Engineer Halima Umer, 28, was born and raised in Senbete Town. She has earned her first and second degree in civil engineering from Wollo University and Kombolcha Institute of Technology (KIOT) respectively. She has been serving in various public institutions with high performances and efficiency.
Recently, she was appointed to be the first Mayoress of Senbete Town.
Senbete Town is amongst the incredible and unique areas located in the Oromo especial Zone of Amhara State. The Town is known for its huge and mesmerizing Senbete market. The market is a center where different ethnic groups, such as Oromo, Afar and Amhara meet together to buy, sell or exchange any type of goods every Sunday. There are areas that are designed to trade animals, especially, cattle and donkeys in the market.
The Ethiopian Herald had a short stay with Engineer Halima to share her views with regard to Town’s development, and other similar issues.
As Halima noted, Senbete Town Administration is working to form various public office structures and organizing human capital to offer productive and efficient services for dwellers of the city and other customers. At the same time, it is working on cadastral activities to make sure Senbete City Administration border, she said.
“I am well aware that as part of the leadership role, the mayor is involved in advancing community cohesion and promoting civic awareness and ensures healthy land use in the Town.”
The mayor shall serve as the chief executive officer of the city, carries out executive responsibilities by monitoring the activities of the administrator and the various departments of city government to ensure that the city ordinances and state laws are enforced. This requires knowledge of city ordinances and state laws and a procedure for monitoring municipal activities. In this case I had firsthand experiences of the city and commitment to discharge my responsibility.
It is a fact that city is a densely populated human settlement with complex systems for sanitation, utilities, safety, land usage, housing, and transportation, land use, production of goods, and communication. Though Senbete Town has not reached at this level, it is important to work on setting priorities, she stressed.
She further stated that Senbete Town has promising hope and opportunities because it has wide ranging natural and manmade resources. The work-loving communities, town’s unique market coupled with its tourism sites such as the hot water springs found in the vicinity give residents an opportunity to generate income.
Mentioning the challenges like scarcity of land, and poor infrastructure, she pledged to work hard along with her staff and stakeholders and lay the foundation for the advancement of the Senbete Town. She also urged everyone to be part of the effort and expedite the development of the city in many ways.
As to her, Senbete Town should be a town that could attract residents, investors as well as business men. To make this a reality, the facilities and the services should be well organized in more established fashion than ever before, and developed. To this effect, they are working committedly and in concerted manner than before.
The Town has been bestowed to the rank of city administration to be run by a mayor office, generate its own resources as well operate public services.
She said: “We are starting from scratch and we are lucky the Amhara State, the zone, and the Woreda are cooperative and supportive in equipping us with various resources, but still, we need more assistance.”
Senbete Market is famous throughout the world and it is one of the tourist destinations. Hence, the administration is planning to promote it in a more organized fashion. The market is a great source of income and works are underway to generate substantial economic benefit in imposing tax, she noted.
Replying to the question that many women encounter when assigning to leadership positions, she mentioned that though people are too hasty in making generalizations and comments, she usually does not get bothered as she set her prime focus on running her office. Though there are promising progresses in assigning women in leadership positions like in woreda administration, it is not enough.
“Women are capable of doing anything if they are given equal opportunities and treated equally. Unquestionably, they can contribute their share to ensure sustainable development. Hopefully, we will work hard to win the minds and hearts of the people and improve the Town.”
Regarding the soon to be formed government of Ethiopia, she wished the new government to be democratic, address security issues and ensure peace and rule of law as well as security at all places.
As peace is the great asset of life, the security structures from the federal to the grassroots level should be ready to safeguard the nation’s peace and security at any cost, said the Mayoress.
Noting that the Senbete Town Administration is under reform and making progress, the Mayoress noted her willingness to work with anybody interested and expressed readiness to collaborate with neighboring city administration.
Expressing her gratefulness to be chosen by the people of Senbete as a mayoress of Senbete Town, she said that to be a mayor is a great responsibility thus she will strive to prove the people that their decision in appointing her was right by discharging the set duties in accordance with the law.
“It is high time to act know as time is running. The demand is high while the supply is minimal. Therefore, I urge all Diaspora communities and the local investors to invest here and support our efforts in making history by walking the talk. I believe that through collaboration, we can make difference,” she remarked.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
ETHIOPIAN HERALD 22 SEPTEMBER 2021
