CBE to foreclose on Karuturi · The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006 |1 By Kaleyesus Bekele The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed its

www.thereporterethiopia.com

The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |1

By Kaleyesus Bekele

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed its concern on the mega international airport the Ethiopian government is planning to build out of Addis Ababa.

On the sideline of the annual IATA Media Day held in Geneva on December 10 at the headquarters of the association, the outgoing CEO and director general of IATA, Tony Tyler, told The Reporter that Africa has poor airport infrastructure in general.

African countries are often criticized for having poor airport infrastructure. Ironically, IATA is skeptical about some of planned or ongoing airport construction projects. IATA’s boss expressed his concern on airport development projects in some countries including in Ethiopia describing them as unnecessarily expensive.

“What we would like to see is that

By Birhanu Fikade

Unable to repay loans borrowed from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Karuturi Agro Products PLC, a subsidiary of Karuturi Global Ltd, is once again on the verge of foreclosure to recover the 55 million birr loan the

bank has extended to the company.

According to the foreclosure notice CBE issued on November 17, bidders are invited to take part until the offer expires on December 22. The Indian firm has borrowed the sum providing property collaterals of 100 thousand hectare farmland.

Out of the total farmland only 7,645 hectares was cultivated, the notice reads. In addition to that, warehouse, quarters of workers and prefabricated house are included in the property the bank issued for sale.

Vol. XX No. 1006 | December 19, 2015 | ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA www.thereporterethiopia.com

Advertisment

Pho

to B

y: R

epor

ter/

Nah

om T

esfa

ye

Price 5.00 Birr

IATA wary... page 9

CBE to... page 30

CBE to foreclose on KaruturiFounder claims bank has “suspended foreclosure proceedings”

IATA wary of

Ethiopian new

mega hub

Sai Rammakrishna Karuturi

The House of Peoples Representatives, yesterday, summoned a rare extraordinary session to hear from the special committee established by the house to conduct field assessments on drought affected areas. The committee revealed that the people affected

by the drought are on the brink of famine. The special committee, which is chaired by Tadesse Hordofa, chairman of higher Education Institutions Standing Committee, indicated that though the government has been undertaking commendable

efforts to address the emergency food requirement, there are still several challenges. The pressing and shocking challenges the committee reported in its findings include, drastic water shortage in all affected areas, shortage of medicines, poor coordination

in some woredas and kebeles, and shortage of animal feeds. Another shocking report revealed that there are discriminatory acts by local officials during food rationing. However, the committee’s report has not indicated the specific places, where the

alleged discriminations have been committed. Pictured above are Abadula Gemeda (Center), speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Tefera Deribew (Left), minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Tadesse Hordofa (Right).

.

Shocking revelations

Eid Mubarak


2| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006

Computer SecretariesBirtukan Abate, Helen Yetayew,

PrintTesfaye Mengesha, Yeyesuswork

Mamo,Gezaghgn Mandefro

Marketing ManagerEndalkachew Yimam

Marketing cers Biruk Mulugeta

Biruk Chernet

EDITORIAL

Address: Bole Sub City, Kebele 03, H. No. 2347

Tel: 011 6 616180 Editorial011 6 616185 Reception 011 6 616187 Finance

Fax: 011 6 616189PO Box:7023

0910 885206 Marketing E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.thereporterethiopia.com

General Manager Amare Aregawi

Managing EditorBruh Yihunbelay

Editor-in-Chief Asrat Seyoum

Sub city: N.lafto, K. 10/18, H.No. 614

Senior Editors Yacob Wolde-Mariam

Dibaba AmensisaMikias Sebsibe

EditorsKaleyesus Bekele

Yonas Abiye

Assistant EditorTibebeselassie Tigabu

Neamin Ashena

Senior ReportersHenok Reta

ReporterDawit Tolesa

ColumnistLeyou Tameru

Published weekly by Media & Communications Center

Chief Graphic DesignerYibekal Getahun

Senior Graphic DesignerTewodros Kebkab

Graphic DesignersTsehay Tadesse Fasika BalchaSemenh Sisay

Netsanet YacobBezaye Tewodros

Head of PhotographyNahom Tesfaye

PhotographersTamrat GetachewMesfen Solomon

WebsiteBezawit Tesfaye

Binyam Hailu

CartoonistElias Areda

Fasil W/giorgis

The protest rocking the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia, which was sparked by the integrated masterplan of Addis Ababa and the Oromia Special Zone, makes it imperative for the Government of Ethiopia to engage in a critical self-evaluation. This is particularly important in view of the fact that the expressions of resentment and violence that occurred in the region are mostly directed at the officials of the regional government.

The ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) secured the consent of the electorate and formed a government that entitled it to rule the country for the next five years after it and its allies swept all parliamentary seats in the May 2015 general elections. Soon after, though, it acknowledged that bad governance, lack of access to justice and corruption posed an existential threat to it. It is in this backdrop that the contentious masterplan, which had been in the works for years and had last year engendered a similar protest that resulted in a loss of life, has again become a source for a similar unrest, albeit with grimmer consequences. This pivotal moment in time imposes on the government the obligation to undertake a critical self-examination so as to tackle practices that infringe the rule of law, the rights of citizens and generally the precepts of democracy.

Several questions need to be raised as part of this exercise. Are the legislature, the executive and the judiciary acting within the bounds of their power and in compliance with the principle of checks and balances? Are they duly discharging the responsibilities entrusted to them? Do they respond to the needs of the public and have they earned its trust? The executive branch has admitted on several occasions that bad governance, rampant corruption and miscarriage of justice top the litany of grievances vented by the public. These fundamental problems have eroded the trust that should exist between the people and a government which, together with its allies, has total control of Parliament. This is precisely what necessitates a brutally honest self-evaluation on the part of the government.

The protest has claimed the lives of scores of citizens, injured many more and caused extensive damage to property. Though it started off in opposition to the integrated masterplan, it has now morphed into a spontaneous expression of discontent on broader issues. Given that it clearly is not led by an organized force or political party and is the outcome of frustration that has been simmering for years, it is safe to assume that it is a genuine manifestation of public disgruntlement. Though forces with a sinister agenda are trying to project themselves as leaders of the protest on social media, the government should engage solely the public and political parties committed to a peaceful political struggle in the search for a solution. If this effort is to bear fruit so that peace is restored in the affected areas, the government must first come clean through an exacting self-evaluation process. Should any public official within the structures of Oromia regional government be culpable of rights violations which prompted the protest or are behind turning the protest violent, they have to be brought to justice and replaced by individuals who possess the requisite capacity and integrity.

It is incumbent upon the government to ready itself for criticism when it conducts a dialogue with the public. If it truly believes that it is accountable to the electorate who voted it into office, it has to admit its shortcomings and understand clearly what the latter wants. Accordingly, it has to heed expressions of public discontentment to the effect that the lack of good governance, the existence of endemic corruption and the miscarriage of justice go against its interest and needs; it also has to take it upon itself to exert the utmost effort in finding the appropriate solution to the whole problem. Furthermore, it has to see to it that its officials do not do something that sows discord between it and the public or causes more bloodshed in an attempt to absolve themselves of responsibility. If the government and the people work hand-in-hand, the public can neutralize elements which in the name of defending their rights use violence in order to accomplish their nefarious motive.

The surest way to bring to an end the violence that has unfolded itself over the past weeks and restore normalcy is a demonstration by the government that it attaches the utmost importance to respect for the rule of law. When government officials brazenly flout the law citizens who feel aggrieved by such illegality are liable to follow suit despite the peaceful avenues available to them. This is something the government needs to act on with alacrity with a view to avert the anarchy that otherwise may ensue.

Inasmuch as the public has an inviolable right to make demands in respect of any matter which it feels infringes its interest, the government has a corresponding duty to respond to such demands. The evil actions of elements within the government’s structures that practically have become a law unto themselves drive a wedge between it and the public allowing forces with an ulterior motive to exploit the gap to incite violence. Therefore, it ought to be open to criticism by anyone concerned, including the public at large, opposition parties and the media, and do whatever is in its power to bring the violence under control without using force. This requires of the government to not only listen to the heartbeat of the public, but also to be transparent about its failings regardless of concerns that anti-peace elements can use such an admission to exacerbate the violence. All the measures proposed herein cannot succeed though if the government does not conduct its own critical self-evaluation.

The imperative for a critical self-evaluation



By Dawit Tolesa and Neamin Ashenafi

Protests in several towns of Oromia Regional State that were sparked by the Addis Ababa and Oromia Special Zone Integrated Masterplan have continued for a third successive week with the death toll and damage to property mounting.

On Tuesday residents in the town of Dodola in western Arsi remained gripped in a state of fear. Violent protest from the previous week have still left its scar on infrastructures of the town and the livelihood of the residents.

Large stones which were used to block the main entry point to the town are seen on road sides, glass windows of several banks are shattered and regional administration offices including office of the ruling

OPDO (Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization) ransacked.

The protest rocked the town on December 10. It was a Thursday, one of the two weekly market day for residents, which meant large crowds head to the open market at the center of the town which also shares the same asphalt road with Dodola Secondary School.

Protests began from the secondary school and later spread to the entire town. Residents say four people died and many injured as a result of a crackdown by government security forces. But local authorities deny the death of people.

“There is no losses of lives but those injured have been receiving medical attention,” Aliy Gugeto, a local official, told The Reporter. He blamed “anti-

peace” forces exploiting the student protest to escalate the situation.

Ever since the protest the town has been gripped with fear as small businesses close their doors early.

“I am now unable to go to the market and do my business as I used to,” a trader who buys wheat from farmers in the locality and supplies to major cities told The Reporter opting to remain anonymous.

The town administration has ordered the closure of schools after reports that protesters are planning to come back on Monday, a market day which draws the biggest number of residents. Later the week, the situation became more stable with the public holding discussions with senior government officials. But protests were ongoing in neighboring towns like Asassa with students taking

the lead.

Beyond the integrated urban development plan, protesters cite grievances with the local administration with regards to “good governance problems” including poor public service and discontent in delivery of justice.

Death toll

Towns in western Wollega, western and southwestern Shewa including Wolliso, Tolle, Ameya, Chelia, Ginde Beret, Chitu, Gulisso, Inango and Gedo witnessed the deadliest protests.

Opposition parties put the number of people killed in these clashes to more than 30 with the government refusing to be drawn into the number of human

HEADLINES


10|

The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015

Vol. XX No. 1006

IN-DEPTH

Recently, a group

of journalists were

commissioned by the

Government Communications

ffairs f ce to visit drought

affect areas in the four regions

of the country: Oromia,

Southern, Amhara and

Tigray. The group covered

7000kms and a number of

woredas to see the impact of

what was proclaimed to be the

worst drought in the recent

history of the nation. The

trip took 18 days and Dawit

Taye, one of the journalists

in the group, came up with

this report.

Most of the drought affected areas in Amhara,

Oromia and Tigray regional states report severe

shortage in drinking water. The federal and

regional governments have assigned tankers to

transport water to the affected areas. But, the

supply has been next to nothing compared to

the need, according to of cials and the affected

population alike.

There are two different strategies that the authorities

are proposing to save the livestock population. One

is a massive move to reduce the livestock population

by bringing them out to the market. While on the

other front, moving the animals to a relatively safer

environment is also sought as a possible solution.

Those who

have household

resources and

capacity to

withstand for

some time have

received no food

aid, so far.

The 1984 the Great Ethiopian famine is

one of the worst horror stories of the 20th

century. It is a history of human suffering

and a catastrophe of epic proportions.

The global attention to the famine was

equally memorable; the world also saw

massive global solidarity movement in the

form of Live Aid music concert. Harbessa

Ahmed, a village elder at Raya-Alemata

woreda of The Tigray Regional State, was

only a youngster back then. But, he says,

he remembers the suffering very vividly.

“The drought left my father and the

whole family almost without anything,”

Harbessa recalls the horrendous

experience.

Harbessa’s family finally decided to leave

their birthplace and move to the south

Illibabur southwestern part of the country.

The desperate action was to see Harbessa

and his birthplace detach from one

another for the coming decade. “It was ten

years later that I finally went back to my

home and reclaimed the land that belonged

to my father,” he explains. Nature and the

piece of land were both good to Harbessa

and the yield was beyond expectation. Well

that was until last year, last year, he once

again saw the repeat of the drought that he

witnessed as child.

The worst of its kind

Nevertheless, what is coming out of all

official channels is that this might well

be the worst drought that the country

has ever experienced in its history. To

start with, the problem extended in all the

four major regions in country including

woredas in the Afar and Somali regional

states. Thus far, the number of affected

is found out to be 10.2 million by the

government accounts.

In his recent interview with The Reporter,

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn

said that the government has diverted its

health and agricultural extension system

to canvas the drought areas and assess

the overall impact of the catastrophe to

each and individual households. That

assessment has recently updated the figure

from 8.2 million to 10.2 million people; this

is in fact a figure that is corroborated by

major development partners but still it is

challenged by other independent sources

on basis that it might climb up to 15

million and more.

According to official sources, the number

of people who require immediate food

assistance stands in a stark to those

needing assistance back in 1984: not

more than 5 million. In fact, most recent

data released from the national drought

steering committee which is headed

by the Deputy Prime Minister Demeke

Mekonnen, out of the total number of rural

woredes in the country which is 670, the

189 have been severely hit by the recent

drought. That is also augmented by the

The horror of droughtadditional 90 wordeas which are mildly

affected by the problem. In general, a

total of 1.9 million metric tons food would

be required to cover the food shortage,

according to the national steering

committee’s report.

Oromia is where the largest number

of drought affected people is expected

to be. According to Fikadu Tesema,

communications head for Oromia, the

intensification of the drought affected

areas is highly worrying. He says that the

number of the drought affected people has

escalated over the past few months. “The

number was estimated at 1.8 million in

September which quickly climbed to 2.9

million in a span two three months and

later it is expected to rise to 3.7 million

at the end of January,” he said. As far as

Fikadu is concerned, this number is the

largest the region has ever seen in its

history.

The other largely affected region is the

Amhara Regional State which is expected

to feed a total 2.2 million people as a result

of the drought and is associated severe

shortage of food. “The proportion of

drought which is been observed in recent

times is not something that the region has

experienced in its recent history,” Gedu

Andargachew, president of the Amhara

Regional State, said. The 1984 famine was

highly pronounced in the Amhara and

Tigray regional states; and currently there

are also close to one million people who

need food aid in Tigray, according to Jemil

Mohammed, Agricultural Bureau head at

Tigray Regional State.

The Southern Regional State, a region

which is not usually hit by drought

condition, is one of the victims of El Niño

this year. Dessie Dalke, president of the

Southern region, as well pronounced that

the drought levels are something that has

never been seen before.

Precarious conditions

A village elder around Belesa Zone in the

Amhara Regional State says that he has

never seen such a bad day in his long life.

“I have to admit the conditions that I am

observing these days are somewhat similar

to those during the 1960s Ethiopia,” he

said explaining how dire conditions are in

his locality. The drought conditions have

now reigned for two consecutive harvest

seasons: Meher and Belg where 80 and 20

percent of the total countries production is

harvested, respectively.

However, the two harvest seasons are

proving to be highly costly for the farmers

living in drought affected areas. Another

factor that is indicative of the severity of

the drought conditions is the dire shortage

of pasture and drinking water. According

to the information that is obtained from

the ground, the dire shortage of drinking

www.thereportereth

o

at as

n the

has

g life.

t I am

t similar

,” he

ns are in

ons have

harvest

80 and 20

roduction is

sons are

r the farmers

eas. Another

he severity of

he dire shortage

ater. According

obtained from

tage of drinking


12|


Vol. XX No. 1006

Q & AProtests in several towns of the Oromia Regional State have entered their third week

with the number of human casualties and damages to properties mounting. This

week saw a flurry of stern messages from federal government officials including

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn. The Government Communications

Affairs Office also held a press conference on Wednesday with local media outlets

in which the head of the office, Getachew Reda, took half an hour addressing

the Oromo protest. Getachew also addressed unrests in the northern part of

Gondar and related issues. Here is an excerpt from the press conference which was

attended by Mikias Sebsibe and Solomon Goshu of The Reporter.

Phot

o By

: Rep

orte

r /D

anie

l Get

ache

w

Question: What is the government’s

assessment of the ongoing protests

in the Oromia Regional State?

Getachew Reda: It is clear that

students in a few Oromia zones have

raised questions with regard to the

Addis Ababa and Oromia Special

Zones Integrated Masterplan. Initially,

the protests were largely peaceful

apart from some violent tendencies in

some zones. It would not be surprising

for people with positive outlook for

the federal system to raise issues with

regard to the masterplan given the

inadequate awareness work done to

clarify the false propaganda created

against the plan. And both the federal

and regional governments have

acknowledged the delay in clearing

such confusions. But there were

also groups who wanted to exploit

the situation. I do not wish to give a

laundry list of who they are. But those

who aspired to assume power during

the last election but did not succeed,

not because they were prevented but

because they failed to mobilize the

public, have exploited the situation.

They worked aggressively to incite

students in elementary and secondary

schools. Their effort did not bring

much success in universities. As a

result, there were widespread chaos

and riot mainly by students in four

or five Oromia zones. This did not

have the backing of the majority

of the public and could have been

managed easily. But, with some

delay, deliberations with the public

to clarify the confusions are ongoing.

But things started to change. Those

whose interest has got nothing to do

with the masterplan spun the issue

to advance their own hidden agenda.

They have engaged in standoffs and

confrontations to disarm security

forces. The protest which would not

have got out of hand took a different

course. Clashes began in various

towns and as a result lives have been

lost and properties are damaged.

There were a protest a year and a

half ago against the masterplan.

Why the delay in creating

awareness with regard to the plan?

The reason there was no adequate

public awareness work done with

regard to the integrated masterplan is

that it is only at a drafting stage. It was

not yet ripe to be tabled for political

decision. In addition, there was no

special attention paid to this issue last

year because there were a number of

other priorities at hand both for the

federal and regional government.

How severe are human casualties

and the damage to property? There

is a wide gap between the figure

the opposition are coming out with

regard to the number of people

killed and that of the government’s.

There is a high number of human

casualties and property damage

especially since the protests took a

different dimension. Since then, these

groups are not protesting with slogans

or by merely throwing stones. They

are targeting government enterprises,

administrative units, houses of kebele

or wereda officials as well as torching

farms of model farmers. As a result,

a considerable number of citizens

sustained injuries including death.

That is very sad because the original

issue should not have resulted in an

injury of a single person let alone

result in damage in a magnitude

we are talking about right now. But

because it was led by people who

calculate their gains, it has resulted

in an unnecessary loss of life and

property. That is why talking about

the number of casualties becomes

meaningless in such situations. We are

not interested in engaging in back and

forth arguments regarding the number

of victims. That would be insensitive.

Medrek or OFC (Oromo Federalist

Congress) are listing names at a time

when the situation is heading towards

complete lawlessness.

The government accuses “anti-

peace or anti-development forces”.

But doesn’t these protests also

highlight grievances against bad

governance?

Firstly, the government, both federal

and regional, has admitted that there

are many good governance challenges.

There is an honest government that

publicly vowed and is determined to

address good governance problems

jointly with the public. So, the

government believes these legitimate

concerns must be addressed so that

people get the services they deserve.

It would be wrong to conclude that

everyone involved in these protests

is instigated by external or other

forces. There are legitimate demands.

But the majority, including those

who are very aggrieved by lack of

good governance are of the view that

‘Putting the genie

back in the bottle’

mhiopia.com

s

s”.

d

eral

here

lenges.

that

ned to

lems

e gitimate

so that

deserve.

ude that

protests

r other

te demands.

ng those

by lack of

the view that


22|


Vol. XX No. 1006

LIVING & THE ARTS

People go to see a

doctor for regular

health check-ups and

take pills for a simple

headache on a daily

basis. However, many

neglect the most basic

thing there is - the

quality of the food they

eat. And it all starts

with the type of oil

people use for cooking.

The widely consumed

type of oil nowadays

in Ethiopia is palm

and some researches

suggest that palm oil

consumption increases

the likelihood of

cardiovascular disease

while others claim

there is no increased

risk. Tibebeselassie

Tigabu and Mihiret

Aschalew of The

Reporter look into

the pros and cons of

the different types

of oils in the market

and possible health

hazards.

If one is to mention top-ten fast-moving

consumer goods in Ethiopia, edible oil

or cooking oil of different types and

sizes would definitely be in this very

short list. In particular, the urban

consumer almost entirely depends on

edible oil to do most of its domestic food

preparation. And, unfortunately, the

bulk of the edible oil market in Ethiopia

is highly dependent on imports. As far

back as 2011, the edible oil market in

Ethiopia was identified to be one of the

most strategic in terms of its impact in

the overall consumer and food prices

in urban areas. This realization led

to the decision of the government to

incorporate edible oil in the list of

strategic food commodities which were

earmarked for price capping.

From the get go, the price cap started

to have problems with regard to edible

oil since the local price (capped price)

and the price of the commodity in the

source market showed huge disparities

discouraging some of the biggest edible

oil importers in the country. Since then,

the product remained within a short

leash from the authorities and currently

import and distribution of edible oil is

highly regulated. Now, it is in a league

with the likes of sugar and wheat which

are imported and distributed by public

agencies to prevent any sudden price

variation and supply disruption.

The Ethiopian Consumers Protection

Association is an active participant

of this market; now it supplies most

stores and shops with ample quantities

of imported edible oil and sugar. The

association’s role is not restricted to

supplying but it also monitors the sale

of these outputs so that a trader with the

financial means would not manipulate

the market by harding the imported

products.

Aberash Tadesse, a shop owner around

Arat Kilo, claims that she used to be a

major outlet for edible oil in the area.

She used to receive the supply of edible

oil from the association and sell this to

consumers in the area. “Usually, there

will be two personnel of the association

to monitor the sale of edible oil,” she

says. It is a fast-moving consumer good,

she says; but, the hustle of supplying

edible oil became all too great for her

overtime.

“I used to receive fresh stocks every

fortnight and my shop was always

overcrowed with customers looking for

edible oil,” Aberash told The Reporter.

She was under strict orders not to

sell more than one container to each

costumer.

The brands she supplied included Chief,

Viking, Abiya and Ayat. And all came

with different sizes (volumes) varying

from three to 20 liters. Despite the brand

difference the price remained the same

among these most commonly consumed

brands: three liters of edible oil are sold

for 72 birr and five liters for 115 birr.

Nevertheless, there are also expensive

and better quality edible oil brands

in the market. For instance, Orchid

sunflower oil packed in three liter

containers is sold for 340-360 birr; while

the locally produced Kibé Leminé niger

seed oil packed in a five-liter container

is priced at 350 birr. On the other hand,

Hatun sunflower oil is 70 birr per liter.

The variation in the supposed quality

and price notwithstanding, most of the

imported edible oil products in Ethiopia

belong to what is called the palm oil

family with a high concentration of

saturated fatty acid. And consequently,

the health impact of the edible oil

varieties that are sold in the local

market are becoming increasingly

worrisome.

In recent years, researches have

The edible oil dilemma

d

d ld

ve

while

niger

tainer

r hand,

er liter.

quality

st of the

n Ethiopia

alm oil

tion of

nsequently,

ble oil

e local

easingly

hes have


34|


Vol. XX No. 1006

#REPORTERBOOK

R

R

#UhuruInKenya

Chelsea vs PSG: Best memes and

Tweets as clubs are drawn in the

Champions League again

Is Europe really going to ban

teenagers from Facebook and the

internet?

In the most obvious twist of the Champions League draw (actually,

Arsenal drew Barcelona) Chelsea were drawn against Paris Saint-

Germain for the third season in a row.

Jose Mourinho will be hoping that the Blues will not repeat last

year’s embarrassing encounter - where they played against 10 men

for 90 minutes but still couldn’t find a way through at home.

The first leg was also scene to the unsavory racism incident on the

Paris Metro.

The year before had its share of drama as well, Demba Ba scoring

an 87th minute winner to send Chelsea through. It certainly could

have been a lot better for the Blues (and Arsenal).

Here is some of the best reaction to the news, including PSG’s

cringeworthy naming of the game as The New Classic...(The

Independent)

The European Parliament is set to vote on Tuesday on new rules

that could see teenagers banned from internet services such as

Facebook, social media, messaging services or anything that

processes their data, without explicit consent from their parent or

guardian. The last-minute amendment to

the new European data protection

regulations would make it illegal

for companies to handle the data of

anyone aged 15 or younger, raising

the legal age of digital consent to 16

from 13.

Companies wishing to allow those

under 16 to use their services,

including Facebook, Snapchat,

Whatsapp and Instagram, will have to

gain explicit consent from their legal

guardian.

The draft law states: “The processing of personal data of a child

below the age of 16 years shall only be lawful if and to the extent

that such consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental

responsibility over the child.”

Companies such as Facebook currently allow users from the age

of 13 to join their services. Their policies are based on the age of

digital consent being 13, as defined by the US Children’s Online

Privacy Protection Act (Coppa) and similar laws in the EU, which

afford those under 13 extra privacy protections.

