The government
of Ethiopia organized a congress that founded the Meles Zenawi Foundation (MZF)
on the 6th of April 2013 at the AU Hall in Addis Ababa. The foundation is set
to establish a library, a research center, a fellowship programme, and a public
park, and will also recognize great achievements. Present at the occasion were Meles
family; senior government officials; Presidents of the Sudan, Uganda, and
Djibouti; former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo; Commissioner of the African
Union (AU) Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; and other invited guests.
Foundations
play a crucial role in advancing social and economic development, science and
technology, equality, democracy, and the rule of law worldwide. Taking this context,
it is required to acknowledge and support the MZF, as Ethiopia needs more and
more such independent voices as foundations, think tanks, professional
associations, and NGOs.
The late PM Meles, picture from Google
Unfortunately,
the MZF seems to lack, from the very outset, such qualities as independence,
diversity, innovation, and ambition expected of all foundations. I could argue
that the MZF looks a quazi-government ministry that is intended to give to the
works of the late PM eternity. I could further conclude that the foundation
would not significantly contribute to the betterment of democratic culture and governance,
freedom, and the rule of law in Ethiopia. It is rather intended to scale up and
sustain the status quo. The following points ground this conclusion.
Aim of the Foundation
The rationale
behind the formation of the MZF is to preserve the “legacy” of the late Meles. According
to the AU website, “The Meles Zenawi Foundation aims to pursue the
developmental democracy and socioeconomic renaissance initiated by the
patriotic and pan-Africanist late Leader”. And the Ethiopian Radio and
Television Agency has it that “The Meles Zenawi
Foundation is dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of the Great
Leader Meles Zenawi in his lifelong commitment to peace, justice, economic
development, good governance, and democracy for the Ethiopian and African
peoples”. Similarly, Walta Info wrote “The Foundation would
serve as a living center of ideas and programs to further advance the works and
legacy of the great leader Meles Zenawi”.
All these
tell us just one thing: the foundation would not entertain ideas that deviate
from the golden standard, Meles’ views and policies. Studies, scholarships,
libraries, publications, and recognitions all must clearly reflect and advance
the late PM’s convictions. We know that Meles did not care for democratic
governance, individual freedom, free and fair election, national assets and
cultures such as our flag and our borders, corruption, and generally the rule
of law. The foundation is unfortunately poised to repeat the same failures. Nothing
new is going to happen- it’s all about old wine in new bottle. This conclusion
is consolidated further if one considers the governing bodies of the
foundation.
The Board
The founding
congress named 13 personalities to serve as board members for the foundation. Four
members of the board are from Meles family, Azeb
Mesfin is made President of the Board. The other members are Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Sufian Ahmed, General Samora
Yenus, Tedros Hagos, Aster Mamo, Kassa Tekleberhan, Muktar Kedir, Shiferaw
Shigute, Abdu Mohammed and Ahmed Nasir. These are all ministers or top
government officials.
Generally, the government seems the creator and owner of the
foundation. These officials are not known for running their respective
government apparatuses quite well, save Dr Tewodros in his capacity as Minister
of Health. It is unlikely that they would invest the kind of competence and conviction
required to successfully run the foundation. The best they could do is just to
simulate the operations of their government ministries and offices.
Why did the government like to get hold of the foundation
this much? It is not because they have the readiness and competence to run an
entity of this kind. It is because they do not want to see a genuinely
independent organization that champions democratic principles and practices. The
government is suffering from obsessive-compulsive syndrome- they have the
conviction that no chance should be given to any organization to operate uncensored.
They control professional associations, public institutions, religious
institutions, and even Idirs. It is in deed due to this grip on power that
enabled them to rule for decades. The government generously takes care of bills
for any organization that plays within the defined territory.
Funding Regimes
According to Walta Info, “Funding for the
Foundation will come from private donations, income generating programs,
contributions from the government of Ethiopia and other sources in accordance with
the law”. During the founding congress of the foundation, the regional
governments of Ethiopia, the Addis Ababa City Administration (11 million), EFFORT
(one million), MIDROC Ethiopia (25 million), and the Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda,
Uganda, and Djibouti pledged to provide nearly 184 million Birr for the
foundation.
