Gizaw Kebede who was playing significant roles in Ethiopian politics during the Derg regime is currently serving as an advocate. Serving as one of the higher officials of the regime, he has ample experiences in the nation’s politics. Besides serving as an advocate, he is currently a board chairman for different business organizations.
He studied Political Sciences and International Relations for his undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Addis Ababa University. Following the fall of the Derg regime, he left the world of politics and continued his study at Alpha University and received a Bachelor of Laws.
The Ethiopian Herald approached him who has a lot to share from his rich experiences in the nation’s politics. He has shared his views on the ongoing reform and ethnic and citizen politics. Excerpts:
Herald: As you have rich experiences in politics of the previous system, how do you see the current politics of Ethiopia? What is your opinion on the ongoing reform?
Gizaw: would like to be optimistic about the current circumstances of the nation. Regardless of some challenges, I believe the nation is experiencing a steady change and progressive improvement in its politics. The reform, as it was the appropriate solution for the nation’s political failure, has evidently been bearing fruits since it was introduced.
The reform was the right and quick fix for the nation that was nearly in the state of collapse. It was dearly demanded at great cost. We remember that the country had been continually rocked by a series of protests for more than four years. Due to the political failure, public corruption, the economic marginalization of some ethnic groups, and youth unemployment were so rampant.
Foolishly, the government responded with a heavy hand that caused the loss of thousands of lives besides the innumerable destruction of businesses and properties. Instead of providing proper response through dialogue and introducing fundamental changes, the government continues to take the repressive measures that strengthened common ground for local movements which widespread in different states. As the government could not the nation in that state, the reform was the fitting elucidation. Had it not been for the reform, I doubt we would continue as a nation.
Herald: Some people say that the reform has lost its intended goal; it has not brought any fundamental change. What would be your opinion here?
Gizaw: I cannot see any evidence that supports the assertion of these people. I do not think that the reform has missed its targets. The reform has brought a great of fundamental changes. Besides establishing the peace deal with Eritrean within an extraordinarily short period of time, a number of fundamental changes that became resolution to the staggering problems of the nation were fervently introduced.
Even what is more evident is that the reform has achieved its goals; it is also progressively bearing more fruits. It has systematically removed the oppressive system that had been exploiting the nation economically, politically for nearly three decades. The prime minister became so busy by rectifying what went wrong in the previous 27 years.
It would be helpful to understand the feature of a reform which is different from a revolution. Reform is essentially something assumed by the government itself to make any particular change in the present ruling scenario which is resulting in any kind of flaw. It involves rebuilding, making changes in order to make necessary improvements. And we must know that reform must always follow the prevalent law and order.
But a revolution is basically a fundamental change in political power or organizational structure. It involves the complete change of order of any existing system. In short, revolution may be against any authority or ruling power to change the rules and regulations and process of ruling while reform does not involve any violence and is a slow process as compare to revolution. Hence, if we understand the nature of reform, we would appreciate and value the achievements of the ongoing reform. Moreover, it is also wise to know the impediments of the reform inevitably struggling with.
Herald: What are these impediments?
Gizaw: Though reform has been led by some reformist leaders, there are several people who are not reform-minded. These people who are holding leadership positions at different levels in political organizations are accustomed to the previous political system and could not adjust themselves to the reform. As they try to carry out everything, as usual, they consciously or unintentionally withstand the progress of the reform. It is not easy for them to get rid-of the political culture they abode in for more than a couple of decades. I believe this is the main problem that retards the reform.
Herald: What would be the solution?
Gizaw: The government should organize civic associations and committees starting from the kebele levels. Besides organizing the committee, it has to consistently create awareness among the community members who can understand the purpose of the reform and government’s concern to improve the livelihood of society. This would enable the reform to reach every public sector.
Herald: Since the reform, there have been recurrent conflicts in different parts of the nation. Does this indicate the ineffectiveness of the reform?
Gizaw: The conflicts were normal; they inevitably accompany the reform, yet they do not indicate that the reform is ineffective. What the reform brought for the people was what they were longing for nearly three decades. Almost they were unfamiliar with such freedom. As a result of all these, conflicts were expected. The citizens who were severely oppressed for long were not thought how to handle the freedom with responsibility.
Herald: Some people state that the conflicts are due to the negligence of the government. They argue that the government fails to give proper attention to avoid harms among citizens while others say it has become powerless and cannot control conflicts. How do see these opinions?
Yes, it had been common to hear when many people were criticizing the government and begging it to take measures. I do not think that the government was neglecting the issue. It seems to me that the government chose to handle the circumstances wisely instead of using forces. The reason the government did not take measures because it hurts. Without using forces it is possible to ensure peace and stability across the nation.
For instance, as time goes on we are observing relative sustainable peace and stability across the nation. When some people were demanding the government to take measures, they were simply requesting what they were familiar with in the previous system. Trying to control the situation would be an unwise decision and increase its magnitude and consequences. I believe the way the government handled it is a conscious decision and it paves ways for democracy.
Herald: These days, some people prefer ethnic politics to citizenship one while others value the latter than the former. How they were handled in the Derg regime?
Herald: Which one would you prefer?
Gizaw: Both political systems are not foreign to Ethiopia. They define the real situation of the nation. Ethnic politics values a socially constructed category that has a shared cultural heritage, language, history. Its purpose is to protect and advance their interest in a political system. The quest for ethnic politics is not a new phenomenon.
The question was continually raised though the government did not give any recognition. Most of them who were advancing ethnic politics were organizing themselves underground. As the nation a multiethnic nation, it cannot be disregarded. Unlike the Derg system, the EPRDF acknowledged the reality of ethnic politics. On the other hand, citizenship politics in principle aims to accommodate all. I personally would prefer citizenship politics to the ethnic one without violating the rights of ethnic politics.
During the Derg regime, the political organizations such as Working Party of Ethiopia (WPE)/Derg, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), and All Ethiopian Socialist Movement (AESM)/ME’ISONE) were recognized while the liberation fighter groups such as OLF, TPLF, ONLF, and ALF were not. Yet the liberation fighter organizations were supporting ethnic politics. Cognizant to this, on July 8, 1979, Derg launched the National Literacy Campaign to teach basic literacy in about 15 languages in Ethiopia. The problem is the EPRDF has been exploiting the ethnic politics to stay on power.
Herald: Would you tell us a major problem the nation’s politics is struggling with?
Gizaw: I believe the main problem of our politics is directly related to purposelessness of politicians. Though there are some visionary leaders, most of our politicians seek power to pursue their personal gains. This is also the problem that defines many African politicians.
Their purpose is not to serve their nation but to increase their benefits. It is usually said if purpose is perverted, abuse is inevitable. They abuse their power. It is time for our politicians to know power does not mean dominance, survive longer, defend one-self, and get to realize their own wishes or self-gratification. Rather they must know that the aim of power is serve their nation.
The Ethiopian Herald March 10/2020
BY WAKUMA KUDAMA
