Over one-hundred political parties, both national and regional, currently operate in Ethiopia. For long, the parties seem to have lacked a trusted confluence that enables them work together.
Earlier this month, the parties have signed a covenant that consists of twenty articles which most parties’ leaders described the move as an initiative that went on their own free will.
The Code of Conduct states that political parties have responsibilities of bringing the on-going reform to a successful end. Hence, parties that represent various ideas and segments of the society, have unparalleled role in ensuring democracy, rule of law and peace in the country.
It further says,
parities ought to work together in a sustained and organized way to tackle
threats of U-turn that unrest erupting in various places of the
country can pose on the reform undertaking.
The signing of the document could be equated with the mitigation of pre-election and post-election violence, says Communication Advisor with National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, Soleyana Shimeles.
Members of political parties in particular and the society in general benefit out of the joint platform the parties have created for they could deliberate in a democratic way on real and imagined conflicting issues that may arise in their separate activities while governing the intra-party relations, she hints.
“Pre-election and post-election crises might not be prevented by a single document only. But it could be regarded as an unprecedented move that won the minds and hearts of all political parties,” she explained.
A council will soon come to reality to ensure the implementation of the covenant; thereby to strengthening the reform in the area of democratic building and helping parties unleash legal responsibility they are entrusted with, as the document states.
The council also serves to arbitrate disagreements arising among political parties as well as between political parties and the government, it says.
Abraha Desta, Chairman of Arena Party for Democracy and Sovereignty, told this reporter that the signing of the agreement and the resulting platform can lessen mistrust among parties and enhances cooperation as all work to pursue the Ethiopian cause.
More importantly, the agreement is very important to undo the relationship among supporters of parties that usually go violent, according to him.
“It helps us all to cultivate the culture of dialogue,” Abraha added.
Lencho Letta, President of Oromo Democratic Front, explained that if all parties obey this agreement, it has great significance to the building of democratic system in the country.
He also expressed belief that conflicts could be minimized as parties work together closely.
Also, Nathnael Feleke, member of Arbegnoch Ginbot 7, told this reporter that both the covenant and the council can help devise solution to problems that could surface along their ways.
Further, its role for the prevalence of rule of law is undeniable, he adds.
Now that Ethiopia is in the trajectory of all-round reform, cooperation among political parties could be regarded as a ticket to travel far and achieve peace and prosperity, as the parties’ and the advisor have said.
Herald March 29/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
