Capital

Liberating the world from crude oil slavery

By Andualem Sisay

Holland Car to roll out fancier car

By Andualem Sisay

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Awash in the black despite controversy

By Kirubel Tadesse

Djibouti president builds hotel in Dire Dawa

By Tedla Desta

EIC profits over 68 mln birr before tax

By Tedla Desta

Government to provide cooking oil at low prices
Sugar prices also expected to decline

By Andualem Sisay

Internet troubles to ease soon

By Tedla Desta

Israeli company to produce bio-diesel

By Andualem Sisay

Rental Houses renovates over 88 buildings for the millennium

By Tedla Desta

Traditional festival near airport

By Kirubel Tadesse

St. Paulos Hospital MD, 8 staff in custody

By Tedla Desta

Initiative says no more ‘foreign support’

By Kirubel Tadesse

Teshome Beyene appointed AACCSA, new Secretary General

By Tedla Desta

Chavez to arrive Addis next Sunday
Visits A.U. Monday

Ownership dipute over Trade Center

By Andualem Sisay

Sub-cities no longer as efficient

By Kirubel Tadesse

Study stresses need for transportation policy

By Andualem Sisay

Hit and run declining in Addis
Still, one life a day is lost because of traffic accidents

By Kirubel Tadesse

‘Exhibition, trade fair, bazaar organizers lose money’

By Kirubel Tadesse

IBM showcases solutions to Ethiopian businesses

By Tedla Desta

‘Land alone can’t bring food security or end poverty’: study

By Tedla Desta

Bertukan to be presented with 90 thousand birr Toyota

By Tedla Desta

Ethiopia, ILO agree to promote Decent Work
The Netherlands provide 3.2 mln USD for program

By Andualem Sisay

Backyard kindergarten grows to high school
Expansion work completed

By Kirubel Tadesse

Will Meat prices follow pepper up?

By Kirubel Tadesse

Addis artists, putting it together

By Kirubel Tadesse

Plasma books ‘on trial’

By Kirubel Tadesse

Liberating the world from crude oil slavery

By Andualem Sisay

Will the world continue being slave to crude oil? Mr. Premdut Doongoor, who advocates the generation of fuel from waste plastics, doesn't think so. Mr. Doongoor, former Energy Minister of Mauritius, strongly believes that bio fuel is the sole solution for a world that seeks "world energy peace".
Since he became Ambassador of Mauritius to Ethiopia, the Commission of the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa eight months ago, he has been pushing the African Union towards what he called the novel discovery of Indian Professor, Ms Alka Umesh Zadgaonkare.
"Due to the constant rise of prices in petroleum from crude oil, the world is obliged to go forth towards a green revolution that can be obtained only through renewable energy-bio fuel," he says.
Out of the 37 renewable energy sources he has on his list, the innovation of the Indian lady, which was originated in Nagpur, India in 2003, deserves a Novel Prize, according to the Ambassador.
"It is unbelievable! Energy from waste plastic to petrol is a completely new source of energy to the great surprise of the world," he says. "This innovation will cut down dependencies on petrol for the world, especially for developing countries and the least developed countries, which are like slaves of petrol."
Currently, India is saving some 3.3 bln USD every year, after a memorandum of understanding was signed between Indian Oil Corporation and the innovator in June 2003 for commercializing of this fuel, according to Ambassador Doongoor.
He believes that after a few years, India's current 70 per cent import of fossil fuel will be reduced to about 40 per cent.
With the intention of replicating India's experience in other African countries, he has now brought an Indian and Mauritius joint venture company to Ethiopia, which has received an investment license for its 10 mln USD/ 90 mln birr investment.
Up on the request of almost all African Union member states, the joint venture company is also on the way of installing fuel generating plants in Ghana and Mauritius. It is also negotiating with other countries such as Tunisia.
The process devised by the Indian professor for the disposal of waste plastic involves degradation of waste plastic using catalytic additives. Within three to four hours the plant generates liquid hydrocarbons, which can also be used as jet fuel, gas and residual coke that can be used for many purposes. Using this plant one tone of plastic waste can be converted to its equivalent in fuel.
Currently, as the Ambassador put it, the world has reached the stage of plastic waste generation. More than 175 mln tons of plastic is produced worldwide each year, but mechanisms are not designed for its disposal.
Plastic, being non biodegradable, gets accumulated in the environment and if not properly managed will lead to the creation of mountains of waste. Recycling is not a complete solution for disposal of waste plastics as after two or three times of recycling it is unfit for reuse and ultimately ends in the land-fill.
Being highly detrimental to public health, causing high rates of pollution, making land inhabitable and soil contamination, which lead to soil degradation, are among the hazards caused by plastic waste.
The Ambassador seems unhappy about the reluctance of international donors such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to fund this innovation that he believes will liberate the world from crude oil slavery.
Appreciating the initiative being taken by the State Bank of India for providing money for the projects in India and for those underway in Africa, the Ambassador urged international finance institutions and donor countries to invest towards this green revolution.
He also urged the Oromia Land Administration Office to provide the land that he has been requesting for this investment project in Akaki or Sabatah area in Oromia Region.
According to the Ambassador, in the past two months, the Ministry of Trade and Industry is not yet able to equip them with the required data that indicates the amount of the country's plastic waste.

Holland Car to roll out fancier car

By Andualem Sisay

Based on the high demand from customers, Holland Car plc, the first car assembly in Ethiopia, has announced that it is going to assemble a second model and named after the great Abay (Blue Nile).
Abay, with a 1.3 engine will be offered at ETB 140,000 and one year or 25,000 km warranty as of mid September 2007, according to Engineer Tadesse Tessema, 50 per cent shareholder of the Ethio-Dutch company.
The car will have full options that are available in luxury cars including air bags, aluminum rims, cling windows, remote access, and rear view mirror with steering lamp, among others.
There are also options such as leather seats for an additional 2,500 birr and DVD with back sensor camera for 9,000 birr more. Eleven experts from the Lifan Company of China will arrive next week to facilitate the assembly of the new brand.
The reason for the availability of Abay at an almost equivalent price to the DOCC, while having more features is because of the excise tax variation between the two models and their engine size, according to Tadesse.
The excise tax of the 1.6 liter DOCC, the first model car that Holland Car has been assembling was 60 per cent, while Abay is taxed at 30 per cent because its engine is only 1.3 liters.
“We named our new model Abay to motivate people to use quality local products and thereby change the attitude of most people who believe that local products have less quality,” said Tadesse, stating why they named the new model after the biggest river in Africa.
Apart from China and Ethiopia, this model of Lifan is assembled in Russia and Vietnam. “Before we even started assembling Abay, many customers are placing orders to get the first cars that come out,” Tadesse said.
His company is said to be negotiating with Adika Tours and Travel to provide them the first 50 cars. In addition, Holland Car is also engaged in negotiation with a Saudi national who is constructing a hotel in Addis Ababa, to sell the first 20 cars.
Holland Car is also discussing with a company in Sudan to supply them up to 1,000 Abays every year, according to Tadesse.
In about six months, the company plans to assemble four-wheel drives and pick ups.

