The Challenges of the New Mayor in Addis

By Yosef B.

When it comes to political power sharing in Ethiopia, even the hyena might spend a cosy night with the donkey until the day of reckoning comes. In human terms, you may call this a marriage of convenience.

They say that history repeats itself once as a tragedy and another time as a farce. In Ethiopia, political history often takes a comic turn. How would you otherwise explain the fact that the new mayor of Addis Abeba, Dr. Brehanu Nega, an alleged opponent of Col. Mengistu's regime in his younger years, suddenly found himself in the midst of alleged functionaries of the previous regime in the CUD and assume the post of mayor?

No doubt that these functionaries, including members of the defunct Workers Party of Ethiopia (WPE) and the disbanded military, were largely behind CUD's success in this year's elections. Add to this the naïve and inexperienced young people who have no memory whatsoever of the atrocities under the military and voted en masse for the opposition simply because they were under the illusion that the CUD would give them jobs, bread and a better future.

The Amharic tabloid press has been fanning the flames of hatred against the TPLF in particular and the EPRDF in general for the last 14 years which has contributed in no small way to the CUD's election by default in the capital.

Time will certainly show the true colours of the CUD in the coming months or years but the former the former functionaries might be making a comeback, at least in Addis Abeba. Whether the CUD will try to act with their script or take on a new role, the new mayor will soon come under enormous pressure from many quarters.

First, he will have to work hard to meet the wild expectations of the CUD supporters in the capital that put him in office, united as they were in their hatred towards the ruling EPRDF. The new mayor will have to produce results fast before expectations degenerate into disillusionment and CUD supporters turn into its opponents. Unless it produces quick and tangible results, the CUD in Addis might be facing a more formidable opposition to its administration in Addis.

The EPRDF might do anything to encourage the emergence of such an opposition.
The other pressure on the new mayor might come from the CUD leadership itself that is showing signs of frictions and fissures due to the power sharing arrangements among the main leaders. How the new mayor would distribute the posts in his administration might in turn determine the chance for the present CUD to continue as a united political movement without the emergence of rival factions that will be jockeying for power and privileges.

The third pressure will come from his own ethnic constituency who own most of the retail businesses in Addis, particularly in their traditional economic stronghold that is Merkato. They may not be strongly represented in the manufacturing sector but it is natural that they might expect advantages now that "their man" is in office in the economic 'melting pot' of the nation.

Will the new mayor avoid the temptations of ethnic favouritism; corruption and nepotism in a society where ethnic loyalties hold a powerful sway and influence the behaviour of those at the top of any political hierarchy?

The fourth and perhaps the most powerful pressure the new mayor might be facing is from the incumbent at the federal level. It may not hesitate to make life difficult for him in its bid to discredit and paralyse the new administration so that the electorate would regret its decision to elect the CUD. Obviously, the EPRDF might be working towards the next election in 2010. It may also take an approach bases on undermining the CUD administration and regain its lost power in the capital.

My guess is that the CUD and the EPRDF will never reach an agreement to work together without undermining one another. The CUD hates the EPRDF so much while the latter abhors the idea of working with the former.

The other handicap the new mayor will be facing might come from the conflict between what his office is all about: quick delivery of the election promises versus his party's tendency to use its new position to undermine the ruling party at the federal level. CUD does not seem to abandon its determination to oust the incumbent by any means available.

Will the new mayor sit down to tackle the most urgent socio-economic challenges or would he succumb to his party's bigger ambitions, total power, and forget the pledges it made to the electorate!

Time will certainly show.

Anyway, the new mayor's appointment at the head of the Addis Abeba administration represents an important watershed in Ethiopia's recent political history. At no time in the past had Ethiopian intellectuals come nearer to the centre of political decision-making as they have now. Look at the number of engineers, PhDs and professors that are gathered around the CUD?

What they would do with all this brainpower is something yet to be seen. It is obviously easier to operate as an opposition than administer a capital of more than three million residents with myriads of problems. As an old Ethiopian adage has it, the drum might be attractive in other people's hands, but confusing when one tries to play it.