Until recently, the draft European data protection bill, which is four

years in the making, set the digital age of consent at 13, mirroring

Coppa. (The Guardian)

INSI

DE

Protests in .... page 30

Protests in Oromia towns continue for third week

By Kaleyesus Bekele

The Chinese company engaged in natural gas development project in the Ogaden basin in south eastern part of Ethiopia, Poly- GCL, finalized drilling a gas well in the Calub gas field.

Last October, Poly- GCL started drilling the gas well-Calub11- in the presence of the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Tolossa Shagi, and president of the Somali Regional State, Abdi Mohamoud Omar and senior army personnel.

Company sources told The Reporter that Poly-GCL finalized the well drilling with a depth of 3,000 meters. Sources said that the company will soon conduct well testing. The test will enable the company to check the presence of gas and oil reserve in the well.

So far there are ten gas wells drilled in the Calub gas field and eight of them were made ready for gas production.

Sources said that that Calub11 is an appraisal well. The ministry said to be happy with the progress Poly GCL is making on the gas development project.

Poly-GCL has also started collecting three dimensional seismic survey (3D) in its concession. It has hired a Chinese company that specialized in geophysics for the job. Previously, Poly GCL gathered 2D seismic data in the exploration blocks.

In November 2013, Poly GCL singed petroleum development agreement with the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines that would enable the company to develop the Calub and Hilala gas fields located 1,200 kilometers south east of the capital Addis Ababa. The company has also agreed to search for oil and gas in eight exploration blocks in the Ogaden with a total area of 117,151 square kilometers.

Poly-GCL completes drilling gas well in OgadenLaunches seismic survey

Poly-GCL completes.... page 9



Advertisment


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |5Advertisment



By Neamin Ashenafi

Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE) said it will call a nationwide ‘Prayer Day’ and mobilize assistance for millions of drought victims in the country.

At a press conference held at the headquarters of the Council on Thursday, representatives of various religious institutions also called for dialogue to address the recent unrests in different parts of the country and denounced the attack on Grand Anwar Mosque in Addis Ababa.

According to a statement issued by the council, religious leaders of the member institutions are calling out to

their followers to help and pray for the betterment of the country and overcome the drought situation and unrests.

The statement said the respective religious institutions have agreed to call a nationwide ‘Prayer Day’ which will be held “soon”.

“All religions in their respective institutions should prioritize the current drought problem and prepare and teach their followers so as to assist the affected peoples,” Zerihun Degu, pastor and general secretary of the council, said.

The drought which was triggered by the El Niño phenomenon that disrupted rainfall patters has left 10.2 million

people in need of food assistance, according to a revised government figure.

On the other hand, members of the council have also called for “an open and serious” discussions between the government and the public so as to solve the current unrest witnessed in some parts of Oromia and Amhara regional states.

They also denounced last week’s grenade attack in the Grand Anwar Mosque in the capital in which some 19 people were injured. They called the attack “inhuman and contrary to the

By Yonas Abiye

Members of the House of Peoples Representatives (HPR) on Tuesday were locked in a heated debate regarding a land exchange agreement between Ethiopia and Turkey.

The agreement titled “Agreement on Exchange of Plots of Land for Building Embassy and Residence for Head of Mission and Diplomats” was signed between Ethiopia and Turkey in 2010.

According to the agreement, Ethiopian government has possessory rights of 3,000 square meters of land in Oran, Ankara (capital of Turkey) free of lease. Meanwhile, the same agreement grants Turkey the right to acquire a total of 7,192.8 square meters of plot inside

a reserved area for diplomatic zone in Addis Ababa. The agreement also specifies that Turkey would pay a lease fee of USD 3.2 million for the 4,192.8 square meter plot.

The deal, which was presented to MPs by Amanuel Abreham, deputy government whip with a state ministerial portfolio, is aims at strengthening the ever growing political, economic and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

However, MPs questioned the prudence of allotting plots of such sizes which would be used for diplomatic missions only.

“How are we going to entertain similar requests from other countries,” asked

one MP demanding clarification from Foreign Affairs Standing Committee and the Urban Development and Construction Standing Committee.

The agreement is now referred to the standing committees for further scrutiny before it is brought back to the house for ratification.

The session also deliberated on eight other agreements Ethiopia signed including the ratification of a mutual agreement with Turkey to abolition visas for holders of diplomatic passports. Other deals included visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports signed with

HEADLINES

NEWS IN BRIEF

MPs question.... page 9

Interfaith.... page 9

By Kaleyesus Bekele

The Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas is going grant large scale mining license to Yara Dallol BV, a subsidiary of Yara International, which has been prospecting for potash mineral deposit in the Dallol Depression in the Afar Regional State.

A senior official at the ministry told The Reporter that Yara has finalized its exploration project that costs 100 million dollars. The company completed the definitive feasibility study and submitted it to the Ministry.

The company which discovered a vast potash deposit in its concession in the Dallol Depression proposed to produce 0.6 million tons of potash annually by applying solution mining.

A source told The Reporter that the ministry will soon grant a large scale mining license to Yara that will enable the company to produce potash mineral. “The ministry and Yara will soon assign the large scale mining agreement,” the source said. The mining license will be endorsed by the Council of Ministers before the signing ceremony.

The board of directors of Yara has approved the project proposal. According to Yara, estimated capacity for the Dallol project is 1-1.5 million tons potash per year, with resources of more than 30 years mining. Yara hopes to supply ten percent of the current global potash market.

Yara plans to build a potash mine in the Dallol depression. It will also construct

Ministry to

grant mining

license to

Yara

Ministry to grant.... page 9

MPs question Ethio-Turkey land exchange

agreement

Interfaith council to call for

‘Prayer Day’ for current drought

Afreximbank to hold business forum

in Addis Ababa

Nation achieves MDGs Goal 7c for

providing water for half population The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says it will hold a business forum in Addis Ababa on Monday to raise awareness of its trade finance facilities and engaging with the Ethiopian business community.

A statement by Afreximbank said that the bank would also use the event, being organized in collaboration with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, to gather information on the needs of Ethiopian enterprises and industries.

The forum will feature a half-day seminar with presentations and case studies on the bank’s trade finance offerings for business operators, followed by one-on-one meetings between participants and Afreximbank officials to discuss available financing solutions, eligibility criteria and business opportunities. The event is aimed at enhancing knowledge about the bank, furthering business linkages and expanding trade finance activities in its member countries.

Senior representatives of the Ethiopian government and the National Bank of Ethiopia and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia are expected to take part in the event, which will take place at the Sheraton Addis. (FBC)

Ethiopia has achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) seven target C for halving the number of people without access to safe water by 2015.

Speaking at the seventh WASH multi-stakeholders meeting, Motuma Mekassa minster of water, irrigation and electricity said that a total of 36 million people have benefited from access to potable water in the past five years.

According to the minister, the effort to provide safe water will continue in the future, even if some 67 percent have benefited from potable water.

The government will give attention to align its Growth and Transformation Plan II targets with the Sustainable Development Goal targets of universal and equitable access to safe water, the minister also said. UNICEF Representative to Ethiopia, Gillian Mellsop on her part congratulated the government of Ethiopia for achieving the MDG Goal 7c target. Gillian Mellsop “we must acknowledge the unfinished business in delivering water and sanitation in Ethiopia, particularly to the vulnerable members of society.” (ENA)


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |7HEADLINES

By Neamin Ashenfi

Three local food and beverage companies have formed an Ethiopian Luxury Alliance (ELA) – a company that aims to provide luxury products to the Ethiopian market.

The new consortium is going to be under a new umbrella company know an ESSET. The three local companies forming an alliance are Moyee Coffee, Awash Winery SC, Mulmul Bakery and Cookies Industry.

The there companies that formed the alliance launched their service at a ceremony held at Moyee Coffee on Thursday in the presence of guests and customers of the three companies.

According to the founding firms, the major aim of the alliance is to promote the ESSET holiday gift baskets through partnership with hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and other firms during

Ethiopian Luxury Alliance launched

Ethiopian Luxury .... page 9

By Henok Reta

While launching “Benefit”, a program in the agricultural sector that fosters partnership between Ethiopia and the Netherlands, participants urged for more private seed production, to overcome poor access of seeds and fertilizer.

This was said on Wednesday at Ellily International Hotel, as the bilateral Ethiopian Netherlands effort for food, income and trade partnership 2016-2019, was launched to consolidate efforts and integrate programs on agricultural cooperation.

Eyasu Elais (PhD), project coordinator said that through the partnership, the Launch of “Benefit” will bring in strength and integration of the

programs that have been implemented in cash crop producing regions of the country. Above all, he stated, the need of more private seed producers and the necessity to capacitate the farmers to produce and carry out some hybrid initiatives themselves.

“We see a huge gap in accessing seed and agricultural inputs around those selected regions so that the next step will take our focus on seed production and the provision of agricultural inputs,” he said.

Explaining on the prerequisites of launching “Benefit”, he said, the programs have been working out well in different manner but now it will be upgraded to the next level, as it will be an integrated program. He further explained that his project CASCAPE,

a program that realized collaboration between the Netherlands’ Wageningen University and Ethiopian Universities of Haramaya, Jimma, Hawassa, Addis Ababa, Mekele and Bahir Dar will find a link to other projects being implemented by the partnership.

The other programs invented by the partnership are Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD), Same Business Network (SBN) and Agri Business Support Program (ABSF). Moreover, a brand of Agri business support facility the (AGRIBiz.et ) will promote the network that has to be maintained in accessing the market.

Wondirad Mandefro, state minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in his opening speech stated that the partnership has been taking a ground

in identifying some radical problems in the agriculture sector to provide feasible innovative approaches. He also said that the sustainable of quality agricultural production has been maintained in those regions involved in the programs.

According to Louise Fresco, President of the executive board of Wageningen University, the programs were carefully undertaken with a consultative approach that the University has gone through for decades in educating Ethiopian agricultural scientists. “No other University has done this for Africa than ours. We have hundreds of Ethiopian agricultural scientists as Wageningen alumnus, including the president of Addis Ababa University,” she said.

French Minister says gov’t to support

companies interested in investing in Ethiopia

Countries pitch in international assistance for

drought victims in Ethiopia

The Government of France will give all the necessary support for French companies interested in investing in Ethiopia, according to the country’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Promotion of Tourism, Matthias Fekl, said “We will give all the necessary support for French companies which have interest to invest in Ethiopia. They will be encouraged to sustain the historical relationship of the two countries “.

Speaking at the closing session of the Ethio-French Business Forum, Fekl stressed that the French “are highly mobilized to enhance the fast economic growth of Ethiopia to a higher level”.

Minister of Industry Ahmed Abitew said that Ethiopia is achieving the goal of transforming its economy from agricultural-led to industry.

Since the ratification of the bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement in July 2004, French companies have been mainly concentrated in brewing, distribution of petroleum products, horticulture and hotel industry sectors, according to the visiting minister. (ENA)

The US, Canada and the Netherlands this week have announced pledges to provide humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia to address the drought situation affecting 10.2 million people in the country.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced USD 88 million in humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia bringing the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia to more than USD 435 million since October 2014.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada’s Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, held on Thursday also announced her government’s decision to grant Ethiopia a 30 million USD in addition to the 20 million USD that the Government of Canada previously disbursed.

On Friday, the Netherlands also announced a contribution of 22.7 million euros in response to the food security crisis that is evolving in the country. Approximately 5.8 million people will need clean water, 1.7 million children and lactating mothers will require nutritious food supplements, and as many as 435,000 children will require treatment for severe acute malnutrition in 2016.

From left: Ahadu Woubshet of Moyee Coffee, Amity Weiss, head of Marketing and Communications at Awash and Nadia Abdulla of Mulmul.



Advertisment


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |9IATA wary...

investment in better infrastructure takes place in a measured way after consultation with the users and what is built is appropriate and relevant to what the industry needs and is not building palaces which cost too much and much bigger than what the industry needs at that time. It is important that the airports that are built are the right size and not being built wastefully,” Tony said.

He said that Addis Ababa is planning to build an international airport at a cost of three billion dollars. “We have asked if we can review the airport masterplan to see the planned runways and taxiways, the passenger terminals and airport facilities and we have asked if we can review that and understand what they are planning to do. To understand the design and construction and operational business in different aspect to make sure that the terminal design concept is something that can be efficient for the airlines but so far we have been unsuccessful. We are not able to review the plan. So we are disappointed about that. We would like to be seen as construction partners with the airport making sure that the airport is fit for purpose in the most economical way,” Tyler told The Reporter.

Tony went on to say that if proper consultation with stakeholders is

not held unnecessarily expensive airport could be built. “The airport may not serve the needs of the airline community as well as it could and the cost to the airlines will be too high and they will be paying too much for the facility that is not fit for purpose.”

Tyler said that the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise (EAE) was not willing to provide relevant information about the planned airport development project. “We have asked but so far we are unsuccessful. I hope they will change that position. We are happy to work with anybody involved.”

The planned mega international airport will have a capacity to handle more than 80 million passengers a year. The estimated cost of the mega hub is four billion dollars and it will take ten years to finalize the construction. By constructing this mega international airport that works in tandem with the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise has a vision of making Ethiopia the aviation hub of Africa. Currently, EAE is working on site location and airport masterplan and it hired a French consulting firm, ADPI for the job. The Ethiopian government hopes to secure loan for the project from Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China. EAE is expanding the Addis Ababa

Bole International Airport passenger terminal at a cost of 350 million dollars.

Ethiopian authorities did not concede to Tony’s criticism.

Communication Affairs head with the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise, Wondim Teklu, told The Reporter that the Ethiopian government is planning to build the new airport considering the fast economic growth of the country and the growing demand for better air transport sector. “When we started building terminal 2 some members of the international community said that it was too big for Ethiopia. They called it was a white elephant. But, to the surprise of many the terminal became congested long before the forecasted period,” Wondim said.

He said that the enterprise holds due consultation with all the stakeholders when it undertakes airport development project. “We consulted with the national airline, Ethiopian Airlines, and all other airlines operating to Ethiopia on the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport Passenger Terminal expansion project. That is why the designing work took a long time. The new international airport project is at an early stage. When the right time comes we will consult all the local and international airlines operating in Ethiopia. We

will also be happy to work with IATA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). They have a rich experience and we believe that they would give us input.”

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, on his part told The Reporter that the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise is working closely on all major airport expansion projects. “We are consulting each other. We work together on design and other issues to make sure that the services meet international standards,” Tewolde said.

At the 47th African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Annual General Meeting held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo last month Tony stressed the need to consult airlines in undertaking airport development project. “Airlines have a right to be consulted in detail when you consider the spending of a billion dollars in Ndjamena, three billion dollars in Addis Ababa, and three-quarters of a billion dollars in Dakar, to take just three examples,” he said.

Tony applauded Ethiopian Airlines for successfully linking Africa with the rest of the world. “Ethiopia stands out in Africa in aviation development. It is using air transport to develop its economy.”

Headquartered In Geneva, Switzerland, IATA is the trade association for the world’s airlines. The association has 260 member airlines worldwide operating 83 percent of global air traffic.

CONT`D FROM PAGE 1

Poly- GCL plans to construct a 830 kilometers gas pipeline all the way from the Calub and Hilala gas fields in the Ogaden basin to the Port of Djibouti and to build a gas treatment plant at the port. The company plans to produce three million tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) annually and mainly export it to China through the port of Djibouti. The total amount of natural gas the company plans to pump out from the two gas fields each year is 4 billion cubic meters. The total investment cost of the gas development project is estimated at four billion dollars. The company hopes to start production in 2018.

The gas reserves in Calub and Hilala localities is estimated at 118 billion cubic meters (4TCF). The gas reserve was first discovered by an American oil company, Tenneco, in 1972. Crude oil reserve was also discovered in the Hilala block. A total of four wells were drilled in Hilala gas field. The Russian company, Soviet Petroleum Exploration Expedition (SPEE), confirmed the gas reserves in Calub and Hilala in the 1980s.

Poly-GCL completes... CONT`D FROM PAGE 3

CONT`D FROM PAGE 6

CONT`D FROM PAGE 6

CONT`D FROM PAGE 6

a potash fertilizer factory. The total cost of the project is estimated at one billion dollars.

Yara started drilling activity at site in 2010, and most drilling and drilling related activities were completed in 2012.

Yara International is an agricultural chemicals giant that has been supplying fertilizers to Ethiopia.

Yara, Circum Resources and Allana Potash are the three international mining companies engaged in potash exploration and development projects in the Dallol depression.

Ministry ...

Tunisia, as well as, cooperation agreements with Senegal, Lesotho and Uruguay, among others.

In the same session the House has also passed draft proclamation ratifying agreements Ethiopia signed with various countries including the Republic of Turkey on mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic

passports, visas exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports with Republic of Tunisia, treaty of friendship and cooperation with Republic of Senegal, cooperation agreement with Kingdom of Lesetho and Oriental Republic of Uruguay, among others.

The deputy whip has said the agreements are meant to strengthen

relations and cooperation between Ethiopia and the respective countries.

The agreement facilitates travels of citizens between countries holding diplomatic passports. In addition, countries can draw mutual benefits from further strengthening and enhancement of the existing cooperation, he added.

MPs question...

teachings of any religio”.

The IRCE was established as an independent body in January 2010 “to promote religious tolerance and interfaith cooperation” throughout the country.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, the Ethiopian Catholic Church, the Ethiopian Adventist Church, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane-Iyesus and the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia are members of the council.

Interfaith...

the holiday season.

“There is a big African proverb that says, ‘If you want to go fast, you go alone; but if you want to go far, you go together.’ So the alliance that we form today for the first time in the country is with this notion to go far together,” Ahadu Woubshet, Managing Director of Moyee Coffee, said.

“We are all committed to the advancement of the ESSET brand, our own brands, and to provide luxury quality goods to Ethiopian customers,” Ahadu added.

During the launching event of the service, Nadia Abdulla, General Manager of Mulmul Bakeries, on her part said, “We wanted the local market to have a holiday gift option that features locally made luxury goods for the whole family.”

It was also disclosed that following the launch period the alliance plans to identify other firms that share the values and commitment to quality and further engage with the private sector in building positive perceptions of local products.

Moyee Coffee, established there years back, is a multinational coffee roasting company based in Ethiopia, which owns 500 hectares of organic coffee farm in

Ethiopian Luxury... CONT`D FROM PAGE 7

Kaffa, the birthplace of Arabica coffee. Established in 1998, Mulmul Bakery and Cookies Industry is a family-owned bakery with five locations across Addis Ababa. Established in 1936, Awash was privatized in 2013 and owns 517 hectares of farmland in the Awash Valley and has brands including Awash, Axumite and the newlylaunched Gebeta wines.

‘If you want to go fast, you go alone;

but if you want to go far, you go

together.’


10| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006IN-DEPTH

Recently, a group of journalists were commissioned by the Government Communications Affairs Of ce to visit drought affect areas in the four regions of the country: Oromia, Southern, Amhara and Tigray. The group covered 7000kms and a number of woredas to see the impact of what was proclaimed to be the worst drought in the recent history of the nation. The trip took 18 days and Dawit Taye, one of the journalists in the group, came up with this report.

Most of the drought affected areas in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regional states report severe shortage in drinking water. The federal and regional governments have assigned tankers to transport water to the affected areas. But, the supply has been next to nothing compared to the need, according to of cials and the affected population alike.

There are two different strategies that the authorities are proposing to save the livestock population. One is a massive move to reduce the livestock population by bringing them out to the market. While on the other front, moving the animals to a relatively safer environment is also sought as a possible solution.

Those who have household

resources and capacity to

withstand for some time have

received no food aid, so far.

The 1984 the Great Ethiopian famine is one of the worst horror stories of the 20th century. It is a history of human suffering and a catastrophe of epic proportions. The global attention to the famine was equally memorable; the world also saw massive global solidarity movement in the form of Live Aid music concert. Harbessa Ahmed, a village elder at Raya-Alemata woreda of The Tigray Regional State, was only a youngster back then. But, he says, he remembers the suffering very vividly. “The drought left my father and the whole family almost without anything,” Harbessa recalls the horrendous experience.

Harbessa’s family finally decided to leave their birthplace and move to the south Illibabur southwestern part of the country. The desperate action was to see Harbessa and his birthplace detach from one another for the coming decade. “It was ten years later that I finally went back to my home and reclaimed the land that belonged to my father,” he explains. Nature and the piece of land were both good to Harbessa and the yield was beyond expectation. Well that was until last year, last year, he once again saw the repeat of the drought that he witnessed as child.

The worst of its kind

Nevertheless, what is coming out of all official channels is that this might well be the worst drought that the country has ever experienced in its history. To start with, the problem extended in all the four major regions in country including woredas in the Afar and Somali regional states. Thus far, the number of affected is found out to be 10.2 million by the government accounts.

In his recent interview with The Reporter, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said that the government has diverted its health and agricultural extension system to canvas the drought areas and assess the overall impact of the catastrophe to each and individual households. That assessment has recently updated the figure from 8.2 million to 10.2 million people; this is in fact a figure that is corroborated by major development partners but still it is challenged by other independent sources on basis that it might climb up to 15 million and more.

According to official sources, the number of people who require immediate food assistance stands in a stark to those needing assistance back in 1984: not more than 5 million. In fact, most recent data released from the national drought steering committee which is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, out of the total number of rural woredes in the country which is 670, the 189 have been severely hit by the recent drought. That is also augmented by the

The horror of droughtadditional 90 wordeas which are mildly affected by the problem. In general, a total of 1.9 million metric tons food would be required to cover the food shortage, according to the national steering committee’s report.

Oromia is where the largest number of drought affected people is expected to be. According to Fikadu Tesema, communications head for Oromia, the intensification of the drought affected areas is highly worrying. He says that the number of the drought affected people has escalated over the past few months. “The number was estimated at 1.8 million in September which quickly climbed to 2.9 million in a span two three months and later it is expected to rise to 3.7 million at the end of January,” he said. As far as Fikadu is concerned, this number is the largest the region has ever seen in its history.

The other largely affected region is the Amhara Regional State which is expected to feed a total 2.2 million people as a result of the drought and is associated severe shortage of food. “The proportion of drought which is been observed in recent times is not something that the region has experienced in its recent history,” Gedu Andargachew, president of the Amhara Regional State, said. The 1984 famine was highly pronounced in the Amhara and Tigray regional states; and currently there are also close to one million people who need food aid in Tigray, according to Jemil Mohammed, Agricultural Bureau head at Tigray Regional State.

The Southern Regional State, a region which is not usually hit by drought condition, is one of the victims of El Niño this year. Dessie Dalke, president of the Southern region, as well pronounced that the drought levels are something that has never been seen before.

Precarious conditions

A village elder around Belesa Zone in the Amhara Regional State says that he has never seen such a bad day in his long life. “I have to admit the conditions that I am observing these days are somewhat similar to those during the 1960s Ethiopia,” he said explaining how dire conditions are in his locality. The drought conditions have now reigned for two consecutive harvest seasons: Meher and Belg where 80 and 20 percent of the total countries production is harvested, respectively.

However, the two harvest seasons are proving to be highly costly for the farmers living in drought affected areas. Another factor that is indicative of the severity of the drought conditions is the dire shortage of pasture and drinking water. According to the information that is obtained from the ground, the dire shortage of drinking



water is affecting both people and livestock. Anecdotal evidence from Amhara region Showa Robit woreda attests to this fact. In the woreda, the drought has resulted in the drying up of most of the water sources in the village. Hence, the people in the area has established a neighborhood watch program to conserve the only remaining water body (a small pond) to prolong its services. Meta Mekonnen, 70, was on guarding duty around the pond, the last remaining water body serving the locality, when The Reporter visited the area two weeks ago. “This is our last chance and we are trying to manage it properly,” he said.

Most of the drought affected areas in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regional states report severe shortage in drinking water. The federal and regional governments have assigned tankers to transport water to the affected areas. But, the supply has been next to nothing compared to the need, according to officials and the affected population alike. Especially in Raya-Alamata and Belesa wordedas of Tigray and Amhara regions the shortage of water is severely hurting the locals.

According to the locals, the private sector has skidded in to fill this gap by transporting water in these areas

and supplying a liter of water for one birr. In Oromia region the officials has noted that a lot remains to be done with regard to supplying water since only 54 tankers are currently serving the needy.

Water shortage looks to be particularly hard on livestock population across the drought affected regions. Added to the depletion of green pastures for animal grazing, the livestock population across the drought affected areas numbered in millions is particularly in critical conditions. According to livestock professionals assessment of the problem, currently the risk facing the livestock population is at the third

stage; and one it enters the fourth stage things could get very complicated.

Further complications

There are two different strategies that the authorities are proposing to save the livestock population. One is a massive move to reduce the livestock population by bringing them out to the market. While on the other front, moving the animals to a relatively safer environment is also sought as a possible solution. The officials also argue that some of the farmers do have 200 and 300

IN-DEPTH

Thus far, the foreign community’s pledge of 163 million dollars in assistance has not been honored. In fact, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has recently pledged 88 million dollars in assistance to Ethiopia. However, international organizations like FAO have extended their efforts to feed school children (916 schools) in the drought affected areas at a cost of 42 million birr.