Awash in the black despite controversy

By Kirubel Tadesse

Awash International Bank S.C has announced that during the first six months of 2007, it has shown better performance compared to the same period last year. In a press release the bank issued on August 25, 2007, after a two day half year management meeting held on August 24 and 25 at Ghion Hotel, the bank explained that general savings showed a twenty one percent growth and general credit record registered a thirty four percent increase. It added that the overall income of the bank also showed an increment of forty nine percent and profits before tax grew by sixty eight percent.
Leikun Berhanu, President of the Bank, told Capital that performance was not affected by the disagreement still brewing between some of the bank’s board and some shareholders. He said, “It would have been best if there had been no controversy as sometimes we have observed clients feeling disconcerted.” He added that although the disagreements did not affect the bank’s performance, it would not be wise to let them remain unresolved. He went on to say, “Disagreements could occur anywhere, anytime; the important thing is to solve them quickly and in the right manner. We learned that the court decision that prohibited the auditors A.A. Bromhead and Co. from calling a general meeting on behalf of the disgruntled shareholders who command twenty percent has been overturned. They have appealed against the decision that restricts them from setting an agenda for the meeting.”
He also explained that the sooner the general meeting is called and the shareholders discuss the issue and resolve it, the better for the bank’s performance. “Twenty percent of shares is a substantial portion, but even if it had been a lower figure, it would not hurt to discuss as we don’t want the shareholders to remain upset. After all they have the final say and therefore the general meeting would not hurt either of the two sides. As one former disagreement was resolved six years ago through a new election, the current one also can be resolved in the general meeting. Whatever this meeting decides, whether to elect a new board or re-electing the existing one, the outcome would re-affirm the trust and rights of all shareholders as it will be the decision of the majority.”
It is to be recalled that the controversy arose after the National Bank rejected the list of newly elected members of the AIB board claiming that it was not according to the NBE directives. Shareholders representing twenty percent of all shares petitioned to call an extraordinary shareholders meeting through their auditors Bromhead and Co., a move which was countered by some members of the newly elected board who got a court injunction blocking the proposed meeting.
On August 3, 2007 the Federal First Instance Court, Fifth Civil Bench, had ruled on the case of some members of AIB versus A.A. Bromhead and Co. saying that the Auditor’s can call an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on the basis of a petition it received, but cannot set the agenda of the meeting.
However, the auditors appealed the decision, while the NBE complained that it should have been consulted in a matter that directly concerns it, and the court reversed its decision on August 22nd this time finding for the petitioners.
“According to the General Commercial Code articles 377/1,377/2 and 416/2, the Auditor can call a meeting by fulfilling the legal conditions without the permission of the Board of Directors,” the court statement had read.
However sources from the audit firm said, “There is no point in being allowed to call a general meeting without an agenda. When twenty percent of the shareholders of the bank order us to call a meeting, we have to do so as it is not an optional matter. We appealed to the court again to review its decision which as it remains makes it impossible for us to call a meeting.” The court’s decision is expected in the coming weeks.

Djibouti president builds hotel in Dire Dawa

By Tedla Desta

The President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, has built a hotel in Dire Dawa town which is to be inaugurated next month, Iltireh Daher, Counselor at the Djibouti Embassy in Addis Ababa and Private Agent of the President told Capital.
The hotel, which cost around 40 million birr to build is located near the Dire Dawa Stadium.
"All necessary equipment required for the hotel has already been installed. The construction of the hotel is completed, the internal collections are ready and we are currently expecting the official inauguration next month in the presence of Ethiopian officials and the President himself," Iltireh said.
The five story building has taken eight years to complete though the construction had been put on hold at one time.
"The reason that the President built this hotel in Dire Dawa is because he personally wants to model positive thinking. I note that he wants to see good thinking converted into actions and he wants the development of Dire Dawa, which is his home town. That is why he built the hotel," he said.
When the hotel is fully operational it will provide jobs for 70 people. "The hotel has 36 guest houses, a multi purpose hall, a presidential suite and all amenities that a decent hotel requires," he added.
It was also learned that President Omar Ghelleh desires to diversify his business and invest more in Dire Dawa town.
President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh was born in Dire Dawa in 1947 and is the second president of Djibouti, succeeding his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999.
In 1999, Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of Ismail Omar Guelleh; he was re-elected to a second and final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transhipment point for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands.

EIC profits over 68 mln birr before tax

By Tedla Desta

The Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC), has made profits of 68.7 million birr before taxes in the just ended fiscal year, it was disclosed in the corporation’s annual performance report released last Friday.
EIC managed to collect the profit from operational activities and investment income. Compared with the previous year’s profit, the latest record is higher by 5.7% and 6.5% above the strategic goal envisaged for the budget year.
The total asset of the corporation has increased to 939.6 million from the previous year’s 919.2 million, showing a 2.2 % increase.
With regards to investment, the corporation has outlaid 186.7 million birr in various sectors, out of which 96.5 million birr was for short term investments and 90.2 million was spent on long-term investments.
It also has a 2.9 million birr dividend from the Africa Re-Insurance Company and from companies that the Corporation has invested in such as MOENCO and Africa Import and Export.
EIC also made 9.8 million in rental income from the houses it owns both in Addis Ababa and several regions.
In its five year strategic plan EIC plans to increase profits by 3 %.
Looking at insurance spending, industrialized countries spent about 9% of gross domestic product on insurance in 2006, while in the emerging markets this ratio varies from 1.4% in the Middle East and Central Asia to 4.7% in Africa.
Currently the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation provides life, property and liability insurances. It has six main branches, 25 regular branches and 5 contact offices throughout the country. Of these, six main and five regular branches are located in Addis Ababa.

Government to provide cooking oil at low prices
Sugar prices also expected to decline

By Andualem Sisay

Following the recent, ever-growing price hike in food items, The Ministry of Trade and Industry on Thursday, August 23, 2007, announced that it is going to distribute cooking oil at low prices as of Monday, August 27, 2007.
This new arrangement will enable the consumer do away with paying the additional 8-10 birr per one liter/kg of edible oil. However more than 60 per cent of the edible oil consumed in the country is imported palm oil. The share of local edible oil is not more than 10 per cent, according to the study conducted by the Ministry of Trade. The reason for the decline of local edible oil is caused as a result of the export demand for oil seeds such as niger seed and sesame, which are used for edible oil extraction.
According to the study, wholesalers are selling one liter of palm oil for 15 birr, while retailers sell it at an additional 8 to 10 birr profit margin on every liter. The main objective of the new arrangement by the government is to break this price hike created by retailers.
Government has already bought some 800,000 kg of palm oil from importers at 15 birr per kg/ liter and plans to sell it in Addis Ababa at the same price. For other regions, it will only add transportation and handling costs.
Consumers can also purchase 20 liter/kg packed palm oil worth 300 birr on credit, paid over three months. This will continue for 4 to 6 months until demand and supply balance. To encourage importers of palm oil and curve the shortage in the market, the Ministry has also announced that government has lifted the surtax imposed cooking on oil imports.
In addition to buying the palm oil from the importers at market prices, government also plans to import to fill the imbalance observed between demand and supply. The distribution of palm oil at lower prices will start in Addis Ababa at 76 centers that have been set up for wheat distribution.
For the overall activity of this program government has budgeted some 90 mln birr. This will be implemented by the government agency, Wholesale Trade and Import Enterprise, according to Ahmed Tusa, State Minister of Trade Sector at the Ministry who briefed journalists on the issue.
The State Minister has also indicated that government has reduced the 612 birr per quintal initial tender price for sugar to 500 birr in order to enable people to get one kg of sugar from the market for less than six birr.
The current price for one kg of sugar in Addis Ababa ranges from 6.50 to 7 birr. Almost 90 per cent of the sugar consumption of the country is covered by the local industry. Before the government intervened to regulate the price of sugar two years ago, the price of one kg had risen to 12 birr from birr 4.50. Currently, there are some 700,000 quintals in stock of sugar in government hands, according to Ahmed.
Many people, including the immature Ethiopian Consumers Association, have been stressing the need for the government to create a system that will permanently protect people of low income from the frequently observed price hike on basic goods such as food stuffs.
Citing as an example the 400 per cent inflation observed in berbere (pepper), the ‘fire fighter’s’ actions of the government whenever inflation is observed on one item is not helping much, as when government intervenes on one product and stabilizes the market, the other will get out of hand, according to critics.