That means, regional
governments (tax payers) have already started to feel the heat- it is their
obligation to cover a significant part of the foundation’s costs. Just to preserve
the legacy of the late PM, one has to pay. Contributing a lot for a foundation
that is not going to conquer new grounds is both economically and morally unaffordable.
We already have nine regional governments and millions of EPRDF cadres that
work day and night to echo his legacy. Why should we need another structure having
exactly the same mission? What are the legal and moral grounds to establish an ‘independent’
foundation under government proclamation? Is it under the government’s legal jurisdiction
to open new foundations for the founding members and ‘great’ leaders of EPRDF
following their deaths? Helping and facilitating the establishment of a genuinely
independent foundation is commendable but requiring, by law, the tax payer to
regularly donate seems arbitrary and out of mandate.
Concluding Remarks
The legacy of Meles is
itself highly controversial. That Meles was a visionary, democratic, and
nationalistic leader is true only to EPRDF members and sympathizers. For the
majority of Ethiopians, Meles failed to consider them as valuable and respected
citizens. That he was a technical writer and speaker did not translate into
democratic ideals and the rule of law. Erecting skyscrapers, constructing roads,
schools, health facilities, and giant hydro-electric dams did not leave real legacy:
people should have come first. If the founders really care about Meles, they
should make the foundation a really independent organization that studies,
disseminates and champions democratic ideas and practices regardless
of Meles’ conviction. It is only this way that they could preserve Meles in Ethiopian
history.
Are You a Chee-Hippo or a Hippo?
ReplyDeleteProfessor Alemayehu G/Maria Said, “you are a Chee-Hippo, if you believe a person’s value is determined not by the collection of degrees listed after his/her name…”
Aleka Gebrehana Said, Listing Collected Degree (PhD) After his/her Name Resulted In Ridiculous Case of Intellectual, Ideological, Political Correctness
None of us expect a life where we will never be offended or sheltered from conflict or hurt feelings. However, many self-appointed saviors from Academia (Teklu Abate, PhD) are trying to make this a reality, through aggressive speech codes, boring articles with quotations from famous people and literature, legal rulings and corporate policies,...
Intellectual, Ideological, and Political Correctness originally flowered in academia and spread like a virus through the government and corporate worlds. It has devolved into a tyranny of the most offended person in the room.
Intellectual, Ideological, Political Correctness complaints now range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and they are stifling the honest assessment, and debate, of issues in our lives.
Damn proud to be a Chee-Hippo!
I think the Ethiopian Diaspora have no clue what is going on in Ethiopia. You can't just hide behind the safe borders of the US and write articles. A real fighter goes to the bushes just like Meles Zenawi did and fights to overthrow a government.
ReplyDeleteWhether we like it or not, the Meles Zenawi Foundation is real and has been supported by many. Just have a look here:
http://www.meleszenawi.com/meles-zenawi-foundation-officially-launched-at-the-au-headquarters-in-addis-ababa/
May God bless Ethiopia!
Mr Abate,
ReplyDeleteThanking you for your time writing the piece, I found it substatially unreasonable on many issues less the economic feasibility. Of course the whole argument goes in line with your usual generalist hate for the regime. Suffices to comment on two issues discussed.
First, on the purposes of the foundation you asserted that as it won't support deviant ideas but Meles's, it is not worth having it. My probalem is what is a foundation, named after a person, meant for after all. Such foundations basically try to sustain the thinking and deeds of the person concerned. If a need be other ideas and causes should come from other interest groups, be it a foundation or the media, such as yours.
Second, in your attempt to discredit the late leader who I think has done much more than his share to the good of the country, you stated that Meles does 'not care for democratic governance, individual freedom, free and fair election, national assets and cultures such as our flag and our borders, corruption, and generally the rule of law.' That is only ridiculous, to say the least. His track record shows, albeit incompletely, that he worked day in day night to improve all the issues you mentioned and he died doing just that. The deep state of trouble that the regime has received the country in coupled with arrogant and chauvinist opposition with a great connection with the past, has admittedly made the progress sluggish.
Peace