The Ethiopian parliament has 547 members (22 seats are reserved for representatives of minority nationalities and peoples), elected for five-year term in a single-seat constituencies.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Almaz Mesele, an MP, said that when the House takes a three-month long break– in July, August and February, they will be engaged in other important activities.
Being a representative of the electorates is a hard task. It is a great responsibility and needs high commitment of the representatives. MPs should get in touch with the electorate to get firsthand information on issues regarding governance and the likes.
Hence, the MPs hold discussions with the electorate and government officials at all levels. In doing so, they attempt to clearly understand how the government offices are serving the public.
They also pay visits to government projects. “Our targets are examining the progresses of government projects and bringing together peoples’ requests; hence to urge the concerning public bodies to re examine the way they do their jobs.”
She also stated that visiting government projects is the main goal of MPs, while doing this; they also entertain public demands in relation to peace and security, good governance, and issues relating to infrastructural development.
In addition, government officials, community representatives – youths, women, farmers, pastoralists, urban dwellers, and operators of small and micro enterprises participate in the discussion, according to her.
In the discussions with MPs, representatives of the community will raise many questions in relation to government projects. This includes delayed projects and reasons why they are not completed within scheduled time; quality related problems will also be discussed. Infrastructure development is also the main center of discussion.
According to her, in addition to the discussions with lower government structure, discussions also take place at zonal and regional levels.
MPs role is to make sure that questions from the public are addressed by officials at all levels.
“As we have seen in some parts of the country, the people are expressing their happiness and supporting on the ongoing projects.”
Among the issues MPs have discussed, the issues of construction of Technical and Vocational Schools, health institutions, and ensuring of road accessibility are some of them, she stated.
All the issues that are raised by the people from different parts of the country will be submitted to the House of Peoples’ Representatives. Then, the house compiles those requests and it will send them to the concerned government body.
On his part, Hadush Azenaw, also an MP, told to The Ethiopian Herald that MPs of each region will hold discussions with peoples on different issues in collaboration with respective members of the regional council.
“We, MPs from Tigray region, for instance, have made much discussion with residents of the region in many issues and visited government projects.”
According to him, the house allocates the necessary budget, and facilitates as well as other conditions for MPs to meet with the electorate.
Parliament in modern democratic society is a group of peoples’ representatives who are elected to make a country’s laws and discuss national affairs. It is indirect means of holding power. In modern society, it is a legislative body of government. The parliament of any country or legislature plays an important role in the life of a nation.
Scholars categorize the functions of modern parliament into three main parts: making laws (legislation), acting on behalf of voters and citizens (representation), and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries (scrutiny).
The ongoing
reform activities has made the parliament to discharge its duties as per of
these standards, its democratic exercise has also increased than ever. Nowadays
recess is not synonymous with sitting back, it has become a time to collect
information from the grassroots firsthand.
The Ethiopian Herald Friday 6 March 2020
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
