Government
increases salaries
By Tedla Desta
The Council of Ministers on Thursday, August 30, 2007 has decided
that the salary of civil servants to be increased, Minister of Finance
and Economic Development, Sufian Ahmed said.
The decision includes the salary increment of government recruits
and pensioner’s allowance. “A study has been conducted
for the past months on the increment of salary for civil servants
with the perspective of macroeconomic stability, government’s
capacity and other various aspects. The Council of Ministers has
accepted the findings of the study”, he said.
 MORE
Billion birr steel, cement factories underway
A determined entrepreneur’s journey from small plastic factory
to 20% industrial zone ownership
By Andualem Sisay
A modern fully computerized steel plant with a capital of 600
to 800 million birr and a half billion birr cement factory are being
undertaken by two joint venture companies of Ethiopian and Chinese
investors.
Already secured the plot for constructing the factory, the new steel
manufacturing company, Excel Steel plc is planning to start production
after two years. The factory will have the capacity of producing
2,000 to 3,000 tons of steel per day that will be used in different
forms as construction inputs. The capacity of any of the few steel
manufacturing companies in the country does not exceed 100 tons
per day.
MORE
Dire TV to air on Channel 9 in Dire Dawa
By Tedla Desta
The Dire Dawa Provisional Administrative Council is to start its
own television named Dire TV, on Channel 9, the Administrative Council’s
Information and Public Relations Head, Misrak Worku told Capital.
“We have got a license from the Ethiopian Broadcasting Agency
to start Dire TV on our own Channel, that is Channel 9, which would
be the first regional TV to have its own channel in the country’s
history,” he said.
Rental Houses collects record high revenue
By Tedla Desta
The Rental Houses Agency (RHA) has managed to collect revenue amounting
to 163,578,436.09 birr in the just ended Ethiopian fiscal year,
which is the highest in the Agency’s revenue collection history,
Kasahun W/Giorgis, Agency Public Relations Service Head told Capital.
This shows a 27 percent increase from the collected revenue of the
previous year, 146,321,288.00 birr. The Agency had actually planned
to collect revenues of 145,731,413.16 birr only in just ended year.
MORE
PM Meles’ greeting cards are launched
By Tedla Desta
Visitors are to be greeted upon arrival at the Bole International
Airport, with a welcoming card signed by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi,
Teferi Yemane, Overall Events, Shows and Competitions Dep’t
Head at the Addis Ababa Millennium Secretariat told Capital.
The Addis Ababa Millennium Secretariat in collaboration with TGB
Promotions and Advertising prepared two million copies of the welcome
cards that will be offered at the airport along with a flower.
MORE
Indian cooling systems enter Ethiopia
By Andualem Sisay
Dubai based Indian firm, VANDOTHRA Group of Companies, enters Ethiopia
to produce cooling system equipments in a project valued at 54 mln
birr.
The company will create jobs for 45 permanent employees and is expected
to hire up to 100 more in its third year. With an eye on exports,
the company is to fabricate cooling system equipments such as radiators,
turbines and air conditioners.
Megawati Sukarnoputri visited Addis
By our staff reporter
Megawati Sukarnoputri, the former President of the Republic of
Indonesia and 14 other delegates visited Addis Ababa for two days
(August 28 -29) to enjoy tourism attractions including the Ethnographical
Museum and Entoto Mountain, according to Hiroe Shimabukuro, General
Manager of Noble Conference and Tours, the firm that organized the
tour.
The group has also enjoyed the unique Ethiopian coffee ceremony
and traditional dances.
CUDP urges government to tackle inflation
By Andualem Sisay
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP), called for
a quick integrated intervention by the government of Ethiopia to
tackle the continuously increasing cost of living in the country.
Government did not realize or identify the actual cause of the ever
increasing inflation in the country and actions it is currently
taking are “too little and too late”, according to the
statement the party gave at Ras Hotel on Thursday, August 31, 2007.
The Millennium celebration’s lost
‘run’
By Kirubel Tadesse
The organizers of the 2007 TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run said that
they have been told by the Ethiopian government to postpone the
date of this year’s competition. The run had been planned
for Sunday, September 9, 2007 as a major part of Ethiopia’s
Millennium celebrations just three days before the Ethiopian New
Year.
East African Bottling boosts Coke production
By Tedla Desta
East African Bottling S.C. (EAB), has installed new machinery lines
that would boost the plants capacity, said Murray Loggie, General
Manager of East African Bottling Share Company. Seven and half million
dollars was spent on this third production line in Addis Ababa,
which can produce up to 36 thousand bottles per hour. It was also
said that a similar production line has been installed in Dire Dawa.
MORE
Federal Police urges arms control
By Tedla Desta
Ethiopia’s Federal Police Commission has proposed a Draft
National Policy which would make possible the counting of all firearms
in Ethiopia, Deputy Commander Yemane Gesesew, of the Federal Police
Legal Service Department and Coordinator, Ethiopia National Focal
Point for the Control and Management of firearms told Capital.
“The draft policy will be presented to Parliament next year
and a law will be endorsed during the following year,” he
said. The proposed draft also states that arms possession could
be allowed based on competency tests and on the basis that it is
used for self defense. The draft also proposes to bring in bullets
shot for investigation.
MORE
‘Diaspora option’ to keep Ethiopians
brain from draining
By Kirubel Tadesse
HLM (Hibret Lelimat Ma’ekel), an indigenous non- profit,
non- governmental developmental organization, said that the diaspora
option is the best approach to keep Ethiopian brains from totally
draining. It said that the diaspora option help the resources of
the host country to be utilized by the diaspora to support the county
of origin.
MORE
Ethiopian mapping agency and GS INFO Solutions
in dispute
By Kirubel Tadesse
In a letter it sent to Capital, the Ethiopian Mapping Agency said
that it notified GS Info Solutions to drop any work regarding map
designing or distribution of any kind since it is only the agency’s
authority and responsibility to monitor and organize map related
activities in the country and GS Info Solutions did not consult
or get permission from the agency.
Chavez puts off Africa tour
By Tesfu Telahoun
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has indefinitely postponed a much
anticipated African tour in which he was expected to visit several
countries including an official call on the African Union headquarters
in Addis Ababa, scheduled for today, Sunday, September 2, 2007.
It is to be recalled that the visit of the leftist leader to Africa
was disclosed in Capital’s issue of August 26, 2007.
India celebrates Ethiopian Millennium with
series of activities
By Andualem Sisay
With the objective of commemorating the ongoing celebration of
the new Ethiopian Millennium, which coincides with India’s
60th anniversary of independence, the Indian Embassy in Addis Ababa
announced on Thursday August 30, 2007 that it has planned various
activities to colorfully celebrate the two events.
