Ethiopianization

When the Ethiopian Air lines was established by royal decree in 1946, the organization’s skilled workforce consisted of a large number of expatriates. (From Trans World Airlines –TWA.) The domestic component of Africa’s first independent flag carrier consisted in large measure of menial positions such as baggage handlers and other service oriented staff.

However, the Imperial Government was committed to a gradual phasing out of foreign personnel and this Ethiopianization policy paid off when by as early as the 1960’s, Africa’s first air hostesses and jet pilots were Ethiopians.

The roots of the on-going success of Ethiopian are found in the company’s dedication to recruiting and training skilled Ethiopian professionals with an eye firmly on the future. What lessons can other institutions in our country learn from this crown jewel of a company?
Indeed, can not even the government do with some of that former majic? We firmly believe so.

Ethiopia has made African records on many occasions by introducing technological tools to the continent. The first telecommunications network, the first radio, TV. the first this – the best that …and yet at present, we lag behind Africa in nearly all respects. As Austin Powers ‘the international man of mystery’ would put it, “We have lost our mojo and have to get it back quick if are going do the bad thing with the good Foxy”, Ethiopia’s lost mojo is that long gone at pride being at the forefront. The sense of …
The nation has no recent recollection of great achievements. Ethiopia it should be remembered, enjoyed enormous international prestige in many fields of endeavor when only .

Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde attained Olympic glory. Their victories were the icing on the larger cake that was the Ethiopia of the 50s and early 60s. Ethiopia was looked up to then, not pitied as it is now. Today all that remains is the and field glory.

This now it must be noted here, refers to the last three and a half decades of self loathing and does not only include the 16 years of EPDRF rule.

Ethiopia – soon after the 1974 Great Famine, the intra-communist urban warfare – blood every where, bodies for sale … it was then that Ethiopia lost its self-respect.

We adopted ideologies foreign to the Ethiopian spirit, we spat on our great person alities, we defiled the history of the past and today, we are blind in one eye by a fascination of all things foreign and a visceral aversion to our own ways.

We cite the following as vivid examples of how much the Ethiopian spirit has withered as to threaten the sovergnity of the country. They are but brief mentions of the state of affairs as we approach our third millennium.

A frightening 60% of the national budget consists of anticipated and therefore unsecured foreign infusions of aid – effectively tying the government’s hands in order to cater to the interest of donor nations and organizations.

Bilateral trade and development agreements are signed without taking into account possible impacts on domestic industry, agriculture, construction, the job market and other unwanted consequences.

Monopolies are not only underperforming due to an arrogance for professionalism only monopolies can have but are sieves draining the nation’s resources through malpractice, botched projects and outright corruption.

The financial sector is to put it midly a bewildering maze of decrees, directive, revisions, limited application, across the broad enforcement, preferential treatment and other inconsistencies.

Foreign companies are completing an equal footing with struggling local firms. Expatriates are hires when competent Ethiopians wonder the streets in such of work. This state of affairs must end by a return to Ethiopian values. Lets put Ethiopia first!