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Peace is a valuable asset vital to Ethiopia’s continued viability as a nation. Consequently, each and every Ethiopians must contribute their part to the prevalence of stability throughout the entire territory of the nation. This responsibility falls mainly on the shoulders of the political parties. In the absence of a mature democratic culture, any conflict arising from misunderstandings between political parties can cause a multitude of problems. One example is the escalating war of words between the leaders of the ruling Prosperity Party and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Officials who sell scathing narratives and incite violence must master their language before the country is shattered. Unless party leaders who put their interest above that of the nation and those who incite them from behind abandon the policy of mutually assured destruction, the resulting hell will surely engulf them as well.
In a country afflicted by abject poverty and backwardness, politicians who claim to know what is best for the people are sowing instability. Unable to get their fellow citizens out of the quagmire in which they are wallowing, they are multiplying at an alarming rate. Despite being endowed with vast arable land, favorable climatic conditions and a young workforce, Ethiopia suffers from hunger; Although it is known as the “water tower of Africa”, it still suffers from an acute shortage of drinking water; it lags behind most nations in practically all world development indices despite its long and proud history; tens of millions still living below the poverty line cannot meet their food and housing needs; millions of children are stunted; and transportation, water, electricity, waste disposal, and other municipal services provided to urban dwellers are poor. Power mongers who lack ideas on how to modernize the subsistence agriculture practiced in Ethiopia for thousands of years and improve the livelihoods of its people should not be able to agitate the country for political gain.
Many observers agree that since its advent, some five decades, modern Ethiopian politics has been the antithesis of democracy. From the left-wing groups of the 1970s that participated in the murderous Red Terror / White Terror massacres to today’s forces pursuing ethnic politics, the bulk of political parties operating in Ethiopia have never had a proper understanding of the foundations of democracy. In any democratic society, organized political entities have an obligation to offer a menu of political options to the public. As such, they must produce members capable of leading the nation. They should also serve as platforms where the diverse views and wishes of people, including their members, find free expression. In addition, they should epitomize transparency and accountability and play an active role in promoting civilized discourse. If one were to wonder if Ethiopia’s political parties are up to the task, the simple answer is no, as most are not good at anything but zero-sum politics.
Terrible in developing political alternatives and in the pursuit of a constructive kind of politics, the country’s political parties, with the exception of a few notable ones, are fast asleep as if nothing is happening or serving as havens for political pirates. Only a handful of them are making the necessary preparations to emerge competitive in the next general election scheduled for 2021. The fact that there are more than 100 of them without even exerting a fraction of the influence that self-described activists believe in the beggars. So does their total ignorance of the ABCs of politics and the voluntary commitment of national interests. That is why they must be told in no uncertain terms to correct the errors in their ways.
Political parties that genuinely care about Ethiopia and its people have a duty to ensure that the current transition period culminates successfully with the holding of free, fair, democratic and credible elections. They must work together to facilitate Ethiopia’s smooth transition to a democratic order, uphold the rule of law, enable citizens to have access to justice, root out collusion and revenge on Ethiopian politics, and ensure that the future of Ethiopia be brilliant. In addition, they must play an exemplary role in terms of, among others, the rejection of discriminatory attitudes and practices, the creation of a relationship of mutual respect between the parties and the construction of a culture of constructive dialogue. If the political space in Ethiopia is to be inclusive and representative of diverse voices, it is imperative to avoid violence as a means of assuming power. Unless all political actors come to a consensus on the notion that seizing power through the barrel of the gun is a path to mutually assured destruction, the future will not bode well for all.
The existence of too many political parties in Ethiopia has always affected Ethiopians. Although the merger of some parties with a broadly similar platform was expected to eliminate their numbers, there are too many for the taste of citizens. Although their proliferation is not a problem in itself and the right to organize is a constitutionally guaranteed freedom, the fact that the vast majority of them exist only on paper does not interest anyone. They are proof that trying to defend democracy without living it and invoking the name of the public in vain is political suicide. It is an open secret that most political parties are virtually the private property of their founders. This totally unacceptable state of affairs must be changed so that the parties become authentic representatives of the segments of society that they profess to represent and can function in a way that is informed by contemporary Ethiopian realities. The journey to forge a path to democracy can be successful through an unwavering commitment to the principles of democracy, not through misdeeds that don’t match the times. Political forces blinded by their lust for power and cannot care less about the fate of their compatriots should think long before destabilizing the country for selfish ends. Better to avoid the policy of mutual assured destruction for the good of Ethiopia and its people.