In connection, with food aid distribution the issue of nepotism and political connection is criticized to be a major shortcoming; and to that end regional of cials have con rmed such incidents and punishment of aid of cials implicated in such dealings.

The horror.... page 27

Pho

to B

y: R

epor

ter /

Mes

fen

Sol

omon

Impacts of the drought have been severe. That has led the federal government to work with regional, zonal and woreda level officials to deliver food aid to the affected areas.


12| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006Q & A

Protests in several towns of the Oromia Regional State have entered their third week with the number of human casualties and damages to properties mounting. This

week saw a flurry of stern messages from federal government officials including Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn. The Government Communications Affairs Office also held a press conference on Wednesday with local media outlets in which the head of the office, Getachew Reda, took half an hour addressing the Oromo protest. Getachew also addressed unrests in the northern part of

Gondar and related issues. Here is an excerpt from the press conference which was attended by Mikias Sebsibe and Solomon Goshu of The Reporter.

Pho

to B

y: R

epor

ter /

Dan

iel G

etac

hew

Question: What is the government’s assessment of the ongoing protests in the Oromia Regional State?

Getachew Reda: It is clear that students in a few Oromia zones have raised questions with regard to the Addis Ababa and Oromia Special Zones Integrated Masterplan. Initially, the protests were largely peaceful apart from some violent tendencies in some zones. It would not be surprising for people with positive outlook for the federal system to raise issues with regard to the masterplan given the inadequate awareness work done to clarify the false propaganda created against the plan. And both the federal and regional governments have acknowledged the delay in clearing such confusions. But there were also groups who wanted to exploit the situation. I do not wish to give a laundry list of who they are. But those who aspired to assume power during the last election but did not succeed, not because they were prevented but because they failed to mobilize the public, have exploited the situation. They worked aggressively to incite students in elementary and secondary schools. Their effort did not bring much success in universities. As a result, there were widespread chaos and riot mainly by students in four or five Oromia zones. This did not have the backing of the majority of the public and could have been managed easily. But, with some delay, deliberations with the public to clarify the confusions are ongoing. But things started to change. Those whose interest has got nothing to do with the masterplan spun the issue to advance their own hidden agenda. They have engaged in standoffs and confrontations to disarm security forces. The protest which would not have got out of hand took a different course. Clashes began in various towns and as a result lives have been lost and properties are damaged.

There were a protest a year and a half ago against the masterplan. Why the delay in creating awareness with regard to the plan?

The reason there was no adequate public awareness work done with regard to the integrated masterplan is that it is only at a drafting stage. It was not yet ripe to be tabled for political decision. In addition, there was no special attention paid to this issue last

year because there were a number of other priorities at hand both for the federal and regional government.

How severe are human casualties and the damage to property? There is a wide gap between the figure the opposition are coming out with regard to the number of people killed and that of the government’s.

There is a high number of human casualties and property damage especially since the protests took a different dimension. Since then, these groups are not protesting with slogans or by merely throwing stones. They are targeting government enterprises, administrative units, houses of kebele or wereda officials as well as torching farms of model farmers. As a result, a considerable number of citizens sustained injuries including death. That is very sad because the original issue should not have resulted in an injury of a single person let alone result in damage in a magnitude we are talking about right now. But because it was led by people who calculate their gains, it has resulted in an unnecessary loss of life and property. That is why talking about the number of casualties becomes meaningless in such situations. We are not interested in engaging in back and forth arguments regarding the number of victims. That would be insensitive. Medrek or OFC (Oromo Federalist Congress) are listing names at a time when the situation is heading towards complete lawlessness.

The government accuses “anti-peace or anti-development forces”. But doesn’t these protests also highlight grievances against bad governance?

Firstly, the government, both federal and regional, has admitted that there are many good governance challenges. There is an honest government that publicly vowed and is determined to address good governance problems jointly with the public. So, the government believes these legitimate concerns must be addressed so that people get the services they deserve. It would be wrong to conclude that everyone involved in these protests is instigated by external or other forces. There are legitimate demands. But the majority, including those who are very aggrieved by lack of good governance are of the view that

‘Putting the genie

back in the bottle’


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |13Q & A

...the government, both federal and regional, has admitted that there are many good governance challenges. There is an honest government that publicly vowed and is determined to address good governance problems jointly with the public. So, the government believes these legitimate concerns must be addressed so that people get the services they deserve.

these issues will only be address by a willful government and party which has the legitimacy of the people but not through chaos and riot. They have distanced themselves from such riots. It is one thing to have demands but the manner these demands are raised should be to strengthen the system not to dismantle it. And this is what is reflected by the majority of the people. But what those at the forefront of leading the chaos and riot want is to create anarchy so that people lose trust in the government. That did not happen because of the position taken by the majority. The government firmly believes that these demands or shortcomings of the regime are addressed as long as the system is respected. It should guide us to build on our positive gains and urge us to perform better on our weaknesses. Every good governance problem should not lead to anarchy.

What message is the government trying to send out with these many press conferences by both the regional administration and federal government officials?

The external and internal forces that want to bring anarchy through chaos and riot realize that the revolution they want to ignite will not be achieved if the issues are addressed through discussions. That is why now the protest has fundamentally changed. The movement especially in a few towns in West Shewa and Northwest Shewa has got nothing to do with the masterplan or issues of good governance. Uncontrolled armed gangs are now openly talking about bringing about regime change. As a result, model farmers, unarmed security personnel, members of the defense force as well as wereda and kebele officials are being openly targeted and many have lost their lives. Some were gunned down and others had their throats slit. This is not only gruesome but must be stopped. In these areas roadblocks are deployed and asphalt roads are dug up. Public and state properties are torched, private property by foreign or domestic investors have also been attacked. These are not bogeymen called out to scare people. They are real forces with names. Some operate in the country under the guise of legal political organizations with the hallucination that one day they might find themselves in the palace through chaos. With them are designated terrorist groups based abroad. They believe that unless lawlessness ensues they will not achieve their dream. That is why they are doing whatever they can and mobilize whatever resource they can muster to create lawlessness. These are organized armed gangs who are terrorizing people as they go. For example, in some areas in West Shewa these groups have been charging fees as high as 500 birr per vehicle at roadblocks they set up. This is outright banditry. Those who let the genie out of the bottle may not be able to put this genie back in the bottle. But there is a determined government and public that is capable of doing that. Even that section of the public with serious issues and who were biting their lips against the government are shocked by the level of violence. They are repeatedly demanding why the government is not taking a stern measure. The government’s full focus is on putting the genie let out by OFC, Ginbot 7 and OLF (Oromo Liberation

Front) back in the bottle. The focus is preventing further damages because the government believes that the loss of even one person was unnecessary over this issue.

What is the government doing to contain the unrest?

The government is doing two things. The first is engaging in discussion with the public who have raised legitimate issues either because they were misled or because of confusion. This is being done massively even in areas where there are unrest. And in these discussions with the public, very constructive feedbacks are being forwarded. The second is putting the genie back in the bottle.

We have heard reports of attacks on the recently inaugurated Dangote Cement. Can you confirm that?

Dangote Cement is not a church for these groups. They are after any institution, be it a foreign company or government enterprise. But there is no logic for any protester who opposes the masterplan claiming that it impacts the lives of farmers surrounding Addis Ababa, to go ahead and torch a huge development project which can transform the lives of the community living there. But the masterplan issue was only a cover. Because, like it or not, the masterplan issue can only be addressed through discussion. Fortunately, these institutions are being protected from such attacks by the people, regional and federal police units as well as the defense force. As I said, there are those who have raised

legitimate issues. These legitimate questions should not be overshadowed because of the lawlessness that followed. The government will take these legitimate questions as part of its initiative to ensure good governance.

These widespread protests came just a few months after the EPRDF declared a 100 percent victory in parliamentary seats and a 90 percent plus popular vote from the latest election. Don’t you see an anomaly in that?

Not all voters who casted their ballots for EPRDF were of the view that there are no problems with the party. Not all are fully satisfied by the party and the party does not have such

assessments. But they gave their votes to the party because they believe it is a strong party that acknowledges its weaknesses and is capable of solving them. It will not be surprising if people are emotionally driven for perceived delays in addressing these problems. In addition, the number of people engaged in the violence is not representative of the Oromo people. The situation did not escalate into a full-blown widespread lawlessness across the region because there is a great majority of the people of Oromia who want peaceful resolution to their demands.

There are also unrests in parts of northern Gondar. How much of this unrest is related to the question of the Kimant people?

‘Putting the genie... page 28


14| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006COMMENTARY

VIEWPOINT

When we see the measures being taken and the advertisements

broadcasted on different mass medias by different business

entities in our country, we can observe the tendency that these

business entities are using corporate social responsibility as one tool of advertisement, argues Adisalem

Desta.

Environmentalists have also made it very difficult for third world nations to get aid, loans and grants to build fossil-fuel power stations that would

provide cheap electricity for their poor citizens and poorly powered

factories, argues Raji Gezahegn.

Most people have trust in experts. Seems like a safe bet, in a world in which knowledge is increasingly becoming specialized, to heed the words of those who are said to have spent their lives studying a certain obscure phenomenon. This seemingly simple logic, however, has far reaching consequences than is readily apprenticed. Unquestioning belief in so-called experts and intellectuals endorses them as the philosopher kings or demigods capable of playing dice with the lives of the simple masses.

Such blind fealty to intellectualism was what caused millions across the world to nod their credulous heads in agreement when President Barack Obama announced, glowing with self righteous impunity, in February of this year that climate change was the greatest challenge the world currently faces. According to the pontiff in chief, climate change poses a more dangerous threat than terrorism. This was being said at a time when millions continued to languish hopelessly under the sadistic tyranny of the apocalyptic Islamic State in Syria and the Levant (ISIL) which the President’s own foreign policy helped to foster and when millions more were arriving on the shores of the Western world in a deluge unprecedented in recent memory. For shame Mr. President!

One thing we can all be sure of is that the President would have the simplest time enumerating the names of

supposed experts who agree with him to anyone who would dare challenge him. Being dubbed an expert by some organ or another is the new priesthood. It’s the ultimate backstage pass, the master key that can unlock the doors inaccessible to those of us without the all important seal of approval. Woe on to thou who is not an expert!

The argument

The entire climate change juggernaut is based on a single argument. The argument is that there is no argument. Climate change and that humans are causing it, according to the experts and activists, is a fact accepted by all. The American Physical Society (APS) went as far to say that the evidence for climate change and its anthropogenic origins is “incontrovertible”. Long gone are the days in which this word was the exclusive domain of the Church with its unending repertoire of incontrovertible truths. In employing this loaded term, the APS essentially banned any scientific evidence that could be produced against the basic tenets of the climate change mantra. Not one of APS’s finest hours many agree.

Even the Vatican has joined the bandwagon. In May of this year Pope Francis hosted a one day conference entitled “Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity: The Moral Dimensions of Climate Change and Sustainable Development” as a prelude to his much anticipated encyclical on climate

change. Unsurprisingly, not a single scientist among the thousands that question the climate change dogma was invited. Many of these heretics tried to get an audience at the conference with no success. We may soon hear that climate change now has God’s imprimatur.

Anyone who questions or disagrees with this “scientific” orthodoxy runs the very imminent risk of being sidelined, harassed and harangued as a heretic or denier. One recent survey showed that 27 percent of US Democrats are in favor of prosecuting climate skeptics. This is the mentality of religious fanaticism, not scientific debate.

I do not hope to convince anyone that the entire climate change farrago is an over blown political hackwork in an op-ed column. What I will try to do, however, is try to shed some light on some of the flaws in some of the basic assumptions of the climate change argument and highlight recent findings that give credence to the growing skepticism. The rest is up to you.

The underlying premise of the climate change argument is that the globe is warming and CO2 is the primary force driving this dangerous rise in temperature. Human beings are the primary culprits for this shift as we have pumped more and more CO2 in to

Climate change and tyranny of the “experts”

Climate change... page 32

Traditionally, corporations were responsible only to their owners; and their primary and only objective was profit maximization. Corporations’ responsibility towards the community and the environment in which they operate was overlooked. Hence, Corporations’ responsibility towards the community and the environment which is commonly known as corporate social responsibility is a recent development in the area of corporate governance.

Corporate social responsibility, often abbreviated “CSR,” is a corporation’s initiatives to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on environmental and social wellbeing. The term generally applies to efforts that go beyond what may be required by their memorandum of association, regulators or environmental protection groups. CSR can involve incurring short-term costs that do not provide an immediate financial benefit to the company, but instead promote positive social and environmental change.

The same money and influence that enable large companies to inflict damage on people and the environment allows them to effect positive change. At its simplest, a corporation can give

money to charity. Companies can also use their influence to pressure governments and other companies to treat people and resources more ethically. Companies can invest in local communities in order to offset the negative impact their operations might have. A natural resources firm that begins to operate in a poor community might build a school, offer medical services or improve irrigation and sanitation equipment. Similarly, a company might invest in research and development in sustainable technologies, even though the project might not immediately lead to increased profitability.

Today, a shift has occurred in the way people conceptualize corporate social responsibility. For decades, corporate business models have been assumed to be necessarily harmful to certain communities and resources. The intention was therefore to mitigate or reverse the damage inherent in doing business. Now many entrepreneurs consider profit and social-environmental benefit to be inextricable.

Some think corporate social responsibility is an oxymoron. Others see corporate social responsibility

as a distraction of a different sort, that is, from the lawful pursuit of profits. To them, a corporation’s sole responsibility is to generate returns for its shareholders, not to try to save the world or to fret over its own impact. Laws and regulations must be followed in all jurisdictions in which the company operates, but management should not go beyond that, as that could hurt its bottom line and violate its duties to the owners. Some counter that this concern is misplaced, since responsible initiatives can increase brand loyalty and therefore profits. This may become increasingly true as ethical consumer culture gains wider acceptance. In 2010, the International Organization for Standardization released ISO 26000, a set of voluntary standards meant to help companies implement corporate social responsibility.

When we see the measures being taken and the advertisements broadcasted on different mass medias by different business entities in our country, we can observe the tendency that these business entities are using corporate social responsibility as one tool of

Corporate social responsibility as a new way of advertisement

Corporate social... page 28


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |15OPINION

Advertisment

If people have access to the health services they need without the risk of

financial hardship, they will be able to lead productive lives, feed their families and send their children to school, writes

Matshidiso Moeti (MD).

Health is widely considered to be a fundamental human right, yet the sad truth is that far too many people around the world still do not have access to basic healthcare. Millions of Africans in particular are unable to access or afford the services they need to survive and thrive without incurring financial hardship.

The answer to this problem is clear: universal health coverage (UHC). For too long, the idea of achieving universal health coverage in Africa was perceived as a distant dream. Fortunately, the tide is turning.

This year, the international community formally enshrined universal health coverage in the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide development efforts through 2030. More than 100 low- and middle-income countries, home to three-quarters of the world’s population, have taken steps to deliver universal health coverage. And the movement is gaining support beyond health experts, as over 300 economists recently endorsed a declaration calling for universal health coverage as a way to reduce extreme poverty and fuel economic growth.

In short, as we celebrate the second-ever Universal Health Coverage Day this

week, it is apparent that the movement for health for all has reached a critical mass. The global community clearly recognizes that UHC is right, smart and overdue. While our collective commitments to UHC are promising and should be celebrated, now is the time to get serious about taking steps to achieve it.

In Africa, the Ebola epidemic showed us the ‘worst case scenario’ when health systems are weak or broken. Even in the absence of a major health crisis, many African countries struggle to deliver quality and affordable health services. For coverage of several basic health services – including family planning, immunization and improved sanitation – sub-Saharan Africa lags well behind the rest of the world. The region accounts for approximately 25 percent of the world’s disease burden, yet it has just three percent of its doctors. Furthermore, too many households across the continent are forced to borrow money or sell assets to pay for healthcare.

Countries in Africa that have reached middle income status face particular challenges. For example, many have lost the preferential prices for vaccines and essential medicines that they received as low-income countries.

These countries must find ways to shift the burden of increased costs from the individual to the collective by raising more money for health services and medicines.

To confront the region’s challenges, we can look to and apply lessons from the many African countries taking the lead in implementing universal health coverage reforms, such as Rwanda, Ghana and Ethiopia,among others. These include building strong, efficient, well-run health systems that focus on community-based primary healthcare; creating sustainable financing for health services; improving access to essential medicines and technologies; improving governance and management of health services;and maintaining a sufficient capacity of well-trained, motivated health workers.

In Ethiopia, a Health Extension Program has trained and deployed over 38,000 health workers since 2003 to deliver primary healthcare services in rural communities. This program has been essential to expanding access to primary healthcare. Its success – made possible by commitments of the Ethiopian government, partners, and of course dedicated health workers –

Towards universal health coverage in Africa

Toward universal.. page 28

Request For ProposalEthiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) would like to invite Eligible bidders to sign long term servicecontract forGraphics design and printing services.Therefore, interested bidders may submit their bids/proposals with due consideration of the following requirements.

Registration: - Bidders are required:a. To be registered for provision of such and/or relevant services and are

expected to submit a renewed Business License for the current Ethiopian year.

b. To be registered with Ethiopian tax authorities and should produce valid documentations which include VAT, TIN and MoFaED/PPA registration

Bidding:a. The Terms of Reference document shall be collected from ECX – Head

Quarters, Procurement Unit located at ChelelekAlsam Tower-I, 7th

this bid.b. All bids must be submitted to Ethiopia Commodity Exchange with wax

sealed envelope at or before JAN 14, 2016 10:00 AM.c.

representatives who wish to attend on same date stated in 2.b above at 10:30 AM.

Notices:a. Bids submitted by bidders who do not meet the above mentioned minimum

requirements shall be rejected without further notice.b. ECX demands strict adherence to deadlines and Bids submitted beyond the

c. ECX reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.d.

following contact address is:Ethiopia Commodity Exchange

Procurement UnitChelelekAlsam Tower, 7th oor

Tel. 011 5183342Addis Ababa



Background and usti cation

Ethiopia is the second populous country in Africa, with estimated

to the 2007 Census result, Ethiopia’s population is predominantly young with about 45% of the population being below 15 years of

were about 1.4% of the total population.

plan period, employment opportunities were created for about 1.5 million persons and for 5,282,128 citizens provided employment services in the country and about 447,621 (23,925 Male 423,701

employment services in the country in coordination and collaboration manner we have to assess the existing situation all over the country.

Even though major effort were made to create job opportunity and promote employment in the country still there are limitations like coordination and collaboration among institutions and stakeholders, there is a gap between labour demand and supply in the labour market, employment services are weak and lack of technology base, labour market information system yet not well established.

democratic Republic ofEthiopia is responsible to collect, process,

national level. Accordingly, the Ministry has been producing an annual labor market information bulletin for a couple of decades. The information contained in the bulletin is an outcome of the data collected and analyzed from various sources like Census, Labor force survey, job matching information obtained from the regional

Ministry of Education, data from MoFED, MoPSHR, CETU, EEF and Government and Private social security’s scheme coverage.

One barrier to matching the supply and demand of labor is the lack

services play this intermediation function as they are the main agent for the delivery of labor market services and policies. These services usually include the registration of jobseekers, provision of counseling and guidance, placement assistance, job matching,

to active labor market programs and other related services.

Whereas, the ILO through its technical cooperation project: entitled “

” aims to contribute to Government’s

effort for the reduction of exploitation of migrants including victims

emphasizing on economic and social empowerment. Furthermore, it is the objective of the project to support the GoE in its efforts in improving labour migration management. As part of this project, the ILO is planning to conduct an assessment of national employment services provision and labour market information collection and utilization.

In this regard, the ILO in collaboration with the MoLSA would like to enhance and strengthen the employment services and labour market information system in Ethiopia.

ObjectiveThe objective of this ToR is to hire a highly competitive and experienced consultant for the purpose of assessing the national employment services provision and labour market information collection and utilization.The assessment is expected to enhance and strength employment services provision and the labour market information system in Ethiopia as well as contribute to the improvement of employment services provision and legal labor migration governance in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Government, ILO and other development actors will use this assessment to possibly provide targeted capacity building support for MoLSA in this area in the future.

1. To produce qualitative and quantitative data related to employment services provision and labour market information system in Ethiopia;

2. To provide a comprehensive analysis of existing employment services provision systems, process and labour market information system;assess the extent of its

Functions and Responsibilities

The following activities will be carried out inorder to achieve the objectives of the assessment:

1. Identify existing labour market information system;2. Assess the effectiveness of the current system;3. Identify gaps in the capacity of MoLSA on effective

response to labour market supply demand dynamics;4. Assess and identify existing employment service

provision systems and processes;5. Identify key LMI demand and supply sectors, institutions

in Ethiopia; and6. Assess the gap that exists in technical and technology of

International Labour Organizationountr O e or t io ia an o alia

INVITATION FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

O O O IO L LO I O I IO L O I O IO OLL IO ILI IO

Advertisment



Deliverables

An Inception Report that will include the proposed methodology and a detailed work plan.Compile and review relevant information related to the subject matter.

data collected (without the full identity of the respondents if

the, ILO, MOLSAPresentation of the report in the national validation workshop.

Reporting

The following reports are required:

-signment, describing the methodology for the assignment, including preliminary work plan.

A full narrative report of the assessment by the end of the consultancy.

.

SupervisionThe Consultant will work under the direct supervision of MoLSA and the ILO.

Methodology The methodology should combine primary and secondary data.

Time FrameThe consultant will complete the work and present the results by 31January, 2016. A detailed proposal on how the researcher will conduct the assessment will have to be submitted to the ILO for approval together with a detailed work plan within one week of signing the agreement. A draft report will be presented after

.

Con dentiality

All data and information received from ILO for the purpose of this

All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these TOR are assigned to the ILO. The contents of written materials obtained and used in this assignment may not be disclosed to any third party without the expressed advance written authorization of the ILO.

Required CompetenciesAt least Master’s Degree in Economics, Government, Political Science, Social Science, International Relations or any other areas relevant to the consultancy.Five or more years of professional experience in planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance

At least 3 experts should be assigned to this assessment.The consultant must have valid business License,

Vacancy Announcements: Finance and Admin Of cer, M E Assistant, Programme Of cer Gender

LCD aims to improve the quality of basic education for children in rural areas. We work in partnership with SNNPRS BoFED and Education Bureau. For more information see www.lcdinternational.org.

Based full-time in Wolaita Sodo, the successful candidates will work as part of the LCD programme team supporting school improvement, girls’ education and language competence across 119 schools and four woredas in partnership with the Regional Education Bureau and Wolaita Zone Education Department.

Applicants must complete a form. Forms can be downloaded from http://lcdinternational.org/jobs-volunteeringor by emailing [email protected]. Please submit completed application forms to [email protected] date for applications: 5pm, 06/01/2016. LCD takes child protection extremely seriously and is rigorous in assessing the suitability all candidates in relation to child protection issues. We aim to be an equal opportunities employer.

Link Community Development (LCD)


18| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006INTERVIEW +

Hitoshi Kikawada, Parliamentary Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs and member of the House of Representatives of Japan, was in Addis Ababa for an official visit where he met with government officials to discuss bilateral and international

issues. During his visit, Kikawada met with Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications and Information Technology. The two officials discussed the issue of economic cooperation that

has been established so far. In his meeting with Taye Atsekesellasie, state minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the vice minister discussed the possible scenarios of reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – to which Japan is a member and Ethiopia is lobbying to become one. Without detailing the discussions, Kikawada said that his mission intended to seek more bilateral ties with Ethiopia. At the end his visit on Thursday, Birhanu Fikade of The Reporter met and sat down with the Vice Minister at the Embassy of Japan located off Africa Avenue to talk about Japan’s intentions to finance an industrial park, which the Government of Ethiopia pledged to allocate for

Japanese companies. The vice-minister talked about how the government of Japan is working towards strengthening Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Ethiopia, the sixth edition of the Tokyo International Conference for African

Development (TICAD), which is set to be held on African soil for the first time since its inception. He argues that TICAD was devised to help Africa since the early 1990s when the rest of the world was silent towards Africa:

Pho

to B

y: R

epor

ter /

Dan

iel G

etac

hew

The Reporter: Let us start with your visit to Ethiopia. What was the purpose of your visit and what were your discussions with Ethiopian officials?

Hitoshi Kikawada: My visit to Ethiopia has two reasons. One is to strengthen bilateral ties we have. The other issue relates to the discussion regarding the UNSC reform. On Thursday, I met with Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD). I also have met with Taye Atskeselassie, state minister of foreign affairs. The discussions I had with Debretsion were related to economic cooperation between our two countries. We discussed the UN Security Council issues with state minister Taye.

Japan is extremely advanced and is a hi-tech savvy nation. In contrast, Ethiopia is an agrarian economy. Where exactly is the borderline for the two nations to have mutual economic, business or investment relations?

The reason Ethiopia is attractive for us includes the country’s political stability, competitive labor cost and the development process of electric power supply. I think Ethiopia has the potential for industrialization. Ethiopia is very much engaged in the implementations of Kaizen very well. I think we can also engage ourselves for the realization of Ethiopia’s aspirations towards becoming an industrialized nation. We have a strong sense of Kaizen as our Ethiopian good friends have. Therefore, we are on the same page and can take the same step to gain mutual benefits.

