Ethiopia is to receive some $1 billion for exporting hydro- electricity to neighboring countries like Kenya. This was made possible thanks to the completion of GERD WHICH GENERATED THE ELECTRICITY ITSELF . The rivers which drain to Lake Tana from the provinces of Gondar and Gojjam are the following: Gilgel Abbai [ Gojjam], Dimaza, DINDER, Angereb, RIBB, GUMARA, MEGECH [ Gondar] , that are then discharged to make the Blue Nile, which provides 86% of the water consumed by Egypt and the Sudan. The nutrient silt that is taken by the water, serves also as fertilizer enabling the recipient countries to produce wheat, cotton, various fruits and vegetables. This has been going on for thousands of years with all their attendant consequences that are being felt by the constant drought that some of the provinces suffer from. The two provinces that are mentioned have been marginalized, and deliberately denied for too long, development funds by the previous regimes . It has now become common knowledge, for the existing regime, that Ethiopia is only the south. The north is not included . The people of Tigrai, Gondar, Agere Amhara [ Wollo], Gojjam and Shoa know how they are being treated by a regime that they did not vote for . The truth is, as French king LOUS XIV said on 13 April 1655, l’etat c’ est moi, I am the state. That was 370 years ago. Since then, a lot has happened . But some of us are either still asleep, or our level of political consciousness does not go with the period. The regime must be forced to quit . Its service time has expired . Unless the Prime Minister seriously believes what his mother had told him ‘’that he will be a king one day.’’ He is spending more than 10 billion dollars to build a huge palace. Was it designed for that purpose? He has messenger boys, and yes men. There is no problem about that. But when the masses say no , it does not mean yes. That is his biggest problem.
It seems to me that from the export revenue which Ethiopia earns annually, that 50% should be paid to GONDAR AND Gojjam for financing development tied projects including clinics, hospitals, mobile health; schools -colleges, vocational centers : infrastructure – roads, bridges, small irrigation dams, bore halls, water purification facilities, piped water supply instruments and electricity supply generators for towns and villages. We were informed that there are 24 industrial parks in the country. However, there is not even one industrial park in Gondar province. Why is this so? What does the Prime Minister have to say about this? Moreover, self- government of the provinces implies the establishment of autonomous administrative units, including provincial assemblies, awraja, woreda, semi woreda, as well as town and village councils. Sport stadiums, conference halls, low cost housing units should also be included on the agenda . In the area of agriculture – supply of improved seeds, insecticides, fertilizers, as well as storage facilities and proper marketing , would make the modernization effort manageable.
Other provinces which contribute to the foreign exchange scenario, may follow suit the Gojjam- Gondar line of argument and demand to share with the government. I have no objection to that. If the revenue is not to go into private pockets, but used to enhance the health, education, as well as ensure the safety and security of the community . I am for it.
Lastly, some of your readers may find my humble request on behalf of the two provinces odd and even strange. But the truth is, there is nothing strange about it. It is internationally accepted. Look at the Niger Delta Development Commission, and the Petroleum Industrial Act of 2021 which mandates the creation of host community development- a share of petroleum revenue for local development. Similarly, there is Brazil’s Amazon Basin, in which hydro-electric profits are partially reinvested in the development of rural communities of the Amazon Basin.
Sincerely,
Daniel Kendie
…
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
__
Support Borkena : https://borkena.com/subscribe-borkena/
Borkena Ethiopian News Youtube Channel
Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena
Like borkena on Facebook
To submit Press Release, send submission to info@borkena.com
Add your business to Ethiopian Business Listing / Ethiopian Business Directory
Join the conversation. Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter) @zborkena to get the latest Ethiopian News updates regularly.
Let’s all of us have our Jamaican brothers and sisters in our thoughts and prayers. An extremely powerful and deadly hurricane is barreling towards their major city of Kingston and will be on top of them as a category 4 storm. It is predicted to be moving at a slow rate and will lay siege on that city and on its both sides possibly for hours. We remember what a weaker Katrina did to New Orleans in 2005. May The Almighty Our Creator Save those noble people who adore Ethiopia and Ethiopians.