap. The plight of the people in the countryside is equally distressful. But one should look behind the newly-constructed tall buildings.
There is cronyism and tribalism behind the hotel business that brings misery to poor residents by causing displacement. Okungu can gain more knowledge about Ethiopia by looking at the CIA fact book and other sources. The facts about corruption and the death rate from preventable diseases are shocking.
Okungu’s suggestion that Africans should emulate Meles on account of construction of hotels and roads is misguided. Fascist Italy too contributed to the infrastructure of Ethiopia amidst attempts to steamroll patriotic resistance with mustard gas.
The writer is an Ethiopian refugee
living in Uganda