Internet troubles to ease soon

By Tedla Desta

Internet connection problems are going to improve within a few weeks, said Debretsion Gebremichael, Director General of the Ethiopian ICT Development Agency last Monday.
He disclosed this in a press conference given in relation to World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR 2007), was held in Addis Ababa from 22 to 24 August, in the presence of ministers and dignitaries from around the world.
“Senior engineers are in Ethiopia working on the broadband to solve the country’s internet problems in the short term and improve quality,” the Director General said.
CISCO, a leading global internet service provider, said on Sunday it was set to provide faster broadband services, free of charge, as part of efforts to curb and ameliorate the broadband internet connection service rendered by the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC).
Briefing reporters on the new service on Monday, on the sidelines of the World IT forum, Director General of the Ethiopian Information Communication Agency, Debretsion Gebremichael, said the task was already underway by six CISCO IT engineers who will seek ways of shifting to a new broadband connection in place of the older one aimed, at rendering better quality service to subscribers.
Debretsion said that the prevailing broadband service troubles in the country which “have become a bottle-neck” to development activities will ease after the completion of the task.
He said that CISCO’s operation was being offered free of charge and the new broadband service is expected to be accomplished and available to subscribers in less than a year.
The project is hoped to give short term solutions to the complicated systems problem with the broadband today, Debretsion said, adding the government was working on a more sustainable and long-term solution which he said would take 2-3 years.
The long-term solution is known as the Ring Net or Ring Fiber Optics Solutions, according to the Director General.
ETC’s service is said to be “fractured” and provides poor access in networked systems. The Broadband service, a novelty to the country, was introduced by ETC in 2005. According to available information, around 26,642 subscribers to the service were registered until March, 2006, while a growing number of households, private and government institutions are using the relatively cheaper tariff Dial Up leased line and shared DSL internet service.
The broadband service has also enabled ETC to provide telephone services to some 5,000 rural kebeles since March 2006.
Globally, over 63 million new subscribers of broadband service appear every year and the number of users is estimated to reach 72% by the year 2010, according to an ETC publication issued in 2007.
Studies have shown that advancement in the use of ICT in developing nations is a key booster of socio-economic development as well as the general progress and well-being of individuals and communities.
ICT has been identified as a key factor that determines a country’s ability to attain the Millennium Development Goals, such as eliminating poverty, combating serious diseases, improving access to education and providing equal opportunities for women.
ICT experts say partnerships involving governments, regulators and the private sector can offer sustainable and widespread access to 80 percent of the African population that remains outside the technology platform.
The Conference was opened by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who said the conference was of much help in that it would offer opportunities for developing countries like Ethiopia to interact and share experiences and helping cement global partnership for development with the view to attaining the Millennium Development Goals.

Israeli company to produce bio-diesel

By Andualem Sisay

A share company of Israeli nationals, CICSCO Petroleum plc, is to produce bio-diesel from ethanol in the Metehara area, some 200 km from Addis Ababa with an investment capital of 174 million birr.
Capital learnt that the company is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs, including those to be engaged in agriculture for the provision of raw material, up on its full engagement in production. The company begins production after about one year and plans to hire up to 300 employees in its early stages.
Having secured a license from the Ethiopian Investment Authority, the owners of the company are currently in the United States of America finalizing the details with experts.
Realizing Ethiopia’s potential for growth in the sector, the government has been studying and introducing incentives that could be provided for bio-fuel investors. As a result, the country has been attracting bio-fuel investments since last year.
It is to be recalled that this year in April, German company Flora Eco Power announced it was investing 671 million birr in the Oromia Regional State to stimulate food and bio-fuel production in the region.
Bio-diesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources. Bio-diesel contains no petroleum but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a bio-diesel blend.
It is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar.
It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Bio-diesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially, free of sulfur and aromatics.
As it is obtained from renewable resources such as soybeans, in the long run, it is believed to decrease the country’s dependency on foreign oil and contribute to its economy.

Rental Houses renovates over 88 buildings for the millennium

By Tedla Desta

The Rental Houses Agency has completed renovation and beautifying works on around 88 of its buildings found in various parts of the city, Kasahun W/Giorgis, Public Relations Service Head with the Agency told Capital.
The buildings are found on Bole road, Piassa, Merkato, Abune Petros and National Theater areas. He said that the beautification work was done in an effort to make these buildings ready for the diaspora that are expected for the millennium.
Among the buildings, 32 are large while 56 are more modest. The renovation work cost around two million birr.
The Head also said that the Agency has been performing on four thematic areas by giving due attention for the millennium celebration. These prove the Agency’s firm assistance to the celebration of the Millennium, performing various works with a special motivation, bringing behavioral changes in the Agency’s workers and creating a conducive working atmosphere.
The agency is also making the necessary activities to adopt modern computer technologies that would replace the present manual system. Towards achieving this end, the Agency is to float a tender in the near future to contract a body that studies its Management Information System.
One of the main activities of the Agency upon the Millennium is House Counting Project. To finalize this project, according to Kassahun, the Agency is undergoing a bid to identify a body that will conduct the counting.
In addition to the above stated activities, the Agency plans to assist employees living with HIV/AIDS with a one birr contribution from all 2800 employees, to be paid monthly.

Traditional festival near airport

By Kirubel Tadesse

B.T.RED and YAPHET Promotions will launch Tej houses among other cultural events at a Festival and Bazaar on a vacant field in front of Bole NOC gas station and behind Harlem Jazz.
According to Haimanot Tesfaye, Managing director of YAPHET Promotions, 150 organizations will participate with over one hundred of them selling various products. This cultural fanfare will include traditional food and drinks (such as tej, Ethiopia’s sweet and potent honey mead), clothing and craftwork alongside entertainment such as fashion shows and music concerts. Samet Cultural Restaurant will build temporary metal sheds to serve guests.
Haimanot said that local coffee exporters will serve coffee in a traditional ceremony in which visitors can taste their products’ quality. She added that the festival will be officially launched on August 31, 2007, and continues for a three month period. Haimanot said, “We have invited African embassies in Addis to celebrate the millennium with us since the Ethiopian millennium is Africa’s too. Some have already got back to us with positive replies. We hope to create a celebratory mood which will be enjoyed by everybody.” B.T.RED and YAPHET have spent more than half a million birr to organize the festival.
The Bazaar will be set on ten thousand sq mts the two organizers have rented from Bole Sub-City on short term lease and with the cooperation of Ethiopian Airlines, Haimanot told Capital.
The Bole area is believed to emerge as the center of the millennium celebrations; Sheraton Addis’s ten million USD concert halls are opposite the Festival Bazaar.
B.T.RED is a private limited company which is engaged in import and sales of furniture and electronics.

