How about a new deal

The 22nd ordinary session of parliament held on Thursday March 28, 2007, dealt mainly with the economy but also raised and clarified the government's intentions in regards to Somalia and the nettlesome issue of a problematic Eritrea . PM Meles Zenawi's regular six-month performance reports to the parliament display a remarkable personal engagement with each and every detail of his job.

The PM's reports, the answers given to MP questions and his impromptu sometime amusing remarks display a self critical approach which readily admits shortcomings but righteously defends perceived accomplishments with dazzling logic.

The now customary verbal jousting between a PM who seems to relish such occasions, and the increasingly outspoken opposition MPs, has started to reveal a growing astuteness of political science and dexterity of stances by especially the members of parliament.

For better or worse, they have all become seasoned parliamentarians. It seems that MPs have begun to realize the importance of doing one's homework … a lá Meles - who can mentally scroll topics ranging from money supply-growth- fueled inflation to why cloves in MP Bulcha Demeksa's constituency are not selling.

The 22nd ordinary session spent an extraordinary amount of time trying to identify to the satisfaction of all present, what would constitute economic growth. This controversial growth is a development that is crystal clear to Meles but inexplicable to the opposition.

One thing that is hard to deny about the current performance of the Ethiopian economy is that it is more than just good. In fact, double digit figures - and let's not bicker over fractions - are growth rates that almost any country would envy. The snag is however that prosperity is not trickling down, especially to the urban poor. This is a jinx that Meles, his party, and indeed the opposition must work on. Together, may it be added, as the over-heated economy is not the exclusive property of the ruling party.

The 22nd session was also notable for a change of economic ideology as a government, which is averse to manipulating market forces, feels compelled to intervene in the economy by making available to the market an incremental supply of subsidized wheat. Whether this tactic will succeed in reducing the demand and prices of the staple teff, is a matter that will reveal itself by the time the PM's next report is due.

This is the first year in which inflation has become serious cause for concern and a situation that could erode a way any gains achieved in the economy and potentially lead to out of control hyper-inflation. It is this very real risk that has led some MPs to suggest somewhat paradoxically a comprehensive wage increment for public and private sector employees. This measure is like an addictive painkiller that will only fuel the fire it vainly attempted to put out.

Job creation is the one and perhaps sure-fire cure for Ethiopia 's economic woes. Perhaps it is time for a jobs generating mass campaign of labor-intensive projects - much like Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'New Deal' which save the United States from the meltdown of the great depression of the 1930s. The 'New Deal' also put forward vast amounts of public funds for relief and public works, and introduced an excess profits and progressive income taxes to redistribute national wealth.

Ethiopia should not be condemned to such dismal poverty amidst such great bounty. The very fact that such a large population can manage to somehow survive with such an anemic GDP is testament to fertility of the country.

How generous this land would be if all Ethiopians, their leaders and elected representatives would pose for thought and agree that this is the only Ethiopia they have.

History will judge this government and parliament if they squander the golden opportunities created by an economy that is for the first time in decades doing rather well.