When construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, known by its acronym GERD, began all these years ago, popular support was huge. Ethiopian citizens, at home and abroad, eagerly started taking advantage of the government’s bond offerings to help fund construction of the dam.
It was notable how many Ethiopians living abroad who were mostly critical of the then Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and government policies, did not seem to see any conflict—moral or otherwise—in following his appeal to support the project. Clearly, they did not see this as ‘tainted by politics’ or in any way political.
Many obviously thought constructing a hydro-electric dam was a good idea, as it would bring sustainably sourced electricity to vast numbers of people, and, at the same time, ‘give’ Ethiopia what many regard as its ‘natural right’ to the water of the River Nile.
Apparently, hardly anyone could find fault with the government and its arguments and appeals to help fund the construction of the dam. In retrospect, it does seem as if, generally, Ethiopians wanted to consider this mega project a source of national pride. They wanted to support it, no matter their political views.
They did not want to politicize it, but wanted to genuinely see the dam as ‘belonging to the people’, not the government or the Party. Many who lived abroad felt a real sense of pride, and—even when they otherwise held vehemently anti-government views— when it came to the GERD, they tended to agree with the government’s arguments for constructing it, and would often become quite belligerent, asserting Ethiopia’s right to use the water of the River Nile to generate electricity, when challenged or criticized. Not even did it occur to them, it would seem, to see the project through the lens of party politics. A lot has changed since then.
As the project ran into trouble, public support began to wane. Increasingly, people started politicizing it. Ethiopians abroad started blaming the government for what they saw as the project’s mismanagement. For a time, one might almost have got the impression that people were losing interest, and construction and the general progress of the GERD was disappearing from the public’s radar.
What had begun as a source of national pride for many, was now in danger of becoming more of a national disaster, as it was increasingly politicized, and people expressed frustration, disappointment, and even anger about what they perceived as the government’s failure to get things right.
Then, a new Prime Minister, a new government, with a reformist agenda, came into office. The contract for completing the now more than half constructed dam was awarded to foreign contractors, and the public has again been encouraged to support the project. Despite the government’s efforts to rekindle people’s sense of national pride, however, many seem reluctant to rally behind the project the way they had initially done. Some seem to consider the GERD ‘of the old regime’, and, thus, ‘tainted’ in some way.
They think that the project is a total failure, as it was commissioned by the previous government. But, perhaps they do have a point? After all, it cannot be denied that construction has been much slower—and much more trouble—than initially expected. As the diaspora has been quite involved in the project from the beginning, taking an international view might perhaps be particularly worthwhile.
First, let us be clear that the GERD is, indeed, a mega project. One might argue that it could even be called ‘monumental’. Certainly, nothing even remotely similar to it has ever been done in the long and proud history of Ethiopia.
If one takes a moment to consider the project in an international context, it becomes obvious that, nowhere in the world, do such projects ever go entirely according to plan. In one way or another, mega projects always run into trouble: over budget, over time, bad planning, corrupt contractors … In the context of mega projects, these are such recurring themes that—unfortunate as it is—they must be considered something of a ‘norm’. No matter the region of the world, mega projects just never go according to plan. And the GERD is no exception.
Analyzing carefully, though, it would appear that, if anything, this should be a reason to support the project more, not less, let alone ‘writing it off’ altogether. One could, in fact, make a wider point and observe that, when challenges—of whatever nature they may be—arise, members of a society should offer whatever support is needed to overcome these challenges.
To put it another way: Whenever problems present themselves—certainly from the point of view of morale and ethics—we are supposed to contribute to solving them, rally behind the good cause, and increase our support, not become frustrated and withdraw it.
That would, in fact, be nothing less than unpatriotic. And why should the GERD be an exception? The right—and patriotic—thing to do now is to increase your support. Practically, this might mean: If you have bought bonds, then consider yourself having done the right thing.
If you have started getting frustrated, then this is the time to keep in mind the eventual benefits. Put the GERD in an international context: The citizens of any country that has embarked on such a wonderful project, to provide sustainable energy for millions, should be filled with pride and a real sense of national achievement—this author certainly would.
But, what about the politicization of the GERD? It is true, after all, that the project began under the previous government. That does, however, not mean that it is ‘bad’ or ‘tainted’. On the contrary, the GERD is a perfect example of what the government has done right over the last two decades. It is not all ‘bad’ and in need of being torn down under the current drive to reform.
Naturally, there will be those who are not convince by this argument. Some selfstyled activists or opposition politicians may say that the project was political and a failure from the start. On closer inspection, however, such views must be considered rather narrowminded, politicizing when, really, it is not the right thing to do—certainly from a moral, ethical, or philosophical perspective.
After all, this is a hydro-electric dam that, once completed, is guaranteed to substantially improve the lives of millions of people. Considering the project ‘one of the political failures of the old regime’, instead of patriotically supporting it and seeing it through to its completion, is, one might observe, rather silly and childish.
A mega project that will bring such immense benefits to so many people, by providing sustainable energy, must be supported. Politics must be left out of it! Having thus analyzed, it must become clear that, from a moral, ethical, and patriotic perspective, all Ethiopian citizens should continue to see the GERD as a source of national pride.
Let us remember the initial fervor, and let us try to get back to that place! The dam is almost completed. And even if more challenges may present themselves, they will be overcome, just like they were in the past. It is a challenge-resilient project, indeed. Now is the time to be of high morale, and look to the future. It is impossible to say exactly when the dam will begin generating electricity.
But it will happen. And not only will this generation benefit from it, but generations to come will reap the rewards of the support the project received from patriotic citizens. Once it is completed, and sustainably sourced electricity becomes part of the everyday lives of millions, all will be forgotten. The challenges along the way will have faded into oblivion. It will be a source of national pride— for generations to come. History, it is safe to assume, will judge it as such.
The Ethiopian Herald, Sunday Edition May 12/2019
BY KALYPSO SCHULMEISTER