St. Paulos Hospital MD, 8 staff in custody

By Tedla Desta

The Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission has arrested nine individuals from St. Paulos Specialized Hospital last week, Capital learnt.
The arrests were made last week in relation to alleged corrupt purchasing. The detained individuals include eight staff plus the Medical Director of the hospital. The case is under investigation.
Last year in the same manner, the Commission had conducted a system study on the Dagmawi Menelik Hospital focusing on corpse investigation and drug purchase and distribution.
“The study was presented by the Commission and accepted by the hospital”, Berhanu Assefa, Public Relations and Education Head of the Commission told Capital. A systems design was also made on loopholes that could foster corruption in the hospital and with the acceptance of the hospital, the two are working closely.
According to the Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency (SIDA), corruption occurs when organizations or individuals profit improperly through their position in an activity, and thereby cause damage or loss. Corruption can be found in all countries but is particularly widespread in states where the legal system, mass media and the public administration are weak and undeveloped. Ethiopia was ranked 137th out of 158 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index in 2005.

Initiative says no more ‘foreign support’

By Kirubel Tadesse

An initiative which started at 'Shai, Buna' (Tea, Coffee) talk show on March 23, 2007, announced that it will engage in helping solve socio-economic problems by organizing Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent.
At a press conference organized by seven members of the initiative board at Ras Hotel on Friday, August 24, 2007, the group claimed that will not seek nor accept any financial assistance from non- Ethiopian organizations or individuals to realize the initiative's vision, which is ultimately to see a developed Ethiopia.
They added that the initiative will take measures to solve the mendicant problem and to clean up the city as well as the rest of the country with its first project which aims at providing food, shelter, clothing and other basic needs. The board members explained that the project will concentrate on delivering a sustainable change, not a simple daily help which encourages and results in dependency on the long run.
Solomon Shumeye, Director of the Initiative Board, said, "As far as I know, no people or country ever developed with the support or assistance of another. It is not money that is the greatest gift, it is knowledge and time. We believe the fund should come from ourselves. Nobody should help us, as we have seen that the support and help we got from others for years has brought no permanent change."
Dr. Haile Woldemichael, member of the Initiative Board, said that the main aim of the initiative is to bring a change in attitude. He explained that the support and cooperation they seek is already contributed by the society, it just needs to be organized in a way that results in permanent solutions for the problems Ethiopia faces. He said, "It is not hate or anything negative but we need to start taking charge of our own affair. I remember when I was working on my PhD abroad, my dorm mate's father offered a refrigerator for our use, but his son refused. He feared that using the refrigerator would make me feel uncomfortable and inferior. I think he was right, that's how we should think. To get help is to lower ourselves; it is time to change that."
Another member also explained the disadvantage support and assistance brings to a nation by referring to facts and accounts from the book 'The white man burden'.
Director of the initiative, Solomon added that every member of the initiative works freely to contribute and play a role to further the project ideas. The initiative has already started a process of registration in the relevant government body, Solomon explained. When asked how the project plans to succeed only with local donations, Solomon replied that money is the least of his worries since Ethiopians spend a lot of it on a daily basis for humanitarian purposes in unorganized manner. He claims that the awareness of the initiative's aims would drive people into making donations.

Teshome Beyene appointed AACCSA, new Secretary General

By Tedla Desta

The Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations has appointed Teshome Beyene as its new Secretary General, Capital learnt.
Teshome Beyene was appointed on the 15th of August 2007 replacing former Secretary General Semunesh Demotrios who resigned voluntarily. Teshome was nominated from among 17 applicants to the post. He will be in charge of AACCSA's Secretariat - and will oversee the Chamber's administrative affairs and daily operations. Teshome, 43, served as the President of the Mekele Chamber of Commerce and was also Deputy President of Nyala Insurance Company before being appointed to this post.
Similarly, it was learnt that the AACCSA has also endorsed the appointments of two Deputy Secretary Generals. Teferi Asfaw has been appointed as Deputy Secretary General (in Charge of Support Services).Teferi has long served as the Media and Relations Head of the Association before his appointment to the position for six years. The other appointed Deputy Secretary General, in charge of Business Development Services, is Tamirat Admassu. Tamirat served the Chamber as the General Manager of the Exhibition Centre and other posts for six years.
The Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, which was established in 1947 G.C, is the oldest chamber in the country and current membership stands at over 36,000, accounting for over 70% of the membership in the country's Chamber system.

Chavez to arrive Addis next Sunday
Visits A.U. Monday

In what is billed as a continental tour, Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is expected to be here on Sunday, September 2, 2007, and will visit the A.U on Monday, where he is to deliver a speech to AU Permanent Representatives, observers and A.U management and staff. He is also expected to meet with PM Meles Zenawi and President Gima Wolde Giorgis.
Venezuela, under President Chavez, has emerged as an independent and assertive voice in South America and is eager to create mechanisms for what Chavez terms, “South-South co-operation”. This scheme envisions the establishment of a chain of new instruments such as Petrosouth – an alternative to western oil giants, Telesouth, Bank of the South and University of the South.
President Chavez’s address to the A.U is expected to focus on realizing South – South co-operation. It could not be confirmed if Chavez will hold talks with Ethiopian government officials at bilateral level. It is to be recalled that Venezuela recently re-opened its embassy in Ethiopia.
Hugo Chavez draws socio political inspiration from Latin America’s Liberator Simon Bolivar, and his ideological approach is thoroughly populist. He is in the process of transforming Venezuelan society and economy by poor-friendly policies that have alienated the oligarchs and family dynasties that used to be the establishment. Enormous oil export windfalls have enabledChavez to fund vast social welfare programs, not to mention foreign aid assistance which Venezuela provides in abundance to many South American countries.