The Embassy’s events will commence with the celebration of
Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on 2nd October, 2007, which this
year has been adopted by the United Nations as International Non-Violence
Day.
Lack of managerial skills hurts economy
By Kirubel Tadesse
Lack of managerial skills at the micro level results in low level
of competitiveness and inefficiency of firms which contributes towards
the overall failure of the economy, said Yifru Tafesse, former Secretary
of the Ethiopian Management Professionals Association, EMPA, speaking
at “state of management profession in Ethiopia”, a panel
discussion held on August 30, 2007 at Addis Ababa University. Yifru
explained that the survey made in 2005 supports his assertion.
Harar to replace dried out water pipelines
Generators for Dire-Jara water project still held in customs
By Andualem Sisay
Harar, a town beset with water shortages for over two decades,
is going to replace its old and rusted pipelines to get water from
the 72 km new pipeline distribution network project that plans to
cover in addition to Harar neighboring towns of Aweday and Haromay.
The new line is believed to minimize water contamination, which
often used to occur as a result of the old rusted pipelines, according
to Bushra Mohamed, Public Relations Head of the Water Supply and
Sewerage Authority of the Harari People Regional State.
MORE
Zemilli Paint triples production
By Kirubel Tadesse
Zemilli Paint Factory, sister company of DH Geda Trade and Industry,
has tripled its production by investing more than four million birr
on additional machinery. According to Kassa Alemnete, Manager of
Zemilli, the factory is now working at full capacity with more than
two hundred fifty employees, to meet the country’s booming
construction and industrial sector demand. He added that Zemilli
has opened new branches in Harar, Nekemte and other town to add
to Mekelle, Shashemene, Dessie and other branches.
Acer to expand in Ethiopia
By Andualem Sisay
Acer adds Systech Computers into its three existing authorized
distributors and service providers list for Ethiopia. This was indicated
at an Acer product portfolio introduction event undertaken at the
Sheraton Addis on Wednesday, August 29, 2007.
According to the briefings of representatives from various regional
offices of the Taiwanese brand, the company has been preparing itself
to improve its service and expand its market in Ethiopia.
MORE
Fayyaa launches new project on HIV/AIDS
By Andualem Sisay
A local initiative, Fayyaa Integrated Development Association (FIDA),
launched a 3.5 million USD project on HIV/AIDS on Thursday August
30, 2007 at the Addis Ababa Hilton.
The money for the project, which will be implemented in Oromia,
Southern and Somali Region, was donated by the President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief-New Partners Initiative (PEPFAR-NPI).
The three regions were selected because of their high HIV/AIDS prevalence
rate when compared to others.
MORE
UEDP loses executive office
By Kirubel Tadesse
The United Ethiopian Democratic Party (UEDP), former member of
the CUD, lost its executive committee office on Wednesday August
29, 2007, in the presence of rental house representatives and a
police officer. The federal court verdict-implementing agency took
over the house after the police announced the decision a week ago.
According to Mussie Semiu, UEDP executive committee member, even
if the party respects the court decision, the timing of the take
over is unacceptable as it makes it impossible to appeal the decision
because of the winter break. Mussie added that the UEDP was trying
to resolve the issue through administrative discussions but the
take over did not give discussions a chance.
MORE
|
Government
increases salaries
By Tedla Desta
The Council of Ministers on Thursday, August 30, 2007 has decided
that the salary of civil servants to be increased, Minister of Finance
and Economic Development, Sufian Ahmed said.
The decision includes the salary increment of government recruits
and pensioner’s allowance. “A study has been conducted
for the past months on the increment of salary for civil servants
with the perspective of macroeconomic stability, government’s
capacity and other various aspects. The Council of Ministers has
accepted the findings of the study”, he said.
The 233 birr minimum initial salary of government recruits has been
increased to 320 birr. The increase for low income earners is up
to 38 percent. “The highest initial civil servants salary
was 2535 birr and now it has increased to 3152 birr”, Sufian
said.
Pensioners living on allowances are also to benefit as those who
get 100 birr in pension allowance will receive 160 birr.
The salary increment is applicable as of July 2007.
The Minister said the reasons for the increment are basically that
a salary increment is made every five years and second is the high
inflation in the past two years.
As a short term strategy to ease the burden of inflation, the government
is distributing consumer goods at reduced prices. Accordingly, 150
thousand metric tons of wheat is in distribution while another 150
thousand metric tons has been procured from abroad and will be available
for distribution soon.
He also said that monetary policy measures have also been taken.
“Out of the 2000 fiscal year budget, 1.8 billion birr has
been allotted for conducting the salary increment”, he added.
Regional states share comprise 1.3 million birr out of the total
1.8 billion birr.
“The inflation rate is projected to have reached 17 to 18
per cent and it is pulling investments to the country while on the
other hand, it is pressing on urban low income earners, which the
government understands well. To ease this, government will continue
taking policy measures and other undertakings in the short term.”
he added.
He also said that the government will inspect price increases that
might come as a result of the salary increment.
Asked if the salary increment could actually assist civil servants
in coping with the price hikes, the Minister said that the increment
would benefit civil servants but it can not be fully satisfactory
for various reasons.
The highest increment by percentage was given to those receiving
the lowest salaries. Those who fall under this category got a 37
per cent increase while pensioners saw an allowance rise of 60 per
cent.
In order to cope with the transportation and oil price problems
evident in the country, the government is assessing other options,
he said. “Studies are underway to find ways of using mass
transport in the cities, like establishing rail transport.”
Our deficit for 2000 has been below 3 per cent, which is not evident
even for the developed countries, Sufian complemented.
The Minister said government has no plans of controlling prices
as the system is a free economy but there are measures that should
be taken to control unfair trade.
In May 2007, headlined inflation was significantly higher owing
to an increase in food prices which reached 18.1 percent by the
end of the month compared to 14.4 percent a year ago.
Billion birr steel, cement
factories underway
A determined entrepreneur’s journey from small plastic factory
to 20% industrial zone ownership
By Andualem Sisay
A modern fully computerized steel plant with a capital of 600
to 800 million birr and a half billion birr cement factory are being
undertaken by two joint venture companies of Ethiopian and Chinese
investors.
Already secured the plot for constructing the factory, the new steel
manufacturing company, Excel Steel plc is planning to start production
after two years. The factory will have the capacity of producing
2,000 to 3,000 tons of steel per day that will be used in different
forms as construction inputs. The capacity of any of the few steel
manufacturing companies in the country does not exceed 100 tons
per day.
