(Muluken Yohannes)
Since Ethiopia’s current government, EPRDF, (a.k.a. weyane) came to power in 1991; there are a lot of infrastructure based developments that the “weynane” government is claiming as its political and or development legacy. Among these legacies, the construction of around five hydroelectric power plants is considered to be the most prominent indicator of weyane’s success story. After “Gilgil gibe 1, 2, 3”, and “Tana beles” station, EPRDF is now working its tail off to construct what is considered to be Africa’s biggest hydroelectric power plant also known as the Great Renaissance Dam.
For many weyane politicians, the great Renaissance Dam is a living legacy of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The EPRDF government yet insists on claiming that the construction of this dam will ensure the transformation of Ethiopia as middle income countries. This dam is currently being built out of the pockets of every poor Ethiopians who barely afford to make a living.
Almost 100 percents of its financial resource is from these poor Ethiopians who are struggling to survive in this highly demanding apocalyptic world. But the fact remains that for many Ethiopians this is really a murky hope. Since the construction of the previous four hydroelectric power plants, there is actually no improvement in the provision of electric power supply.
In fact, the problem of electric power supply has even been exacerbated in the aftermath of these constructions. There is actually a very simple and clear explanation for this. EPRDF is making a lot of money out of the construction of these power plants.
The EPRDF government is currently selling electric power supply to neighboring countries such as Djibouti and Sudan while so many Ethiopians are living in darkness.
The most absurd thing remains, though, nobody knows for sure where the money obtained from selling electric power supply goes. Some people are convinced that the money actually goes in to the pockets of top EPRDF government officials. This very fact proves that no matter how many new hydroelectric power plants are built, the question of Ethiopian people for constant electric power supply will not be addressed.
These days, the question of power supply is also being observed to affect many factories and industrial plants whose sole production rate is highly dependent on constant electric power supply. Many factories are losing millions owing to the very fact there is no constant electric power supply in the country while on the other hand EPRDF is making a lot of money selling the power supply. When you see this, you will realize that Abrham Lincoln’s notion of democracy, “the government of people …..for the people” has not been properly perceived by those greedy EPRDF politicians.
The people on the other hand seemed to be swayed that electric power supply is no longer a basic need. Almost in every part of the country, there is a regular blackout at least five times in a week. The most absurd thing, though, is the people don’t even know when the electric power supply is available or not. The EPRDF government doesn’t have any respect for the people. And I personally found this selfless act very disturbing. Now, I am beginning to be convinced that perhaps Ethiopia, which is once known for having its own “sabean/Ethiopian” calendar, should have its own indigenous “Blackout Calendar” and promote this unique experience to the global community. This way at least, the people will have an opportunity to plan their daily moves in accordance with the blackout calendar.
On the other hand, given the horrific reputation of the EPRDF government, many are now convinced that the construction of the light electromagnetic train system in the capital is going to cost the people much as a huge amount of electric power supply is needed to make the train system working, which in fact the government has no any clear plan of locating the power supply that will be used for the light train transportation.
Moreover the construction of the hydroelectric power around “Chis Abay fall” has caused uneasiness among the people including myself. This very popular river fall which was once known to attract hundreds of thousands of people for its beautiful scenery, is no longer having that attractive natural setting. I was there a couple of weeks before hopping that I will find the same river fall I once knew decade ago, but what I witnessed there was the fall is almost in a non-existent status. It was very difficult for me to learn that the graceful fall now looks like a very small ordinary village river. I was told by the local guide that the size of “chis abay” fall has decreased because the river is being used for hydroelectric power supply and that the size will only increase on august to September interval. I personally have an affirmative attitude towards the construction of hydroelectric power plants as they have no green house effect on the environment, however knowing that the people, no matter what, neither will get enough electric power supply nor will they maintain the tourist site atmosphere of the chis abay fall makes me sick.
At last, the scenario reveals that as the EPRDF/weyane government embarks on a political rally of raising the expectation of the people, for many people these empty promises remain a murky hope.
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