We have learnt that the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), which is a state run institution, is set to open its office here soon. Would you tell us what priorities are set for JETRO to undertake in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia has a size of 90 million people. This means that the country has a huge market potential for Japanese companies. However, until recently, Ethiopia has never been considered as a potential market for Japanese firms. We need to change that attitude and the understanding towards that.

Does that mean that more Japanese investors are going to come to Ethiopia?

Yes. I want to share what we have learnt here. According to state minister Taye,

Japanese companies are engaged in many things in the South-East Asian countries like Cambodia. He said that Japanese companies are needed to do more of similar activities in Ethiopia. However, the reason why we didn’t do something similar like what we did in South East Asian nations includes the geographical distance we have with Ethiopia. For Japan, South-East Asian countries are closer to it. That proximity gives us the opportunity to sense the change in the atmosphere in the region. But Africa is still very far for Japan. When looking at Ethiopia many Japanese people relate the country with the image of the legend any athlete Abebe Bikila. Of course, the great famine of the 1980s is still in the minds of most Japanese. However, these days the recently launched direct flight between Addis Ababa and Tokyo has a lot more to do in our business relations. We first need to show Japanese people what contemporary Ethiopia is all about. The good things about Ethiopia could easily be mentioned with regard to its stability and safety which are very important factors that are helpful to attract more Japanese businesses here.

Recently, the Ethiopian government pledged to allocate an industrial park to Japanese companies. But it’s not clear who would finance the project. Would Japan extend financial resources if the government requests for funding?

The Government of Japan will consider cooperating with Ethiopia for the project if official requests are made from your government’s side.

From the diplomatic circle we frequently hear that Ethiopia is likely to face the middle income trap. Should that be a worry to the Ethiopian government? What possible remedial measures might you suggest the government to consider?

There are different analyses whether Ethiopia possibly could face the middle-income-trap situation in the future. But what is more important for the country is to build the capacity it has at the moment. I think improving productivity via Kaizen is a very important undertaking. Ethiopia is one of the countries having a fast population growth. I believe it is okay as long as the country could manage economic growth as well. Even though the country has a vast land, which is three times bigger than Japan, there is a sizeable area which is not suitable for cultivation. I

Extending an open

arm to the neglected


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |19INTERVIEW +

There are different analyses whether Ethiopia possibly could face the middle-income-trap situation in the future. But what is more important for the country is to build the capacity it has at the moment. I think improving productivity via Kaizen is a very important undertaking. Ethiopia is one of the countries having a fast population growth.

cannot conclude that Ethiopia is going to face the middle-income trap through its journey to become a middle-income country. But I think it is possible for Ethiopia to overcome the trap if it happens.

Japan extends significant amount of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Ethiopia. However, we hear that your government is devising mechanisms to restructure or change the ODA contributions to

Ethiopia. Could you tell what the plans really are?

Frankly speaking, Japan will not change the ODA policies towards Ethiopia at this point. What we are focusing on – as far as ODA is concerned – includes four major activities. One of the sectors we focus on is the agriculture sector and rural development. We give emphasis to the areas which include the development of the private sector, infrastructural development and education. Hence, we will continue our contributions to Ethiopia in those areas.

Japan is rigorously supporting peace-building missions in Africa and in Ethiopia. Given the fact that Africa is still trapped in political unrest, terrorism and climate change, what will be the role of your country to end such phenomena?

In terms of peace and security concerns in this region, we have dispatched self-defense forces to the Gulf of Aden from our facility in Djibouti. We also have sent our peace-keeping officers to the South Sudan. Therefore, we will keep the trend and continue contributing to the peace and security of the region through such initiatives. We need to remember that we have supported the establishment of the peace-keeping operations center in Ethiopia that facilitates the peace-keeping processes

in East Africa. We will make more efforts to build more capacity in this field. I would like to urge all concerned bodies to support our initiatives in the course of mainstreaming the peace keeping operations center here in Ethiopia.

Currently, Kenya is set to host the sixth edition of the Tokyo International Conference for Africa’s Development (TICAD VI). It is believed that TICAD – as one

of the pioneer initiatives of Japan since the 1990s – was introduced to break the idea of “Afro-Pessimism”. Can you tell our readers a little bit about the narratives of TICAD? In relation to that, can you tell us about the success stories and shortcomings of TICAD?

First, let me start with the positive aspects of TICAD. We don’t believe Japan’s support and aid alone can resolve issues of Africa and solve problems Africa is facing. However, since 1993 we were able to initiate a mechanism that can bring together all the concerned bodies so that we can do something to support and assist African nations. Back then, we had invited international institutions of the likes of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank Group (WB) and many aid organizations to concert efforts together so that we can support Africa better. Another positive outcome of the TICAD over the years is that we are following up the implementations of our commitments since TICAD IV. After reviewing what the results revealed we will proceed to the next process. I think it is a good behavior to ascertain how we implement our commitments towards Africa. Regarding the shortcomings, we feel that TICAD is not that popularized – even in Africa – to the extent we think it should have. Of course the heads

of state know all about TICAD. But it is hard to tell if ordinary citizens are familiar with TICAD. Most people don’t know the fact that Japan was always there assisting Africa since the time the large part of the world had ignored the continent for some reason. The ordinary people in Africa do not know well about the initiative, it not all about Japan and Africa. Rather it harbors other international organizations to take part in the process. I think we should do

more public relation activities to make TICAD popular elsewhere in Africa and across the board.

What specific outcomes should we expect from the upcoming TICAD summit, which is to be held in Nairobi soon?

The possible outcome of the upcoming TICAD VI summit that takes place in Kenya depends on the results of TICAD V. Hence, TICAD V is still going on. Reviews of the previous TICAD outcomes are yet to be initiated. Previously, TICAD was held every five years and plans were reviewed based on that time frame. But that is about to change and instead of gathering every five years, heads of state and and other stakeholders will meet every three years. We intend to listen to and understand African countries and what they expect from Japan. Until now we didn’t have any specific plan. But we will announce specific plans by the end of the coming summer. Our major support mainly focuses on what we think will be helpful for the long-term self-sustainability of many African countries. Actually there are countries telling us that they have found TICAD’s initiative very helpful for their capacity building and sustainability issues. We intend to do more in Africa with respect to the interests of counties in the continent.


20| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006COMMENTARY +

VIEWPOINT +

The global commitment to universal education has accomplished wonders.

But there is much more to be done in the decades to come, as education

becomes less about imparting knowledge and more about providing

students with the skills to navigate rapid technological change, writes

Andreas Schleicher

Since 1988, the number of annual cases of polio worldwide has dropped

more than 99.9 percent. The credit goes to an international coalition

of visionary people: the leaders who make polio eradication a high priority in their countries and the funders who underwrite the work of combating the

disease, writes Bill Gates.

The polio... page 28

Until the Industrial Revolution, neither formal education nor advances in technology made much of a difference for the vast majority of people. But as technological progress accelerated, education failed to keep pace, leaving vast numbers of people struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing world and contributing to widespread suffering.

It took a century for public policy to respond with an effort to provide universal access to schooling. In recent decades, remarkable strides have been made toward realizing that ambition worldwide. But in an era when technological innovation is once again outpacing education, the effort to provide everybody with an opportunity to learn must not only be redoubled; it must also be retooled for an increasingly unstable and volatile world.

Access to education has been significantly broadened. The world is no longer rigidly divided between rich, well-educated countries and poor, badly educated ones. The quality of schooling remains a powerful predictor of national income over the long term, and many low-income countries have begun leveraging education in the service of economic development. As a result, among 80 countries with comparable data on the quality of learning, GDP per capita now explains only six percent of the variation in performance.

Much work remains to be done – even in high-income countries. Many oil-

producing countries, in particular, have succeeded in converting their natural wealth into physical capital and consumption; but they have failed to build the human capital that can sustain their economies in the future. If the high-income non-OECD countries equipped their students at least with very basic skills, they would, as a group, benefit from added economic value equivalent to almost five times their current GDP. Even with their abundant natural resources, far greater wealth lies untapped in their populations’ undeveloped skills.

Education has a much wider impact than simply improving earnings or employment opportunities, which is why it is a component of the human development index. In all countries with comparable data, adults with lower literacy skills are far more likely to report poor health, have less trust in their fellow citizens, and perceive themselves as objects – rather than actors – in the political process. For countries that fail to equip their residents with the proper skills, technological progress is unlikely to translate into economic growth, and large swaths of the population risk languishing on the margins of society.

And yet, it is important to note that formal education alone is not enough to ensure greater opportunity and prosperity. In many economies, too many unemployed graduates coexist with a large number of employers who

cannot find workers with the skills they need. If individuals and countries are to continue to reap the benefits of education, policymakers must focus on the skills required to prosper in a rapidly changing world.

In the past, education was about imparting knowledge. Today, it is about providing students with the tools to navigate an increasingly uncertain, volatile world. Unfortunately, the skills that are easiest to teach and test are also the easiest to automate or outsource. State-of-the-art knowledge remains important. But the global economy no longer rewards workers for what they know (Google knows everything); it rewards them for what they can do with what they know.

Education needs to focus on improving how students think, work, and embrace technology, and on providing the social and emotional skills needed to collaborate with others. In the past, educators imparted knowledge by breaking problems into manageable pieces and then teaching techniques to solve them. Today, value is often created by synthesizing disparate bits of information. And for that, workers need more than technical knowledge; they must be imbued with curiosity, open-mindedness, and the ability to make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.

Education in an uncertain world

Education... page 28

The world’s progress in fighting polio might be one of the best-kept secrets in global health. Indeed, my heroes for 2015 are the men and women on the front line in the fight against the disease.

Since 1988, the number of annual cases of polio worldwide has dropped more than 99.9 percent. The disease used to paralyze an estimated 350,000 children every year; in 2015, the number of cases is likely to be fewer than 100.

Moreover, the year 2015 marked another important milestone in our mission to wipe out this debilitating scourge: For the first time in human history, Africa marked a year without any wild polio cases.

Yet I’m often surprised to hear how many people don’t know about this mind-blowing progress.

The credit goes to an international coalition of visionary people: the leaders who make polio eradication a high priority in their countries and the funders who underwrite the work of combating the disease. For example, support from the United Arab Emirates has been indispensable to vaccinating children in Pakistan – along with Afghanistan, the only two countries that have never been polio-free.

But the stunning progress we’ve seen

over the last three decades would not be possible without the volunteers and frontline health workers who go out – sometimes at the risk of their own lives – to make sure every child is protected. Whether navigating floods, hiking up treacherous mountains, or working in some of the world’s most conflict-ridden areas, 13 million children are alive and walking today because of these inspiring individuals.

That’s why I’m proud that the Gates Foundation has created a partnership with the UAE to honor these courageous people through the Heroes of Polio Eradication (HOPE) Awards. The ceremony with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was one of the most uplifting events on a trip I made recently to the Middle East.

It was great to meet with the recipients and celebrate their amazing work. There is Freeda, a Lady Health Worker in Baluchistan, Pakistan, who has supported the polio eradication program for more than 15 years across often-dangerous parts of the province. Last year, Freeda was injured and a family member was killed in an attack during a vaccination drive. But her commitment to helping to vaccinate kids never wavered.

Atta Ullah is a community leader and activist in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, who mobilizes support from local leaders and health workers for polio eradication activities. He also works to expose fallacies and debunk rumors about polio vaccines.

I had already met the third recipient, Misbahu Lawan Didi, a couple of years ago in Nigeria. It was great to see him again and to see him recognized for his efforts. A polio survivor himself, Lawan Didi founded the Para-soccer game – an innovative program focused on building the self-reliance and self-confidence of 3,000 paraplegics.

Then there was Constant Dedo, a polio consultant for the World Health Organization in Nigeria, who has worked for almost a decade across South Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.

Constant’s story is one of true dedication to polio eradication. While stationed in Pakistan, Constant was shot and required major surgery, but still continues with his work.

Finally, we honored Bibi Malika, who is not only an important advocate for polio eradication, but also a

The polio heroes


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |21OPINION +

Advertisment

National climate action plans – submitted by more than 180 countries

– identify trillions of dollars of climate-related needs. This global

economic transition holds tremendous investment opportunities for the

private sector, writes Jim Yong Kim.

BAMBIS NEWSYOGHURT:

FRENCH CHEESES : Camembert RoquefortChevre Danish BlueBrie EmmentalSainte Maure GruyereSaint Andre

FRESH BUTTER : President : Salted and Unsalted 200 grs.Frozen Whole Turkey - Class A!

Virgin Olive Oil : Cold pressed in bottles of 1000 ml and 500 mlVirgin Olive Oil : Extra in bottles of 1000 mlPomace Olive Oil : In bottles of 1000ml and tins of 5 lt.

Sfogliatine Zucchero : in packets of 200 grSavoiardi : in packets of 200 gr

NEW ARRIVALS !!!

RUBINO : Olive Oil from Italy

FAGE : Yoghurt from Greece

: Strained: 10% fat 200 and 500 grams: Strained: 2% fat 170 grams: Strained: 0% plain 170 grams: Strained: 0% with Honey, Strawberry, Blueberry and Pomegrante 170 grams

FAGE Yoghurt: The best and renowned yoghurt for its high quality & special taste

BAMBIS : Serving you for the last 57 years !!

Information: 011 - 5521105 or 5505584

FBS : Cheeses, Hams, Butter and Frozen Turkey from France

HAMS "de Foue" : Cooked and Smoked

TURKEY " Doux " :

SWEET ITALY : from Italy

NEWWW ARRIVVVAVAALS !!!FAGE : Yoghurt from Greece

At the United Nations climate conference in Paris, courageous and visionary leaders recognized that people rarely change the world when they work within the constraints of what they think is possible. The world hoped for an agreement, but most of us did not dare to dream of a deal that aspires to limit temperatures to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Paris delivered for the planet and for the poor.

Five important steps must come next.

First, we need to approach development differently. Climate change must be considered in all of our work – from building cleaner cities to producing more food on less land – with a much stronger focus on adapting to changing climate patterns. This means that when we build a road in a country like Mozambique, we are also ensuring that it is resilient to the floods that accompany incessant rains. To this end, the World Bank unveiled a new climate action plan in Paris to help Sub-Saharan Africa in the years ahead.

Second, we need a clean-energy transformation at the speed and scale of the digital revolution. The Paris talks sent a clear signal to markets, public officials, and investors that low-carbon growth is the future. Market forces will drive this agenda forward, and there will be greater potential to invest in renewable energy in developing countries than ever before. Dramatic decreases in the cost of low-carbon technologies also support an ambitious

global transition toward renewable energy.

One example is Bangladesh’s innovations in increasing the sale of solar-power systems for homes in rural areas. Our low-cost financing helped to attract tremendous interest from the private sector, and today Bangladesh has the fastest-growing solar-home program in the world. More than 18.5 million people in rural areas now have reliable access to solar-powered electricity.

Third, businesses must immediately become climate literate. In Paris, CEOs from various industries – ranging from cement to technology companies – made clear pledges to decrease carbon footprints, invest in renewables, and manage resources sustainably. This transition will require more partnerships across all levels of government, civil society, and the private sector.

Fourth, world leaders must push harder for carbon pricing. Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels carry a hefty price. It’s a bill that comes to all of us in the form of public-health costs, damage to the environment, and adverse weather effects. While about 40 countries and 23 cities, states, and regions are using a carbon price, this covers only 12 percent of annual greenhouse-gas emissions. More than 90 developed and developing countries included carbon-pricing schemes among the actions they intend

to take after the Paris deal. This is a welcome step.

Finally, finance will be critical. National climate action plans – submitted by more than 180 countries – identify trillions of dollars of climate-related needs. This global economic transition holds tremendous investment opportunities for the private sector. The risks of carbon are high, but the opportunities to de-carbonize are even greater. For our part, we recently pledged to increase the World Bank Group’s climate financing to as much as USD 29 billion annually by 2020.

Every country will take a different path to deliver on its commitments. National leaders must honor the timetable for adaptation and emissions reductions. We are here to support them. We have plans that focus on climate-smart agriculture, building greener cities, increasing access to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and leveraging our finance for greater private investment. All are designed to lower greenhouse-gas emissions and help people adapt to the world’s changing climate.

The conference in Paris produced an agreement that went beyond our expectations. We must now move with ambition that matches this historic deal – one supported by nearly 200 countries. We are at a remarkable moment in the long battle to reduce harmful emissions,

Climate action after Paris

Climate action... page 28


22| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006LIVING & THE ARTS

People go to see a doctor for regular health check-ups and take pills for a simple headache on a daily basis. However, many neglect the most basic thing there is - the quality of the food they eat. And it all starts with the type of oil people use for cooking. The widely consumed type of oil nowadays in Ethiopia is palm and some researches suggest that palm oil consumption increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease while others claim there is no increased risk. Tibebeselassie Tigabu and Mihiret Aschalew of The Reporter look into the pros and cons of the different types of oils in the market and possible health hazards.

If one is to mention top-ten fast-moving consumer goods in Ethiopia, edible oil or cooking oil of different types and sizes would definitely be in this very short list. In particular, the urban consumer almost entirely depends on edible oil to do most of its domestic food preparation. And, unfortunately, the bulk of the edible oil market in Ethiopia is highly dependent on imports. As far back as 2011, the edible oil market in Ethiopia was identified to be one of the most strategic in terms of its impact in the overall consumer and food prices in urban areas. This realization led to the decision of the government to incorporate edible oil in the list of strategic food commodities which were earmarked for price capping.

From the get go, the price cap started to have problems with regard to edible oil since the local price (capped price) and the price of the commodity in the source market showed huge disparities discouraging some of the biggest edible oil importers in the country. Since then, the product remained within a short leash from the authorities and currently import and distribution of edible oil is highly regulated. Now, it is in a league with the likes of sugar and wheat which are imported and distributed by public

agencies to prevent any sudden price variation and supply disruption.

The Ethiopian Consumers Protection Association is an active participant of this market; now it supplies most stores and shops with ample quantities of imported edible oil and sugar. The association’s role is not restricted to supplying but it also monitors the sale of these outputs so that a trader with the financial means would not manipulate the market by harding the imported products.

Aberash Tadesse, a shop owner around Arat Kilo, claims that she used to be a major outlet for edible oil in the area. She used to receive the supply of edible oil from the association and sell this to consumers in the area. “Usually, there will be two personnel of the association to monitor the sale of edible oil,” she says. It is a fast-moving consumer good, she says; but, the hustle of supplying edible oil became all too great for her overtime.

“I used to receive fresh stocks every fortnight and my shop was always overcrowed with customers looking for edible oil,” Aberash told The Reporter. She was under strict orders not to

sell more than one container to each costumer.

The brands she supplied included Chief, Viking, Abiya and Ayat. And all came with different sizes (volumes) varying from three to 20 liters. Despite the brand difference the price remained the same among these most commonly consumed brands: three liters of edible oil are sold for 72 birr and five liters for 115 birr.

Nevertheless, there are also expensive and better quality edible oil brands in the market. For instance, Orchid sunflower oil packed in three liter containers is sold for 340-360 birr; while the locally produced Kibé Leminé niger seed oil packed in a five-liter container is priced at 350 birr. On the other hand, Hatun sunflower oil is 70 birr per liter.

The variation in the supposed quality and price notwithstanding, most of the imported edible oil products in Ethiopia belong to what is called the palm oil family with a high concentration of saturated fatty acid. And consequently, the health impact of the edible oil varieties that are sold in the local market are becoming increasingly worrisome.

In recent years, researches have

The edible oil dilemma


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |23r 19, 2015 LIVING & THE ARTS

“I used to receive fresh stocks every fortnight and my shop was always overcrowed with customers looking for edible oil,”

surfaced from the academic corners on the same subject matter; that is assessing the impact of saturated fatty acid oil. The findings of these researches highlighted the accumulation of saturated fatty acid in palm oil and its health risk.

Experts explain saturated fatty acids are a form of fat that contain no double bond between the carbon atoms; hence being saturated with hydrogen. In other terms, saturated fatty acids are fats that cannot be dissolved (broken down) easily once inside the body and therefore get stored in body tissue. This accumulation is bad news for the human body since it can cause detrimental health complications. This is particularly true since, according to experts, the body has adequate fat accumulation of its own and would not need to take an additional one from outside.

While the majority hardly loses sleep over this issue and what they eat in general, personalities such as Mered Alemu, 35, heavily scrutinized the chemical makeup of what they eat and edible oil in particular.

Mered started to be cautious after he was diagnosed with high concentration of uric acid some time back. Though he was able to control it in a year or so time, he says, he chose to lead a healthy lifestyle after that. Apart from discarding meat and other protein concentrated foodstuffs, his major concern was oil. At first, he was using niger seed oil which is produced locally but he says “the feeling was heavy and also the taste of the food was not that great”.

So after researching about the nutritional value, he picked sunflower and olive oil a couple of years ago. He is too specific even when it comes to the places that he shops edible oil. And the basic reason, according to him, is the incident of mismatch between the labeling and the actual chemical composition of edible oil. “There are rumors that some of the producers blend their product with palm oil. So, one can’t be too careful,” Mered says.

At home he is too careful in the type and the amount of oil that is used but he still eats outside. Although one can be careful about the cooking oil at one’s own home, still many dine outside. He understands his limitation when he dines in a restaurant. “You cannot avoid all these. Rather, what one

should do is try to be careful as much as possible,” Mered says.

True to form, researches warn that a number of restaurants in Addis Ababa heavily use fat-concentrated edible oil brands. According to nutrition instructor at the Addis Ababa University Science College, who wanted to remain anonymous, there is no specific research which identifies the number of people who uses the saturated fatty acid diet or the magnitude of the impact; neither are there studies which assess the scale of the danger of saturated fatty acid in Ethiopia.

Cardiovascular complications are the main health related impact of edible oil in the Ethiopia. On the other hand, there are also health experts who directly relate the pain on the leg area and back pain to consuming this saturated fatty acid.

According to the expert, consuming highly saturated fatty acid can

cause atherosclerosis which might lead to coronary heart

disease, stroke and other serious complications.

These saturated fatty acids are also

found in various food types such

as fatty meat, butter, whole milk and the like. The level of the danger, according to the expert, depends on the amount and the lifestyle of the individual who

is consuming fried food and

those who do not exercise regularly.

Though there have been researches

which directly link saturated fat to an

increased risk of heart disease, these are still

controversies at best which say that there is no experimental evidence

which directly links saturated fat to heart disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2015 recommended switching from saturated to unsaturated fats. .

Edible oil with less proportion of unsaturated fatty acid include olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, safflower, corn, sunflower, soya and cottonseed oils. Nevertheless, the health impact has started to pick up pace in Ethiopia. Non-communicable diseases, which are unusual to the young population, such as cardiovascular complications, high blood pressure are now affecting the youth. These

The edible... page 29


24| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006FEATURE

By Henok Reta

Akwat Otung (her surname is changed), 24, graduated from a government university in Western Ethiopia in English language last year. Despite the hope of many young graduates have after graduation – which is finding a job – she has not found anything and is living with her parents in her hometown. Now, life after school seems bleak for the young girl. And that is not the only concern for the youngster. “I don’t know how we are going to handle all these problems while having extreme differences and hatred in addition to our deep-rooted problems related to capacity and identity,” she said.

Gambella has a bit of an interesting history. Back in 1902, Emperor Menelik II gave a concession to the the Britain to use of a port along the Baro River and in 1907 the port and a customs station were founded. A shipping service run by Sudan Railways linked Khartoum with Gambela, a distance of 1,366 kilometers. According to Richard Pankhurst, by the mid-1930s boats sailed twice a month during the rainy season, taking seven days downstream and eleven upstream.

Eventually, after the Italian invasion and the return of Emperor Haileselassie, Gambella had its fair share of contentions. Lij Tewodros, a son of Lij Iyasu, surfaced in the Gambella area in May 1941 proclaiming himself Emperor. His insurrection was put down by Belgian Congo troops before they left the area in February 1942.

A new Anglo-Ethiopian treaty was signed in December 1944 which virtually eliminated British privileges, but the Gambella enclave continued. The Ethiopian government gradually increased its control over the enclave: outlawing the Maria Theresa Thaler as

legal tender, requiring all merchants to obtain passports in person in Addis Ababa, and in 1951 informing the British resident, Captain Dribble, that he could no longer judge or imprison anyone. When he departed in October 1954, the end of the enclave was in sight. The enclave was still held by the Sudanese when they achieved independence, but they did not agree to hand the enclave back to Ethiopia until October 15, 1956.

According to the 2007 Census, the population of Gambella region was around 307 thousand. The ethnic composition of the region shows that the Nuer make up 47 percent and the Anuak consist 22 percent of the population with the rest comprising of other ethnic groups and people from different parts of the country. Back in 2013, the regional council changed its long-serving President and ethnic-Anuak who held the top post for the last 13 years. Currently, Gatluak Tut Koat, an ethnic-Nuer, is serving as President of the regional state. However, the region has had troubles ranging from ethnic clashes to lack of infrastructure. For instance, according to historian Medhine Tadesse (Prof.) in his article published in 2007, the Anuak claim to own the regional state or at least aspire to be the sole deciding political force in the regional government. “Various bases of entitlement are forwarded to justify this claim: current settlement pattern area (area of influence or land size, history (being indigenous) and contribution to the regime change and degree of connection with the highlands and/or the national center. Indeed, the competition for power, the Anuak elites defined their Nuer counterparts as foreigners.” Medhane wrote. And this is Akwat’s conviction and her complete understanding of the overall state of affairs. “We obviously have very unmatched personalities with them

[Nuers],” she explained.