17 million people starving under TPLF rule. Never in the history of Ethiopia so many are living without food.

City: AA

GebereMeles,

I wanted to give an answer for every bit of your copied-pasted article, but it is just a waste of time, for your wasted mind. The article shows indirectly how the writer views and insults your government. It is funny you didn’t get it. No wonder, being a meat head …

He wrote, “…Add to this the naïve and inexperienced young people who have no memory whatsoever of the atrocities under the military and voted en masse for the opposition simply because they were under the illusion that the CUD would give them jobs, bread and a better future.” Even though you think young people are naïve, they know what is wrong when they see one. Being naïve is not being stupid. They are on the streets because of your educational policy that is designed to promote hopelessness and create a nation with no future. These youngsters aspire a better future, peaceful & prosperous Ethiopia. They know first hand what it feels to be unemployed, dishonored, and feeling useless. The “let us tell and blame your past history so you will not see your future” politics is an old game. Let me tell you a thing, we still remember what the fascist did to our ancestors let alone “Derg.” And we will remember what the mad dogs are doing now. So why surprised if the young votes for CUD-- who has a better agenda than EPRDF? With the help of God, I have no doubt that they will deliver what they promised, cause they are no meat heads.

You pasted “…First, he will have to work hard to meet the wild expectations of the CUD supporters in the capital that put him in office.” What you and the original writer call a “wild expectation” is a better life for every citizen of Ethiopia. This shows that Meles and his government didn’t have the agenda to make the Ethiopian people have “wild expectations,”-- to make them excited about their future life that is!

“The new mayor will have to produce results fast before expectations degenerate into disillusionment and CUD supporters turn into its opponents.” See what the writer meant by this? The old and previous Mayers of Addis under Weyane has done nothing but degenerate expectations and disillusionment of the public. Their good for nothing agenda has led to the overwhelming support of the citizens of Addis for better CUD administration, cause they didn’t see “quick” and tangible results in the past fourteen years.

I love this one. He wrote, “The third pressure will come from his own ethnic constituency who own most of the retail businesses in Addis, particularly in their traditional economic stronghold that is Merkato. They may not be strongly represented in the manufacturing sector but it is natural that they might expect advantages now that "their man" is in office in the economic 'melting pot' of the nation. That is what exactly Meles did to get the support of his people. Funny but true. What we have seen in the past fourteen years is something that has never been heard of in our history. Giving all the important positions and jobs to a particular ethnic group, controlling major business and the public media outlets … What do you think has led to the ugly friction among the different ethnic groups of the Ethiopian people? It is favoritism, giving advantages to “their people.” After all that is what Weyane wants --to divide and rule. It is not working though

Couldn’t have said it better … except adding few words. You pasted, “Will the new mayor avoid the temptations of ethnic favoritism; corruption and nepotism in a society where ethnic loyalties hold a powerful sway and influence the behavior of those at the top of any political hierarchy?” Isn’t this what Weyane is doing? Shame on them/you. Your own words  So don’t try to paste your ideology on CUD or the other oppositions. We know what we are doing and what is/has been going on.

The rest of it just junk, sarcasm and “yabeyen wede emeye”. Don’t have time to comment on that. You figure it out. By the way, you don’t deserve the name “Gebreselasse” even for screen name. Because the work of the Trinity is love, equality and hope. Yours is just the opposite. May the Lord have mercy on you.

God bless Ethiopia!

Email: lehagerandenet@yahoo.com

City: ADDIS ABABA

It is a shame to see you here always with a duty of cut & paste, with a duty that converts you to a propoganda machine and most of all it is so sad for you to pick a duty, to satisfy your personal affection and selfish desire. You only care about "YOU". The only thing you know in this world is the word "ME,ME, ME" How shallow!!!! How about for a change, finding yourself a duty that you take to your heart? Would you consider that? It has a reward, you can't tell unless you try it. Good luck. May God bless you. May God bless the Great Ethiopia and its people!!!