hawassa Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s Hawassa City.A vote of the referendum for Sidama statehood is scheduled for November 20, 2019. Less than three weeks are left to conduct such a significant political event. Its result will affect the lives of millions of people and will have a long term ramifications for the region and country. However, to the dismay of millions of people, the whole process is shrouded in secrecy. Furthermore, the main stakeholders have no clue about what has been happening leading up to the date of the referendum. The people of the region feel the government has completely ignored them. Its institution tasked to oversee the matter has done nothing to ensure the participation of the people in the matter.The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) hasn’t been transparent about the matter, and its statements have been vague and confusing. Add insult to injury the NEBE has been watching passively when the Sidama extremists engage in illegal activities that will compromise the credibility of the referendum. Its decision to conduct such an important matter in a short period and amidst lawlessness in the country has made many to question its motive.Conflicting statements of the cadres of the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (SEPDM) are not helping to calm the nerves of the people in the region either. The people of the region are tired of the double talk of the officials. For the referendum to be legal, credible, and democratic, the residents of Awassa and the 55 ethnic groups in the region must have their say. Furthermore, the illegal activities of the Sidama ethnic entrepreneurs in Awassa, including the harassment of the city residents to influence the result of the referendum, must be stopped before conducting the referendum.The NEBE has a history of secrecy and inaptitude. During the 27 years of TPLF rule, it had done nothing worthwhile except serving as a vassal to rig elections in favor of the TPLF bandits. When many people have started changing their opinion about the NEBE, it is manifesting the same weakness and ineffectiveness it was known for.In a matter that will affect the lives of millions of people, the NEBE has done nothing to quell the suspicion of many people that it will not impartial. It has neglected the main stakeholders, the residents of Awassa, and the Fifty-five ethnic groups that make up the Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR). As a result, millions of people in the region are not feeling at ease about the whole situation. They are openly speaking that the NEBE and the cadres of the SEPDM are preparing to throw them under the bus.What the SEPDM officials also have been saying regarding the Southern region and the Sidama referendum has baffled many people. They have said different things at different times, which compounded the confusion. One day, they lecture people about the importance of waiting for the study and recommendations of the newly established Administrative Boundaries Commission before creating new regions. Another day, they would tell us that based on the ‘scientific study’ preparation are under way to ‘answer’ the Kelil questions ones for all.A months ago, they told us that according to the ‘scientific study’ conducted under the auspices of the SEPDM, the majority of the people in the region prefer to stay under the current regional structure. Then, a couple of weeks later, they said the government is preparing to split the region into two. They even went as far as admonished the representatives of the other ten zones in the region not to raise a Kelil question before the demand of the Sidama extremists is met.The Sidama referendum for the statehood concerns everyone in the SNNPR. Its result will affect millions of people in the region, who have developed a single identity over many decades. Furthermore, the status of Awassa is a matter of life and death to the people of Awassa and the region. They love their city and have invested their money in developing it.The residents of Awassa have built the city from scratch. It only suffices to examine the ethnic composition of the city and the names of the places in Awassa to see how multiethnic ethnic Awassa is. The illegal domination of the city by strangers who hail from a single ethnic group has brought nothing but disaster in the city. Any attempt to bring peace in the city and the region must start by allowing the residents of Awassa to take part in the affairs of their city.The Sidama extremists have nothing noble in their minds when they want to have their statehood. Their sole purpose for wanting their own Kelil is to own properties in Awassa they haven’t worked for. Untangling the city from their grips is the only solution to being bring peace and prosperity to the city.Awassa assumed its present shape and fame because of the contribution of the people of the region and other citizens of the country. Sixty years ago, the place was a jungle where wild animals used to roam freely. Suppressing the voice the majority of the people who have contributed to the development of the city to appease a few extremists is a major political blunder and will not bode well in history.After the current ethnic federalism was imposed on the people of the country, Awassa became the seat of the SPNNR. Fifty-six ethnic groups of the region have made it their home. For more than twenty years, the city has served as the capital of the SNNPR. During this time, we have seen a large movement of people to the city from around the country.The government and residents have contributed a lot to the development of the city. In the last two decades, economic activities have increased significantly, and the city has become the most preferred destination to live and do business in Ethiopia. Awassa was dubbed as ‘little Ethiopia’ because of the hard work of its residents and their accommodation of anyone who wanted to be part of the city. Residents of the city don’t care about the ethnic identity of individuals, and being a human is the only thing they have ever cared for.Like the residents of Awassa, the people of the SPNNR have invested in Awassa. They consider the city as their capital and generate immense pride in it. They have participated in the development of the city directly or indirectly. Their tax money has been spent in constructing factories and other infrastructures in Awassa.The government has also made a big investment in Awassa to help people in the region and the country to benefit economically. For example, the billion dollars that have been invested in building the Industrial Park at Awassa have created many job opportunities for the people of the region and generated billions in foreign currency for the country.Other government investments in Awassa, such as the construction of the Awassa International Airport and the Mojo-Awassa road, are made with the view of benefiting the people