Akwat and her friends were at a nightclub in the middle of last week on the special night of the festivity of the 10th Ethiopia’s Nations Nationalities and Peoples Day (ENNPD) which was hosted in the Gambella Regional State. She says that there is a “big” difference that has persisted for decades. Despite this gap that left them with a strong rivalry, the federal government decided to celebrate the 10th nation’s and nationalities day to show that the region is no more in turmoil and is on a promising development path. But Akwat has her own story to tell. She remembers how she was treated by her dorm mates who came from other cultures. “One day I had to fight with one of those girls who attempted to isolated me; however, finally we ended up being friends. I personally had disappointing experiences during my university days as being seen as an alien by other students. So I think that it is festivals like this that has its own significance to let others know more about us [Gameblla] in general,” she says.

Despite her reservations towards what the federal government has been doing in insuring peace and development in the region, hosting the ENNPD in the region is important. “I believe this is a major manifestation of people-to-people friendship and blending identities and shared values,” she says. Akwat now feels that she has to seize the opportunity of introducing herself to the people who traveled to the region for the celebrations. And the celebration had been a massive one.

Arriving in Gambella a few months before the celebrations of the ENNPD, one can see that construction was everywhere, trucks were unloading freights and hotels were being built. According to eye witnesses, many of the

facilities were built in a short period of time. Some even took three months to finish. One of the facilities constructed in three months’ time is a compound built by the Metals and Engineering Corporation (MeTEC) on the outskirts of the town in the Majang village. The Gambella International Stadium is also another notable construction. “We went through a pretty hard construction period so as to host the ENNPD,” Solomon Shah, project coordinator, said. On the other hand, owner of the newly built and biggest hotel in town, also expressed the intense pressure she had to overcome to open the doors of the establishment on the eve of the ENNDP. In spite of all the challenges, the people and the town successfully hosted the warm celebrations at the stadium which has a 35,000-seat capacity.

Following the civil war that overthrew the Derg, part of the Gambella region was widely considered to be some how resistant by pledging allegiance to the former leader, Mengistu Hailemariam, who left a lasting impression amongst some of the most marginalized people of the country. The commitment came after he inaugurated the iconic bridge spanning on Baro River in the mid 1980’s. According to some historians and elders, the former leader is still adored by many in Gambella since he built the second largest bridge in Ethiopia to connect the people and foster economic and social bonds.

As a result, many residents say that they do not walk by a particular side of the bridge where Mengistu walked during the inauguration as a sign of respect to the former leader. “By using one side of the bridge, the people show their respect for the former president who remains popular in Gambella,” Akulu Ojen, an elder, says. Nonetheless, his critics including the current government and human rights organizations vehemently refuse to

Gambella: a flashpoint with prospect

Gatluak Tut Koat (Middle), an ethnic-Nuer, is serving as President of the regional state.



accept his popularity in the region. In fact, they hold him accountable for various atrocities, unlawful settlements and displacements.

Cultural Survival, a US-based advocacy group has written on the problems of the region particularly in relation to resettlement and displacement by the military government in the mid and late 1980’s. In 1984, Cultural Survival declared that the Anuak of Gambella were an endangered people. “As warfare intensifies and the resettlement program accelerates, the rate of death, displacement and expulsion of Anuak people will increase. The Derg, the ruling Ethiopian military junta, is attempting to break the autonomy and self-allegiance of tribal minorities in Ethiopia in order to create a collectivized and homogenized peasant sector that is dependent for survival on a mono-ethnic central government, and, therefore, controllable. Such dependence facilitates military conscription and the extraction of taxes and agricultural surpluses, which are exchanged for military hardware to further these ends,”Cultural Survival wrote.

However, the region has not seen stability even after the downfall of the Derg. A series of tribal conflicts, sporadic attacks and military interventions have taken place over the last two decades. A couple of years ago, insurgents killed more than a score of people in an ambush while they were traveling on a bus from Addis Ababa. The insurgents, who back then claimed independence and full control over the region, also attacked hundreds

of individuals residing in Gambella town and other localities. “It was one of the most awful and tragic incidents of my life,” Habtu Mulugeta, survivor of the attack told The Reporter. Just two years ago he was driving a public bus from Addis Ababa to Gambella. Little did he know that he was going to face a calamity. An armed person started shooting from a jungle off the main road. Fortunately, he and many of the passengers survived because of the response of military personnel. Subsequently, the federal government deployed its armed forces from the surrounding area to escort the passengers.

Residents who moved to Gambella from the rest of the country had faced several dangerous occasions. They claim that indigenous people intimidate them and some times attack them.

Mihret, who owns a restaurant in the heart town, said that the situation after the advent of the Ethiopian Millennium was very hard. She says that a series of attacks took place to terrorize those they called “outsiders”. It, however, calmed with the help of the federal police. Despite the growing frustration shown by the indigenous community that they are no more in control of the viable businesses in the town, Mihret and other businesswomen are determined to live there. “I think these days a lot has changed. So, I’m not worried about living and working here,” she said. In fact, the change which Mihret is referring to seems to be real when one observes the capital of the regional state. Several new hotels are being opened and businesses are

booming.

Since the new administration took office a couple of years ago security have been tightened to safeguard businesses which are owned and run by locals and foreign investors. One of the major investments in the region is Saudi Star Agricultural Development PLC owned by Ethio-Saudi billionaire Sheik Mohamed al-Amoudi. In addition to that, others are engaged in cotton farming in the region. However, a regional government official told The Reporter on conditions of anonymity that both international and Ethiopian investors in region are not doing well in helping the indigenous community. “That is where the difficulty lies, which is in persuading local people be patient and positive about the investments in the region,” he says.

Although the region’s instability stems from the tribal conflicts and rivalry inside the five sub-ethnic groups known as Nuer, Anuak, Majang, Opo and Komo, there are irregular conflicts and insurgency at the boarder with communities from South Sudan. According to the Gatluak Tut Koat, chief of regional administration, a tribe called Morle in South Sudan has been looting cattle and killed some people in nearby communities. Moreover, the other Achilles heel is the high influx of refugees from South Sudan. Refugees fleeing the conflict on the country’s south western border also seems to be a headache for the new administration.

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR), more than 300,000 refugees have sought shelters in the region.

Though the region has undergone various incidents for over a century, it, however, seems to be the right moment to conduct a reliable development strategy that fully guarantees the equal and fair share of resources and power for the ethnic groups. And in this regard, writers, who have studied the causes of the problems in the region, point out that an inclusive administration with dependable capacity is needed to realize the regions huge potential of becoming the breadbasket of the country. To this end, the new administration appears to be responsible in paving the way for stability and development.

For this instance the man who leads the region confidently speaks that change is inevitable as the region has already started its difficult march towards development. Hosting the ENNPD this time around seems to have impacted this vision tremendously to boost the region’s ambition. They say that they can unleash the region’s potential and tap into their resources. While addressing the crowd at the stadium the president of the regional state highlighted the most significant steps taken by the new administration to attract investment. Most importantly, he received a standing ovation for what his administration has done in reestablishing the livelihoods of residents in four years by bringing together 37,883 families who were living in scattered settlements accessing no basic needs and infrastructure. Above all, his successes stories in bringing in peace and stability in the region has been seen as a milestone by participants.

Gambella Regional State recently hosted the Nations and Nationalities Day Celebrations


26| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006LETTER TO THE EDITOR

ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF

Monica Manaker to release her debut

album in Ethiopia

“Live and Become” to be screened

today at Goethe InstitutArgentine born Israeli musician Monica Manaker, is scheduled to release her debut album, which is dubbed “Here it comes”, in Ethiopia early next year.

Her album is also expected to feature various rhythms based on world music. While performing at Alliance Ethio-Française on Thursday, December 17, Monica played some songs from the upcoming new album which she has already finalized and is ready for release early next year.

The new album has been composed and arranged by Monica and Ethiopian Musicians Girum Mezmur and Henock Temesgen. The two Ethiopian musicians also accompanied her during her concert at Alliance Ethio-Française.

Monica was born in Rosario, Argentina and moved to Kibbutz Magal, Israel at an early age and currently lives in Addis Ababa. She has also been known to have performed in different occasions held in Addis Ababa such as in the Holocaust remembrance days.

Apart from Ethiopia Monica has performed in the United States, Italy, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Rwanda as well.

In connection with German-Israeli Film week, an Israeli filmmaker, Radu Mihaileanu is scheduled to screen a feature film “Live and Become” at the Goethe Institut here in Addis Ababa.

The feature film tells the story of black Falashas in Ethiopia. In 1980 the black Falashas in Ethiopia were recognized as genuine Jews by the Jewish community. In turn they were secretly transported to Israel.

The day before the transport the son of a Jewish mother dies. In his place and with his name (Schlomo) she takes a Christian 9-year-old boy.

Upon arrival this second mother dies. Schlomo is adopted by a good family but remains depressed until he secretly sends a letter to his real mother.

From the beginning he experiences large and small racist difficulties. In his teens he and Sarah fall in love. Her father is an extreme racist.

Schlomo tries to gain “real Jewishness” by winning a competition in Bible interpretation. The film will run for 140 minutes and has English subtitle.

Dear Editor,

Democratic states are stable, not because they keep all their population happy but because they have put in place proper systems and institutions to manage shocks. In these states, ensuring stability and resolving dynamic and ever growing political, social and many other questions peacefully is not entirely the work/task of governments but a consorted effort of the general public, civil society, religious institutions and even opposition parties.

In EPRDF’s own admission, at least on paper, Ethiopia is so heterogeneous that pluralism and accommodation of diversity is the only way to go. For the past 25 years the party has been preaching us that it has ensured democracy and therefore sustainable peace in the war torn country it inherited, through its recognition of ethnic federalism and multi-party democracy.

However, the country’s political landscape has been polarized and has been so for a long time. The centralist forces are complaining of disintegration and are beating the war drums aiming to return a hegemonic, strong, united Ethiopian state. The secessionist ethno-nationalistic movement still think the federation is symbolic and are beating ethnic-centered war drums. And there are many in between. Our 25 years of ‘democracy’ seem to have no place for these political forces labeling them with various name tags. It did have some success of diminishing them through legal/illegal arrests, intimidation and even killing, making them a much divided movements in exile. Ironically, even if the leaders are exiled, the attitude and thinking do exist among a considerable number of the population. Even in a place where elections are won a 100 percent.

Inevitably, it’s impossible for any political force to perpetually address a nation’s issue in a onetime decision. Societies change, they develop and grow. With younger, educated, urban centerd population, it is very likely that more questions, political or otherwise will arise even when the political leaders think they are doing very well. When this happens, no rational political force should think the answer given 25

years ago will be a satisfactory answer to the issues that arise now. That’s why democratic nations need to have a constitutionally guaranteed political space and effective institutions.

In a democratic society, political space is an area where unconstrained articulation and organization can occur and where political authority using the structures of the state cannot arbitrarily control or inhibit the will of the people no matter how unfavorable they are to the government in power. It is the required space to allow actors between state and society as well as institutional mechanisms for the articulation and advocacy of diverse views and policy preferences. In the Ethiopian case, it would mean governments unwavering commitment to the FDRE constitution and its principles.

However, the reality on the ground seems to be far from that, to say the least. The EPRDF-led government deliberately, and sometimes using laws, narrow the space for a political discourse that would accommodate in a civilized way, our differences. The regime continues to tighten its grip and leaders and activists in the opposition movements are regularly imprisoned, the state owned media is a mouthpiece of the party, private media and journalists are continuously harassed and sued diminishing them in quality and influence, bloggers and activists are constantly imprisoned with terrorism charges and the like. State institutions are highly politicalized, making them loyal to party politics rather than their duties under the law.

The risk is, even if this tight control of social and political institutions contributes to development results in the short term, it is not sustainable. The country’s political settlement which is vulnerable to challenges from inside and outside, social and political groups will be left to address them with a reduced capacity to adapt and manage shocks. It is very likely that with the claimed economic development, demands from increasingly urbanized, educated, healthy and wealthy citizens will increase. It is upon the government, in these situations, to properly manage those demands to ensure political stability and avoid reversal of development gains. If the answer to all this is more repression, it means we

have not taken the basic lessons from why the Derg failed. For a party that came to power with an armed resistance claiming there was no peaceful way to cease power, this should be pretty clear for EPRDF.

One can understand a political rational of having a restricted political space in a society that is viewed as lacking proper democratic culture. And there are evidences that suggest protecting democracy from itself is vital for the life of a nation. Some cite the Rwandan genocide and the instability of post repressive regimes torn apart by the Arab spring as evidence. The danger of this thinking is the higher probability of political patronage it creates leading inevitably to authoritarianism. Often political leaders with such intentions end up stagnating in dictatorial tendencies not taking note of the changes within the society which would require opening up of spaces commensurate to the progress of the society.

When everything is politicized, with exhausting propaganda and claims of development, certain level of arrogance will arise. The dangers of propaganda is often, own actors believe them as absolute truth. Opportunism and positions based on political loyalty as against meritocracy will create government agents that will defend their positions by any means possible. Vouching and fighting for the status que rather than progressively adopting to changes.

Today it is the question of the master plan of Oromia. Tomorrow it will be a question of fairness, employment, identity and a lot more. One cannot predict where the issues might arise but a responsible government will put in place adequate responsible and accountable institutions and actors that will address it peacefully. You cannot have a public trust when the general reply to questions is anti-peace elements, terrorist groups from outside, the Eritrean regime and such propagandas while your security forces act with impunity in a blatant disregard to the constitution.

Due to the lack of space for any constructive debate and transparency, there are many who does not believe anything the government say and many

that only believe the government and no other. The space for rationality is being lost, the only ‘rational thinker’ is the government that confuses propaganda for dialogue. Propaganda filled with self-fulfilling rhetoric on everything from fighting corruption, to issues of good governance and many others without taking any concrete measures.

Discontents and grievances cannot go away by continuously singing development. To the contrary, they would lead to extreme measures with no end gains but self-distractions. That is what is seen with how the Oromo protests are transforming into. And when that happens, it will not only erode away the safety and security of the public, it has a chance of destroying the country all together. So the message is clear, although it’s EPRDF’s country to lead, it is also our country to live. The mistakes you are making and the obsession with power will destroy us all. The evidence in post authoritarian failed states such as Libya and Syria shows that guns and tanks might save some time, but won’t save a nation, no matter how much you arrest you won’t arrest the whole population, no matter how much you kill you cannot kill everybody, but for sure the country will be lost in the process.

The Oromo protests, whether or not they hold merit, are clear indication for the need of change. If after winning elections 100 percent and developing double digit growth, this sort of movement can happen, then you must think you are doing something wrong. To do that, EPRDF needs a new culture. It has to be dynamic enough to realize that propaganda wouldn’t do it forever. Let alone for the general population of this huge diverse country, but not even to its own members and supporters. It will need to come out of its ways in the bush. It would need to open up the political space and de-politicize institutions. Its leadership needs to amend and adopt. One definite area to start is to genuinely open up the political space for the Ethiopian people to debate, argue, agree or disagree peacefully on issues that affect their life. By so doing, it might not only save the life of the nation, but even its power.

Ayten G.

Addis Ababa

The key to managing shocks: Political space not propaganda!



CONT`D FROM PAGE 11

Lamb to be screened at the 2016 New

York Jewish Film Festival

Atti Worku Hosts NYC fundraiser for

Seeds of Africa FoundationYared Zeleke’s film, Lamb, will premiere in New York City next month on opening night at the 2016 New York Jewish Film Festival. Lamb is the first Ethiopian film to be an official selection at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and has been the country’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars.

“Yared Zeleke’s remarkable feature debut tells the story of young Ephraim, who is sent by his father to live among distant relatives after his mother’s death.

Ephraim uses his cooking skills to carve out a place among his cousins, but when his uncle decides that Ephraim’s beloved sheep must be sacrificed for the next religious feast, the boy will do anything to save the animal and return back home.

Before making the critically acclaimed Lamb which is gaining a wide international buzz, the Ethiopian-born American filmmaker, Yared, had produced, directed, and edited several short documentaries including “Allula” and fiction films including “Lottery Boy”. (Tadias)

Miss Ethiopia Atti Worku hosted Seed of Africa Foundation’s fund raising event last week in New York City to boost her campaign of building a state-of-the-art education facility in her hometown of Adama, Ethiopia.

To date, the non-profit organization has raised over USD 1.3 million of its total USD 2.2 million goal to fund the creation of the educational institution. “It will meet the most rigorous international academic standards and prepare its students to succeed in high school, college and beyond,” Atti said.

The event celebrated the organization’s mission to educate and nurture children and their families by providing quality education and community development programs in Adama. The Dream School Campaign,” Seeds of Africa Foundation stated that “Featured in WABC, NBC, The Huffington Post, the Wall Street Journal, D Magazine and more, Seeds of Africa is a leading organization offering a successful business model for assisting communities in Africa with the tools to accomplish educational and entrepreneurial development across the continent.” (Tadias)

cattle at their disposal and this could be quite difficult to feed and rare at such harsh environment.

For instance, in the Amhara regional state, some 230,000 cattle population were brought to the market; but farmers complain that the price is plummeting fast.

Although authorities are contending that the price of cattle is not something to worry about, farmers on the other hand are disturbed since they are running down their vital household asset at a rock bottom price. For instance, during normal times the price of an ox could go as high 10,000 and 15,000 birr, but now the price has gone down to 2000 birr in most rural markets. Commentators on the other hand are not surprised since it is the basic rule of economic that the price of a commodity would go down as the supply starts to rise.

There is another side to this story, as households get rid of their cattle to purchase food items for their families,

the price of food items looks to be slowly increasing in rural markets. Here as well, the officials and the affected people give different accounts of the condition. According to Fikirte Arega, resident of Key Gara kebele of the Raya-Kobo woreda in the Amhara Regional State, the price of both teff and sorghum has risen from 15 to 23 birr per jug and from 6 to 11 birr per jug, respectively.

On the other hand, in the Amhara some 200,000 cattle are earmarked to move to places with greener pastures.

Good governance

At the end of last week, the government has announced that total of 1.9 million metric tons of food will be required to even begin to satisfy the food need. This coupled with other expenses related to delivering the assistance would add up to 1.4 billion dollars in needed resources, according to the government’s own account. Thus far, the foreign community’s pledge of 163 million dollars in assistance has not been honored. In fact, the United States

Agency for International Development (USAID), has recently pledged 88 million dollars in assistance to Ethiopia.

However, international organizations like FAO have extended their efforts to feed school children (916 schools) in the drought affected areas at a cost of 42 million birr. According to the Mitiku Kassa, disaster prevention and preparedness state minister at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, so far, the government has made an investment of three billion birr towards the drought and the assistance activities. At the regional level as well, resource is being allocated. For instance, Oromia is reported to have earmarked 1.5 billion birr to this cause while regions like Amhara has allocated 200 million birr.

Nevertheless, the distribution of food aid is highly problematic according to The Reporter’s observation. Primarily, food aid distribution is scanty at best. According to conditions on the ground, the people who are currently receiving food aid are those who have

been severely affected by food shortage. Those who have household resources and capacity to withstand for some time have received no food aid, so far.

Yet again, those receiving the food aid are not even receiving more than 15 kilos of wheat; and since September in most of the woredas only two rounds of distributions were made (a measurement in par with the international standards). In connection, with food aid distribution the issue of nepotism and political connection is criticized to be a major shortcoming; and to that end regional officials have confirmed such incidents and punishment of aid officials implicated in such dealings.

When all said and done, the current drought that is taunting Ethiopia appears to be one of the worst in its history; but thus far, no actual death toll has been reported by any entity. Still, fear abounds since the condition are predicted to persist at least for the next year.

The horror...



advertisement. To expound the claim at hand let me specifically analyze the floriculture and brewery sectors.

The floriculture sector is one of the sectors that invariably perceived as a sector which uses polluting substances. To gain acceptance and win the hearts of the society where it operates, apart from limiting the use of polluting substances and employing best available technologies, business entities engaged in floriculture business build schools and hospitals to the local community. However cynical this might seem, though the act of building schools and hospitals and being eco friendly is their obligation towards the community and the environment, these acts are considered by these enterprises as an act of benevolence; and use these acts as tool in promoting what they do.

Similarly, when we look at the brewery sector, they contribute to the local community and the environment by:

Using best available technologies

Crating employment opportunities

Reducing polluting substances

Building schools and hospitals

Funding foot ball clubs

Supply useful production by product to the community and others

And when you see and hear the advertisements like that of Saint George, Walya and Dashen and other beer related advertisements, you can understand that the things which are part of their corporate responsibility are being used a tool of promoting one’s business and ultimately maximizing their ultimate purpose which is profit maximization.

Ed.’s Note: Adisalem Desta is an independent researcher interested in international business law. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Reporter. The writer can be reached at [email protected].

Corporate social...

CONT`D FROM PAGE 14

has demonstrated the importance of investing in human resources for health and delivering essential health services at the community level.

In Ghana,a tax-funded national health insurance system, known as the National Health Insurance Scheme, covers 95 percent of diseases that affect Ghanaians, enabling financial protection and expanding coverage. This system is an example of the type of reform that can help countries minimize catastrophic out-of-pocket healthcare costs that all too often lead to, or exacerbate, poverty.

Rwanda has also made significant strides toward universal health coverage. By implementing ambitious reforms starting in 2000 –with the goal of universal health coverage – the country has transformed its health system. Child mortality has fallen by

more than two-thirds since 2003 and Rwanda’s average life expectancy has risen by 10 years in the past decade. These and many other health and development successes make Rwanda a valuable model for others in the region.

Of course, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to achieving universal health coverage, and each country – and even district or county – must determine which strategies and reforms best meet their needs. However,if we expand and build on the tremendous progress already happening across many countries in Africa and adopt an integrated approach to advancing health for all, I am confident the benefits will be widespread.

If people have access to the health services they need without the risk of financial hardship, they will be able to lead productive lives, feed their families

and send their children to school. This, I believe, will significantly transform lives across the continent and help build a brighter and more prosperous future for Africa.

I’ve made universal health coverage a key priority during my tenure as the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa. This Universal Health Coverage Day, I urge African governments and their partners to do the same.

Ed.’s Note: Matshidiso Moeti (MD) is the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa. The article was provided to The Reporter by the WHO Country Office – Ethiopia. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Reporter.

Towards universal... CONT`D FROM PAGE 15

In the traditional education system, students typically learned on their own and were judged individually. But as technology progresses and once separate economies become interdependent, working with others is becoming increasingly important. Today, innovation rarely results from individuals working in isolation; far more often than not, it is the product of sharing and collaboration. Schools need to incorporate this new reality into their curriculums, preparing their students to work across cultures and equipping them for a world shaped by issues that transcend national boundaries.

Part of the policy answer is promoting skills-oriented learning throughout workers’ lives, rather than focusing on education that ends when work begins. Developing skills is easier when learning is integrated into the workplace. Doing so also allows young people to develop hard skills on modern equipment and learn soft skills – including teamwork, communication, and negotiation – through real-world experience. Another important policy approach is active intervention in the labor market, including counseling, job-search assistance, hiring subsidies for low-skill youth, and income support for young people actively searching for work.

Retooling education for the modern economy will require the involvement of every sector of society. Governments will have to design smarter financial incentives. Education systems will have to pivot to foster entrepreneurship and offer better vocational training. Employers will have to invest in their workforces. And labor unions can contribute to ensuring that training translates into better jobs.

Education is increasingly a collective enterprise, and this must be reflected in the skills it provides to graduates. Ultimately, however, the future of education will depend on individuals and their willingness to take advantage of learning opportunities and invest in their own futures.

Ed.’s Note: Andreas Schleicher is Director for Education and Skills and Special Adviser on Education Policy to the OECD’s Secretary-General. The article was provided to The Reporter by Project Syndicate: the world’s pre-eminent source of original op-ed commentaries. Project Syndicate provides incisive perspectives on our changing world by those who are shaping its politics, economics, science, and culture. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Reporter.

Education... CONT`D FROM PAGE 20

CONT`D FROM PAGE 20

community leader and a go-to source for medical wisdom in her hard-to-access community in Helmand, Afghanistan. She has been an inspiring example to other women in her area.

All of these amazing individuals have my admiration and gratitude. Thanks to their efforts – and the endeavors of hundreds of thousands of people like them – we are achingly close to eradicating polio. Now we need to finish the job.

I am optimistic that we will get there soon, through the diligence of those fighting the disease and the generosity of countries like the UAE that make

their work possible. And on that day, when we come together to celebrate the end of polio, the world will know that it was possible only because of these heroes.

Ed.’s Note: Bill Gates is Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The article was provided to The Reporter by Project Syndicate: the world’s pre-eminent source of original op-ed commentaries. Project Syndicate provides incisive perspectives on our changing world by those who are shaping its politics, economics, science, and culture. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Reporter.

