* Challenges, enabling situations for smooth transition, implementation
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) is on final step to form new unified party called, “Prosperity Party” and announced to change its political philosophy to home grown philosophy, Medemer (synergy) and to shape its program based on it.
As a ruling party, how can EPRDF make successful ideological, program transition since the country’s political economy, political leaders and its members were shaped by revolutionary democracy and developmental state?
While agreeing on the possibility any challenge or ups and downs in political transition, many politicians insists that there exists a good ground for a smooth leap forward.
Sisay Asmrie, Assistant Professor of Political Philosophy at University of Gondar argues that “revolutionary democracy was imposed on Ethiopia and its people, hence the Ethiopian origin Medemer political philosophy may become successful if it implements democratically, participatory by sensitizing the people and its members deeply”. Yet, it may face challenges to withdraw from the past thinking and to implement it properly; hence, it should identify its challenges to withdraw from the past thinking.
He added the success and failure of the new party’s philosophy and program depends on implementation efficiency and the political commitment and capacity of the political leaders to practice it on the ground.
He elaborated that the party is likely to succeed as long as it focuses on four basic issues. Addressing all Ethiopians to aware its new political program, make it participatory and democratic than imposing on the people, strengthening rule of law and focus on merit based political appointments from local to higher officials.
He added that for proper implementation on the ground the new program should also focus on participatory democracy than democratic centralism to make it easy for implementation on the grassroots. The program should also shape to answer the basic questions of the people. Setting a line to separate government activities from party interference is also another mechanism, he noted.
Political Analyst, Yonatan Tesfaye on his part said that although EPRDF’s former ideology was a dictatorial sentiment and not such acceptable, still since the new party is on power to govern the political economy of the country, it is not expected smooth and optimized ideology and program transition. “On this transition challenges are obvious,” he added.
For Yonatan, since the party is on power and its political philosophy and programs to implement on the political economy of the country, it should follow strategic methods to minimize the challenges. “Naturally the transition from one ideology to another ideology or any program change takes time and processes,” Yonatan stated.
“So far revolutionary democracy and developmental state take time to implement in Ethiopia. It takes a lot of resources, sensitization mechanisms and trainings, the same to that the new political philosophy of Prosperity Party and its program need the same investment for proper implementation,” Yonatan added.
According to Yonatan the political transition of the country which creates different problems, lower and medium political leaders shaped by revolutionary democracy and developmental state, networks of the former system can affect the smooth transition of the new program.
Yet, the inclusiveness nature, the pragmatic political view of the party, the initial democratic movements and active political participation of the people will help to facilitate the smooth transition and for proper implementation of the program by minimizing the challenges, he noted.
Tigray Democratic Party (TDP) Chairperson Dr. Aregawi Berhe on his side argued that although the new party did not publicize its program, it is following new direction both politically and economically following the reform. Especially, the party is rejecting the command economy of the past systems and decentralizes it.
According to him, as the political landscape of the country is widening and the overall national reforms are ongoing, the party’s program transition may be stable and smooth.
For Dr. Aregawi the success and failure of the new party’s program will depend on its activities to answer the real questions of the people to get the heart of the people where any program’s success is gaged by the acceptance of the people.
The Ethiopian Herald December 21/2019
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
