There have been upheaval changes in Ethiopia for the last two years in response to the popular protest that was waved throughout the country. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office and brought with him various political and economic reforms. Political prisoners were released, 20 years of cold war state between Ethiopia and Eritrea was lifted, with both countries reopening their embassies.
Then enter Medemer, the philosophy behind the reformist Prime Minister. He introduced the term, and the idea behind it, which is to create a united and prosperous Ethiopia. Then, as new political lexicons go, it became the fashionable buzzword around the country, and eventually and inevitably, it brought with it political debates, and misunderstandings.
Some speculated that the concept, which is translated to ‘addition’, or ‘to be added’, is a vehicle to bring the old unitary political system back, which the country has forgone, and will undermine the rights of ethnic groups.
Abiy for long has explained that Medemer is a homegrown solution to the country’s political, economic and democratic conundrums. It aims to foster a sense of strong national unity amid ethnic and political divisions that has led the country to the brink in those two, three years of popular protests.
But in all this debate, of how the concept aims to define the country’s nation-building, and democracy building, the economy has been a little bit shunned. What does it bring to the economy? For one, it will bring practicality and flexibility.
Medemer aims to bring two diametrically opposing camps to the table, and believes that compromise can be found. In this it veers from ideological dogmatism; dogmatism that has alienated the country’s private sector, and other political actors who could do their part in boosting the economy.
Medemer provides a new way of dealing with the country’s economy, one that entails maximizing the utilization of its human resource, and it has to do how it views individual and group rights. Medemer sees both rights as fundamental and complimentary, and by extension, it eyes both group and individual rights to enjoy fair economic ownership and participation.
Thus, the philosophy can be instrumental in helping Ethiopia utilize its number one resource, its manpower by addressing all their direct and indirect needs (physical, psychological and spiritual). Apart from fulfilling economic needs, it also aims at meeting other intrinsic human needs such as freedom, fairness, equality etc. Apart from competition, it also promotes cooperation.
All in all, it can help reinvigorate the sense of entrepreneurial creativity within its citizens, move the boundaries of innovative adventure within them whilst fostering an Ethiopian exceptionalism in the process.
Ethiopia has for the last decade has grown in double digit. It was state-led, done with huge foreign loan, and its sustainability was in question. It did not bring the much vaunted structural transformation. Perhaps it is time for the country to look inside its underutilized manpower, and unleash it so that it can rocket the economy (and the country) into the next era of economic development. And Medemer is waiting equipped to provide just this.
The Ethiopian Herald January 8/2020