After meeting the ever-increasing demand of construction inputs,
both factories target to provide 50% of their product for export,
according to Sisay Tesfaye, Managing Director and 30% shareholder
in Excel Steel plc and 50% in Walia Steel Industry, which he also
shares with his Chinese partners who run large companies abroad.
The new computerized plant that Excel Steel plans to install will
enable the factory to produce construction materials from steel
that have never been produced in Ethiopia before, such as steel
coils.
The cement factory, East Cement plc, which is also owned by Sisay
and his Chinese partners is also under construction and is expected
to start production in May. When it begins production, it is expected
to create 500 permanent jobs and 400 temporary ones.
With its goal of making available all construction inputs at one
door shopping, Sisay, in partnership with various Chinese companies
is also running tile and bricks factories and another factory, which
has been supplying inputs for construction of condominiums in Addis
Ababa.
“Working in partnership with big Chinese companies has enabled
me to transfer technologies that my country lacks and is helping
me to realize my dreams of opening modern factories in Ethiopia,”
says Sisay.
Sisay, a man who strongly believes that Ethiopians can achieve whatever
other people of the world have managed to perform provided that
they exhibit the right attitude and determination with commitment,
hopes Ethiopia will join the middle income countries list within
five to ten years.
It was eight years ago that Sisay, now 41, decided to end his employment
in a private plastic factory and open a small one of his own in
the AlemGena area, 20 km South West of Addis Ababa in Oromia region.
Not long after that, he kept on figuring out how he will be able
to realize his dream of opening large, modern industries that will
create jobs for thousands and enable him to transfer technology
to his country.
After traveling to over forty countries, he selected four Chinese
companies to work with in joint ventures.
Currently, Jiangsu Yonggang Group, Panhua Group, Jiangsu Qiyuan
Group and Zhangjiang Pipe Making Ltd are Sisay’s partners.
“This is only just the beginning, there is a lot that I am
planning and not just for profit, but also for the mental satisfaction
I get when I see my country’s image changing,” he says.
Now, the partnership among the five investors has reached higher
levels when they signed an agreement a few weeks ago to establish
one big Industrial Zone that can have 100 various modern factories
with around 100,000 employees. Garments, steel and car assemblies
are among the ventures that will be established in the industrial
zone.
After approving their project, the government of Ethiopia recently
gave them five million square meters of land in Dukem, Oromia Region
to establish a new industrial zone. To begin the construction, they
are now waiting for the Chinese government to approve the 2.4 billion
birr soft loan (loan with small interest and extended grace period)
that they requested.
Sisay who has a B.A in Business Administration and Diploma in Accounting
has a 20% share in this industrial zone, named, Ethiopian East Industrial
Zone. “We named the industrial zone ‘east’ after
Ethiopia’s geographic location in Africa and China’s
in Asia,” Sisay says.
Dire TV to air on Channel
9 in Dire Dawa
By Tedla Desta
The Dire Dawa Provisional Administrative Council is to start its
own television named Dire TV, on Channel 9, the Administrative Council’s
Information and Public Relations Head, Misrak Worku told Capital.
“We have got a license from the Ethiopian Broadcasting Agency
to start Dire TV on our own Channel, that is Channel 9, which would
be the first regional TV to have its own channel in the country’s
history,” he said.
Around 4.7 million birr has been budgeted to execute the establishment
of Dire TV.
“We have been sharing experiences in Addis Ababa from the
regional TV transmitting stations,” he said.
Dire TV will begin transmission as of November 2007. The recruitment
of personnel and material organization is being conducted. The transmission
of Dire TV will be within a 200 kilometer radius that encompasses
the town and neighboring states.
“Dire TV will be the fastest source of information for the
residents of Dire Dawa,” Misrak added.
In a related development, the Dire Dawa Provisional Administrative
Council is also to start transmitting a regional TV program on Ethiopian
Television as of September 26, 2007.
The 20 minutes program will have social, economic and good governance
issues on its menu. “The program entitled the Dire Dawa Television
Program will be on air every Tuesday afternoon,” Misrak added.
The Dire Dawa Provisional Administrative Council consists of the
city of Dire Dawa and the surrounding rural areas. Dire Dawa is
the capital city of the Administrative Council.
Rental Houses collects record
high revenue
By Tedla Desta
The Rental Houses Agency (RHA) has managed to collect revenue amounting
to 163,578,436.09 birr in the just ended Ethiopian fiscal year,
which is the highest in the Agency’s revenue collection history,
Kasahun W/Giorgis, Agency Public Relations Service Head told Capital.
This shows a 27 percent increase from the collected revenue of the
previous year, 146,321,288.00 birr. The Agency had actually planned
to collect revenues of 145,731,413.16 birr only in just ended year.
He said that the registered revenue was collected due to the large
scale awareness raising campaign and the commitment from the management.
With regards to Houses Administration, 219 houses that have been
vacated through court order and other means have been rented through
the Agency’s house rental directive.
The transfer of 304 house deeds was conducted and the work on 438
has been concluded.
“A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed on the
problems created regarding houses given to lease developers. In
addition to the MOU, an execution action plan on the rebuilding
of the Agency’s houses that were demolished due to lease and
road construction has been reached,” Kasahun added.
Regarding loaded arrears in various embassies, the attempts of collecting
rental fees is well underway in collaboration with the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. This has been divided into three categories.
Of the 19 embassies in category one, six have paid 3,214,925.81
birr and based on the Prime Minister Office’s decision, the
arrears of the Namibia Embassy has been amended by 50 %
In the second category, India and Serbia and Montenegro are found.
The Indian Embassy is decided to pay by the Prime Minister’s
office and is being followed.
In the third category Switzerland embassy was requested to pay the
arrear while Sudan’s was cancelled and the case of Somalia
and Eritrea embassies is awaiting government’s decision.
The RHA is a public Housing Agency that administers and manages,
government owned houses.
The Mission of the Rented Houses Agency is to be result oriented
and public centered as it strives to increase the availability of
decent, safe and affordable rental housing in meeting the public
housing needs, improve the quality of houses through efficient maintenance
and effective repair of houses, ensure proper preservation of the
houses, ensure a high customer service delivery through fostering
openness and integrity.
PM Meles’ greeting cards
are launched
By Tedla Desta
Visitors are to be greeted upon arrival at the Bole International
Airport, with a welcoming card signed by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi,
Teferi Yemane, Overall Events, Shows and Competitions Dep’t
Head at the Addis Ababa Millennium Secretariat told Capital.