Ownership dipute over Trade Center

By Andualem Sisay

As the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations and the Addis Ababa City Administration failed to reach consensus over ownership, the fundraising activity for the construction of Addis-Africa International Trade Center is stalled, Capital learnt.
As most of the design of the center has been concluded, the association was planning to begin the first phase construction of the center, until the City Administration demanded ownership of the center.
Following the announcement of the association’s payment of 1,563,247 birr, 10% of the total lease cost to the Addis Ababa City Administration for 110,126 square meters of land that will be used to construct the centre, many assumed that the Addis-Africa International Trade Center is AACCSA’s property.
However, according to our sources though consecutive discussions were held with the city Administration, the two sides were unable to agree over the ownership of the center.
According to President of AACCSA Eyessuswork Zafu’s statement on the upcoming 12th (Millennium) International Trade Fair launching ceremony at the Hilton Addis on August 23, 2007, ‘sharing the ownership of the Addis-Africa International Trade Center is an option that the City Administration has to consider.’
It is to be recalled that AACCSA, on its 2nd annual assembly this year, chose some 60 fundraising committee members to collect funds for the construction of the center. Later on, AACCSA also announced that Saudi-Ethiopian tycoon Mohamed Al Amoudi has been nominated to serve as a patron for the fundraising. The total money required to complete the construction of the center is expected to reach some 200 million birr.
In the beginning, the centre was named ‘Addis International Trade Center’, but it has been changed to ‘Addis-Africa International Trade Center’ as the AU members requested to make the center a common place to be shared by African countries, according to Eyesuswork Zafu’s statement at the 2nd annual Assembly.
Based on the previous agreement indicated on AACCSA’s report presented to the 2nd General Assembly of the Association, the Association was going to pay the remaining 14 million birr to the city Administration with in 30 years after a five year grace period. Total payments will reach 32 million birr after interest.
It is the ever-increasing local and international business companies that participate on trade fairs that led to the need for a bigger trade center (Addis Africa International Trade Center).
Currently, renting from the City Administration, AACCSA is administering the existing exhibition center. Companies that organize trade fairs for a week or fifteen days pay rent that ranges from one to three million birr for AACCSA.
According to observers, with the currently increasing cost of rent of the exhibition centre, AACCSA can cover the five years rent it pays to the City Administration by renting it to trade fair organizing companies for only three months. Some cite such huge profit obtained by renting the trade center for trade fair organizers as the main reason for the dispute over the ownership of the unbuilt Addis-Africa International Trade Center.

Sub-cities no longer as efficient

By Kirubel Tadesse

Addis Ababa residents, living in Bole, Yeka, and Arada sub-cities, said that the efficient service they used to get from sub-city offices is now back to the old tedious way.
They added that most of the personnel of the sub-cities are not available at normal office hours. One member of Shola Share Association at Bole sub-city, who asked to be anonymous, told Capital that he waited thirteen months to transfer ownership of the association’s house to his name, and yet, he has been waiting there for a back stamp for weeks.
He added, “My papers went to the manager’s office ten times. He then forwarded it to another office that sent it to yet another office and then back to the manager’s office. One problem is that there are no consistent requirements asked of residents. One office asks you one thing and the other returns it for you claiming that it is not the right document needed and asks for another kind of document. Some of the personnel are afraid of making mistakes which they think would easily lead them to face corruption allegations; so they are very slow to make simple decisions.”
Residents Capital talked to at Arada and Yeka sub-cities said that some offices are not working at their full capacity, and that some of the personnel are in police custody in relation to corruption charges. The residents added that even if the country’s law should be implemented, it should not be an excuse for inefficient service. They also suggested that the sub-city executives should assess their capacity, especially in tenure informant related services to see how much time it took for residents to get their documents and other services.
The public relations bureau in Addis Ababa City Government Manager’s office, told Capital that it is not aware of any complaints by residents. It added that sometimes when there are suspects who are in police custody, there could be a temporary gap in service and commented that sub-cities use their discretion to fill that gap.
However, sources told Capital that when personnel are put in police custody, their positions can not be given to others on permanent basis until, if and when they are convicted, which takes quite some time. These people opt for sub-cities to hire temporary employees as a way out of the problem but still doubt if that could work out as sub-cities don’t have a budget allocated for such contingencies.
The repeated efforts Capital made to talk to related department heads and managers of Bole, Yeka and Arada sub-cities were unsuccessful as they were unavailable or in meetings throughout the week.

Study stresses need for transportation policy

By Andualem Sisay

A study presented at a symposium on Monday August 20, 2007, at the Hilton Hotel stressed the need for Ethiopia to formulate a transportation policy, which will enable all stakeholders to work together to modernize the sector.
While presenting his paper “An overview of public and freight transport operation in Ethiopia”, Temesgen Aklilu pointed out that the country’s transport sector requires better planning and management guided by a national transport policy.
Using the few professionals that the country has in planning and managing transportation, Government has to come up with a comprehensive national transport policy and strategy, according to Temesgen. “The policy and strategy for the sector is not only needed to address the local need, but also to make the sector competent in the up coming bilateral and multilateral global free trade agreements, such as the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO),” he said.
The intercity public transport is out-dated, according to his paper. The system of fleet management is backward, full of unreliable schedules and tedious to prepare. Unreliable technical capacity of vehicles on their journey with roads dominated by old vehicles with a minimum of ten years of service are also the problems that need clear comprehensive policy to address them, according to Temesgen.
He also mentioned absence of parking for vehicles and freight (cargo terminals), dry ports and warehouses as major problems observed in road freight transport of the country.
In his recommendation, he opted for the application of market competition principles to public transport operation, instead of highly controlled systems.
Presently, the official road network in the country has approached 40,000 km. At Federal levels, internationally standardized main roads are under construction in all directions. Especially since three to five years, within the radius of 100 km and more, the main five approaches to Addis Ababa are under construction or have been completed.

Hit and run declining in Addis
Still, one life a day is lost because of traffic accidents

By Kirubel Tadesse

Hit and run accident reports in Addis Ababa are declining says Sergeant Daniel Tadesse, Addis Ababa Police Commission Traffic Police Investigation and Inspection Bureau P.R. officer. This is mainly due to the law recently passed that states convicted drivers could be sentenced for up to 15 years in prison. According to Sergeant Daniel, public cooperation for police investigation is also one of the major factors behind the decline.
Sergeant Daniel added that drivers involved in hit and run accidents this year and pronounced guilty by courts were sentenced to 5-7 years imprisonment. More than 50% of the reported hit and run suspects have been apprehended and appeared before court.
Sergeant Daniel told Capital that a Chinese citizen is among those taken to custody after allegedly being involved in a fatal hit and run accident. A young man 15-18 years old lost his life in the accident, allegedly caused by the Chinese person. The suspect has been released on bail. Another Chinese person was also among those in police custody and was later deported, Capital learned.
Sources told Capital that most of the foreigners who have been involved in hit and run accidents were driving without licenses. Sergeant Daniel said foreigners are only allowed to drive for seven days on temporary license after which they are required to issue a permanent license here if they come from a country that has an agreement with Ethiopia.
In related news, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is said to be discussing the possibility of issuing temporary driving licenses for guests coming to Ethiopia for the new millennium celebrations. Observers say that although the idea is attractive for those who are experienced drivers, it may encourage those without proper training to drive, which would escalate car accidents, especially on celebration days.
Official government reports show that there were 32 hit and run reports in Addis Ababa last year and only 16 drivers were caught through rigorous Police investigation.
This year, reports show that 21 hit and run accidents were reported and 11 perpetrators were held in police custody. One life per day is lost in Ethiopia because of traffic accidents, studies show.