The polio...

and we must capitalize on this global commitment to preserve our planet for future generations.

Ed.’s Note: Jim Yong Kim is the president of the World Bank Group. The article was provided to The Reporter by Project Syndicate: the world’s pre-eminent source of original op-ed commentaries. Project Syndicate provides incisive perspectives on our changing world by those who are shaping its politics, economics, science, and culture. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Reporter.

Climate

action... CONT`D FROM PAGE 21

The nature of this clash is different. The Kimant people have raised question of Kimant nationality. This question was duly addressed by the Amhara Regional State. However, there were clashes on territorial disputes in a few areas. External forces and internal groups with their own agenda have tried to manipulate these clashes while efforts were under way to resolve the disputes. To some extent there was also lack of clarity of understanding within the regional government structure at various levels. The clashes have resulted in loss of lives and damages to property. The situation is calm now after successive efforts by the regional and federal government. Now, discussions are ongoing between the people of Amhara nation and the Kimant nationalities.

Does the government see a role by the Eritrean government in these unrests?

There is the hand of the Eritrean regime in every problem in this country. I am not just saying this. Because the Eritrean regime is no longer capable of launching direct military attacks, it supports any subversive movement against Ethiopia. This they declare publicly. For instance, recently they have tried to sneak in armed groups in Gondar as they have done many times in the past. Many either get arrested or neutralized. But they continue to sneak in disruptive forces not just in this area but also through the western part of the country. Whatever penny they get they spend on their agenda of destabilizing Ethiopia because they have no dams or hospitals to build. So, it should not be surprising to see the hands of the Eritrean regime wherever there is trouble. After all, there is no smoke without fire. But that is not the main problem. We create vulnerability in our nation if we do not properly address whatever good governance problems are raised by our people. So we will not only purify elements within the government structure but also provide services demanded by the people. Our democratization efforts and those of protecting human

'Putting... CONT`D FROM PAGE 13



problems are highly associated with a high concentration of cholesterol level. In the past, the pertinent problem in Ethiopia was communicable diseases. Now, according to WHO experts, Ethiopia has a high mortality rate and the leading cause of death is non-communicable diseases.

This, of course, would be further complicated when it is associated with a sedentary lifestyle. The expert also argues that the health impact of such products is not that foreign to consumer public; rather the fact that they are affordable is still another factor that is driving their demand. But, he acknowledges that authorities cannot just ban such products. “This is a sensitive issue and there should be an alternative,” he says.

According to the expert, filling the information gap regarding the health impact of some popular edible oil brands in Ethiopia is the first step. Nevertheless, he also noted that this problem is not unique to the imported edible oil brands. In fact, the locally produced ones as well have their own problem, she says. “Since these oils are not refined well they have a behavior of being crude. This also has another risk in the form of gastric complications,” he argues. Nevertheless, he is of the view that the mass importation of fat-concentrated edible oil should also be look at from an economic point of view only. Rather, authorities ought to consider the health aspect as well, he says.

Though many focus on the content of the saturated fatty acid in imported edible oil, Alazar Berihun, chef and food consultant, does not focus only on the content but rather on the chemical reaction they have when they are cooked. “Different brands of edible oil have different cooking temperature; if that is not known they are overheated and can create a chemical reaction which is dangerous to one’s body,” Alazar says.

For example, sunflower oil can be used in high temperature, up to 180 degree centigrade, hence being suitable for frying, cooking, or making salad. “Saturated fatty acid is hazardous to health and when palm oil which passed through a factory process heats up with

high temperature it might even become toxic,” Alazar explains further.

Generally, he is concerned that the various purposes of different types of edible oil products are not well understood in Ethiopia. It all depends on the specific acidic content, according to Alazar. For example, he says extra virgin oil which has 0.5-1 percent acidic content can be used for salad, or to add at the end of cooking. In addition, light olive and pure olive has three percent acidic content; so he advices not to heat it for a long time. All in all, the type of edible oil he recommends is unsaturated fatty acid oils such as Canola, corn oil, rice, sunflower. Locally extracted niger seed and sesame oils are also more preferable for Alazar.

Apart from identifying the chemicals, it is also important to control the usage of the amount. “It needs up to three hours to digest a food which contains fat; so we should know how our metabolism works when using edible oil,” Alazar says. He also argues that most gastric problems in Ethiopia are associated with that.

However, there are a few health conscious personalities who dedicated their lifestyle to live in moderation, who stick to low fat dairy products, and use unsaturated fatty acid. Though they do their own researches and verify what the oil makeup is in some instances, the companies are not sometime genuine in disclosing contents, according to a recent research. A research conducted by Dimberu Geremewu and Belete Bedemo, researchers at the Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, entitled: “Estimation of total free fatty acid and cholesterol content in some commercial edible oils in Ethiopia,” the research states that companies are misleading by labeling their products as “cholesterol free”; while actually it was not. Their investigation attempted to find out total free fatty acid and cholesterol content in nine, six branded and three non-branded, commercial edible oil brands. The chosen oils brands were produced in an Ethiopian oil factory; the Modjo Edible Oil Complex (cottonseed, rapeseed and a mix of cottonseed and rapeseed), the second sample is an imported oil (palm oil, sunflower and

olive oil) and the third category were oils produced in small scale (niger seed oils and rapeseed oils).

The analysis revealed varying levels of content. Cholesterol was detected in seven of the vegetable oils while for two oil samples, niger seeds, it was nothing.

The research showed how all the acid values and some saponification values show high values in comparison with the maximum permissibility level of the international Codex standard for the named vegetable oils. In addition, the research also identifies considerable number of adults at present times develops some degrees of atherosclerosis commonly known as “hardening of the arteries” which leads to strokes, heart attacks and other serious health problems and high cholesterol is one of the principal risks.

The research concludes that there is no cholesterol free oil in the market as opposed to what is claimed on the vegetable oil brand labels. What the researchers suggest to the companies is that to indicate the amount of cholesterol present in vegetable oils, no matter how small the quantity it may be. Though the research was conducted in 2011, Tewodros Girma, Food Registration and Licensing Directorate Director at the Food, Medicine, Healthcare Administration and Control Authority of Ethiopia, says that this is not known to their office.

According to Tewodros, if an edible oil brand has cholesterol labeling which says it is cholesterol free, while actually it has traits, it is illegal and that they will look into it in the future. So far, according to Tewodros, what they have been focused on is to control palm oil, which did not fulfill the standard of Codex. In Ethiopia, in the past decade, the main commodity that is imported was palm oil with the highest concentration of saturated fatty acid, 80 percent.

According to Tewodros, palm oil naturally has saturated fatty acid accumulation but the factory processing adds the concentration. Tewodros says that when the fruit and seed of a palm are mixed the concentration of saturated fatty acid reaches 80 percent; meanwhile, if it is only the fruit, it is

40-43 percent. Prior to a couple of years, the country switched to importing only the fruit of the palm plant, according to Tewodros, fulfills the Codex standards. Tewodros says further that the regulation for importers starts from the paperwork, custom regulation and also how it is disseminated in the market.

In the meantime, Tewodros says that for the local producers it starts from the supplements, processing up to packaging. Apart from that, Tewodros stresses that the office strictly regulates the market though he believes there is a gap. “We have found out that there are illegal importers which are hazardous to health,” Tewodros says.

Tewodros does not hide the fact that the regulation started two years ago and still there is a huge gap. It was recently that they started the inspection for every pack of oil. The oil sample is investigated before they enter the country. For Tewodros, out of these oil brands trans-fatty acid oils such as margarine are dangerous to health which will be also regulated in the future. Trans-fats are artificially saturated when they pass through a chemical process that involves high heat, hydrogen gas and a metal. Studies also show that, trans-fats lead to insulin resistance, inflammation, belly fat accumulation and drastically raise the risk of heart disease.

Though some suggest the usage of locally produced oil there have been strange incidents that have been reported in different media outlets. Mixing strange and hazardous elements with oil have been reported. These oil brands are not exclusive to Addis; rather they are sent to different cities in Ethiopia.

According to Yitayih Tadesse, Head of Competence Assurance and Supervision Core Work Process at the Food, Medicine, Healthcare Administration and Control Authority of Addis Ababa, these problems are witnessed in illegal producers not in the licensed ones.

According to him, the office controls the producers regularly including the production systems. Apart from the office, the products also are inspected by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute.

There have been instances when these mixing strange items and being unsanitary is also witnessed in licensed companies. “These oils have a problem related to the acidity and toxic level,” Yitayih says.

The edible... CONT`D FROM PAGE 23

rights should be strengthened. And the government is committed towards ensuring that.

There were reports about border demarcation between Ethiopia and Sudan. Can you tell us about that?

There are two kinds of lies. One is the kind that can be falsified very easily. A report which sets a timetable is opening itself for scrutiny. If there is a report that says the border demarcation will be carried out next month, the credibility of the report can easily be established when that timetable expires. They could have simply avoided the scrutiny by saying soon the other kind of lie. Over the past seven years, there have been at least seven reports from diaspora-based outlets about the Ethio-Sudan border demarcation stating that the

borders will be demarcated either next week or next month. It is easy to establish the validity of such reports. The news report you are now citing is one-week old, right? Wait three weeks and there will be no demarcation. But that does not mean the border should not be demarcated. By the way, there were many political agreements between the two sides to urgently demarcate the border since the early 1970s. Other than that, there has never been a timetable set for demarcation. But it should be done because there should be no clashes between two brotherly nations over this. The focus of the two countries now is to jointly develop the area so that people on both sides of the border can benefit from it. In this regard there are agreements to establish a joint development corridor, the implementation of which would be

beneficial.

What are the findings of the investigation in last week’s grenade attack on the Grand Anwar Mosque in Addis Ababa?

Investigations are still ongoing. Police will issue a statement with regard to their investigation. But one thing seems clear. The perpetrators might be those who are unhappy to see the conclusion of a peaceful Friday prayers by the Muslim community because the attack was carried out after the prayers.

What is the current drought situation?

The revised figure on the number of people who would need food assistance is 10.2 million. I said last time that the issue is not so

much about the numbers. It is a figure that changes based on the regular assessments carried out. For instance, we are seeing signs of improvement in rainfall in Belg areas. If this continues, the number of vulnerable communities will decline significantly. As it currently stands, the government has surplus food stock to provide to areas where there are shortfalls in the supply of food aid. This may not continue forever. We are not bragging that we would not need external assistance or that we are self-sufficient. When external assistance comes our way, we would gladly accept it. For that matter, we have made an international plea for assistance. We are saying we will not let it get out of hand.



The information The Reporter obtained from CBE reveals that the bank also has sold two water drilling equipments which belonged to Karuturi. According to Ephrem Mekuria, head of corporate communications at the bank, the two machineries, which were worth some 2.6 million, were included in the loan recovery process.

The farmland has 50 years of lease period which the Ethiopian government allotted to Karuturi some six years ago with ineffably cheap prices.

Founder and managing director of the company, Sai Rammakrishna Karuturi, in an email response sent late Friday afternoon to The Reporter, claimed that the foreclosure proceedings initiated by CBE “in a vindictive and petty manner in violation of all rules and laws of this land” has been suspended.

The Reporter was unable to confirm the suspension via proper documentation until press time (Friday 8:30 PM).

Ephrem on his part said that he is not aware of any suspension of the foreclosure until the end of Friday office hours. However, he also indicated that the company has a window of opportunity to settle at least 25 percent of its debt obligations before Tuesday.

It is for the second time that CBE issued foreclosure notice against Karuturi. It is to be recalled that in October last year; The Reporter published a news article about Karuturi nearly escaping foreclosure settling 25 percent downpayments for the 65 million birr (some four million dollars) credit.

Karuturi has been in court trials for similar credit cases with Zemen Bank. The loans extended to the firm were not paid on the due date. The privately-owned bank, Zemen, took the case to court until the dispute was settled via negotiations between the two sides. Karuturi admitted that it still owes Zemen some 26 million birr.

However, Karuturi sternly criticized the way banks and officials have acted towards his endeavors here. In an interview with The Reporter earlier in the week, the big man who considers himself as the first person to introduce commercial farming in Ethiopia, was bursting out with frustrations. The managing director

threw allegations and severe criticisms against individuals and institutions. He also revealed that he was unwillingly provided 300 thousand hectares land by the Gambella Regional State to cultivate. According to Karuturi, his capacity was to cultivate 10 thousand hectares in the region.

“I didn’t ask for the 300 thousand hectares. But the Gambella Regional State officials called me and said we will give you 300 thousand hectares and I said I only can develop 10 thousand,” Karuturi said revealing how he was forced to take the 300 thousands hectare land based on his own terms and prices.

According to Ram Karuturi, he is ready to settle CBE’s loan if he receives some 100 million birr from a local company that borrowed the stated amount from the Indian firm. He claimed CBE, Karuturi and the local company have formed a tripartite committee to resolve the issue. However, Ephrem told The Reporter that no such arrangements have taken place nor were there any formal requests.

Since its introduction to Ethiopia, Karuturi Global Limited has been under the spotlight following the gigantic acquisition of 300 thousand hectares land in Ethiopia. Government officials considered Karuturi no longer reputable in the country.

Back in January, Abera Mulat, director of agricultural investment and land administration agency at the Ministry of Agriculture, told The Reporter that Karuturi is no longer a reputable company in Ethiopia. According to Abera, the Indian giant has failed to deliver. The official went on to say that Karuturi is on the verge of collapsing in Ethiopia. “Karuturi is bankrupt following internal management crisis”, Abera said.

However, attempts made by The Reporter to have Abera’s comments on recent developments were unsuccessful. Abera declined to comment on grounds of media relations bureaucracies.

However, the statements graveled Karuturi and went to personally attacking such individual officials and the press for painting bad reputations against his business in the country. Statements such as not reputable,

bankrupt and management crisis according to Karuturi are beyond what he could swallow. He went on threatening to use all means necessary to clear his name. “I am a rose king of the world. Everybody knows that,” Karuturi claimed.

Karuturi has borrowed from CBE, Dashen and Zemen banks. The credits extended to the company exceed 170 million birr and the CEO said that his company was set to settle the debts by the end of October, 2014. But it failed to do so. Currently, the company faces grim realities. The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources on Thursday held a closed meeting and cited Karuturi as a failure for commercial farming in the country.

Abera, who presented a report about the current situation, said that there will be no more tolerance for bad-performing firms such as Karuturi. Though Ram Karututi accepts disappointing performances over his agribusiness, he echoed that locally he feels he is “crucified”.

The multimillion dollar company has been floating stock shares at the international market intending to raise capital. According to media reports, one reason for the problems the company is facing is the rift among the 19 officials of the Karuturi Group. But Karuturi pointed towards government officials as the major source of the company’s nightmare. The recent announcement of the sale of Karuturi’s machineries and equipments and other accessories prompted the concerns of local officials. However, Ram Karuturi denied that selling out those machineries is based on the intention of settling debts. Furthermore, he said that the company is selling out the surplus equipment it had in the farms. According to the CEO, the company has a USD 70 million worth of machineries in Ethiopia.

Over a telephone interview from Bangalore, India, back in 2014, Karuturi told The Reporter that he was on solid grounds and will stay invested in Ethiopia. By that time he was selling out machineries and equipment worth 15 million birr to repay debts the company had incurred here.

In its 2011 annual report to shareholders, Karuturi claimed that

its operation in Ethiopia was causing delays due to logistics and issues related to local customs clearance. But its investment was in question right from the beginning when it floated stocks after it acquired a massive farmland in Gambella Regional State.

Ambitious Karuturi again was under the spotlight following its debt with Zemen Bank here. Officials of the privately run bank confirmed to The Reporter some months ago that there was disagreement between the two regarding loans repayment. Though Karuturi is said to retain its international presence of floriculture business, in Ethiopia its performance was at stake. According to information The Reporter obtained from the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency, Karuturi has been requested to report on its activities. Officials at the agency said that the request is still pending. Karuturi operates two flower farms called Surya Blossoms and Ethiopian Meadows in addition to the Karuturi Agro Products PLC and Shiva Packs PLC.

The 2012-13 annual report of the company indicated that Karuturi has developed some 14 thousand hectares of land. The report also indicated that some 21 thousand tons of maize have been harvested on four thousand hectares. However, that has not been accepted by the government and officials say that Karuturi has never been able to harvest on such a scale. Most of all officials want Karuturi to export. The company was bullish to produce one million tons of maize and other produces in Ethiopia.

High-level officials including those at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources appear to be turning their backs against the likes of Karuturi which they believe are performing way below the expectations of the government. In previous accounts, officials could be seen defending poor performing foreign firms in a notion of encouraging others regardless of the actual performances.

Back home in India, Karuturi has been on the headlines on issues of environment. Activists often scrutinize its activities in Africa. Indian writers and bloggers were quick to nitpick on Karuturi for the alleged destructions of habitations in Ethiopia and beyond. The company last year was on fire after it took activists to Indian courts for an alleged defamation.

CBE to... CONT`D FROM PAGE 1

CONT`D FROM PAGE 3

casualties due to crackdown on protests.

At a press conference on Wednesday Getachew Reda, head of the Government Communications Affairs Office, said the protests have resulted in “a high number” of human casualties and property damage. But maintained that the government would not engage in “back and forth regarding the number of victims”.

“That would be insensitive. Because [the protests] were led by people who calculate their gains [from the unrest], it has resulted in an unnecessary loss of life and property,” he told local media.

However, the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (Medrek) on Tuesday said that more than 30 people

have lost their lives in various towns and cities of the Oromia region.

Beyne Petros (Prof.), president of the party, Merera Gudina, deputy president and head of external affairs and Tilahun Endeshaw, head of public relations brandished a list which they said contained the names of 30 people killed by government forces.

“The excessive force used by the government against peaceful protestors is horrendous,” Tilahun said.

The government maintains that the protests, which according to the government, were initially “largely peaceful” have taken a different “character”. Getachew branded some of the protesters as “armed gangs who

want to bring about lawlessness in the country”.

“Uncontrolled armed gangs are now openly talking about bringing about regime change,” Getachew said adding that the government will put a stop to it.

The communications head accused Ginbot 7 and Oromo Liberation Front, groups designated as terrorists by the government, and legally registered political organizations in the country – Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) of “exploiting the situation”.

Apart from damages to government property, there were also reports of attacks on private property including those owned by foreign investors such as Dangote Cement and Sol Agro PLC,

the Dutch flower farm.

Merera maintains that the protests show the level of frustration towards the government.

“Though the triggering point of the current unrest is mainly due to the integrated masterplan, the protest shows the public’s frustration towards the administration and hopelessness among the youths,” Merera said during the press conference.

Protests against the integrated masterplan first began in April 2014 which left more than a dozen killed in Ambo town, 125 km west of Addis Ababa. Protesters fear the plan would enable the capital city to expand into the surrounding Oromia regions at the expense of Oromo farmers, language and culture.

Protests in...


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |31GALLERY

Bad designs, poor construction and gross negligence best describe some of the buildings and the attention given to fire escapes. Whenever requests are made to the approving and permitting body, the requesting body should include land ownership document, a copy of the plan showing the vicinity in relation to the city plan, and present

architectural, structural, electrical, sanitary, fire escape, electromechanical plan, details of buildings in the area of construction, and credentials of the people that prepared the designs. Consent signed by neighborhood is also one of the requirements. Photo By Tamerat Getachew

No Exit!



CONT`D FROM PAGE 14

the atmosphere through our incessant use of fossil fuels. This increase in global temperatures, the argument goes, is to be blamed for erratic weather conditions, natural disasters, rising sea levels and the melting of the polar ice caps. In short, humans are building the road that ultimately leads to their perdition. The panacea proposed is to cut CO2 emissions significantly if we are to have any chance of surviving the wrath of global warming and the attendant effects of climate change. This argument has made CO2 and fossil fuels the bête noire of our time.

The skeptics

No one denies the fact that the global temperatures have increased. What skeptics point out is that the increase has not been as dramatic as the scaremongers would like us to believe and human CO2 may not be the primary cause.

From 1880 to 2015 the earth has warmed only about 0.8 degrees. Much of that increased occurred before the 1940s when we didn’t have those awful carbon emitting cars and factories. Between 1940 and 1975, temperatures actually went down despite massive increase in carbon emissions. And in the last 19 years temperatures have remained the same despite the increase in our carbon foot print.

What’s more, changes in global temperatures are common occurrences throughout the history of the earth. Just 200 years ago, temperatures plummeted and Europe entered what climatologists call the little ice age. Paintings still abound depicting people skating on a frozen River Thames. The Medieval warm period of 1000 years ago and the Holocene maximum of 8000 years ago were periods of much higher temperatures than the ones we wail and rail so much about now. Surprisingly, for scientists these periods are known to be periods in which agriculture flourished and vegetation covered much of the world.

In what is considered to be the most popular account of the global warming/climate change tale, Al Gore produced a graph from the Arctic ice core data supposedly demonstrating the point that for thousands of years world temperatures have gone up when the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased. Many eminent scholars later pointed out that Al Gore was wrong. What the ice core data actually showed was that the increases in CO2 levels trailed the increase in temperature by roughly 800 years. In other words, the change in temperature caused the CO2 levels in the atmosphere to rise not the other way round. Alas, Al Gore won the Oscar for best documentary of the year regardless and the movie has now become a cult classic. He now owns huge mansions all over the US including one in Opera Winfrey’s neighborhood with a carbon foot print of a small third world nation.

Even the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that herculean paragon of misinformation, has come around recently and said that its earlier predictions were flawed. In its most recent report the panel lowered its near term forecast for the global mean surface temperature over the period 2016 to 2035 to just 0.3 to 0.7 degrees

above the 1986–2005 level. That is a warming of 0.1 to 0.2 degrees per decade, in all scenarios, including the high-emissions ones.

Matt Ridely, The author of The Rational Optimist and a climate change optimist, wrote in a recent article that the latest science on the “sensitivity” of the world’s temperature to a doubling of carbon dioxide levels is also reassuring. According to Ridely “several recent peer-reviewed studies of climate sensitivity based on actual observations, including one with 14

mainstream IPCC authors, conclude that this key measure is much lower – about 30-50 percent lower – than the climate models are generally assuming”.

Another argument that one is wont to hear from any self proclaimed au courant is the one referring to extreme weather conditions and natural disasters. Anything from a slightly warmer summer to a much colder winter is taken as evidence of climate change. If that isn’t climate change them what is? A US Senator recently

made a similar argument on the Senate floor with a straight face. She took her cue from the President who said earlier that 2014 was the warmest year on record. It is as if the Yes we can campaign slogan-the Trojan horse which the then Senator rode to get to the White House-has somehow morphed into the motto Yes, I can say whatever I want!

As for as we can tell, there is nothing to support the assertion that hurricanes, storms, floods or droughts have increased in number and impact. In fact, the data shows that on a global scale, the incidence and intensity of natural disasters has not increased. Furthermore, the death toll and destruction from natural disasters has actually decreased thanks mainly to technology and infrastructure built and maintained by machinery powered by fossil fuels.

What about the melting of the Arctic ice which is going to engulf as in biblical floods and the alarming rise in ocean levels? Aren’t these byproducts of climate change caused by humans? It is true that the Arctic has warmed in recent decades. But what the alarmists do not tell you is that current temperatures in the opposite side of the world, Antarctica, are the lowest they have ever been. And in the past, a warmer climate has caused Arctic ice to melt creating more land for cultivation. Ocean levels, on the other hand, have risen 20 cm in the last 100 years just as they have in the century before and the one before that. There is no unprecedented rise in ocean levels.

Another untested assumption of the climate experts is that if climate changes, it must change for the worst. No wriggle room is left for the contrary scientific hypothesis. Can the current warming of the globe be good for humans? The categorical answer is yes. CO2 is good for plants and crops. Recent researches have concluded that increased carbon emissions are responsible for a significant increase in green vegetation coverage in all ecosystems especially in arid areas. One study found that without carbon emissions the current crop yield of the world would be lower by an amount worth USD 100 billion each year.

The medicine kills

Despite hard evidence to the contrary, experts and environmentalists continue vilifying fossil fuels and oil companies as murderers and environmental criminals. But facts speak volumes than invective rhetoric for those who care to look for them. The policies pushed by these experts and their activist entourage have cost governments billions with ever increasing diminishing returns. Even more concerning is the grave harms inflicted on the millions of the poorest people across the world in the name of saving the planet.

In the name of clean energy, 40 percent of America’s corn production is being pumped into vehicles in the form of ethanol that has driven the price of food all over the world. It is now estimated that this stupid policy has costs the lives of 192,000 people in the third world in the year 2010 alone and leads to the death of 200,000 people each year. The scramble to increase bio-fuel production

has had similar effects so much so that starting from 2013; hitherto big sponsors of bio-fuel projects such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank have rolled back funding for bio-fuel plants.

Environmentalists have also made it very difficult for third world nations to get aid, loans and grants to build fossil-fuel power stations that would provide cheap electricity for their poor citizens and poorly powered factories. On the contrary, the activists have successfully lobbied governments to give out aid and loans to solar and wind power projects in poor nations. Solar and wind are by far the most inefficient ways to generate power. In the name of saving the planet from a nonexistent catastrophe, the poor are being deprived of the opportunity to improve their lives through fossil-fueled cheap energy. The poorest of the poor are being subjected to squalid deaths from the smoke of cooking fire which is the most potent environmental hazard to human life killing 4 million people each year.