The Addis Ababa Millennium Secretariat in collaboration with TGB
Promotions and Advertising prepared two million copies of the welcome
cards that will be offered at the airport along with a flower.
In his message, Prime Minister Meles states that Ethiopia is in
a very hopeful developmental avenue and invites guests to contribute
their professional and material share to the progress of the country
and wishes them a happy stay in Ethiopia.
In a related development, the Addis Ababa Millennium Secretariat
has disclosed its tentative schedules of grand events in the Millennium
Festival. The program includes events scheduled from May 2007 to
August 2008.
“On the eve of the millennium (September 11) the Addis Ababa
Millennium Secretariat in collaboration with Target Imaging, Rihan
Band and the Addis Ababa City Administration Theatre Centers, will
organize events at the National Stadium and Janmeda,” Teferi
said. He also added that a range of shows, competitions and events
will be held on the same day among which speeches, fireworks and
traditional, modern and African music concerts and fashion show
are some.
The other grand event expected to be held from September 21 to 23
at Masqal Square is a reggae music concert to be held by HIM International
Promotion and Lucy 2000. “A group of 120 reggae musicians
have contacted us and have requested to present their shows,”
Teferi said.
The other concert expected in Masqal Square is Fikat Millennium
Aster Aweke Music Concert in October. Some of the other events scheduled
to be conducted over the year are senior citizens week, street children’s
week, diaspora week, investment and investors’ week, good
governance and higher officials week which includes debates between
government officials and EU delegates, diplomat’s week, African
week, journalists and artists’ week, and many others.
Indian cooling systems enter
Ethiopia
By Andualem Sisay
Dubai based Indian firm, VANDOTHRA Group of Companies, enters Ethiopia
to produce cooling system equipments in a project valued at 54 mln
birr.
The company will create jobs for 45 permanent employees and is expected
to hire up to 100 more in its third year. With an eye on exports,
the company is to fabricate cooling system equipments such as radiators,
turbines and air conditioners.
Currently, the company is waiting for allotment of a 10,000 square
meter plot in Akaki or Sebetah area of Oromia Region to start building
the factory. After securing the plot, the company plans to start
production within 4 to 6 months, according to Ambassador Premdut
Doongoor of Mauritius to Ethiopia who invited the company to Ethiopia.
At its Dubai factory, VANDOTHRA manufactures water cooled radiators
for generators and turbines. It also undertakes overhauling of turbo
chargers for gas turbines, automotive use and generators.
In addition, in Saudi Arabia, the company manufactures heat exchangers
and condensers from materials such as brass, copper, Alu-brass,
cupronickel, carbon steel and stainless steel.
In Qatar the VANDOTHRA Group of Companies is engaged in supplying,
maintenance and installation of fire pumps, boilers, pipeline installation,
cleaning of fresh water lines and diesel pipelines, among others.
The VANDOTHRA Group of Companies has been in the global market for
…years. Cooling World Center, ETERNITY, GERCORE Radiators,
AL SUWAIDI, VANDROTHA General Trading and GERCORE Technical Services
are sister companies found under the VANDOTHRA Group of Companies.
Megawati Sukarnoputri visited
Addis
By our staff reporter
Megawati Sukarnoputri, the former President of the Republic of
Indonesia and 14 other delegates visited Addis Ababa for two days
(August 28 -29) to enjoy tourism attractions including the Ethnographical
Museum and Entoto Mountain, according to Hiroe Shimabukuro, General
Manager of Noble Conference and Tours, the firm that organized the
tour.
The group has also enjoyed the unique Ethiopian coffee ceremony
and traditional dances.
The General Manager, Hiroe Shimabukuro, said “We were delighted
to welcome such VIP guests in the eve of the Ethiopian Millennium
and would like to promote the country more as the tourism attractions
enable us to catch the attention of such prestigious guests. However,
tourism facilities must improve as such guests demand upscale services
and facilities.”
Megawati Sukarnoputri was in power from 2001 to 2004 and deposed
president Abdurrahman Wahid.
Born in Yogyakarta in 1947, Megawati is the second child and eldest
daughter of Indonesia’s founding president, Sukarno. He led
Indonesia’s independence from Dutch colonial rule after World
War II (1939-1945) and served as the country’s first president
for two decades. Her full given name is Dyah Permata Megawati Setiawati
Sukarnoputri, but she commonly uses only one name, Megawati, following
Indonesian custom. The name Megawati roughly translates as “woman
of the clouds,” and Sukarnoputri means “daughter of
Sukarno.”
CUDP urges government to tackle inflation
By Andualem Sisay
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP), called for
a quick integrated intervention by the government of Ethiopia to
tackle the continuously increasing cost of living in the country.
Government did not realize or identify the actual cause of the ever
increasing inflation in the country and actions it is currently
taking are “too little and too late”, according to the
statement the party gave at Ras Hotel on Thursday, August 31, 2007.
The statement indicated that the Prime Minister’s one time
claim that attributed the increase in prices for cereals to farmers’
reluctance to bring cereals to the market; contradicts with the
statement made by the Ministry of Trade and Industry that blamed
the businessmen for hording cereals.
“The conflicting explanations given by the officials are clear
indications of the government’s inability to identify the
causes of the current inflation,” adds the CUD statement.
To address the problem, the party suggested immediate formation
of a committee represented by various interested groups and experts
to identify the real causes of the current inflation.
It also urged the government to live up to its responsibilities
in stabilizing the market, while at the same time allowing market
forces to play their role. They also suggested that government has
to increase its subsidy on fuel prices for people of low incomes.
In addition to supplying cereals at discount prices in the urban
areas, they advised the government to create employment opportunities
for those who can’t even afford to buy the discount cereals,
by introducing a food for work program, like it had previously been
tried during the Derg regime.
They also advised the formation of consumers associations and cooperatives
at the kebele level that will be able to directly purchase cereals
from farmers and farmers’ cooperatives.
Though they did not specifically indicate solutions other than advising
the government to caution house renters, they also urged the government
to find a temporary solution to the sky rocketing cost of rent for
private homes.
Calling on the government to allow business persons to import cereals
free of tax if the problem is due to shortage in supply, in closing,
the party stressed its willingness to contribute its share in solving
the urgent problem.
The Millennium celebration’s
lost ‘run’
By Kirubel Tadesse
The organizers of the 2007 TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run said that
they have been told by the Ethiopian government to postpone the
date of this year’s competition. The run had been planned
for Sunday, September 9, 2007 as a major part of Ethiopia’s
Millennium celebrations just three days before the Ethiopian New
Year.
