Dialogue with opposition, ruling parties to precede election law amendment

President Mulatu Teshome, in his speech yesterday to the bicameral house indicated that as part of the efforts to build democracy other parties who will represent the benefit and interest of the community will be given an opportunity to participate in the Parliament. Accordingly, amendment will be made ahead of the upcoming election so as to expand the democratic and political platforms and entertain various views, he said.

The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) and the House of Federation (HoF) have resumed their second term yesterday.

A minute of silence was held to remember those who died in a stampede at the annual Irrecha celebration.

In his opening remark, President Mulatu Teshome expressed his deepest sorrow over the loss of lives occurred at the Irrecha festival as well as wished families of the victims and people of Ethiopia consolation.

Ethiopia has made a leap forward in many sectors as well as faced various challenges last year. Among the challenges included the El-Nino induced drought, the worst drought in 50 years, the President said.

However, the country, in partnership with donors, managed to avoid any drought related humanitarian crisis and harm by allocating adequate budget and purchasing grain from domestic and global markets, he said.  

The economic growth and the capacity the country has built over the past 25 years testified that Ethiopia could cope with drought without waiting for help from others, the President said.

The other problems which the country faced were the violence and conflicts as well as a relative political unrest in parts of the country, he said.

And these conflicts sadly claimed lives of youth as well as other citizens and security forces, he said, further underscoring the need to focus on youth-centered efforts to curb the recurrence of similar problems.

Prime attention will be given towards addressing problems related in the payment of compensation and rehabilitation of farmers relocated from their land for redevelopment purpose, the President said.

Last year, anti-peace elements also attempted to demolish the Constitutional order forcefully by taking advantage of the legitimate questions raised by the people, mostly by the youth, he said.

Countries who are not happy with the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are directly participating in the current violence created by hijacking the legitimate question and driven by the extremist Diaspora groups, he said.

Factories, flower farms and other infrastructures were damaged by these illegal activities orchestrated by also heads of OLF and Ginbot 7, in collaboration with Egyptian institutions, he said.

The attempt of these forces, including the extremist Diaspora, to hamper Ethiopia’s efforts to ensure its fair share from Abay river and the damages they caused at the annual Irrecha festival and other parts of Oromia regional state is unacceptable in any circumstance, the President said.

He said the government will bring those responsible for the problems to justice, he added.

Commenting on questions arising regarding identity, the President admitted that there were delays in responding for the questions and this led to conflicts to arise in some areas. There were also gaps in democratically accommodating the demand for good governance.

He said efforts will be made to instantly respond for questions arising in all regional state regarding identity.

Speaking on the areas that his government will give special attention in this fiscal year, the President said “addressing problems of the youth.”

Utmost efforts will be made to realize and expand the job creation and wealth generation opportunities of the youth, he said.

As part of the efforts to build democracy, other parties who will represent the benefit and interest of the community will be given an opportunity to participate in the Parliament. Accordingly, amendment will be made ahead of the upcoming election so as to expand the democratic and political platforms and entertain various views, he said.

The President further said practical measures will be taken to reorganize the federal government in a new system when the House of Peoples Representatives (HPR) begins its work next month. Read more here