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By Medihane Ekubamichael
Addis Ababa, 02 August 2020 – Two weeks after the popular protests in the Wolayta Zone, in the Southern Nations, the nationalities and the Popular Regional State (SNNPRS) were received with a strong repression by the federal and regional security forces, the regional branch of the The ruling Prosperity Party (PP) ousted Dagato Kumbe as the main administrator of the Wolaita area on August 28.
Protesters took to the streets for days starting Aug. 9 after federal security forces stormed a meeting chaired by Dagato Kumbe and arrested at least 28 participants, including Dagato and Muluneh Woldetsadik, vice president of the highest court of the Wolaita area. Dagato is widely known for advocating for the 2018 Wolayta zone application for self-government and the regional state. Since then, all those arrested have been released on bail.
However, on August 28 the Wolaita zone council was called for an emergency meeting chaired by council president Abebech Erasho and removed Dagato, replacing him with Dr. Endrias Geta.
Amsalu Mesene, head of the office of the regional state information secretariat, said Addis Standard that the approval procedure has been carried out following the usual formality and that Dr. Endrias Geta was presented by the regional office that presides over the Party of Prosperity to the members of the Zone Council gathered for approval and obtained the majority of votes.
According to various sources, more than a dozen members of the council were absent from the meeting when Dr. Endrias was sworn in at the Gutera Hall in the city of Sodo, capital of the Wolaita area.
Amsalu admitted that there were inconsistencies regarding the way the meeting was called. “Normally, meetings are called by formal outgoing letters signed by the president of the council, but such a meeting was not called accordingly and caused the absence of some members.” says Amsalu.
The new designated person has served as General Director of the Regional Institute of Agricultural Research of the State of the SNNP. Prior to his transfer to the regional institute, Dr. Endrias served as Dean of Wolaita Sodo Agricultural College and Director of the Areka Agricultural Research Center.
In his acceptance speech regarding the pending Wolaita Zone application, Dr. Endrias said that he would work on the ongoing work in consultation with the public. He also said that “the new administration is committed to restoring peace and stability in the area and boosting the stagnant economy.”
The current request for regional organization in the Wolaita area will continue due to the constitutional steps that are already being carried out, says Amsalu for his part, adding “Wolaita’s request [for self-rule and regional state status] it will not change due to the fact that the leadership is changed now, as long as it proceeds according to the framework dictated in the constitution. “
Addis Standard Repeated attempts to get more explanations from xone speaker Abebech Erasho were to no avail.
In a statement issued last week, the Coordinating Committee of the Southern Region Prosperity Party announced that a decision was made to remove the arrested officials from their respected positions effective August 22, 2020. Among them is the Wolaita Zone Prosperity Party bureau chief Tibebu Yohannes.
The head also accused the dismissed zone leaders of “devising various tactics to reverse the reform by force, with the intention of complicating the process of organizing the request for statehood and causing instability and loss of life in the area,” among others. .
Following the committee’s statement, Wolaita officials from the federal and southern states held several meetings with Woreda leaders in the area, but neither the zonal administration nor the Southern Region Prosperity Party made clear the outcome of the meetings. meetings. Sources disclose to Addis Standard He said that one of the issues raised by the participants was the dismissal of the detained leaders of the Wolaita area and other people, who despite being released on bail, continue to appear in the zonal court.
Tensions began to simmer between Wolaita area officials and the SNNPRS Council after June 15, when all 38 Wolaita area members withdrew from the regional council in protests against a move to reorganize the region. south into four separate states. Representatives for the Wolayta area said the measure did not consider their request for separate statehood.
Abebech Erasho then said that the members of the zonal council accused the regional council of failing to comply with their request for statehood, although a referendum was needed within a year, which led the representatives to lose confidence in the council. HOW
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