In a press conference Haile Gebreselassie, the great Ethiopian athlete
of all time and Richard Nerurkar, General Manager of the Ethiopian
Great Run, gave on Thursday, August 30, 2007, they explained that
the news of the postponement was passed to Haile Gebreselassie by
Ethiopia’s Vice Prime Minister, Addisu Legesse on Monday,
August 26, 2007. Haile said that the decision was ‘too hard
to accept’ until he met the Vice Prime Minister in person
to confirm it. He added that even if the postponement brings huge
disappointments for 30,000 participants including hundreds from
abroad, it is acceptable if it is in the country’s best interests.
When asked about the government’s reason for the postponement,
Richard Nerurkar replied that they did not get any tangible reason
as to why the decision was made. He added that security could be
one reason but it has not been confirmed by the government. He also
explained that another venue on the ring road, proposed to host
the event, was not accepted by the government; therefore the organizers
did not have any other option but to postpone the event to its usual
time on November 25. Richard Nerurkar also said that foreign media
opportunities like CNN’s scheduled special program for the
millennium run are now lost and it could cost the Ethiopian run
its credibility and acceptance internationally.
Haile Gebreselassie also expressed his dismay saying, “I did
not get enough sleep in the last few days; I was really shocked
by the decision. We scheduled this event even before the Millennium
Secretariat was formed. We even got their permission and this millennium
run would be the most colorful event of the millennium celebrations.”
He added, “This is a sport stage, no other motive is here.
If people are to make a profit or have any other agenda of any type
out of it, that is unacceptable. The Ethiopian Great Run is for
Ethiopians and if the government believes that it is not in the
best interest of the people to host the event, I would not mind
losing money or any other thing since it is all about Ethiopians
after all.” Haile wished to see a developed and strong Ethiopia
which resulted from sincere brotherly and sisterly cooperation of
citizens in the coming millennium.
The Great Ethiopian Run was established in 2001 when Ethiopia’s
first-ever international mass-participation road race was staged.
The Great Run was hoped to be enjoyed by Ethiopians living at home
and coming from abroad for the millennium celebrations in the last
weekend of the thousand years we are going to leave behind. It is
the second major event to be cancelled following the TAAF event
at Maskal square.
East African Bottling boosts
Coke production
By Tedla Desta
East African Bottling S.C. (EAB), has installed new machinery lines
that would boost the plants capacity, said Murray Loggie, General
Manager of East African Bottling Share Company. Seven and half million
dollars was spent on this third production line in Addis Ababa,
which can produce up to 36 thousand bottles per hour. It was also
said that a similar production line has been installed in Dire Dawa.
Production is expected to be launched this month, he said. “This
is going to help us cope in the market better.” Company officials
say it has been half a century since the company started service
in Ethiopia. The current annual production rate is said to be 15
million physical cases, each containing 24 bottles.
“Through The Coke Side of Life, the brand seeks to remind
customers to see the positive in every situation and to remember
to appreciate life’s simple pleasures; all this is captured
in the advertising which is vibrant, colorful and uplifting,”
said Achieng Butler, Division Strategic Marketing Manager, for Coca-Cola
Trademark, in the East and Central Africa Division.
‘Through The Coke Side of Life’, is a creative strategy
that the company is using to drive a multi-media, multi-cultural
platform in the markets across the world. It is part of a new global
branding, effective in Ethiopia as of September 1, 2007. In addition
to the initial group of ads and elements that have been designed,
more commercials and communication tools will be available for global
use in 2007 and onwards.
“Advertisement in Coca Cola has been changing over the years
but the message remains the same, which is based on highlighting
on the brighter aspect of life,” says Judy Kiruri, Franchise
Marketing Manager, EAB.
The idea of the campaign was created by Wieden+Kennedy, the global
agency of record for brand Coca-Cola based in the United States.
The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company.
Along with Coca-Cola, the Company markets four of the world’s
soft drink brands, Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite and wide range of
other beverages.
“It is likely that we will introduce a sugar free type of
product to the Ethiopian market and that is what we are working
on,” the GM said.
The Coca-Cola company has consumers in more than 200 countries with
more than one billion servings each day. The company, with its 40
bottling partners in Africa, is the largest private sector employer,
with nearly 60,000 employees. Over the past five years alone, more
than 600 million dollars has been invested in Africa, much of this
going into new plants. The beverages are also marketed and distributed
by bottling partners in over 160 plants serving 850 million consumers,
in 56 countries.
Federal Police urges arms
control
By Tedla Desta
Ethiopia’s Federal Police Commission has proposed a Draft
National Policy which would make possible the counting of all firearms
in Ethiopia, Deputy Commander Yemane Gesesew, of the Federal Police
Legal Service Department and Coordinator, Ethiopia National Focal
Point for the Control and Management of firearms told Capital.
“The draft policy will be presented to Parliament next year
and a law will be endorsed during the following year,” he
said. The proposed draft also states that arms possession could
be allowed based on competency tests and on the basis that it is
used for self defense. The draft also proposes to bring in bullets
shot for investigation.
The proposed marking and licensing of arms will be exclusive to
the National Defense Force. A National Action Plan will also look
into the condition of firearms all over the country, and will contribute
towards the formulation of the policy similar to other African countries.
“This development will help in controlling firearms in the
country and devise ways for disarming if necessary,” he added.
Assistant Commissioner Yilma Zeleke, on the workshop attended by
the Regional Center on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) member
states, said that there may be Eritrean government proxies and other
anti-peace elements inclined to destabilize our peace and security
during the Ethiopian Millennium celebrations. “I would like
to call on patriotic citizens to be vigilant and cooperate with
the police in ensuring that any suspicious and criminal activity
is controlled and be informed to law enforcement without delay,”
he added.
The Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great
Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa (RECSA) is an institutional
framework arising from the Nairobi Declaration to coordinate the
joint efforts of the National Focal Points in Member States. The
Center works with governments, international community and donors,
regional and national agencies, the private sector and civil society
towards a joint effort to regulate and eradicate possession, proliferation,
illicit trade, trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons
in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa.
11 eastern Africa and Great Lakes countries signed the Nairobi Protocol
in April 2004 to control the movement of illegal arms. The Nairobi
Declaration on the Problem of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons
in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa was also signed
on the 15th March 2000 by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and /
or Representatives of the Governments of Burundi, DRC, Djibouti,
Ethiopia Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
‘Diaspora option’
to keep Ethiopians brain from draining
By Kirubel Tadesse
HLM (Hibret Lelimat Ma’ekel), an indigenous non- profit,
non- governmental developmental organization, said that the diaspora
option is the best approach to keep Ethiopian brains from totally
draining. It said that the diaspora option help the resources of
the host country to be utilized by the diaspora to support the county
of origin.
