BY ADDISALEM MULAT
Early this week, Ethiopia fulfilled one of its years of aspirations which is a fair and free election. The event marks a great departure from its pasts defined by autocracy and dictatorial rule. For the first time in its history, Ethiopia managed to hold a democratic poll with different parties throwing their hats into the ring.
Though the polling day was on Monday, the work for making the 6th general election fair and free has been started a day when the Ethiopian government picked former human right and political rights champions, Birtukan Midkesa as chairperson of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia. For years, the Board has been seen as affiliated to the ruling and discredited by opposition even the general public as being puppet.
The appointment of Birtukan had raised hopes among Ethiopian political elites and political parties as both which came from abroad and those who struggled internally registered to compete in the election.
Prior to the big day, the Board has restructured itself and amended key legal documents to smooth the election process and pave a way for multi-party system. This year’s election had to go through twists and turns due to national and global situations. The frequent postponements of the election time were among the few challenges that faced the electoral process but at the end, the Board’s hard work had paid off!
The election was one of a kind in terms of the number of candidates, turnouts. Peacefulness and fairness has also been the other feature of the national poll. It is no hyperbolae to say that the 6th general election was a millstone for a country that has gone through unfair treatment by foreign powers and backlogs of internal problems. This indeed is a novel turn!
The highly anticipated National elections which were held on a national scale this past Monday managed to win the hearts and minds of Ethiopians residing at home and abroad. The peaceful election ended up spreading like wildfire throughout the world and causing excitement amid Ethiopians at the drop of a hat. As a matter of fact, it is still fresh in the memories of everyone.
In the name of truth, there was growing collaboration by contending parties and independent candidates in the election. Other than that, as contending parties were given the green light to have a hand in multiparty debate, they were cross-fertilizing their ideas as they thought best and familiarizing the general public with their policies time and time again.
At present, all and sundry are feeling on top of the world. On top of that the general public has been pinning hope on Ethiopia’s future seeing that the election is a new dawn to Ethiopia.
As everyone knows this year’s election marked an historic event in the history of the country in terms of credibility and fairness and sticking to the right election process.
It is also hoped that the election would lay a cornerstone for the future elections without doubt. While on the subject, the pre-election period witnessed unparalleled involvement by contesting parties and self-determining candidates and unchallenged level of political discussion in a wide variety of print and electronic media outlets of the nation. Apart from going along with a code of conduct that called for fair-mindedness, they were all treated equally.
In the same vein, as the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has been established as an independent board, the electoral body appeared to play a central and important role in organizing a fair election.
This was not the case in the past. Back in the day, the board was taking sides with the ruling party. They did not have the right to carry out their duties and responsibilities as they wish.
However, when Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed took office, the whole thing embarked on coming to the right track in the shortest possible time. He appointed the former judge and leading opposition icon as a head of the National Ethiopian Electoral Board (NEBE). Over time, she embarked on breathing new life into the board in the shortest possible time and thus Ethiopia can harvest the fruit of accomplishment in the sixth national election.
This is one of the most significant achievements of the 2021 election.
The secret behind the accomplishment of the six Ethiopian National Elections is owing to the commitment and determination of the government. The incumbent has been taking a wide spectrum of measures with targeting at making the national election free, fair and credible. The government was working with everyone concerned with a great success.
As learnt from the Office of the Prime Minister, Ahead of the election, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed convened the National Election Security Strategic Command for a briefing ahead of Election Day. The NISS Election Security Platform was unveiled in the central command Situation Room of the Office of the Prime Minister, highlighting election security preparedness undertaken by the security sector. The security preparedness includes physical force deployments to all corners of the country as well as cyber security enhancements to thwart assessed threats.
Satellite monitoring systems and drone technology has been deployed for reconnaissance with data sharing capabilities developed across Federal and Regional command post stations. During the briefing, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed noted this new approach and the capabilities that have been created in ensuring national security ahead of key national activities.
Before the election Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said, “A week from today, Ethiopians we will cast our vote in the 6th National Elections, which will be the nation’s first attempt at free and fair elections. As we go to the polls to exercise our democratic rights, I ask all Ethiopians to use the day to exercise our civic duty and leave a generational print. Go out and Vote next Monday. Go out and plant your GreenLegacy too. Let’s make it a positively historic day together!
In the present climate, various parties have been putting across their ideas, feelings and thoughts in a wide spectrum of ways.
Concerning the election, The Ethiopian Herald had a short stay with Enat Party Secretary General Getinet Worku. He said, “We have been craving for the peaceful completion of the election on account of our solid commitment to form a strong government that can resist local and external influences.”
As to him, there are some challenges our party has encountered but we will exert our outmost efforts to get to the bottom of the problem through dialogue making use of legal mechanisms. All political parties have to work beside one another to resolve potential problems peacefully distancing themselves from any kind of violence.
On the other hand, Ethiopians Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) Party Leader Prof. Berhanu Nega expressed that he witnessed a peaceful election. There is no option than holding the election to have legitimate government and overcome the hardships the country is facing right now.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD JUNE 24/2021