of the region and other Ethiopians. Therefore, like the residents of Awassa, the people of the region have a big stake in Awassa and must participate in any major event that will affect their city and lives.The Sidama extremists are still active in Awassa and are doing everything to change the demography of the city. As they did before, they have been issuing illegal IDs to people who do not live in the city. A single person of Sidama origin has up to 10 illegal IDs. A few criminals have been caught by the command post, and many others are still at large, and issuing illegal IDs has continued unabated. Instead of arresting people who are engaged in criminal activities in the city, the city administration is busy rounding up innocent people in the city and throwing them in jail.Issuing illegal IDs to nonresidents in the city started eight years ago when the Sidama extremists had started to control the bureaucracy in Awassa illegally. When considering the participation of the residents of Awassa in their own affairs, this fact must be taken into account. People who don’t have a fixed address and carry illegal IDs must be discerned first.The people in Awassa and Fifty-five ethnic groups must have a say on any issue that involves their city and region. They should be active participants in the coming referendum and matters that affect them. A few SEPDM cadres can’t determine the future of the city. Decisions and activities that affect the fate of Awassa must involve everyone who lives in the city and others who have a vested interest in the city.We have seen a glimpse of the old Awassa since the establishment of a command post in the region. The military and federal forces have restored order in the city. People have been moving from place to place freely without concern about their safety. Thieves and pickpockets who were calling themselves Ejjeetos have nowhere to be seen. From what I have seen so far, Awassa is leapfrogging to get back to its old self, peaceful and busy. However, most of the way of doing things in the city in the past remains the same. In every government office, Sidama ethnic lords and the Ejjeetto sympathizers are still running the show. People are still abused and harassed by those who occupy government offices.Other than restoring the peace of the city, the Command Post has done nothing to relieve the residents of Awassa from the abuse of Sidama extremists. The leaders of the Command Post have tried to gather the residents of the city and listen to their grievances. But, nothing came out of it. The residents of Awassa are still abused, harassed, and intimidated by Sidama thugs who occupy key positions in the city. It is business as usual in Awassa: people still pay bribes to get things done and are prosecuted by incompetent judges. There is no change in Awassa except the coronation of a new mayor.The new mayor of the city has been reassuring the city residents that peace and economic activity will return to the city. However, so far, he has only been engaged in conducting meetings on a daily basis and not on replacing incompetent and corrupt people from the city’s bureaucracy. What the people of the city are expecting is the removal of incompetent and Ejjeettos sympathizers from the city’s bureaucracy.In conclusion, the residents of Awassa and people of the SNNPR have no clue what the NEBE and the cadres of the SEDPDM are trying to do concerning the upcoming Sidama referendum. To many people, it seems the two government mouthpieces have been allowed to say and do whatever they want. The main stakeholders are left in the dark about the referendum and future status of Awassa. The people of the region have not been feeling good about the way the government is handling the situation. They are tired of listening to the vague and empty talk the NEBE and SPDEM officials have been spewing whenever they appear in front the TV cameras.Leaving out the residents of the city and people of the region who have contributed to the development of Awassa enormously from participating in their own affairs is a blunder of an epic proportion. Any attempt to suppress the voice and democratic rights of the real owners of the city to placate a few extremists who are strangers to the city is not acceptable. Treating the rightful owners of the city as outsiders and trying to suppress their voice will have dangerous consequences. The fifty-six ethnic groups in the Southern region and other ethnic groups have built the city from scratch. It is unacceptable to ignore the voice of the majority to appease a few ethnic lords who are trying to enrich themselves without working.It should be clear that nothing has been done to stop the illegal issuing of IDs in Awassa. Many people in the city who don’t have permanent addresses multiple IDs. The Command Post is either watching on the sidelines or cooperating with the Sidama extremists in their criminal activities. Before conducting the referendum, the NEBE and SPEDM officials must reassure the public that the process will be transparent, and the stakeholders will have their say. There is nothing wrong with postponing the referendum to address the problems that will compromise its integrity.From what I have seen and heard so far, in Awassa and surrounding areas, the Sidama extremists are trying their best to convince people to vote ‘yes’ in favor of the Sidama state. However, selling the idea in some Woredas and many areas around Awassa has become tough and difficult. As a result, the Sidama ethnic extremists are getting very nervous, and many are said to be spending sleepless nights. Some are even asking the help of the residents of Awassa to vote in favor of a Sidama statehood. They are pointing their fingers at Jawar Mohammed for the debacle that took place on the infamous 11-11-11 and are apologizing the people of the city for their crimes. No one believes the unrepentant thugs who killed many innocent people and destroyed properties.If the outcome is in favor of a new state, we expect to see a big fight for positions and new V8 cars. Everyone will start taking credit for the outcome. Besides, many former big bosses, including Million Mathewos, are unemployed and are actively looking for jobs. Those who are currently serving at the federal level, the likes of Dessie Dalage, will all be jockeying for new positions. After all, who doesn’t want to be called ‘ the first president of Sidama Kelil.’We did not hear the last of the drama from the Sidama extremists, and we will stay tuned what has to follow.With regard to Awassa, as I have said many times in my previous articles, making the city a federal city is the only viable and correct measure going forward. It is a city of all Ethiopians by all Ethiopians. No single group should be allowed to dominate it. Taking down the Sidama only police in the city and removing uneducated and corrupt people from the city’s bureaucracy will ensure permanent peace in the city.