The strategic planning summary of HML, distributed at the full day
symposium on 30 August 2007 at Addis Ababa City Hall, explains that
the traditional strategy toward reducing brain drain has been to
focus on human capital. It explains that national or international
policies focus on developing counter measures to either prevent
or regulate the outflow of skills, or cancel negative effects through
financial compensation; but the approach has not proved effective
because it does not successfully prevent the outflow of skilled
professionals.
The strategic planning summary also explains that the second approach
designed to prevent the brain drain is a ‘return option’,
which too was not successful. The ‘return option’ was
designed to make emigration less attractive by offering incentives,
such as salaries and infrastructure that are comparable to those
in developed countries for highly skilled professionals. The summary
report showed that this approach has been implemented in newly industrialized
countries like India, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan but competing
industrialized countries in terms of salary and infrastructure is
not easy for most developing counties like, Ethiopia. The fist and
the second approaches have not been successful in reversing the
brain drain, according to the summary, which says the ‘diaspora
option’ is the most viable alternative for development initiatives
in developing countries. The summary also explains that challenges
such as how to effectively and systematically mobilize professional
and intellectual resources in the Diaspora and create a win-win
situation between the two.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), estimates that more than
one million Ethiopians live outside the country, particularly in
North America, Europe and the Middle East. These émigrés,
commonly known as the Ethiopian diaspora, continue to contribute
to the economic and socio- cultural development of their host country.
As result of emigration, Ethiopia is losing its skilled human resources
and is experiencing shortage of qualified and skilled personnel
in the private and public sectors, especially in higher education,
health, the sciences; engineering and other such fields.
The HLM symposium aimed at helping the diaspora members to get first
hand information to appreciate the human resource need and expectation
of institutions in the country and to enable them see the role they
could play in capacity building. It was attended by more than one
hundred participants.
Ethiopian mapping agency
and GS INFO Solutions in dispute
By Kirubel Tadesse
In a letter it sent to Capital, the Ethiopian Mapping Agency said
that it notified GS Info Solutions to drop any work regarding map
designing or distribution of any kind since it is only the agency’s
authority and responsibility to monitor and organize map related
activities in the country and GS Info Solutions did not consult
or get permission from the agency.
Chief executive officer of GS Info Solutions, Zelalem Shiferaw,
told Capital that the Ethiopian Mapping Agency does not have any
right or authority to give or deny permission to the map they have
already started distributing. He added that the reason behind the
negative publicity, which is hurting their business, could arise
from not appreciating this modern map of Addis Ababa designed particularly
for shoppers and tourists. It was produced with fewer resource and
professionals when compared to the resources the mapping agency
has at its disposal and has not used for years.
The Ethiopian Mapping Agency in its letter explained that the agency
is the only federal organization engaged in monitoring map and map
related activities according to the 1981 proclamation number 193,
which is the base for its establishment. It explained that proclamations
which came after the 1973’s decree further strengthened the
responsibilities and the authority of the map agency to monitor
and govern any map activities in the country.
Amha Bedlu, lawyer for GS Info Solutions, explained that the agency
is claiming the authority of giving permission to distribute or
design maps by proclamation that has been changed and replaced.
In a letter GS sent to the agency, it said “even if the agency
notified us to stop the map designing project and to stop distributing
stating that it has the right to prohibit that by proclamation number
8/1980, paragraph 54, the mentioned paragraph doesn’t give
it the authority it claims.” The letter also said that the
agency’s negative publicity is affecting the company’s
good performance without considering copy right proclamation 410/96.
GS Info Solution also warned the agency it will take the matter
to court if the latter continues insists to prohibit it from distributing
the information.
Capital had recently reported the inauguration of the Addis Ababa
city guide map for shoppers and tourists in the presence of Addis
Ababa Tourism Commission Commissioner and other staff members. The
commission had then announced that it will link the map to its official
website so that tourists can access it easily.
Chavez puts off Africa tour
By Tesfu Telahoun
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has indefinitely postponed a much
anticipated African tour in which he was expected to visit several
countries including an official call on the African Union headquarters
in Addis Ababa, scheduled for today, Sunday, September 2, 2007.
It is to be recalled that the visit of the leftist leader to Africa
was disclosed in Capital’s issue of August 26, 2007.
The president’s visit was abruptly put off to an unspecified
date due to his being invited to lead a mediation initiative in
war torn neighbor and Latin America’s staunchest US ally,
Colombia.
Bogotá has been fighting what has now become the most drawn
out civil conflict in the world against the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia.
The 45 year old conflict has cost the lives of over 50,000 civilians
and thousands of government soldiers and rebels.
As of the late 1990s and onwards, the F.A.R.C has reluctantly given
safe haven areas – virtual autonomy – over a huge swathe
of Colombia.
The popular President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia, elected on a get
tough, no nonsense platform against the notorious, cocaine traffic
funded FARC, was compelled to agree to the Chavez initiative in
order to solve a hostage crisis involving dozens of high profile
politicians, military officers and wealthy civilians held captive
by the FARC for up to 10 years. The hostages include French –
Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three American
contractors.
The F.A.R.C professes great admiration for Hugo Chavez’s style
of populist politics and has accepted Venezuelan mediation in Caracas.
Their demands are unpalatable to President Uribe, who is under intense
domestic pressure to end the hostage crisis. Chief among these is
the demand by the FARC for the release from government detention
of over 500 rebels in return for 45 hostages.
On his part, Uribe has set an almost impossible pre-condition that
if their demands are met, the FARC should denounce all crime and
violence and join the political process through peaceful means.
The mediation is to be launched within the week in Caracas and Hugo
Chavez has promised that a regional solution is possible.
It is expected that his tour of Africa will commence after the mediation
effort is complete, a process that is likely to take considerable
time.
India celebrates Ethiopian
Millennium with series of activities
By Andualem Sisay
With the objective of commemorating the ongoing celebration of
the new Ethiopian Millennium, which coincides with India’s
60th anniversary of independence, the Indian Embassy in Addis Ababa
announced on Thursday August 30, 2007 that it has planned various
activities to colorfully celebrate the two events.
The Embassy’s events will commence with the celebration of
Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on 2nd October, 2007, which this
year has been adopted by the United Nations as International Non-Violence
Day.
“The forthcoming millennium is an opportunity for Ethiopia
to celebrate and uphold its heritage while introducing a new face
of Ethiopia that can begin with the cohabitation of the old and
new in close proximity; revival of old traditions in new forms,”
said Ambassador Gurjit Singh of India to Ethiopia.