‘Exhibition, trade fair, bazaar organizers lose money’

By Kirubel Tadesse

Despite the constant increase of exhibitions, trade fairs and bazaars, event organizers and exhibiters are incurring losses because of the unprofessional system they follow to implement their strategy, explained a proposal prepared by the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce Exhibition Center and Market Development Enterprise. The proposal was presented to major exhibiters and customers of the exhibition center in a half day consultative meeting held on Thursday, August 23, 2007.
Tamirat Admassu, general manager of the exhibition center, now appointed Secretary General of the AACCSA (Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association), explaining the proposal said that exhibiters lack professionalism, finance and well defined job descriptions. He added that the absence of a clear division of responsibility between the two partners – organizers and promoters – is resulting in losses to organizers and most importantly missing the general benefits of such events to the society in general.
In an effort to do away with the traditional approach, Tamirat said that the center is proposing a training center be built inside its premises that would help exhibiters come up with events as per international standards. He also disclosed that the exhibition center will start giving certificates of recognition after evaluating the performances of exhibitions, trade fairs, and bazaars to encourage professionalism in organizing trade fairs and exhibitions. It was learned that the evaluation will concern technical and non-technical parts. The latter evaluates performances with respect to the agreement signed with the exhibition center. The technical part will make up 80 per cent of the evaluation while the rest will be left to the non-technical section. Tamirat said that the centre will issue certificate of recognition for those who score above ninety. He also explained that special attention is given to the technical part and the management team of the center is delegated to work out the details as per the technical and non-technical criteria.
Participants of the meeting, on their part, asked for the provision of some facilities such air conditioning systems inside the halls that would help raise attendance to events.
A representative from the Addis Ababa Word of God Church said that although their institution is a non profit organization, it has enjoyed the service the center offers. The general manager of the exhibition center disclosed that in order to serve better such non-profitable organizations, the center has come up with a grouping system of four different categories to treat customers according to their financial status and goals.
Tamirat told Capital that the center was only using forty per cent of its capacity for years but since the AACCSA’s management of the centre in November 2005, it has been functioning optimally. “The exhibition center, with its tight security, used to make some visitors uncomfortable but we have managed to change it into a very comforting zone that draws a lot of visitors. The sanitation issue which was a big problem has also been addressed and most importantly we have outsourced many services such as cultural restaurants, cinemas and children’s gymnasiums to second and third partners to make the center’s services all inclusive,” he concluded.

IBM showcases solutions to Ethiopian businesses

By Tedla Desta

IBM has showcased, to a gathering of business executives in Addis, one of its latest business-enhancing solutions, the IBM BladeCentre and Software Solutions.
Acclaimed to be the most dense, energy-efficient blade in the market, the IBM eServer BladeCentre was the highpoint of a series of IBM business enhancing solutions unveiled by top IBM officials and AFCOR management at a customer session held at the Sheraton Addis on Tuesday, August 21, 2007. The event was sponsored by Ebis distribution.
Barrie Miners of Solutions Architect-Systems and Technology Group, said BladeCentre hardware costs less than comparable rack solutions and delivers up to 60 per cent better performance than competitors’ external switching equivalents.
“BladeCentre integrates KVM, Ethernet and Fiber Channel switches with fewer cables. You have less space constraint so you can fit more servers in a rack with BladeCentre compared to other solutions,” he said. Miners said the solution takes less time to configure and deploy, allowing businesses to focus on their areas of core competence rather than dwelling extensively on ITL.
With IBM BladeCentre, maintenance costs are lower. Simplified and remote management saves administrative overhead associated with other solutions; Opne architecture and compatibility across chassis give businesses flexibility as their needs change, it was explained.
IBM explained how IBM BladeCentre saves costs on energy consumption. It requires less power and cooling than traditional racks and other blades.
With the aid of a comparative analysis of the cost associated with 14 Server BladeCentre Connectivity and a 14 server rack of another brand, Miners demonstrated that deploying
The IBM BladeCentre can lead to as much as 65 per cent in cost savings.
At the session IBM also focused on presenting Software solutions aimed at businesses that are embarking on storage and enterprise management projects. IBM’s portfolio of Tivoli express products is ideally suited for customers where cost and ease of use are a priority.
Gustav von Ludwig, IBM Software Sales Manager for Central Africa, said that IBM has addressed customers’ demands to improve the ease of implementation and continued management of IBM software solutions. In the session focus was made on some entry level storage products that will assist customers to address their storage and data integrity concerns. The current business environment is characterized by compliance, rising IT management costs, complexity of IT environments, innovation to grow and the need to respond more rapidly to changing business environments. To address this, IBM offers powerful, affordable and easy-to-use solutions designed to help small to mid-sized companies to manage their IT infrastructures, it was learnt.

‘Land alone can’t bring food security or end poverty’: study

By Tedla Desta

Access to land and land alone cannot bring about food security or eradicate poverty for women, stated a study conducted by Hadera Tesfay, Gender and Communications Consultant.
In his study report entitled, “Women’s land rights and Women’s access to land: Gaps in policy and practice in three regional states in Ethiopia,” Hadera said that land alone is unable to bring about food security or end poverty unless the quality and size is reasonable for someone to earn a living, supplemented with other resources like adequate agricultural inputs, traction power, training or skills, credit facilities, and basic services.
“The intervention to ensure the land rights of women need to likewise consider the above mentioned issues or complimentary resources so that meaningful improvement in the lives of rural women could be attained and their eventual emancipation is realized,” he stressed.
The conference held on Women’s land right: The gap between policy and implementation was opened by Dr. Abera Deressa, State Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The State Minister said that the government ratified the Rural Land Administration Use Policy with special consideration of women’s problem with land. Although, the policy is being executed, it’s hardly right to say that the land rights of women are being respected today.
“The main objective of this conference is to bring the problems that affected women’s land rights into the attention of various stakeholders and to get ideas and recommendations for further actions,” said Saba Gebre Medhin, Executive Directress of Network of Ethiopian Women Associations (NEWA).
Various findings show that women still have no equal access to land and don’t benefit from their land rights. Women are still suffering from inequitable and unfair distribution of land. Due to the reinforced cultural setups for male decision making and due to women’s lack of knowledge about the laws and their rights, they can not demand their land rights to be respected, she added.
Globally, women’s land right is becoming an area of increasing concern. In most societies, women have historically managed and fulfilled the responsibilities of domestic labor, family care, and nutritional security. As the definitions of these gender roles and the contexts surrounding them become more tenuous (generating both positive and negative impacts on women), the need for women to be able to secure land and property has become even more critical.
While there is a need to strengthen the recognition of women’s right to land, this human right is related to the right to an adequate standard of living, including the right to housing and freedom from forced eviction. These rights are recognized by several international documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 17 and 25); International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 17); International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 11); and UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Articles 13-16). While housing and property rights are guaranteed to women through international documents as well as through constitutions and laws in many states, often the implementation of these rights is overshadowed by existing practices and discriminatory patterns. Thus, for advocates working on these issues, ensuring the centrality of a human rights framework can be an extraordinary challenge while both respecting and mediating the differences and continual change within and between communities and countries.

