What does it entail for the Economy?
Since reformist Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed came into office, his concept ‘Medemer’ has become a phrase of common currency within Ethiopia’s political landscape. ‘Medemer’ literally means ‘adding’ or ‘being added’ based on how its read, and contextually means to come together. According to the Prime Minister, ‘Medemer’ is a homegrown approach that aims to solve the country’s challenges by bringing together polar views, and finding compromise.
However, anytime a new political concept enters the political lexicon in any given country, there bounds to be differing understanding, and misunderstanding of the concept, as per political leanings and ideology.
While many things have been said about the concept so far, mostly towards its perspectives on nation-building, democracy, there is still conceptual confusion about ‘Medemer’, and less has been said about its economic side.
According to Binyam Ero, Social science expert at the Prime Minister Office, those who speculate this approach of philosophy will lead towards a unitary state system, and will undermine the rights of ethnic groups, are wrong.
‘Medemer’, as a concept, is not about building unitary governance system, but finding a way to nurture a sense of national unity in the face of ethnic divisions, a way to bring together resources from every corner of the country in the hopes of building a strong and united nation.
After Abiy came into office, the word ‘Medemer’ had become a buzzword, he continued, but it is a practical approach, not pseudo one. For instance, Ethiopia is said to exercise federalism for the past two decades, but in practice it was a flawed one, and the concept will find practical solutions in terms of bringing genuine federalism to the country.
While there have been many discussions and debate about ‘Medemer’ in terms of politics, democracy, and its planned role in nation building, it said less about its economic side, its real foundation and perspectives in opening economic opportunities.
As to Eyob, ‘Medemer’ is a new way of dealing with the country’s economic development affairs. ‘Medemer’, he argues, believes that both individual and group rights are not mutually exclusive, but complimentary to each other, and this will allow the country to fully unleash its human resource like never before.
Ethiopia is a huge country blessed with many natural resources and human capital, says Eyob, and as ‘Medemer’ eyes both group and individual right to enjoy fair economic ownership and participation, it will play fundamental role in ensuring development, and advancing the country economically.
The philosophy will be instrumental in fusing resources that leads to economic development, addressing all human direct and indirect needs by letting citizens enjoy true federalism in Ethiopia, he opines.
The country has now launched a homegrown economy, an extension of ‘Medemer’, with an aim of providing local economic solutions to age-old economic problems of the country.
Basically, ‘Medemer’ aims to bring together diverse perspectives with a final concurrent point of seeing Ethiopia be strong economically whilst its citizens enjoy the spoils with equal dignity.
For Mesay Mulugeta, Assistance Professor Dean of Addis Ababa University College of Development Studies, ‘Medemer’ philosophy is instrumental to the economy because it could open ways to join resources and markets to all equally. The philosophy is important not only to Ethiopia, but to the East Africa as well.
When we look at the nations in ladder of development, he argues, countries with small size are not found in the upper half, whether it’s in development, technological advancement, because the size of their population and resources limits them.
China is climbing the ladder of development because it is a huge nation with well-established economy that acknowledges each ethnic group, and its general human resource.
As for Ethiopia, the country is home for over 80 nation and nationalities, and over one hundred million people, and ‘Medemer’ will bring meaningful impact in shaping its economy.
‘Medemer’ has its critics of course from some corners; with some saying it lacks coherence, and practical roadmap for it to succeed.
This is a thought that is not shared by Mesay, which says scholars should be open to read related references of it and make knowledge-based criticisms rather than speculating without facts and findings.
“In my view politicians and activists as well as fellow citizens should distance from uttering irrelevant criticisms and politically calculated defaming acts. Because ‘Medemer’, as a philosophy, aims to unite the people in building the nation, with solid peace and unity that leads to prosperity.”
The Ethiopian Herald January 8/2020
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