A capacity building program on which some 50 designers will be involved
is among the events launched by the embassy. “India has many
experiences to share here and to celebrate with Ethiopia. In this
historic event the Embassy of India in Ethiopia proposes a novel
project – A Capacity Building Initiative with Designers,”
the Ambassador announced.
The event brings together design experts and faculty from India’s
prestigious design institutions and designers from Ethiopia to work
together with locally produced Ethiopian fabrics and natural materials
to produce affordable every-day-wear for the Ethiopian domestic
market, according to the Ambassador.
On this initiative named ‘Value your life…Value your
culture’ exclusive workshops by visiting design experts from
India on fashion design, pattern making and construction, home furnishing
and accessory design with special focus on finishing and fashion
forecasting will be conducted between October 15,2007 to November
3,2007.
The designers will be presented at a contest event in January 2008.
Four participants from four categories will receive an award-a 15-day
study tour to India. The categories are apparels-female, apparels-male,
accessories and other lifestyle products (home décor).
Producers of Ethiopian hand loomed cottons, other natural fiber
materials and leathers are invited to partner in this project.
As part of its series of events, the Embassy plans to celebrate
the occasion starting with a blood donation camp on 29th September,
2007 with the active support of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society
and the Indian Association at the Chancery premises. There will
be a children’s quiz contest organized by the Mission and
a drawing competition organized by the Indian Women Association
on the same day.
The Indian Women Association, along with its associates, has also
decided to organize a tree-planting campaign with the help of the
Millennium Celebration Committees of the Federal Government and
the Addis Ababa City Administration on 30th September, 2007.
The Millennium Gandhi Memorial Lecture will be delivered by His
Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
on 2nd October, 2007. The Embassy has offered a bust of Mahatma
Gandhi to the headquarters of the African Union and a launch during
the day in the presence of AU Chairperson and other dignitaries
is being discussed.
The commemorative Gandhi Exhibition consisting of 50 rare photographs
detailing the life and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi is being exhibited
at the National Museum for a period of 15 days starting from 1st
October, 2007. These photos have been specially collected and brought
from India.
Another important landmark in the cultural activities of the Embassy
would be an Indian Film Week, which is being organized in association
with the Addis Ababa City Government’s Millennium Secretariat
from 26th October to 2nd November, 2007.
The Indian classic, ‘Mother India’ and a series of popular
films of Indian matinee idol Shahrukh Khan will be exhibited at
6.00 P.M. everyday at the auditorium of the City Hall for the benefit
of the Ethiopian film fraternity.
The Embassy is also organizing a 12-member Folk Dance Troupe from
November 7 to 15, 2007. Hailing from the Assam region of India,
the troupe is renowned for their scintillating performances of Bihu
folk dances.
The Ambassador also announced that his government has decided to
provide a credit of USD 640 million for the Ethiopian government
for strengthening the sugar industry in Ethiopia.
Lack of managerial skills
hurts economy
By Kirubel Tadesse
Lack of managerial skills at the micro level results in low level
of competitiveness and inefficiency of firms which contributes towards
the overall failure of the economy, said Yifru Tafesse, former Secretary
of the Ethiopian Management Professionals Association, EMPA, speaking
at “state of management profession in Ethiopia”, a panel
discussion held on August 30, 2007 at Addis Ababa University. Yifru
explained that the survey made in 2005 supports his assertion. He
added that a survey revealed the performances of large and medium
scale manufacturing enterprises in Ethiopia were characterized by
under capacity utilization (only sixty percent of their capacity),
low competitiveness in the market, low labor productivity and profitability.
Yifru also explained that the management profession in Ethiopia
has been a victim of the political and economic systems which prohibit
it from playing its vital role in the Ethiopian economy. He said
“in many cases managers have been appointed mainly based on
their loyalty to the system rather than their competence, thus resulting
in management inefficiencies and un-productivity.” The professionals
and institutions in the field of management have also failed to
advocate and promote the profession; they have either abstained
or left the country. Yifru also explained that the role of management
has become more important than ever before as the country is aspiring
to join the WTO, COMESA markets and the increasing degree of competition
among firms.
In this panel discussion organized by the Addis Ababa University
Faculty of Business and Economics and graduates of management departments
in cooperation with Admas University College, it was agreed to re-establish
and strengthen the EMPA to enable it to play its role in the economy.
It was noted that since 1999, EMPA has failed to play its role mainly
due to poor leadership and lack of active participants among members.
At the end of the panel discussion, in order to activate EMPA and
achieve its objectives, ten steering committee members were appointed
including two from Addis Ababa university FBE lecturers, two lecturers
from Unity University and another two from this year management
graduates.
Harar to replace dried out
water pipelines
Generators for Dire-Jara water project still held in customs
By Andualem Sisay
Harar, a town beset with water shortages for over two decades,
is going to replace its old and rusted pipelines to get water from
the 72 km new pipeline distribution network project that plans to
cover in addition to Harar neighboring towns of Aweday and Haromay.
The new line is believed to minimize water contamination, which
often used to occur as a result of the old rusted pipelines, according
to Bushra Mohamed, Public Relations Head of the Water Supply and
Sewerage Authority of the Harari People Regional State.
The installation of the new pipeline will begin within a few days
as all the necessary equipment has already arrived at Harar. But
according to Bushra, their request for the release of the equipment
tax free from the Customs Authority did not receive a positive answer,
although the issue has reached the Prime Minister’s office.
It was a few months ago that the Harari People Regional State had
requested the government to lift the 54 mln birr surtax and Value
Added Tax (VAT), imposed on the already imported equipment for the
Dire-Jara project. It is to be recalled that a 100 million birr
bid to supply pumps, generators and electromechanical equipment
had passed the selection process.
“As the federal government still did not lift the tax on the
equipment, Harar’s hope to quench its thirst shortly is still
uncertain. Beyond the Federal government’s promises, the equipment
has not been released,” Bushra told Capital.
The contractor, China Overseas Construction Company, has finalized
the installation of about 60 km of pipeline and is expected to finalize
the remaining 11 km, according to Bushra.
The project is funded by a 215 million birr loan and a 12 million
birr grant from the African Development Bank (ADB), 66 million birr
from the Harari People Regional State and another 20 million birr
loan from the Water Development Fund of Ethiopia. The project fund
agreement was signed two years ago.
The Dire-Jara project was initiated in 1997 by digging 17 waterholes
at Asandiso, 71 km from Harar and 25 km from Dire Dawa. Of the 17
waterholes dug by the region at a cost of 4 million birr, potable
water was tapped from twelve.