The western world has also tested the bitterness of its own medicines as policies adopted to curb carbon emissions wreak havoc in that corner of the globe. In 1998, meek and mild bureaucrats in Brussels inaugurated a scheme that would force all car manufacturers in Europe to use diesel fueled engines with the goal of reducing carbon emissions. What they later found out was that diesel fueled engines emit harmful nitrogen oxides. The negative impacts of more nitrogen oxides on the health of Europeans have been huge. At least 5000 deaths each year are attributable to this macabre scheme. Similarly, US policy makers are now finding out that ethanol is a dangerous pollutant much more so than the eternal whipping boy that is CO2.

Subsidizing wind mills and solar power plants has been found to be money down the pipes. Wind and solar energy provide only one percent of the world’s energy despite the billions of dollars of tax payer’s money that have gone in to the industries in the form of subsidies. One study found out that in the US on a per Kilowatt basis the subsidies that have gone into wind and solar energy dwarf subsidies that have gone into fuel energy production by 350 percent.

The bottom line is that experts and activists are as self interested as the rest of us. Just because they are called experts or environmentalists does not mean that these self anointed guardians are the sons and daughters of angels untroubled by the daily fears and anxieties of mere mortals. The billions that go into the coffers of the experts and activists in the name of saving the planet play a huge part in determining what these people do and say. The fact of the matter is, in the climate change industry distorting the truth and sometimes bold face lying pays much better than honest scientific enquiry. That is why I am more inclined to agree with the sentiment echoed by the famous radio presenter Bill Buckley half a century ago in the words “I would rather be governed by the first four hundred names on the Boston telephone book than by the faculty of Harvard”.

Ed.’s Note: Raji Gezahegn (LLM) is a lecturer of Law, School of Law, Wolaita Sodo University. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].

Climate change...

“Even the Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that

herculean paragon of misinformation,

has come around recently and said that its earlier predictions

were awed. In its most recent report

the panel lowered its near term forecast

for the global mean surface temperature over the period 2016

to 2035 to just 0.3 to 0.7 degrees above

the 1986–2005 level. That is a warming

of 0.1 to 0.2 degrees per decade, in all

scenarios, including the high-emissions

ones.



By Daniel TeshomeTOUCH &

go

Ed.’s Note: Daniel Teshome is a current affairs commentator for The Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].

The past few days have seen serious disturbances in remote parts of Gondar and in areas of Oromia proximate to the nation’s capital, an event which gave some the opportunity to gloat, “Look where ethnic federalism gets us!” The disturbances in Northern Gondar arose when members of the minority Kimant people clashed with Amharas over what the former insist is the failure of the Amhara authorities to meet their constitutional demands for self-administration. We are going to focus on the disturbances in Oromia, however, as these are more extensive, affect a larger population, and have a direct effect on the stability of the capital city Addis Ababa.

The immediate cause for the unrest is the government’s masterplan which protesters say aims at expanding the geographic extent of Addis Ababa by invading surrounding areas that are under the jurisdiction of the Oromia Regional State. The protesters insist the masterplan would uproot Oromo farmers. Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn told state-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) on Wednesday, that the masterplan was still in the draft stages, and that it was never going to be implemented without the consent of the people it would directly affect. He even said the plans may be abandoned should they contravene the people’s wishes. On the other hand, his government maintains, the protests were instigated by the “anti-peace” and “anti-development” forces Ginbot 7 and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

We must first characterize the unrest, which some have chosen to call the Oromo protest movement, to better understand what we are dealing with, and to take a position, subsequently, as all citizens should.

Some among the supporters of the protests like Jawar Mohammed, the self-proclaimed spokesperson of the Oromo cause, insist the protests are not entirely about Addis Ababa’s expansion into Oromo lands, but also about official corruption and misrule by the ruling elite. (We will come back to Jawar in a moment.) And government officials insist: as there is in place a legal system that allows anyone to voice discontent, there is no justification for accusing the government of misrule or corruption, or any grounds for such protests. They also point to the sacrifices they incurred as a rebel movement fighting for power, signifying the great length they are willing to travel to restore order and

preserve their system of government.

Truth is not an exclusive province of either side in this conflict. The protesters have a valid point about misrule and corruption. There is no denying some development has been achieved, including in the legal mechanism to oppose the government which has shown some progress compared to former times. But, there is also no denying, that millions have been marginalized in the process, that the benefits have yet to trickledown to the people.

We should have no illusions Ethiopia is a thoroughly mismanaged country; otherwise we would have been known as the Utopians, not the Ethiopians. Having said that, the fact that a handful of tricksters live in ostentatious luxury while the majority wallow in utter poverty is not true only for Ethiopia; it is the case everywhere; despite what chauvinists insist, Ethiopia is not an exception.

We must then ask, if there is no country that is completely free from mismanagement, does it then follow, that protests against such mismanagement should take nationalist forms? It is tragic when people die; it is more so when they die for narrow provincial causes. When what should be extensive humanist demands for justice are downgraded to narrow nationalist concerns, all great sacrifices become a waste. Justice is universal; and the struggle for it cannot be an exclusively national or ethnic affair; justice cannot vary along ethnic lines. That is why, notwithstanding their legitimate grievances, the protesters’ presentation of those grievances as a list of exclusionary nationalist demands antagonizes other people who probably have the same thing at heart.

Parenthetically, by nationalists, we mean all those persons or groups who, notwithstanding their nation’s actual de jure, de facto or imaginary status, elevate the ideal of their nation above the ideal of humanism. This nationalism is what transforms the land of reticent and tolerant people into the den of hungry lions. Unfortunately, most other arguments pale before the argument of identity. When it is his identity that is being debated, even the most serene Buddhist takes only a moment to break his meditation to break someone’s jaw. Who a people see themselves as is their last refuge; it is the argument that almost never fails.

Returning from this digression, we

already stated the protesters have good cause; there is some right in what they are demanding. By the same token, there is some right in what the government is asserting: it is duty-bound to restore order; it is not in anyone’s interest to suffer the protests in their current nationalist or ethnic form.

These protests are not different from most in that they pit armed security with a mostly unarmed populace. Having said that, just because civilians are fighting the army or police, it does not necessarily follow that right is only on their side.

Even if the protesters win territory, unless they abandon their provincial views, they will be worse off than before. A small group of people benefit when the sacred cause of freedom and justice is profaned by nationalism – be it Ethiopian or Oromo nationalism. Name-calling achieves little, but we’re going to do it anyway: the only beneficiaries are populist windbags like Jawar Mohammed who never fail to take advantage of a disillusioned people. If you only heard his thunderous fulminations, you would think the man was commanding the protests here in Ethiopia, my apologies, Oromia when he is, in fact, leading a comfortable existence behind the Minneapolis front.

Again, the protesters have legitimate demands – we cannot emphasize that enough. However, if they are truly interested in change for the better, they should present their cause in completely different terms; the aggrieved people must articulate their demands in universal, humanist terms. Justice for all should be the demand, not justice for one ethnic group only. But protest movements never follow recommendations; they progress along their own path. And as we have shown, the current protests are progressing in the interests of a handful of implacable nationalists. That is why the movement cannot be allowed to develop its full potential in its present jingoistic form.

Of course, we recommend restraint to all sides, and especially to the government in its undertaking to calm the situation. Shooting down civilians was not heroism in 2005; it cannot be heroism now. Belligerence and saber-rattling are not the best mechanisms by which authorities can handle identity-inspired unrest. That being said, the government must bring the unrest under control before more lives and properties are destroyed; it must restore order, if possible without

Characterizing the Oromo protests further escalation, without giving too many people bloody noses, but with proportional force if need be. The unrest must subside before any sensible discussion on the people’s demands can take place.

Local authorities must be prevailed upon to contain unrest in their territories; should they prove unequal for the task, there is no alternative to embedding federal forces within the ranks of local militias. Suppression with overwhelming military might is only justifiable when local authorities prove sympathetic to the unrest by either directly participating in it or choosing to be unresponsive; or when embedding federal forces in the local militias proves insufficient to bring the disturbances under control. We hope that point will not be reached; but if it is, there is no alternative to the temporary imposition of federal authority in the contested areas, including the disarming of civilians and local militias who may have taken part in the destruction of life or property.

Discussions can begin once order is restored, not a minute before. Hopefully, the disturbances will be put down before long; the longer the state of anarchy festers, the more difficult it becomes to contain. Once peace and order are achieved, it would be incumbent on the government to address every one of the protesters’ demands. Self-criticism will do the government some good; the protests did not come out of nowhere. There are serious demands that will need to be addressed and these demands are not exclusive to those who protest at risk to themselves; they are everyone’s grievances. Individuals implicated in criminal activities must be brought to justice; it should not matter if they are protesters, soldiers, policemen, or ministers.

By way of conclusion, we recapitulate the major points: the protests resulted from the people’s heretofore unanswered demands. But since the protests have taken an increasingly dangerous and exclusionary, that is, nationalist form, they have to be put down. It is best if that is achieved with the minimum loss of life so that the grievances are henceforth settled in a peaceful way, with justice for all parties. A society that accords the maximum latitude for the expression of peaceful aspirations does not put people to death for their opinions; the government should get that by now.


34| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006#REPORTERBOOK

R

R

#UhuruInKenya Chelsea vs PSG: Best memes and Tweets as clubs are drawn in the Champions League again

Is Europe really going to ban teenagers from Facebook and the internet?

In the most obvious twist of the Champions League draw (actually, Arsenal drew Barcelona) Chelsea were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain for the third season in a row.

Jose Mourinho will be hoping that the Blues will not repeat last year’s embarrassing encounter - where they played against 10 men for 90 minutes but still couldn’t find a way through at home.

The first leg was also scene to the unsavory racism incident on the Paris Metro.

The year before had its share of drama as well, Demba Ba scoring an 87th minute winner to send Chelsea through. It certainly could have been a lot better for the Blues (and Arsenal).

Here is some of the best reaction to the news, including PSG’s cringeworthy naming of the game as The New Classic...(The Independent)

The European Parliament is set to vote on Tuesday on new rules that could see teenagers banned from internet services such as Facebook, social media, messaging services or anything that processes their data, without explicit consent from their parent or guardian.

The last-minute amendment to the new European data protection regulations would make it illegal for companies to handle the data of anyone aged 15 or younger, raising the legal age of digital consent to 16 from 13.

Companies wishing to allow those under 16 to use their services, including Facebook, Snapchat, Whatsapp and Instagram, will have to gain explicit consent from their legal guardian.

The draft law states: “The processing of personal data of a child below the age of 16 years shall only be lawful if and to the extent that such consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental responsibility over the child.”

Companies such as Facebook currently allow users from the age of 13 to join their services. Their policies are based on the age of digital consent being 13, as defined by the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa) and similar laws in the EU, which afford those under 13 extra privacy protections.

Until recently, the draft European data protection bill, which is four years in the making, set the digital age of consent at 13, mirroring Coppa. (The Guardian)



R

R U.S. could start checking social media when vetting visas

Facebook announces major update to controversial ‘real name’ policy

#PresidentialDelivery

#WeekInHistory

#REPORTERBOOK

On 13 December 1960, a coup led by Germame Neway and his older brother Mengistu Neway (Bir. Gen.), who was commander of the Kebur Zabangna

(the Imperial Bodyguard) was staged against Emperor Haile Selassie I, who was on a state visit in Brazil at the time. By 17 December, loyalists had

regained control of Addis Ababa and the conspirators were either dead or had fled the capital.

U.S. officials could soon start checking social media posts while processing visa applications, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security later confirmed that it is specifically reviewing policies on when authorities at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services can look at social media posts as part of the vetting process for would-be immigrants applying for certain visas.

The effort comes just weeks after Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people during a shooting spree in San Bernardino, California. It later emerged that Malik had made comments on social media sites, including Facebook, voicing her support for the Islamic State. Immigration authorities reportedly failed to unearth her postings when she applied for and obtained a U.S. K-1 fiancé visa.

According to the Journal, DHS currently looks at immigrants’ social media postings only “intermittently” and as part of several pilot programs. It said it was unclear whether a new process could be implemented quickly.

Malik had used an alias when writing on Facebook, and it remains to be seen whether officials could possibly scour every applicant’s Internet posts. The government approved more than 9.9 million visa applications during the 2014 budget year. (Mashable)

Facebook’s controversial policy requiring users to use their real names just got an update.

The policy itself isn’t changing, according to a statement from Facebook on Tuesday, but the social network will now allow users to explain a special circumstance when verifying their name. That will flag the profile for Facebook’s review teams so they can provide “personalized support.”

Also, when users report a Facebook profile with a “fake” name, they’ll have to provide additional information; previously they could submit a report without explanation.

Facebook’s name policy is meant to make people “feel safe and be confident they know who they are communicating with,” according to the statement. It also makes it more difficult for users to anonymously

bully and harass others.

The rule, however, was widely criticized last year by transgender people, drag performers and other activists.

Previously, users sometimes found their account suddenly deactivated following a name report. The company expanded the options and documents people can use to verify their name.

“We’re firmly committed to this policy, and it is not changing,” said Justin Osofsky, vice president of global operations, and Todd Gage, product manager, said. “However, after hearing feedback from our community, we recognize that it’s also important that this policy works for everyone, especially for communities who are marginalized or face discrimination.” (Mashable)

Picture above is Abdi Mohamud Omar, chief administrator of Somali Regional State, carrying a sack of food aid to be handed over to drought

victims in the region.



Advertisment

NIB

INSU

RAN

CE

CO

MPA

NY(

S.C

)IN

CO

ME

STA

TEM

ENT(

Con

solid

ated

)FO

R TH

E YE

AR

ENDE

D 30

JUN

E 20

15

C

urre

ncy:

- Eth

iopi

an B

irrN

otes

2014

INC

OM

E

Und

er w

ritin

g re

sult

88,

102,

925

82,

668,

164

I

nter

est i

ncom

e- ti

me

dep

osit

34,

613,

038

27,

580,

924

D

ivid

ed in

com

e 8

,958

,423

1

0,69

9,62

6

Ga

in o

n sa

les o

f ed

ass

ets

123

,503

4

63,0

07

I

nter

est i

ncom

e- G

ov’t

bon

d 1

,194

,420

1

,521

,328

Ren

tal in

com

e 2

,679

,351

1

,992

,760

Oth

er in

com

e

73

0,48

0

3

09,5

38

136,

402,

141

125

,235

,347

EXPE

NSE

S

Sa

lary

and

ben

et

22 4

0,44

3,59

3 3

0,37

5,02

3

Fin

anc

ial c

harg

es 3

76,9

41

1,0

85,2

25

O

fce

rent

13,

396,

140

11,

492,

511

A

dve

rtisin

g a

nd p

ublic

ity 3

,273

,268

1

,333

,380

Ord

ina

ry g

ener

al m

eetin

g 1

72,5

00

271

,311

Dire

ctor

s’ A

llow

anc

es 2

08,2

80

204

,600

Aud

it fe

e 6

2,10

0 5

6,35

0

Dep

reci

atio

n a

nd a

mor

tiza

tion

8,0

74,3

48

7,1

28,9

33

O

ther

ep

ense

s19

11,

555,

639

11,

933,

316

(

Dec

rea

se) i

ncre

ase

in p

rovi

sion

for

d

oub

tful a

ccou

nt e

pen

ses

1

,478

,584

(1

2,04

5,31

1) 7

9,04

1,39

4

51,8

33,3

40

Pro

t bef

ore

taat

ion

57,

360,

746

73,

402,

007

T

rans

fer f

rom

Lon

g Te

rm In

sura

nce

3

,400

,000

-

60,

760,

746

73,

402,

007

rovi

sion

for t

aa

tion

12

4,7

69,2

16

10,

864,

086

55,

991,

530

62,

537,

921

P

rior p

erio

d a

dju

stm

ent

(96,

302)

26

,898

5

5,89

5,22

8 6

2,56

4,81

9

Leg

al r

eser

ve

5,58

9,52

3

6,2

56,4

82

50,

305,

705

56,

308,

337

Bala

nce

brou

ght f

orar

d 5

3,49

2,92

0

-

39,

353,

249

Div

iden

d d

ecla

red

(53,

492,

920)

(39,

353,

249)

- -

50,

305,

705

56,

308,

337

Dire

ctor

s re

mun

erat

ion

15

(450

,000

) (

2,81

5,41

7)Ba

lanc

e ca

rried

for

ard

(Gen

eral

insu

ranc

e) 4

9,85

5,70

5

53,4

92,9

20

Earn

ings

per

sha

re o

f Birr

500

par

al

ue21

149

2

40

Nib

Ins

uran

ce C

ompa

ny (

S. C

o.)

NIB

INSU

RAN

CE

CO

MPA

NY(

S.C

o)BA

LAN

CE

SHEE

TA

S A

T 30

JUN

E 20

15

C

urre

ncy:

- Eth

iopi

an B

irr

Not

es

Gen

eral

In

sura

nce

Busin

ess

Long

term

Bu

sines

sTo

tal

2014

ASS

ETS

Fied

Ass

ets

P

rop

erty

, pla

nt a

nd e

qui

pm

ent

2.3

,3

89,

955,

808

117

,820

9

0,07

3,62

9 5

1,11

4,79

9

Int

ang

ible

ass

ets

- 1

8,04

1 1

8,04

1 2

7,06

2

Lea

seho

ld la

nd 2

.5,4

1

5,63

4,99

3 2

,166

,667

1

7,80

1,66

0

9,5

30,2

93

105,

590,

801

2,3

02,5

29

107

,893

,330

6

0,67

2,15

4 In

estm

ents

B

ank

dep

osit

at i

nter

est

374

,408

,115

2

3,23

7,58

5 3

97,6

45,7

01

393

,591

,703

Gov

ernm

ent b

ond

9,0

00,0

00

1,1

10,0

00

10,

110,

000

10,

110,

000

I

nves

tmen

ts 5

7

0,22

3,10

0

3,41

5,00

0 7

3,63

8,10

0

65,2

89,6

54

453,

631,

215

27,

762,

585

481,

393,

801

468

,991

,357

O

ther

Ass

ets

C

ash

and

ba

nk b

ala

nces

6

86,

141,

301

4,8

69,0

56

91,

010,

357

63,

383,

301

T

rad

e re

ceiv

ab

le 7

-

1,2

93,7

94

1,2

93,7

94

10,

876,

059

O

ther

rece

iva

ble

s 8

6

1,20

6,79

1 2

,760

,122

6

3,96

6,91

3 3

7,39

1,73

7

Sta

tuto

ry d

epos

its 9

2

6,60

3,47

5 1

,500

,000

2

8,10

3,47

5 1

9,58

8,72

5

Due

from

rein

sure

rs 1

0

25,8

58,1

16

1,

268,

391

27

,126

,508

23,7

74,7

69

199

,809

,683

1

1,69

1,36

4 2

11,5

01,0

47

155

,014

,592

To

tal A

sset

s 7

59,0

31,7

00

41,

756,

478

800

,788

,178

6

84,6

78,1

03

LIA

BILI

TIES

Tech

nica

l pro

ision

s

Pro

visio

n fo

r out

sta

ndin

g cl

aim

s 2

.1.2

1

88,2

18,8

50

1,5

34,8

26

189

,753

,676

1

81,1

07,8

46

P

rovi

sion

for u

nep

ired

risk

2.1

.1

142

,973

,821

-

142

,973

,821

1

29,2

62,9

01

O

ther

tech

nica

l res

erve

s 2

.1.3

2

8,08

1,76

8 -

28,

081,

768

26,

203,

561

S

pec

ial r

eser

ve fo

r bon

d

4,0

00,0

00

-

4,0

00,0

00

3

,500

,000

3

63,2

74,4

39

1,5

34,8

26

364

,809

,265

3

40,0

74,3

07

Oth

er li

abili

ties

D

ue to

rein

sure

rs 1

0 8

7,52

2,99

6 3

,951

,094

9

1,47

4,09

0 7

3,33

1,95

3

Ta

es p

aya

ble

11

3,5

54,7

24

(47,

537)

3,5

07,1

87

9,2

85,5

64

C

red

itors

and

acc

rua

ls 1

3 4

3,75

9,33

9 2

,982

,085

4

6,74

1,42

4 3

6,89

3,51

9

La

nd le

ase

pa

yab

le 1

4 9

,273

,482

8

74,5

82

10,

148,

064

1,6

64,2

47

Act

uaria

l lia

bilit

ies

-

8,72

4,35

1

8,7

24,3

51

144

,110

,541

1

6,48

4,57

6 1

60,5

95,1

17

121

,175

,282

To

tal l

iabi

litie

s 5

07,3

84,9

80

18,

019,

402

525

,404

,382

4

61,2

49,5

90

NET

ASS

ETS

251

,646

,720

2

3,73

7,07

6 2

75,3

83,7

96

223

,428

,513

CA

PITA

L A

ND

RESE

RVES

Paid

up

ca

pita

l 1

6 1

77,3

56,5

00

10,

000,

000

187

,356

,500

1

30,5

91,5

00

Sha

re P

rem

ium

9

8,65

0 -

98,

650

- Le

gal r

eser

ve 1

7 2

7,16

1,70

1 3

13,9

82

27,

475,

683

21,

886,

160

Reta

ined

ea

rnin

gs 1

8

47,0

29,8

69

2,

825,

836

49

,855

,705

53,4

92,9

20

Shar

ehol

ders

fund

s 2

51,6

46,7

20

13,

139,

818

264

,786

,538

2

05,9

70,5

80

Life

Fund

-

10,

597,

258

10

,597

,258

17,4

57,9

33

Tota

l Cap

ital a

nd R

eser

es 2

51,6

46,7

20

23,

737,

076

275

,383

,796

2

23,4

28,5

13

149

__

____

____

____

____

____

____

Shife

raw

Ba

nte

A/G

ener

al M

ana

ger

Earn

ings

per s

ha

__

____

____

____

____

____

____

Asa

mne

w B

are

gaC

hairm

an,

Boa

rd o

f Dire

ctor

s

In c

ompl

ianc

e ith

arti

cle

332(

b) o

f Pro

clam

atio

n no

. 4

2012

the

Con

solid

ated

Bal

ance

She

et a

nd In

com

e St

atem

ent o

f N

ib In

sura

nce

Com

pany

(S.

Co)

for t

he y

ear e

nded

Jun

e 30

201

5 is

her

eund

er p

ublis

hed

for p

ublic

info

rmat

ion.


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |37Advertisment

Position Description for “Program/Outreach Specialist”

SummaryGive Hope Ethiopia is established with a vision of seeing a country where ‘all Children grow and realize their full potential’. It envisions community capacity building and transformation by providing support to children, women and youth to release them from economic, social, and physical poverty and facilitating a favorable environment to help them grow up to

citizens. Under the supervision of the U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Information Resource Center

ideas and design and develop program goals and objectives. Manage and implement programs using state-of-the-art technology and resources at the AS. Provide technical and programmatic training, guidance and support to AS coordinators at NALA and other regional American Spaces, as appropriate. Maintain relationships and track regular program participants. Train AC staff and enhance their programming and ICT skills.Position Title: Program/Outreach SpecialistReports To: The IRCD at the U.S. Embassy, and also routinely reports to Give Hope Ethiopia and NALA Program CoordinatorsDuty Station: Addis Ababa, National Archives and Library AgencyDuration: Two years with possibility of an extensionSalary: ETB 15,000 – 23,000

Duties and ResponsibilitiesPlan and coordinate the development, implementation, and execution of programs, public engagement events, and other initiatives designed to achieve the overall U.S. Embassy goals and public diplomacy objectives.Conduct research to evaluate and assess the quality of the programs’ results.Creatively determine areas requiring public engagement and plan for program implementation.Train AC staff in program planning and implementation, as well as management of technologies.Provide and/or coordinate the provision of technical guidance, consultation, and

support on day-to-day program-related the need and issues.Develop and utilize a range of creative promotional and informational presentations, and/or resource materials related to program activity data; develop, write, edit, and present comprehensive statistical and narrative program reports and evaluations.Manage, implement, and/or conduct programs using AC technology and resources including the 3D printer, doodler, etc.Engage youth audiences through social media tools and provide social media as necessary.Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Education/ExperienceBachelor’s degree in information science, computer science, information technology,

experience that can be demonstrated to be applicable to the duties listed in the job description.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities RequiredStrong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse environment.Strong ICT skills and ability to use them for the development and delivery of programs.Demonstrated professional knowledge and operational expertise in a variety of program focus areas.Excellent command of English and Amharic languages.Program planning, development, implementation, and leadership skills.Ability to determine informational needs and to collect and analyze information using ICT.Ability to develop and deliver both oral and written presentations.Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart information to a range of clientele and/or media sources.

CV and relevant credential documents to Give Hope Ethiopia using the contact details below within 10 days of this announcement.

