When EPRDF promised the public to bring changes in good governance through uprooting corrupt and rent seeking activities, many people had doubt about its applicability. Anti-Ethiopian groups had also used this sense and have been attempting to spread it. They argued as is the determination to take steps was simply a political game that it wouldn't significantly impact the lives of the people.
If one has the opportunity to access all the available historical documents, there won't be any doubt to back the efforts that have been exerted by the ruling part to curb corruption and rent seeking activities. Previously, it is repeatedly announced that the ruling party in particular and the government of Ethiopia in general have preferred to pass through deep reform and revitalize the current maladministration and respond to the questions posed by the people in connection to this.
Many argue that now it is a matter of commitment to restrain oneself from embezzling public wealth and deliver proper administrative services to the public. In fact, this by no means could be out of the hands of the ruling party as it is well experienced in previous days even in successfully accomplishing issues deserving lives. This coupled with the democratic nature, its ability of inward looking, delivering priority to public questions and analyzing country and global political and economic trends in advance.
One of the most significant issue within the nature of the ruling party is the its concern and respect to nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. It has been working industriously for equal opportunities to thrive among the entire people of the country.
It is a reality that there are a number of politicians within the EPRDF who have been struggling with determination to curb rent seeking activities; thereby, to enhance good governance. In fact, the party has been facing as many challenges at different times. The party had managed to avoid such challenges used them to register a better leap that resulted to provide light for the Ethiopian people.
However, it is undeniable that there are also a number of politicians within the EPRDF who have immersed in the quagmire of rent collection being not only ignorant of the very interest of the people but also failed to address public questions.
I would like to share you my memory that I learnt while TPLF occupied the town for some days following its two days fight with the military rule at Korem. I was fifteen at that time and still remember the politeness that TPLF members had. Three armed members of the TPLF came to our village. We were gathered and talked about the people who lost their lives due to the war in front of one well known rich woman whose name I don’t want to mention. One of them said, “Mother could you cooperate us to bake one bread, we have the flour, woods and water, we only need oven from you.”
The woman not only refused to lend them here oven but also insulted them. She also spitted on them. All of us gathered there were shocked hearing the words of that woman. But the three armed fighters asked her an excuse and passed to the next door where they got permission to bake their mail.
In fact, they were so kind, tolerant and respect their people. TPLF/EPRDF members were responsible and committed to give their lives, committed to enhance democracy in the country and ensure the equality of all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia.
There were many people who didn’t have confidence on EPRDF in connection to realize lasting peace and stability in the country in the aftermath of its coming to power. Rather many political analysts prophesized that Ethiopia would be disintegrated and the people would be engaged in an unceasing conflict.
Bringing lasting peace and stability was one of the crucial agendas of EPRDF. Then, working hard to revitalize the deteriorated economy of the country. And the third one was to ensure a democratic system in the country.
The government designed and carried out Agricultural Development Led Industrialization policy, which mainly focused on harnessing the two available resources: land and labor as well as integrating it with the industrial development.
When the country was compelled to engage in bloodshed war with Eritrea, the ruling party had designed a strategy successfully accomplished with a glorious victory. That could show the courage and capability of EPRDF in managing challenges. The country’s economy has begun to deteriorate in those years of conflict. Besides, there were some members of the party who had been engaged in corrupt practices. The civil servant had also serious problems in serving the society properly. As a result, EPRDF compelled to reform itself so as to address those problems.
EPRDF designed a number of policies that could change the existed scenario. Agricultural, Industrial and Urban Development and Foreign policies were designed and carried out in the past fifteen years. The past fifteen years witnessed that the reform helped the country to meaningfully transform its economy. It managed to register significant political, economic and social achievements.
From the economic perspective, the country has been registering 10.9 percent economic growth in the past ten consecutive years. According to the World Bank, Ethiopia has become one of the emerging leading economies in the world. The agriculture, industry and service sectors have been showing improvements from time to time.
Some fifteen years ago the total cereal production was about 70 million quintals that reached more than 300 million quintals at present that meaningfully pulled millions of people out of starvation; a considerable number of farmers out of poverty as the government has trained and assigned more than 60 thousand agriculture extension workers. According to recent reports, the poverty level of the country has reduced to 22.2 percent at this time from 38.7 percent some fifteen years ago.
There are also significant changes in social developments. For instance, the health sector has made a significant stride that there is a health post in every village at present almost from none some two decades ago. There is also a significant boost in infrastructure and investment of the country. There are a number of politicians questioning why EPRDF need a reform? Some of them have also expressed it as a zero sum game. Therefore, it is advisable to justify why EPRDF has determined to conduct a serious reform. It has been implementing that reform since the past two years. As a result a number of corrupt individuals have charged and different legal and political measures have taking in connection to corruption. But the struggle needs ceaseless struggle.