Currently, there are seven waterholes supplying water in shifts
to a population of 160,000. However, in addition to the population
living in the city, it was learnt that 29,000 residents in the rural
areas of Harar are also suffering from the water shortage.
Zemilli Paint triples production
By Kirubel Tadesse
Zemilli Paint Factory, sister company of DH Geda Trade and Industry,
has tripled its production by investing more than four million birr
on additional machinery. According to Kassa Alemnete, Manager of
Zemilli, the factory is now working at full capacity with more than
two hundred fifty employees, to meet the country’s booming
construction and industrial sector demand. He added that Zemilli
has opened new branches in Harar, Nekemte and other town to add
to Mekelle, Shashemene, Dessie and other branches. Kassa added that
the expansion plans undertaken create new job opportunities starting
from professionals in the factory to sales attendants in shops across
the country. He explained that the first expansion was implemented
with making the shift twice a day and then three, which has enabled
the factory to triple production.
In a related development, Zemilli Paint Factory has received an
ISO 9001- 2000 Quality Management System certificate, which makes
it the first paint company to receive such an award in Ethiopia,
the company’s press release explained. Zemilli Paints, with
its brand “Mega Paints” has earned a great reputation
in supplying customer oriented products. According to the press
release, the company allocates a significant portion of its annual
earnings for research and development activities and is always on
the look out for new technologies and innovations in the coating
world. The press release explains, “through our continued
search for business excellence and advancement, Zemilli Paints has
gone the extra mile to differentiate itself and has stood apart
from the competition by embracing ISO 9001- 2000 Quality Management
System and becoming certified.”
According to the press release, the award will enable Zemilli Paints
to increase its capability to meet customer demand. “On the
eve of the new Ethiopian millennium Zemilli and its holding company
DH Geda are celebrating this event of quality management certification
as a landmark accomplishment,” the press release concluded.
Acer to expand in Ethiopia
By Andualem Sisay
Acer adds Systech Computers into its three existing authorized
distributors and service providers list for Ethiopia. This was indicated
at an Acer product portfolio introduction event undertaken at the
Sheraton Addis on Wednesday, August 29, 2007.
According to the briefings of representatives from various regional
offices of the Taiwanese brand, the company has been preparing itself
to improve its service and expand its market in Ethiopia.
To this effect, the company has a dedicated service account manager
for Ethiopia and Kenya. This will enable it to respond quickly to
post sales support than it had before. When we compare ourselves
to our competitors in the Information Technology (IT) sector, we
are better in providing quality products and services with less
cost,” Shamir Jaffer, Country Sales Manager for Eastern Africa,
told Capital.
“If it wasn’t the high tax of the country on IT equipments
when compared to other countries in the horn of Africa, by now many
Ethiopians would have been using our products because of reduced
prices.”
“Our best backup service also makes us different from HP and
Dell,” he said. Globally in this business of IT, HP is taking
more market share followed by Dell. From its current third place,
Acer is working to take the second position from Dell, according
to Mr. Jaffer.
Other authorized Acer product providers in Ethiopia include Nejat
Computer, Haron and Snap.
It was indicated at the event that the period from 2002 to 2006
saw Acer increase its capital by ten folds. In addition to its manufacturing
plant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it has also assembly and manufacturing
plants in Saudi Arabia, the Czech Republic, laptop manufacturing
in Taiwan and of servers in Thailand.
Fayyaa launches new project
on HIV/AIDS
By Andualem Sisay
A local initiative, Fayyaa Integrated Development Association (FIDA),
launched a 3.5 million USD project on HIV/AIDS on Thursday August
30, 2007 at the Addis Ababa Hilton.
The money for the project, which will be implemented in Oromia,
Southern and Somali Region, was donated by the President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief-New Partners Initiative (PEPFAR-NPI).
The three regions were selected because of their high HIV/AIDS prevalence
rate when compared to others.
The project targets to provide abstinence before marriage prevention
services to 186,000 youth over the three years project. Providing
home-based care services to 500 people living with HIV/AIDS over
similar project period is also another objective of the project.
Addressing the gathering, President Girma Wolde Giorgis said “…nothing
is more important than saving our people, preventing the virus,
caring for orphans and people living with the virus.”
During the three years period, it also aims to provide care services
to 4,000 orphans and vulnerable children. The project also plans
to increase the capacity of in-country organizations and local communities
to develop and deliver HIV/AIDS direct services in the abstinence
before marriage, orphan and vulnerable children and people living
with HIV/AIDS program areas.
Since it was formed in 2002 in Jimma Oromia Region, Fayyaa has been
giving support to people living with HIV/AIDS, according to Anbessu
Tolla, FIDA Executive Director.
Currently, over 1.3 million people in the country are living with
the virus and a total of nearly 137,500 new AIDS cases, 128,900
new HIV infections occur per year. 744,100 AIDS orphans live in
the country.
UEDP loses executive office
By Kirubel Tadesse
The United Ethiopian Democratic Party (UEDP), former member of
the CUD, lost its executive committee office on Wednesday August
29, 2007, in the presence of rental house representatives and a
police officer. The federal court verdict-implementing agency took
over the house after the police announced the decision a week ago.
According to Mussie Semiu, UEDP executive committee member, even
if the party respects the court decision, the timing of the take
over is unacceptable as it makes it impossible to appeal the decision
because of the winter break. Mussie added that the UEDP was trying
to resolve the issue through administrative discussions but the
take over did not give discussions a chance.
The UDEP office, which is on Debre Zeit road, is now the property
of the Rental Houses Agency. It has been in the hands of opposition
parties starting from the transitional period. According to Mussie,
UEDP was using the office for management tasks such as finance,
press conferences and as a discussion venue. Mussie added that the
government has the responsibility of financing and supporting opposition
parties, which should be applied in this case and, the issue could
be resolved through administrative channels. He also added, “It
is difficult to pack and move party documents in just one week.
The take over was without consent and we were trying to solve it
with the help of the national electoral board but they did it without
waiting for us to come up with some kind of solution.”
The party member who was inside the office at the time was not willing
to cooperate, demanding the presence of Lidetu Ayalew, Chairman
of the UEDP, to allow him to pass the documents over to the party.
The member told Capital that only the Chairman could decide to give
the documents. While he was giving an interview to Capital, who
was at the office during the take over, the decision implementing
agency’s official ordered a police officer to stop the interview
and take the reporter’s cassette and ID. The officer returned
the tape and ID to the reporter a day later.
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