Vacancy Announcement



Bits PiecesBy Leyou Tameru

&

Ed.’s Note: Leyou Tameru is a graduate of Georgetown and Addis Ababa University Law schools, specializing in International Legal Studies. Born and raised in Addis Ababa, she seeks to understand

the impact of economic, political and social issues on everyday lives. She can be reached at @anchihoye

@anchihoyeAdvertisment

Nairobi and Addis Ababa are only one hour and forty five minutes flying distance from each other but, in more ways than one, they are worlds apart. There quite a few striking differences between these two cities, the most noticeable one is greenery! Nairobi has many buildings and looks very urban, however there are lots of trees and large green spaces throughout the city. Above anything, it is simply beautiful to look at while driving or walking. Addis on the other hand, absolutely lacks green spaces. It’s as if we do not place value on it. Everywhere you turn, there’s either a building or some form of cement structure. And the very few green spaces the are there are either soon to be built on or so neglected that they are not attractive.

The impressive thing about Nairobi is the availability of goods. You can pretty much find anything in that city. Pharmacies have all sorts of medication, supermarkets have shelves packed with all sorts of goods. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Addis. You have to ask people to bring you goods from outside the country because they are not available or if they are their prices are double or triple the regular price. This is not to say that we have to import goods but it is an indication of the economic capacity that Kenya has, the availability of foreign currency, and most importantly the ease of doing business.

Nairobi is the economic hub of the region and there is a reason for it. Despite all this talk of corruption, doing business in Nairobi is a much different experience than in Addis, in good way. We have still much to learn in terms of customer services and process management.

The security situation in Nairobi can definitely be a problem. Driving at night is scary and you cannot even entertain the idea of walking after dark. Robberies are common and there are businesses built around that reality. Although considered much more safe, I would argue that theft, the violent kind, is becoming much more common. Many people that I know, including myself and my family members have been robbed or mugged in parts of the city usually considered safe. I often fear that Addis is heading in Nairobi’s direction mainly because what we are seeing in terms of income disparity in Addis is similar to that in Nairobi.

In terms of transportation, Addis is way ahead. Nairobi roads are often narrow, riddled with potholes or both. This makes traffic very bad. Whatever you do, the last thing you want to get caught in is Nairobi traffic. It is one of those things that cannot always be predicted, but if you find yourself in one, you can be stuck for hours. A small example is the trip from the airport to the city center. When you ask taxi drivers how long this route usually takes, the response is “depending on traffic, between 20 minutes and 2 hours”. As crazy as traffic can be in Addis, it is not that bad. This has partly to do with the road quality in Addis and the lower number of cars in Addis. There is also the Light Rail Transit that began operations a few months ago putting Addis at the forefront of mass public transportation in the continent.

These two cities have a lot to learn from each other. Most importantly Ethiopia has a lot to learn from Kenya with regards to income inequality and the impact this can have on the security of cities. If we do not learn how to make our growth inclusive, if the rich are the only ones to benefit from the much talked about economic boom, and the richer poor simply read about on the news, there will be tremendous social consequences among other things.

A tale of two cities



ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)This wek is the right time for you to set plans. The set of planets - Uranus and Venus ûhows that there is a new love interest. A connection with the Moon adds in the feel good factor. There is a good chance to get your act together and show what you're made of. You may decide to construct a plan on paper for getting things and people organized for an upcoming event. This week lucky numbers are: 1, 5, 24, 19,

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21)Very busy days are ahead of you. You will nd more than the usual cooperation. There's a good feel in the air, so you may not even notice the fact that Mercury, planet of communication is beginning one of it's retrograde periods. You will be actively involved in a social life, taking a bigger part in collective events. Being in touch with ideas and people on a grand scale, will help to keep your mind busy. This week lucky numbers are: 10, 6, 89, 18, 2

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)Money matters are improving during this period. It's possible you may decide to consolidate and review a current path. Mercury will be returning to feel the in uence of luto and you could be clearing out clutter and debris of all sorts. Taking care of business is a major theme where your emotional orientation is to be concerned during this week. This week lucky numbers are: 11, 1, 69, 18, 81

CANCER (June 22-July 22)When there is so much water energy around this week, you should be in your element! Enlarging your intellectual and spiritual horizons take on a high priority during this week. There will be a new meeting where you will learn something important that can help you to gain a new understanding. The point of all this actions is for you to give yourself time and patience before making any nal decisions about anything important, particularly with regard to work. There is a great chance of shpwing what a reliable and good friend you can be. This week lucky numbers are: 56, 31, 88, 73, 47

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Some very important developments will at the beginning of this week as soon as the Moon is in your sign. There may be some very serious or meditative moments and you may

nd yourself in a very businesslike mood by the end of this week. This week is also may turn out to be the perfect time to consolidate and organize your affairs or to rearrange your living situation.This week lucky numbers are: 98, 36, 62, 6, 88

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)You should try to make the emotions that you have or the way that you feel very clear. A progress in your developing your value system, allowing you to like new things. Money matters are also on your mind. Make an attempt to nd ways to increase the income 'cose you know you are worth it. It could also be that you realize a career change makes sense now. This weekend is to be spent with your friends.This week lucky numbers are: 33, 54, 21, 8, 36

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)This week promises even more than last, but much depends on what your expectations are. Remember that if you expect nothing, you will get nowhere. This week lucky numbers are: 10, 54, 81, 68, 87

SCOR IO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)There is also a tendency that you will feel the need to care for others or to have them care for you. Shopping early for gifts, decorations or that special party costume would be a very productive and useful actions. This week especially is a time to not only make great strides nancially, but also to set new career goals too. Gathering information to share with others would be signi cant to you now. This week lucky numbers are: 75, 72, 94, 5, 86

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)If you focus your attention on the problem the solution will appear more obvious. However, being more relaxed and feeling especially romantic, you will nd an excellent chance of getting over the problems you have come across. You will have a chance to put your thoughts into words that allow you to fascinate and enthrall everyone around you. By the end of this week there is a possibility to be caught up in a situation where you must choose a path without knowing necessary details or circumstances. This week lucky numbers are: 80, 27, 6, 98, 88

CA RICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)If you missed a chance last week, you will get another one now. You will nd that your businesslike abilities are at a high point now. It looks like you are at your mental best . Your career direction will get a lift, and life's problems should be also easy to solve. Try to make attempt to be determined not to waste a single minute of your life, and you gain the maximum bene t from every opportunity that exists. This week lucky numbers are: 81, 96, 54, 31, 91

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)This week will bring many good chances and very important ideas as the Moon in your chart. You comprehend an imaginative approach and may value collective or unconventional ideas. This week is also a great time to just sit back and enjoy what you have and to live life to its fullest. Talking should be quite expressive now, as your mind will be quite clear and natural. There is a possibility that behaviours that once drove you crazy make complete sense. Take this opportunity to forge a stronger bond between you two This week lucky numbers are: 16, 15, 34, 61, 35

ISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)This week is a great tim for planning a party or participating and having fun in any way! On the other hand you should find the time so that you could pu your practical insights into understandable words. Knowing that you are appreciated and esteemed for your gifts and talents cna be stimulating. By the end of this week is a time when ideas are clear and easy for you to come by. This could be a good time for thinking over your own affairs. This week lucky numbers are: 37, 24, 47, 35, 34

US officeBox

C r o s s w o r d

Your Zodiacs (astrology-online.com)

Ku

nch

o K

omm

ents

ACROSSNative-born Israeli 6. Biblical first man 10. Protects animals 14. Baby “hooting” bird 15. Capital of Peru 16. Ancient kingdom near the Dead Sea 17. Pounced 18. Modern day Persia 19. Nervous or anxious 20. Drift apart or separate 22. Customary practices 24. Symbol 25. Female ruler 26. Northern state 29. Couple 30. Italian currency 31. Certain type of lens 37. National symbol 39. Indebted 40. Craftiness 41. Kinds of finches 44. “Oh my!” 45. Small goblet (Scottish) 46. Deft 48. Severely 52. Eastern continent 53. ______ative = the most or best 54. Not present

58. Wild goats 59. Unrestrained indulgence 61. Smelled 62. Actress ____ Delany 63. Foot digits 64. Weird 65. Finishes 66. Appear 67. Provides temporarily

Down1. Underside of foot 2. Causes reverent wonder 3. Blurt out 4. Retaliations 5. Assault 6. Fall into position 7. Terrible implications 8. Doctors' group 9. Liberate 10. Stain or daub 11. Hodge-_____ 12. Confining structures 13. Unfathomable chasm 21. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Adminstration 23. Small shoot or twig 25. Artist's stand 26. One of the acting Baldwin brothers

27. Teller of untruths 28. Jason's ship (Greek mythology) 29. Sliding bolts in a ratchet wheel 32. Loud or clamorous 33. Warranty 34. Venus de ____ 35. Jai ____, sport 36. Exam 38. Organic compound with an alkyl radical 42. Votes 43. Back talk 47. Compression ignition engine 48. Apart or in reserve 49. Fidel Castro is one 50. Tip over 51. Southern state 52. Something bottomless 54. "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" author James ____ 55. Small mountain lake 56. Children's author ____ Blyton 57. Supplements with difficulty 60. Fish eggs

SPO

T TH

E D

IFFE

REN

CES

Can you spot the 12 differences between the two pictures? Solution Solution

1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

2 In the Heart of the Sea

3 The Good Dinosaur

4 Creed

5 Krampus

6 The Night Before

7 Spectre

8 The Peanuts Movie

9 Spotlight

10 Brooklyn

Kuncho, are you prepared for your oral

quiz?

Yes sir! I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.

Great! So we will start with the first question.

This is going to be so easy!

Name 5 domestic animals.

That’s easy! Three dogs and two cats!

Yes sir! I have been studying the whole

week.

Excellent! So are you ready?

LEISURE



Congratulations!

t io teleco as on t e rica eleco ea ers i arel at auritius in t e ollo ing our categories

Best erator o t e ear

C o t e ear

Best C it rientation

lo al ustaina ilit ea ers i

ar

ur co an co en s all its e lo ees anage ent custo ersan sta e ol ers or t is a ar it out our i ense contri ution

t is ac ie e ent oul not a e een ossi le! t io telecoill continue to stri e in or er to eet t e custo ers

e ectation in t e uture

Advertisment



1. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has allocated funds and intends to apply part of the proceeds of these funds towards the cost of consultancy service for the “Design Review, Supervision and Contract Administration of

storey uilding for CBE ead uarter f ce which is already outsourced to a Design-and-Build Contractor.

2. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia now invites bidders to submit sealed bids for providing the necessary Design Review, Supervision and Contract Administration Service of the project. The Proposals shall be evaluated in accordance with the Bank’s Procurement Manual.

3. A complete set of Bidding Document may be purchased by interested Bidders from CBE acility Management, f ce o Road near atican Embassy starting from th December, upon payment of non-refundable fee of

SD . ( ne undred SD) or e uivalent in ETB. The tender remains oating for Days from th December, to th anuary, .

4. nterested bidders shall submit the following evidence a. n the case of ocally Registered bidders, Certi cate of Registration from

Ministry of Urban Development and Construction or other authorized institutions, with Category I renewed for 2008 EFY. and other appropriate documentary evidences demonstrating the bidder’s compliance, which shall include:-

i. Trading icense renewed for 2008 EFYii. Ta Clearance Certi cate, which states that the bidder can participate

in any public tender, valid at bidding date, Ta Registration Certi cate and AT Registration Certi cate, and

iii. Supplies registration certi cate,iv. AT Registrationv. Tin Certi cate

b. In case of bidders other than those registered locally business organization registration certi cate or Trade icense together with all necessary legal requirements and Professional License, issued by the country of establishment.

c. Availability of Bid Security, availability of letter of authorization to sign the proposals and Anti-bribery pledge forms are required of all Bidders.

5. Bidding will be conducted through the International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures and is open to all eligible bidders as speci ed and de ned in the Bidding Document.

6. Interested eligible bidders may collect the bidding documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and :00 p.m. to : 0 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 8:00 to 2:00 a.m. on Saturday. A complete set of bidding document prepared in English language may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee in an amount stated in item number above. The method of payment shall be in Certi ed Payment

rder CP issued by Domestic Bank or issued or counter guaranteed by one of the following International Banks: Citibank, Commerzbank, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Uni Credito Italiano, B P Paribas, Lloyds TSB, UBS, Danske Bank A S, and atwest.

FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICE OF “DESIGN REVIEW, SUPERVISION AND CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION”

PROCURMENENT NO. CPO/01/ICB/HQ/2008 E.C.

Address: Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Facility Management, Egypt Road, Addis Ababa ( pposite to atican Embassy, ne t to ibson Youth Academy, st oor, Room 0 , Tel: 2 - 2 28 2 -

2 28 8, 2 - 2 28 2 Fa 2 - 2 28 .

7. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from Procurement Sub-Process at [email protected] or send written inquiry to the following address Manager-Construction Project f ce ational Tower Building (Behind Ethiopia Hotel), 2nd oor Room o.2 Tel 2 - 0 8

.

8. Bidders shall submit three envelopes the original documents sealed separately one for Technical Proposal, ne for The Financial Proposal and one for Bid Security and, all the three then be sealed in an outer envelope marked as Original Proposal. Copy of the proposal documents should be sealed separately in similar manner and submitted to the bid.

9. Evaluation is to be carried out in two stages, Technical Proposal rst and then Financial Evaluation for those technically qualifying bidders.

10. Bids shall be submitted in tender box prepared for this purpose on or before 0th anuary 20 2: 0 P.M. at the address below. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security of USD ,000.00 (Six Thousand USD) equivalent in ETB in Certi ed Payment Order (CPO) issued by Domestic Bank, or counter guaranteed by international Banks listed under item o. above. Late bids shall result in automatic rejection.

Address:The Director Procurement Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Facilities Management Hall, round Floor Egypt Street P. O. Box 255Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTel. 25 - - 2282Fax. 25 - - 2288

11. Bid opening shall be held in the presence of bidders and/or their representatives who wish to attend on 0th anuary 20 :00 P.M. at the venue mentioned above.

12. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Proposals.

13. Partial bid is not allowed.

14. Partial award may be granted.

15. o one is allowed to duplicate or transfer the RFP document that he/she acquired to participate under this invitation. Legally authorized agents shall collect the RFP documents for each principal they are representing.

COMMERCIAL BANK OF ETHIOPIA (CBE)

Advertisment


42| The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006THE REPORTER SPORT

Ray Parlour

By Mark Jenkin

The pressure of a penalty shootout can do strange things to a player. When Arsenal were beaten by Galatasaray in the 2000 UEFA Cup final, they were left to rue misses by two undoubted world-class talents. As Patrick Viera and Davor Suker both failed to score from 12 yards, it meant popular Englishman Ray Parlour was the only Gunners star to successfully hold his nerve. Parlour’s penalty was not enough to prevent Galatasaray becoming the first club from Turkey to triumph in a European competition. But the way he shouldered responsibility and did his duty for the team summed up the quality of Arsenal’s unsung midfield hero. Ray took part in another penalty shootout on Tuesday, this time in the more relaxed surroundings of Addis Ababa’s luxurious Tropical Gardens. Visiting the country as part of Arsenal’s groundbreaking new partnership with Dashen Beer, he was faced with the task of scoring from the spot against a selection of goalkeepers from Ethiopia’s top men’s and women’s clubs. While the exhibition proved a light-hearted way for legions of fans to meet a genuine club legend, there was a serious side too. For every penalty missed or saved, Dashen pledged 300,000 birr towards improving the lives of vulnerable Ethiopians. Thanks to some acrobatic goalkeeping, not to mention wayward finishing by Parlour’s weaker left foot, the 10 missed penalties meant 3 million birr was raised. Each goalkeeper received a pair of boots and signed football. It was the culmination of two fantastic days for Parlour who relished the opportunity to coach young players at Meskel Square and the Ethiopian Sports Academy. He also sampled the culture of the national museum and took part in a game show in which eight Ethiopians won a trip to see Arsenal play Chelsea next month. “When Arsenal asked me to come to Ethiopia I was very excited,” said Parlour. “I have been here a couple of days and the hospitality and the people have been superb. To see the history of Ethiopia and what you have gone through over the years, it’s a real eye-opener. I will be going back to Arsenal and telling all the ex-players I really enjoyed myself.” That defeat to Galatasaray in 2000 was a rare moment of disappointment during one of the club’s greatest eras. A team which included the likes of Vieira, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires will be remembered as one of the finest to grace English football. And amid all the Gallic flair was the cheeky-chappy from Romford with curly hair and an endearing mix of local pride and English determination. The fans loved Ray then and still do now, eight years after his retirement. Don’t worry, ‘It’s only Ray Parlour’ a disparaging Chelsea fan famously said during a TV commentary seconds before the Arsenal midfielder smashed a stunning goal in the 2002 FA Cup final. Well, ‘only’ Ray Parlour ‘only’ won the Premier League title three times, the FA Cup on four occasions, as well as the League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup. The style and success of that Arsenal

team is the reason why the club remains so popular in East Africa more than a decade later. While Manchester United are known as the most famous club around the world, here in Ethiopia it is the red shirts of the Gunners that inspire loyalty. “Usually it’s Man United but here it’s amazing how many people you can see in Arsenal shirts and how many Arsenal logos there are on vans and cars,” said Parlour. He believes it is only a matter of time before Ethiopian players begin to make their mark on the world stage. Gedion Zelalem, who was born in Germany to Ethiopian parents, has already played for Arsenal in the FA Cup and Champions League. The 18-year-old midfielder is currently on loan at Glasgow Rangers in Scotland. “It will take time but one day you might see some stars in the Premier League,” said Parlour. “Lots of African players have played in the Premier League already. We have got Zelalem. He’s on loan at the moment but he’s going to have a big future. Look at Kanu in Nigeria. Kids can look up to him now and say he played for some of the best teams in the world.” Parlour admitted he was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm he had seen for football while coaching the youngsters, some of whom had only previously played in the streets. “You can see the passion,” he said. “It was amazing to see the smiles. “We were mobbed at one stage. They were asking me ‘what do I have to do (to become a top player?) ‘ I said you have got to believe you can do it. Practice makes perfect. They need to improve but the most important thing is how quickly they improve and (having) the will to improve; the will to be a footballer.” Parlour certainly had the will to reach the highest level. Without being blessed with an abundance of natural talent, he forged a reputation as a ferocious

competitor with outstanding fitness and commitment. “I started at Arsenal as a 12-year-old,” he said. “I was playing in the streets as well and I was playing for a Sunday team. I was never guaranteed to make it. I had to really work hard. Everybody has weaknesses. You can see that with my left foot today! You have to work on your weaknesses.” Every time you see a multi-million pound player lighting up the Premier League or Champions League, it is easy to forget they once started as a small child, dependent on the right guidance from a knowledgable coach. As part of the partnership with Dashen Beer, Arsenal have already sent over two coaches, providing training for 33 Ethiopian coaches. “Grassroots football is the most important thing in football,” said Parlour. You can see the Arsenal first team but those players had to start at the bottom. “I see the kids at Arsenal. They start at six-years-old. It’s about getting the coaching right. That’s why the Arsenal coaches are coming over here - to coach your coaches.” Devlin Hainsworth, the Dashen CEO, said the partnership would benefit football development in Ethiopia, as well as bringing together two respected institutions. “These two great brands have very common values,” he said. “They have at their core, quality and community development. The coming together has taken everybody’s imagination. It’s a very formal partnership. A binding and legal partnership for three years. “You can expect more coaches’ visits. You can expect more legends’ visits. We are working with a great club and a great partnership here. Who knows what’s possible. We want to surprise ourselves as well as surprise you. Who knows if we can get a team of legends to play here, or even the first team.” For now, despite their current injury

problems, the Arsenal first team will be focused on a potentially glorious season. After a day of coaching in Addis on Monday, Parlour was enjoying a hard-earned Dashen Beer when the news came through of the Champions League draw. The Gunners will face the holders Barcelona, the club that beat them in the 2006 final and knocked them out in 2010 and 2011. It is a challenge Parlour would have relished as a player. “It wasn’t the best draw for Arsenal,” he said. “We know how good Barcelona are but the players have got to believe they can get a result. Arsenal are underdogs and sometimes that can help. Who knows? You need a bit of luck in a cup competition sometimes. The game is not until February and players might be back from injury. Sanchez will be back soon. Coquelin might be back. Cazorla might be back. The players will enjoy playing Barcelona, especially in the Nou Camp. Barcelona are beatable.” Meanwhile, Arsenal will focus on trying to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004 when Parlour was part of the legendary ‘invincible’ team that went the whole season unbeaten. With outsiders Leicester City leading the way and champions Chelsea near the relegation zone, the title race is wide open. “It has been an amazing season so far,” said Parlour. “Nobody expected Chelsea to be where they are. “If I was playing, that would be my ultimate (aim), to win the league this year. Arsenal have got a lot of injuries but what an opportunity.” Thanks to Arsenal and Dashen Beer, opportunity knocks, too, for the emerging young talents of Ethiopia to make their way in the beautiful game.

Ed.’s Note: Mark Jenkin is a sports contributor.

The Gunner in town


The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015Vol. XX No. 1006 |43THE REPORTER SPORT

By Mark Jenkin

If there was one performance that stunned the athletics world during 2015, it came on a momentous night in Monaco on July 17. Genzebe Dibaba, the darling of distance running in Ethiopia, shattered a 22-year-old world record in the 1,500m race. Just a few weeks later she claimed her first world outdoor title, cruising away from a talented field to win over the same distance at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. And with Almaz Ayana and Mare Dibaba claiming Ethiopia’s other athletics gold medals at the World Championships in China, the country’s elite women certainly showed the men how it should be done. For Genzebe, 2015 culminated in being named IAAF female World Athlete of the Year. “I had a great season and truly enjoyed competing around the world, from Monaco where I managed to establish a world record, to Beijing where I finally captured my first world outdoor title,” she said. “I am humbled and honored to receive this award. After being a finalist and narrowly missing out one year ago, I am very proud to be recognized by the fans and experts of our sport.” Those lucky enough to be at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco,

will remember Genzebe’s world record for years to come. There are many experts in athletics who believed the previous record held by QU Yunxia since 1993 would never be beaten. Doubts about the authenticity of the previous time have always lingered with many Chinese athletes from that era suspected of doping offenses. That is history now as Genzebe imperiously covered three and three-quarter laps of the track in three minutes 50.07 seconds, improving her personal best by four seconds. Until that moment, Genzebe was arguably still living in the shadow of her older sister Tirunesh, the three-time Olympic champion. Now the younger sibling is showing the confidence and ability to make her own mark on athletics history. She said: “My focus in 2016 will be the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland and as preparation for that I will try to break the world indoor mile record in Stockholm on February 17.” If Genzebe is now regarded as one of the greatest athletes of her generation then it takes something special to beat her. Compatriot and track rival Almaz Ayana produced exactly that for a shock victory in the 5,000m final in Beijing. Her courageous display of front-running was rewarded with the gold medal in a time of 14 minutes 26.83 seconds - more than 17 seconds clear of the field.

The performance earned her recognition from the IAAF with the Adidas Golden Shoe award for the best display of the World Championships. A tiring Genzebe had to settle for bronze after being pipped on the line by Senberi Teferi as Ethiopia claimed all three medals. The nation’s third gold of the championships was secured by Mare Dibaba (no relation to Genzebe) who won a thrilling climax to the women’s marathon, edging a sprint finish one second ahead of Kenya’s Helah Kiprop. “I decided to give everything for my home country,” said Mare in the post-race interview.” There is nothing more important than that.” The same could be said of Tigist Tufa, who became the first female Ethiopian winner of the London Marathon since the great Derartu Tulu 14 years earlier. Tigist caused a surprise as the expected Kenyan dominance led by Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat, Florence Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo failed to materialize. Keitany had to settle for second place while Ethiopia’s former Berlin marathon champion Tirfi Tsegaye was third. Of the six Major marathons, the only city where Ethiopia enjoyed double success was in Tokyo where Endeshaw Negasse and Birhane Dibaba triumphed in the men’s and women’s races

respectively. Lelisa Desisa’s special relationship with the Boston Marathon continued as he won the race for the second time in three years having first succeeded there in 2013 when the occasion was marred by terrorist attacks. However, the overall performances of Ethiopia’s men on the world stage will be of cause for concern. While the women secured a total of 18 medals in the World Championships and World Marathon Majors, male athletes could only manage seven. The men failed to win a single gold medal in Beijing where, once again, they were left trailing by the blistering last-lap pace of Great Britain’s Mo Farah in the 5,000m and 10,000m. There was some consolation for Hagos Gebrhiwet with bronze in the 5,000m and Yemane Tsegaye with silver in the marathon, although the latter will be disappointed to have missed gold to Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, of Eritrea. With Haile Gebrselassie retiring and Kenenisa Bekele not racing regularly, the country is still waiting for its next male superstar to emerge. Finding a strategy to beat Farah will be a priority as the leading athletes prepare for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Ed.’s Note: Mark Jenkin is a sports contributor.

The land of athletes

Genzebe Dibaba



Design & Page Making Publisher Printed by

Sub-city: Kebele: 17, H.No: 984

Advertisment

CBE to foreclose on Karuturi · The Reporter, Saturday, December 19, 2015 Vol. XX No. 1006 |1 By Kaleyesus Bekele The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed its

Documents