BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
Now that the historic election is over and the results are known, the ruling party has a new five-year mandate. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s prosperity party has got the majority of the votes and will form a new government in the upcoming September.
In what could be said a stark departure from old traditions, the ruling party has already promised to include members of contending parties in government posts with the latter securing only a handful of seats in the parliament The ruling party believes the inclusion of influential people from contending parties helps to strengthen government and democratic practices in the country. In June, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said: “We understand there are some individuals who are patriotic and with skills. So, we want to include these people even if they lost in the election. The inclusion of these people in the government will strengthen the country and help realize our mission which is peace and prosperity.” The role of contending parties and their members with skills, expertise and experience would be very valuable for pursuing stability and prosperity.
Contending political parties have a key role to play in accomplishing some of the tall orders the country is currently confronted with. From defending the sovereignty of the nation to realizing the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), political parties could rally their constituencies behind major national undertakings.
Time and time again, contending political parties are now in line to support the government call for mass mobilization. Hence the role of political parties is substantial as Ethiopia is mobilizing resources to remove the terrorist group Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and fend of foreign intervention.
With some parties helping the anti-propaganda warfares, others are sending their members into battlefields. For instance, Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice and National Movement of Amhara have backed the government in its diplomatic effort of updating world about Ethiopia’s stance in the law enforcement operation in Tigray state and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam(GERD). Party members have also been participating in international media discussions and debates on current affairs of the country. Besides, members of contending parties have been mobilizing the youth and building the morale of fighters by meeting the combatants on battlefields.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency lately, National Movement of Amhara, Political Affairs Head of Christian Tadele indicated every citizen will have a historical responsibility to stand together and help the nation to get pass this tide. Christian said the terrorist junta TPLF has poised a number of challenges to the nation as it has been conspiring against the state with local and foreign collaborators. To withstand the influence, Christian urges every citizen to give a quick response for national calls and fight the terrorist group till the group’s total collapse. He says the groups have malicious intent of revenge and disintegration of nation. Therefore it is a duty of every citizen to fight and remove this group, Christian stressed.
The role of contending parties for national calls and national agendas is persistent as recently other five parties held a press conference on one of recent phenomena: Marching for sovereignty. Ethiopian Freedom Party, Ethiopian National Unity Party, New Generation Party and Raya Rayuma Party urged people and government to further cooperate and remove the terrorist junta, TPLF. As Foreign affairs head of Raya Rauma Party Getachew Kebede spoke representing the parties, he said the terrorist group is a destructive force that has caused war for three generations and split blood.
Getachew mentions the suffering of people due to TPLF instigated war: “Tigryan mothers have lost up to three or four of children due to the war that have been instigated by this terrorist group for half a century. And now it is causing some much suffering to people as it is refused unilateral ceasefire, waging war and using making Tigray people as a human shield.” As to him, the group is violating international law and recruiting children, elderly, and religious fathers for the fighting. As he expressed readiness to fight and wipe out the bandit group, Getachew also urged people to be cautious that the group is disseminating false information to deviously divide people and government. Hence, everyone must cooperate and remove the terrorist group and realize a peaceful nation, he emphasized.
On August 12, parties that are operating in Amhara state have formed an alliance to fight terrorist TPLF’s aggression. In a joint statement, Amhara Prosperity Party, National Movement of Amhara and Amhara Democratic Force Movement appreciated people of the region and Ethiopians in general for their fast response to the national call. People from all walks of life have come together to support the national army in its task of defending the nation and eliminating the terrorist group.
The parties said people have to stand together regardless of ethnic, religion or other differences to defend the nation. For this cause, the parties urged their members and supporters to be an example by showing unity and commitment in fighting the terrorist TPLF. The statement also exposed TPLF’s crime the past three decades and its recent destruction and massacre.
The parties in the statement recalled TPLF has callously attacked the National Defense Force in November. Following declaration of unilateral humanitarian ceasefire by the government, TPLF attacked the Amhara region and killed people, destroyed property while displacing people. The parties also expressed condolences over the loss of 270 children in Afar. Therefore, the parties said it is a timely decision to lift the unilateral ceasefire and remove the terrorist group once for all.
The Ethiopian Political Parties Joint council also announced recently that opposition parties fully stand with government with respect to defending the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ethiopia.
The contending parties’ bloc on August 6th held a forum for international community residing in Addis Ababa to make its position on the situation unfolding in the country clear. During the occasion chairperson of the joint council Rahel Bafe said “We want to use this opportunity to make clear that opposition political parties fully stand with the Ethiopian Government.”
“We the Ethiopia political parties pursue no different stand than that of the entire population of our country and stand united to withstand the challenges the country currently faced with.”
The Chairperson warns any attempt to create a fragile and loose Ethiopia and consequently disintegrate it will not be tolerated by the Ethiopian people. Rahel underlined that meddling in the internal affairs of Ethiopia “was not accepted yesterday by our forefathers and is unacceptable and intolerable today.”
Parties have also taken part in fund raising and blood donations in a bid to help Ethiopian National Defense Forces in its law enforcement operations.
The political parties’ active involvement in national service does not only galvanize people from their constituency and members. It also shows developing cohesion of parties and unity of Ethiopians despite divergent political views. These and other actions of parties could build trust and confidence among people. They would be accepted to play a constructive role in nation’s stride to development and democratization. The government is also expected fulfill its promises of including opposition party members as it forms a new government in September.
The Ethiopian Herald August 14/2021
