‘Delay’ had been buzzword associated with most mega projects and other infrastructural facilities. But it did not end there. Some projects even robbed off people’s hope as promises detailed on papers failed to materialize on the ground.
Fertilizer plants and sugar projects aimed to start breathing new life into the world of production by end of the first Growth and Transformation Plan (2010-2015) had not borne fruit. This is the fourth year of the second GTP due to be concluded next year.
The reform actions now seem to beat the clock.
Accelerated mega project completion has become the defining attribute of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s administration with Jimma Industrial Park and other key infrastructural facilities worth 2 billion USD have been put in the bag in addition to the already inaugurated Omo Kuraz III Sugar Project, Reb Irrigation Project and Adama Industrial Park.
All have seen completion in the Premier’s watch.
Over the weekend, the Premier was joined by some of the Horn leaders—Omar Ahmed Al Beshir and Ismail Hassen Gulle from Sudan and Djibouti respectively. All leaders cut ribbons to mark the completion of the industrial park, health facilities while launching the industrial park, road project, and health facilities in Jimma Saturday.
The leaders were taken by surprise owing to the fast-tracking project accomplishments.As showcase to this, the Sudanese president who attended a graduation Day at Jimma University announced scholarship opportunities to health graduates—for specialization courses.Senior government officials including Deputy Premier Demeke Mekonnen and Oromia State Chief Lemma Megeresa were also in attendance at the Grand ceremony graced by Dr. Abiy.
The southwestern town, Jimma, formed the most prominent market hub to local and international traders. The town’s rural environs as well as the adjacent areas are notable for coffee and cattle, production. Diametrically opposite to this fact, the town’s overall look speaks to itself—infrastructural development lags behind other parts of the country. Many say that the ancient city’s current status never represent the potential and contribution of the entire place.
Lying on a-75 ha.of land,out of a total of 150 ha, phase I of the construction of the Industrial Park will offer jobs to the town’s talented young population, putting the town’s growth wheel on a faster motion.The Park, when goes fully operational, offers jobs to 10, 000 people. The town is home to 150, 000 residents, a factsheet compiled by Industrial Parks Development Corporation and Ethiopian Investment Commission states.
The Park avails a “convenient plug-and-play environment with access to all necessary infrastructural and shared facilities, power sub-station, telecom, health center, fire brigade, commercial building, etc.,” according to the source.
“The park is consistent with the Ethiopian Government’s commitment to a green economy—waste treatment and water treatment facilities being part and parcel of the Park,”it says.
Speaking about the purpose of the 61 million USD Park, Oromia State President Lemma Megersa pointed out as the town is prancing to live up to its potential and reassure its place as the southwestern hub, this manufacturing included, in addition to market and trade as previously.
“We pull in foreign earning to the country while creating jobs to citizens and providing research access to university students,” he remarked.
To add modern grace to the town, connect nearby residents one another and create market access to coffee and other commodities producers a-79 km Jimma-Agaro-Dedesa project was also launched on the same day. It goes without saying that the road, when sees the light of the day, helps to transport agricultural input—to boost product and productivity.
The government of Ethiopia would pour around 1.3 billion Birr to the project, Ethiopian Roads Authority Samson Wondimu told The Ethiopian Herald. The completion of the road is promised to come to completion in a little less than four years’ time.
The new administration both at federal and state levels have proven commitment to scoop up the buzzword “delay”.
What is more to Jimma is the new health facility—Jimma Medical Center (JMC). It has stood the test of time all the way from Fascist Italy’s five-year dead loss imperial ambition over Ethiopia to current time, as information paraphrased from Jimma University’s document obtained at the inaugural event.
JMC provides medical and education services.
Its state-of-the-art equipment and other facilities make both services up to the standard while pushing accessibility to higher level.
The document have it that JMC offers advanced services at its fistula treatment and pediatric Oncology (diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children) centers as well as rehabilitation, physiotherapy and dialysis services facilities, among other. Its equipment includes modern incinerator (to reduce waste to ashes), oxygen production plant, and biomedical center, central boiling system for steam and warm water and helicopter landing for air ambulances, the same document states.
The Center services the entire southwestern Ethiopia as a referral teaching hospital, not to mention people in the Horn region. South Sudanese people are, for instance, said to get medical services at the Center. Patients from Gambela refugee centers also head to the place seeking medical services, it was noted.
The writer of this story attempted to observe the current status of the town. He also approached older people seeking their view on the situation of the ancient southwestern hub. All speak in unison that the town located in the middle of rural zones famous for producing commercial agricultural goods, including coffee, had long been neglected.
They also nod their heads in an utter approval when asked: “Do the facilities that get inaugurated flicker hopes to yours, the youths’ and to the city’s future.”
Herald December 14/2018
BY WORKU ASFAW