Bertukan to be presented with 90 thousand birr Toyota

By Tedla Desta

In tribute to Bertukan Mideksa and other individuals released from prison with her, the Ferensaye Legasion neighborhood is to award Bertukan with a car valued at 90 thousand birr, a member of the committee formed for the purpose told Capital.
According to the member of the committee, the Addis Ababa City Provisional Administration Mayor, Berhane Deressa and other Sub-City officials have been invited to attend the ceremony.
The Committee, which has been active with 20 members preparing 10,000 ten birr lottery tickets, has managed to collect 85 thousand birr.
"In addition to the gift we are giving Birtukan, we have also prepared awards for three members of the party, which is to be unofficial until the award is granted" the member said.
Speaking on the contributions made by the Ferensaye Legasion neighborhood, the member said, "The residents have been participating in organizing the ceremony. There were individuals who contributed a kilo of rice, sugar and anything else that they can give."
The security of the event which is expected to be attended by around 650 participants is to be ensured by the police force in cooperation with the residents and the Committee.
Birtukan Mideksa was the First Vice Chairperson of the four parties that combined to form the CUD: Ethiopian Democratic League, All Ethiopian Unity Party, United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin and Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice. She was elected representing Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice.
At the legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party won 89 out of 527 seats in the House of People's Representatives, representing the Regions of Amhara, Oromia, and of the Southern
Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNPR), as well as in the chartered cities of Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa.
The CUD leaders were finally released in July 20, 2007, after spending 20 months in jail, being convicted by the court and after being reviewed by the amnesty board. According to the government and the mediating elders, the CUD prisoners signed an apology letter admitting partial responsibility for the post election violence and promising not to use unconstitutional means for any political aims. In addition to their release, their rights to vote and seek public office have also been restored.
In a related development, the Ad Hoc Coordinating Committee for Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) Leadership Delegation's Visit to the United States expects the arrival in the U.S. of six top leaders on August 29, 2007.
The Delegation to the U.S. will include Hailu Shawul, Chairman of CUD, W/T Birtukan Midekssa, Vice Chair, Dr. Berhanu Nega, former Addis Ababa Mayor-Elect and member Dr. Hailu Araya (Spokesperson), and members Brook Kebede and Ato Gizachew Shiferaw.
"The Leadership Delegation is visiting the United States and Canada at the special request of numerous CUD support groups. The Delegation will travel to various locations in the U.S. A separate delegation will head for Canada," Sources told Capital.

Ethiopia, ILO agree to promote Decent Work
The Netherlands provide 3.2 mln USD for program

By Andualem Sisay

The government of Ethiopia, Netherlands Cooperation Program (INCP) and the ILO have signed three Memorandum of Understanding worth 3.2 million USD, on Wednesday, August 22, 2007.
The money will be used to promote decent work and to enhance productivity and competitiveness in the floriculture, cotton/textile and solid waste management sectors.
Making the cotton and textiles sector nationally and internationally competitive, enhancing the productivity, competitiveness and market access in the floriculture industry and creating employment through sustainable solid waste management services in Addis Ababa are the specific activities expected to be accomplished under the program.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and the Addis Ababa City Administration will implement the program closely with the ILO as well as with other local partners.
After signing the MOU, Hassen Abdella, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs said: “The agreement will assist us to raise the employability of labor resources and to strengthen the private sector growth and development, especially in industry.”
On her part, ILO Sub-Regional Office Director for East Africa, Mrs. Alice Ouedroago, expressed her gratitude to the Netherlands government which provided the funding.
“The agreement reached between the Ethiopian government and ILO is a response to the government’s development strategy, the Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP), which aims to raise employability of labor resources and strengthen the private sector growth and development, especially in industry, as a means of achieving off-farm employment,” she said.
Ethiopia’s cotton and textiles sector employs a large segment of labor population, particularly women. The floriculture industry in the country has shown great potentials despite some limitations.
Because of the partial sanitation facilities and services which cause environmental challenges, solid waste management has become a major priority in Addis Ababa. The MOU is expected to ensure effective implementation of this technical cooperation program, which also aims to promoting job creation and facilitating the elimination of child labor.
In addition, it also includes developing local economic development, improving working conditions and creating an appropriate environment for increasing foreign exchange earnings.
This technical cooperation program will be directly monitored by the ILO Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa, Addis Ababa. The program constitutes a key tool for delivering ILO assistance for the implementation of the Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) for Ethiopia, which has been developed by the ILO and its local constituents in response to Ethiopian government’s poverty reduction strategy.
Ethiopia has been a member of the ILO since 1923, and has remained an active member of the organization. The country has benefited from the technical assistance provided by the Office for more than 40 years.
Currently, in Africa, DWCPs have been finalized in 16 countries: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote D’lvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The primary goal of the ILO is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive employment in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

Backyard kindergarten grows to high school
Expansion work completed

By Kirubel Tadesse

Generation 2000 Kindergarten has successfully concluded its first major expansion phase with a building constructed at a cost of 7.5 million birr. The expansion work enables the kindergarten expand itself to incorporate elementary and high schools.
The new building has class rooms, laboratories and libraries that are nearly ready to accommodate students the school is accepting from kindergarten up to grade ten for the first time in the coming academic year. Manager and co-owner of the school, Eyassu Nega said that the building only requires aluminum works such as doors and windows to start operations in September.
He told Capital that the school was planning to build a college in its second expansion phase but was denied the plot it requested. Eyassu said, “When we heard that the government has reserved land for educational institutions, we applied for a plot, but we have been denied the opportunity with claims that the land is reserved only for medical education institutions.” He concluded that the school aims at building a college in a few years if the finance and the space constraints it is facing receive the cooperation needed from the relevant bodies.
Eyassu invested in the education sector together with his sister Tsion and other family members. He said that the lack of good standard private schools necessitated his move. He was a lecturer at the Addis Ababa University for a few years.
“Educating a society benefits everyone. We, the service providers, benefit financially and morally for such an honorable task and offer society standard education,” he stated.
He also added they started with a three year kindergarten program first and have now reached to tenth grade high school level. All this in a twenty month expansion project in their residence compound as they could not obtain land from the city government for their expansion plan. Despite many discouraging obstacles such as the difficult process for loans, land and construction material shortages, the school managed to get the building ready for the coming academic year.
“Although the government and banks claim that they are prioritizing the educational sectors, when you are engaged in the real process you will be surprised that the reality is totally different,” he concluded.

Will Meat prices follow pepper up?

By Kirubel Tadesse

The price of meat picked up on August 23, 2007, and is still showing increment after the end of the Ethiopian Orthodox sixteen day fast. Prior to the fast, one kilo of meat was sold for twenty six to twenty eight birr for ‘wot’, thirty birr for raw meat and around thirty five birr for ‘Kitfo’. Now the price has picked up to thirty five to thirty eight birr respectively, at most butcheries in Sebategna and Mexico areas.
One buyer Capital talked to in Sebategna said, “the price is rising constantly and is worrying if it keeps on as the new millennium celebrations approach. A few weeks back, I thought the price rose because ‘Felseta’ (Lent), was to start and people tend to buy more meat products in ‘Kebela’ season, but now a days after the fast, it is still showing increment on a daily basis.” Even as prices escalated many people were buying meat on Thursday but on Friday and Saturday most butcheries were empty. A butcher said that the price of meat did not show all that much increment. He added, “It is usually like this when a fast is over; the price is not that much inflated here in Sebategna. If you go to some other places you will see that the price is around fifty birr. I think this price will not go down since the millennium is approaching and its a holiday as usual and we get more customers than ordinary days.”
In related news, markets in Addis Ababa showed little increment in the prices of sheep and chickens. A small sheep is now around 300 birr and the bigger ones are sold up to 600 birr.

