No enthusiasm for the 2005 election

By our staff reporter

Commenting on the forthcoming 2005 election, Kebour Ghenna, Head of Initiative Africa – The Institute on Governance and Innovative Leadership, an Addis Ababa based non-profit organization, said “with general election around the corner, voters do not show any enthusiasm.” Speaking at a workshop series titled: ‘Women in 2005’organized last Wednesday to encourage women candidates to run for election, Ato Kebour affirmed that “electioneering is pretty tough business which, to make a success of, requires vigor, energy and cash in equal measure; and women need a lot of assistance and encouragement in all these areas.”
Many participants to the workshop lamented at the absence of any information concerning the 2005 election and the nonexistence of active civic organizations with bold visions and programs. Many observers also said that the bickering among the opposition parties, and the absence of any prominent personality with interest to run for election so far, may be one reason for the lack of momentum in the 2005 election. One participant said sarcastically that ‘the country's permanent finance minister is the World Bank. Its commander-in-chief for the next five or seven or, God willing, ten years will be Meles. So the fools taking part in this election, what are they running for? No one has tried to answer this question.
A member of an opposition, who declined to provide his name, said ‘This time again the government has little to worry about. All it has to ensure is smooth polling on Election Day, free from nasty scams’. He admitted ‘the government can afford a small turnout. What it cannot afford is the perception of a rigged election. That would be good for the opposition parties. We'll have something to talk about.’
As the 2005 election approaches, there is very little action within the political institutions except for the infighting between the parties led by Ato Hailu Shawel head of All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP) and Ato Lidetu Ayalew General Secretary of United Ethiopia Democratic Party (UEDP). Nothing in the present election provides any hint from the side of the government that new things are about to be tested or reformed.
Stressing the need to have a level playing field, Dr. Alem, from the AAU, said that ‘what gives any election a keen edge is not the language of manifestoes - who reads them, in any case - but the question of power. An election is about power, its retention or capture, or it is about nothing. But where the question of power is already decided, enthusiasm disappears from the exercise.’ She concluded by saying ‘If a football match is not about winning or losing, what is it then about?’
This is the third workshop series of ‘Women in 2005’ organized by Initiative Africa. “We hope to organize more small workshops and training programs directed at potential women candidates in the coming months,’ said Ato Kebour.
Kebour Ghenna, a former president of the Addis Ababa and Ethiopia Chambers of Commerce, is presently heading Initiative Africa - The Institute on Governance and Innovative Leadership, pursues multidisciplinary research into problems of contemporary governance in Ethiopia and the continent.