This is an obvious promotion of Berhanu Nega by Fortune... I think he can be a much better mayor that that duruye, Arekebe. But EUDP-Medhin will select one of their own, more likely, Dr Admasu Gebeyehu, since most of the seats in the AA city council is won by them.

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The Next "Lord" Mayor?

By TAMRAT G. GIORGIS, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER

Voting members of the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), are expected to meet in two weeks to conduct a nomination of the persons to be elected as mayor, vice mayor and speaker for the Addis Abeba City Council. The 136 CUD members, who swept the city's elections on May 15th, will then cast their votes in a secret ballot from those to be shortlisted.

"The political party occupying the majority of seats of the Council or, where such does not exist, the coalition of political parities shall form, and give leadership to the executive organ of the City," declares the revised city charter issued in July 2003.

CUD now controls 136 seats of the Addis Abeba City Council, enjoying an overwhelming majority over the other opposition, UEDF, and the incumbent EPRDF, which have two and one members, respectively.

They will elect anyone of their voted members, which includes the most prominent in the CUD rank and file and many of those completely unknown to the wider public in Addis Abeba. Fortune has tried this week to get what the popular verdict could be. It was a modest and simple attempt to discover whom Addis Abebans might prefer as mayor over the next five years.

Fortune took the liberty and discretion of selecting six voted members of the CUD to the Council: Dr. Brehanu Nega, Dr. Admassu Gebeyehu, Mushie Semu, Mesfin Getachew and Ayalew Asres. Of course, during the public opinion survey, those interviewed (134) were invited to name anyone who was not in this list, but no one did so. There was an apparent lack of knowledge on the part of the public of the voted council members, possibly because of the lack of exposure through the media.

The plan was to get 100 respondents to our two but simple questions: whom do you want as a mayor, deputy and speaker of the Council from these people and why. On Saturday afternoon, July 16, four of our reporters took part in the survey, randomly calling respondents on their mobile phones and landlines.

An assortment of people - from businesspeople to housewives; from professionals in various disciplines to unemployed youth; and from retirees to a 17-year old young man - took part in the random survey, which should not be taken as, nor is it meant to be, a professionally conducted survey. As good as 70pc surveyed were male.
In fact, Fortune is not new to this modest attempt of gauging the public's mood. We tried a similar venture during the political parties' debate on education, held at and organized by the Addis Abeba University back in November 2004. It is interesting to note that the number of people we had to call to get 100 respondents reduced from an average of 300 to 134 this time. Our reporters attribute this to increased political interest of the public. Unlike in the past, most were interested and eager to respond and did so with hardly any fear.

The popular verdict for mayor-ship was no surprise. The economist-cum-politician Brehanu Nega was voted to be "Lord Mayor" of Addis Abeba with a prodigious vote of 88, followed by Adamassu Gebeyehu with 10 votes.

Many said they see Brehanu as an educated person who came back home to serve his country. He is also an original Addis Abeban born from a wealthy businessman, Nega Bonger. They seem to trust him with their tax money as he is considered as having the least motivation to become corrupt, according to some surveyed.

His greatest credit, however, was his "impressive, lively and appealing style of debate" seen during the series of political parties' televised debates. Those who voted for him were convinced that during the debates he not only "reflected and satisfactorily analysed" the capital's social and economic problems but also "suggested good solutions".

Certainly, his number of TV appearances during the campaign debates and his public appearance prior to that has contributed to his success.

If they had any concern at all, it was that they saw him as too soft and compromising to deal with the EPRDF as the power at the federal government.

Next came Admassu Gebeyehu, a PhD in water technology and once a dean of a college. He won 40 votes for the position of deputy mayor, followed by Brehanu (10), Mushie (four) Mesfin (four) and Ayalew (three). Many voters see him as a softly spoken, cool headed and experienced man, best suited as an advisor to Brehanu as a mayor. They understand him to be a conciliator and paternal figure, very useful as second man at the helm.

He is also less known as an outspoken politician but technically capable in his field of discipline.

The office of the Speaker went to the banker Mushie Semu, winning 20 votes over the teacher Aylewe's 10. No one wanted to see Brehanu as the Speaker while Admassu got four votes and Mesfin seven.

To Mushie's credit was his exposure to the public as spokesperson of EDP-Medhin, a member organization of the CUD. They see him as a well-spoken young man with a potential to become a prominent leader in the future. They seem to want him to learn more as a speaker first, though.

An interesting observation on the Speaker's position was peoples' lack of understanding about the city's power structure. Most were not even aware the Council has a Speaker and a deputy. The name that came to some was Dawit Yohannes, Speaker of the now dissolved parliament, who lost his seat to his rivals from the CUD. He has no chance of serving as speaker of the next parliament.

To Tatari!

You said, "duruye, Arekebe."

Yes, Arkebe, a man of honor by the populace of Addis is "duruye" in the eye of Negedites and cryptofascist.

I go for DR.Admasu.EUDP-MEDHIN is a party which won majority seats.Dr.Berhanu can not as his RAINBOW is a minority.

what are you tegres complaining?let CUD handdle it the way People choosed them.Thier performanse should be an interesting and difficult in few months in process they'll do great jobs.

Email: DillingerJ1@aol.com

City: DC

In last of 14 years TPLF rules i see only the pave Ethiopian Airline how to reach Axum,is there run way strip in Gore?

Email: DillingerJ1@aol.com

City: DC

Dillinegj1

What a racist person? Your eyes don't see the RING ROAd, the BOLE TERMINAL, the NATIONWIDE ROAD CONSTRACTION, the TELECOM CONSTRUCTION-including the service you are ienjoying, THE HUGE HYDROELECRIC WORKS.Your eyes are stirring at a simple air strip at AXum.

It is shameful our nation has such destuctive people.But, you will be the victim of your evil thinking.
Pray to save your life.

Akra

Email: Akra_20042@yahoo.com

City: Addis Ababa

DillingerJ1

I thought you were one of the reasonable people on this forum. I am sorry to see you degenerate to the level of the Gebreselassies of this forum. Shame on you!

Mamo Qilo
submitted on behlaf of
Gebreselassie Zemariam

To DillingerJ1

You don't deserve to be in this forum for your ethinic hatred. But, we will give you an excuse until you have shown maturity.

No surprise as the result of the preceedings of the name selection for the lord Mayor's office. The mainstream CUD and the pressure behind the scene in the CUD would not have picked on a Gurage name. Doing so would have defeated the essence of its formation. Stragely, many expected (out of oblivious nature of many citizens) Berhanu Nega to be at the helm.

Email: Jirru@yahoo.com

City: Finfinnee

Good for me to see Berhanu as a mayor and Dr Admassu as deputy. But house of speaker for another outspoker person like Lidetu or Debebe Eshetu.

Email: tarike@yahoo.com

City: Addis Ababa