HAWASSA– Residents of Ethiopia’s Sidama zone is set to vote on a regional referendum today.
As Sidamas are getting ready to cast their vote in today’s long-awaited referendum, many residents living in Sidama Zone and Hawassa City are buoyant that their call for regional referendum is now heard, and cannot be used for personal political expedience.
Assefa Densemo, a resident of Hawassa City, said that the people of Sidama has been asking for regional independence for many years in various ways. He stated that even in the years after the right to self-administer was guaranteed in the constitution, Sidamas have suffered a lot of problems for demanding regional referendum.
According to Assefa, as the quest of Sidama people for regional referendum was not heard, it has created favorable situation for those who wanted to use the situation for their own political gain. He also appreciated the incumbent for its readiness to entertain the quest, and its commitment to discharge its responsibility.
In earlier years, the quest for referendum was seen as the interest of some narrow groups instead of the whole Sidama people. However, the referendum that will be held today will truly show whose quest it was, and what it means to every Sidama and anyone that resides within Sidama zone.
Expressing his happiness, he added that the government has to be commended for realizing the past erroneous approach, and for arranging a platform the people can express their feelings on, he added.
Assefa pointed out that if the outcome of the referendum and the decision of the people is for Sidama to be the country’s tenth State, he wants to see a democratic Sidama State which accommodates all nations and nationalities of the country, and where the democratic and human rights of every nation and nationalities is respected.
Mentioning that huge amount of resources have been wasted in the past with the people focusing only on the quest for self-administration, he relayed his wish that today’s referendum will help compensate for that and make up for lost time.
As to Assefa, Sidama is not only home of Sidama people, but of every nation, nationalities as well. They want a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Sidama for all nations and nationalities. They want it to be a region that contributes its part for the development of the country, he concluded.
Residents in Hawassa City and Sidama Zone have been eagerly waiting for the date, and they have been working to facilitate and make the referendum peaceful and smooth. Deraro Argeta, is another Hawassa City resident. She has been eagerly waiting for today to vote. “I am happy that I am part of this generation, that I am able to choose my fate through my vote.”
She said that she is happy that the registration and the campaign has gone peacefully and smoothly, despite rumors that problems may arise, and hoping for the voting and post-voting phase to also go smoothly.
Calling for the public’s support and backing in this, she pointed out that the government’s security apparatus alone cannot guarantee the peaceful conclusion of the referendum. “If there are issues, they should be solved through dialogue and dialogue alone”: She said. Everyone should play role to make sure that the referendum ends peacefully. She indicated her readiness to accept the outcome of the result, whatever it may be.
The Ethiopian Herald, November 20/2019
BY STAFF REPORTERS