Addis artists, putting it together

By Kirubel Tadesse

At a meeting organized by the Addis Ababa Millennium Secretariat Mass Media and Art Committee on Friday, August 24, 2007, at Alem Cinema, Artists vowed to make the Millennium celebration as colorful as possible. Artist Mulualem Tadesse said that there is a need for promotion and that efforts should be made towards this effect. She said, “People only come if we tell them about it. Nobody is taking it seriously though. I have started something with Serawit Fikre but we all should cooperate and invite the people to celebrate the millennium with us as we do not want to see performers alone on stage.”
Owner of the Axumite Band, Tsegaye Eshetu, said that the band will be at the disposal of the Millennium Secretariat wherever and whenever called up on. Other artists also promised to start working together as early as the next day so that quality productions and entertainment can be presented at the celebration. Artist Abeba Dessalegne said that rehearsals should be started right away. She added, “I don’t want to be criticized for the performance I am going to show. We should be at our best, if we do not start rehearsals with the bands and other professionals, we will not be able to make it. So let’s start working toady.”
Comedian Kebebew Geda added that the world’s eyes will be on Ethiopia as it celebrates the new millennium and that people have started asking him about the show he is preparing for the celebrations. He said, “This implies the expectation from artists is as high as it can be.” He added that artists should start to work together towards satisfying the high expectation of the people. Ethiopian Idol judge, Choreographer Mewded Kebiru, said that he choreographed eleven traditional dances in modern style and is ready to present them at the celebrations if the committee approves his request to be given the opportunity. The painters, musicians, writers, promoters and other artists agreed to work together for the Millennium by signing a letter proposed by Serawit Fikre, which explains readiness, commitment and being there in the millennium for Ethiopia.
The Addis Ababa Millennium Celebration Secretariat, Mass Media and Professional committee, on its part said that it would help the artists financially and in any other way they require. It also added that it has prepared a special literature contest for all Addis Ababa residents. History, technology, culture and religion, language and art, children, tourism, democracy and other topics are the themes the contestants should submit as poetry, short story, fiction, non-fiction and other formats. The contestants are required to submit their work before September 3. The evaluation will be conducted by professionals from the Ethiopian Writers Association.

Plasma books ‘on trial’

By Kirubel Tadesse

Individuals who compiled and had published for public distribution so called Plasma guide books have been accused by the Ministry of Education over alleged infringement of publishing rights sources told Capital.
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, English and Civics classes are broadcast via satellite by the Educational Media Agency to high school students (grade 9 to 12). Supportive reference books in line with the television lessons were put together by curriculum experts and other teachers and educational professionals.
Reference books for grade 11 Civics and Biology are on sale for eighteen and twenty five birr respectively. Other books such as “Plasma Biology for Grades 9 & 10” are now unavailable for reasons unknown. This book has even been transcribed in to brail for the blind.
Capital learned that in connection to the published Plasma books, four curriculum experts were suspended from work for more than four months and then penalized by demoting their salaries two levels and assigning them to work at different places in the Ministry of Education.
The televised lessons last for three-fourths of a class period (30 min) and only 10 minutes is left for the regular teacher to help the students with explanations. This has been hailed as a serious problems for the students for two main reasons; the students can not ask their teacher what they do not understand in the middle of the transmission (the mode is one way) and the other is that the remaining ten minutes are not sufficient for the teacher to help them. This problem had been identified by the Ministry of Education, as it was addressed on the fifteenth national educational summit held in Awassa a year ago, said sources. A decision was made to reduce the transmission to only twenty minutes and leave the rest for discussion with the teachers. But the decision having not been implemented the problem still remains.
Soft copy of the television lesson (rough script) on compact disk (CD) were disseminated to all secondary schools by the Educational Media Agency so that students could be given a hard copy of the lessons or television guides, sources say.
However, lack of finances has made it difficult for the schools to provide the materials for their students. The problems hence remained unaddressed and were again raised and discussed at the sixteenth national educational summit held in Mekele (Tigray) in November 2006. No solution was provided, said sources.
Repeated efforts made at the Educational Media Agency level to comment on the issue, after being directed to them by the Ministry of Education, were unsuccessful.
The books are said to be very successful with students who are now able to follow televised lessons at their own pace. Students in the rural areas can use the reference books at any place and time even when there is no electricity and transmission is interrupted, which is a plus say sources, baffled as to why such service would be considered as wrong or illegal.

Liberating the world from crude oil slavery

Holland Car to roll out fancier car

MORE Awash in the black despite controversy

Djibouti president builds hotel in Dire Dawa

EIC profits over 68 mln birr before tax

Government to provide cooking oil at low prices Sugar prices also expected to decline

Internet troubles to ease soon

Israeli company to produce bio-diesel

Rental Houses renovates over 88 buildings for the millennium

Traditional festival near airport

St. Paulos Hospital MD, 8 staff in custody

Initiative says no more ‘foreign support’

Teshome Beyene appointed AACCSA, new Secretary General

Chavez to arrive Addis next Sunday Visits A.U. Monday

Ownership dipute over Trade Center

Sub-cities no longer as efficient

Study stresses need for transportation policy

MORE

Hit and run declining in Addis Still, one life a day is lost because of traffic accidents

MORE

‘Exhibition, trade fair, bazaar organizers lose money’

IBM showcases solutions to Ethiopian businesses

MORE

‘Land alone can’t bring food security or end poverty’: study

Bertukan to be presented with 90 thousand birr Toyota

Ethiopia, ILO agree to promote Decent Work The Netherlands provide 3.2 mln USD for program

Backyard kindergarten grows to high school Expansion work completed

Will Meat prices follow pepper up?

Addis artists, putting it together

Plasma books ‘on trial’

Liberating the world from crude oil slavery

Holland Car to roll out fancier car

Awash in the black despite controversy

Djibouti president builds hotel in Dire Dawa

EIC profits over 68 mln birr before tax

Government to provide cooking oil at low prices Sugar prices also expected to decline

Internet troubles to ease soon

Israeli company to produce bio-diesel

Rental Houses renovates over 88 buildings for the millennium

Traditional festival near airport

St. Paulos Hospital MD, 8 staff in custody

Initiative says no more ‘foreign support’

Teshome Beyene appointed AACCSA, new Secretary General

Chavez to arrive Addis next Sunday Visits A.U. Monday

Ownership dipute over Trade Center

Sub-cities no longer as efficient

Study stresses need for transportation policy

Hit and run declining in Addis Still, one life a day is lost because of traffic accidents

‘Exhibition, trade fair, bazaar organizers lose money’

IBM showcases solutions to Ethiopian businesses

‘Land alone can’t bring food security or end poverty’: study

Bertukan to be presented with 90 thousand birr Toyota

Ethiopia, ILO agree to promote Decent Work The Netherlands provide 3.2 mln USD for program

Backyard kindergarten grows to high school Expansion work completed

Will Meat prices follow pepper up?

Addis artists, putting it together

Plasma books ‘on trial’

MORE
Awash in the black despite controversy

Government to provide cooking oil at low prices
Sugar prices also expected to decline

Chavez to arrive Addis next Sunday
Visits A.U. Monday

Hit and run declining in Addis
Still, one life a day is lost because of traffic accidents

Ethiopia, ILO agree to promote Decent Work
The Netherlands provide 3.2 mln USD for program

Backyard kindergarten grows to high school
Expansion work completed

Government to provide cooking oil at low prices
Sugar prices also expected to decline

Chavez to arrive Addis next Sunday
Visits A.U. Monday

Hit and run declining in Addis
Still, one life a day is lost because of traffic accidents

Ethiopia, ILO agree to promote Decent Work
The Netherlands provide 3.2 mln USD for program

Backyard kindergarten grows to high school
Expansion work completed