Ethiopia, the cradle of human being and the springboard for ancient
civilizations, is widely endowed with diverse historical, social, cultural,
ecological, natural, religious etc resources.
The nation consists of more than 80 nations and nationalities with their
respective peculiar cultural, historical, linguistic, religious and other features.
Unfortunately all these nations, nationalities and peoples with their
tremendous peculiarities and identities were ignored for ages. They were
mercilessly oppressed and exploited for centuries. Ethiopians were deprived of their basic human
and democratic rights and freedoms. Consequently, they were forced to live as
secondary citizens in their own country. This was the very destiny of the
nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia till the demise of the Military
Junta in 1991.
However, the Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples never crippled
their hands and minds even for a single second. They, rather, unreservedly
struggled against the brutal regimes. The Bale, Gojjam and, Tigray farmers’ movements
and the student movement of the 1960s were among the notable features of these
struggles.
Unfortunately, almost all the formers struggles ended up in to collapse
and demise for they were not well organized. Likewise, there was no strong
public or political organization that led the public in the struggle against
the brutal regimes. Some vanguard patriots in 1980s launched open armed
struggle against the Cannibal Dergue Regime. The very goal of this struggle was
to dismantle the dictator regime, replace it with popular democratic system and
thereby establish prosperous and democratic Ethiopia.
Thanks to the unreserved and tireless struggles and remarkable sacrifice
of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia led by the EPRDF, they
dismantled the dictatorial regime of the Dergue.
The EPRDF defeated the military rule neither because the EPRDF was
equipped with better military weapons nor even because it was highly advanced
in military science. The secret of the EPRDF was in its clear goals, readiness
to wage every possible sacrifice, unwavering stand on the issues of sovereignty
of the public and miraculous commitment and discipline of its leaders and
members. For this reason, EPRDF has been managed to mobilize the general public
in every walks of life to bring about lasting difference in the long journey
towards our Renaissance.
In implementing EPRDF policies and strategies both during the armed
struggle and after, EPRDF leaders have been playing vital roles. These leaders
have been unreservedly paying prudent sacrifices for the betterment Ethiopians.
Though the EPRDF has lots of patriot leaders, the focus of this article goes to
the selfless and extraordinarily visionary leader-Meles Zenawi.
Since his election as a member of the executive committee of the TPLF in
1979, Meles Zenawi’s contribution for the advancement of the country is
incalculable. “Since his election to the executive committee during the first
congress of the TPLF held in 1979, and especially following his re-election in
1983 and subsequent membership of the politburo, Meles made important and
strategic contribution to advance the armed struggle [against the dictatorial
Dergue Regime]” (Meles’s Portriat:Sketch of Who He is, P:03).
During the armed struggle, Meles’s participation and contribution was
prominent and valuable. His objective situational analysis both national and
international affairs benefitted the EPRDF to defeat the Dergue. Moreover, his
valuable arguments at times of bad pitches saved the EPRDF from disintegration
and fatal splits. It is, hence, rational to call Meles as a real vaccine and proper
remedy that repeatedly saved the EPRDF from possible dead ends and thereby
advance the struggle against the brutal regime and latter the struggle against
poverty and backwardness.
As an extraordinarily visionary change leader, Meles always focused on
possibly new but highest paradigms. He always targeted the maximum possible
goals which might be attainable through stretched efforts. New achievements were
not sources of his satisfaction and never gave him a relief. He rather, looked
forward to achieve the highest one. Thus, Meles unreservedly searched the ways
that drove the struggle from simple to complex and/or from lower to higher
stages. That was why he never sought a rest in his lifetime. When he was recomended
to have a rest even by medical doctors, his response was very short and precise.
He always said that how a leader of a poor country such as ours needs a rest!
He repeatedly stated that as the EPRDF soldier, he would contribute his maximum
efforts till he left with zero gram flesh! And he practically did it! He paid
prudent sacrifice till the last second of his life!
Meles paid his life for democracy and justice. He set extraordinarily
high goals in the struggle against poverty and backwardness. To implement his
bigger dreams-to see a country where democratic rule, good governance and
social justice prevails up on free will and full involvement of the peoples,
emancipating from poverty and join a
middle income status economy-Meles always set bigger goals and objectives. “As
a reflection of his ambition, Meles was not satisfied with the pace of the
progress made during the first two years of the renewal period. He wanted an
expansion of rural development efforts already achieved; a rejuvenation of cities
and towns; full rehabilitation of the ruling party [the EPRDF]; and an
encouragement of the Ethiopian youth to turn them in to empowered agents of the
fight against poverty” (Meles’s Portriat:Sketch of Who He is, P:09).
Meles sacrificed his life to ensure equality of the Ethiopian nations,
nationalities and peoples. Likewise his entire life was sacrifice to abolish
every form of inequality, be it gender, religion, linguistic, rural-urban etc.
Let alone the question of equality here in his Country, Meles also struggled
for justice across the globe. His struggle against the adverse effects of
climate change is an excellent example for this matter. Meles critically challenged
advanced nations for the fatal consequences of their rapid industrialization
where African, Asian, Latin American and Small Island nations have been
suffering in none of their faults. He unreservedly challenged them because
their rapid industrialization has been killing the economies of developing countries.
That is why in his address to the 12th heads of States and Government Summit of
the African Union held in Addis Ababa stated with great regret that “Africa has
contributed virtually nothing to the global warming but is expected to be one
of the primary victims of its consequences.”
TRUE, Meles sacrificed his life not only for the betterment of Ethiopians
and the Ethiopian Renaissance but also for all disadvantaged countries and
groups all over the globe. That is why Ethiopia has been playing a vanguard
role in the UN and AU peace keeping and peace creation missions, particularly
in Africa. Meles’s role in stabilizing the African continent in general and the
horn of Africa in particular was repeatedly recognized and applauded by the
International Community.
Without the strong support of Ethiopia, under the leadership of Meles
Zenawi, the establishment of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia
was unthinkable. Moreover, the TFG could never last long without the
extraordinary support of Ethiopians. And Meles strongly backed the efforts of
IGAD and the African Union in creating peace and tranquility in Somalia. Thus, Meles waged his life to ensure peace
and order in the African Continent.
Furthermore, Meles challenged the ineffectiveness of Neo-Liberal Political
Economy in Africa. Meles not only challenges Neo-Liberal Political Economy but
also forwarded a new approach to effectively address the African Dilemma. He
repeatedly claimed that Neo-Liberal Political Economy is practically an
instrument for rent seeking politics in Africa. Hence, he suggested that
African countries should search their own home grown policies and strategies
that spring from their objective problems. For Meles, African challenges must
be solved through African mechanisms, that is, there can never be one size fit
for kind of imported solution for every domestic problem. Therefore, Meles paid
his life in searching of best ways to transform the Africa continent as well.
By and large, Meles sacrificed his precious life for democracy and
justice by adamantly but wisely combating every actual and/or potential factor
of inequality and/or injustice. And for sure, we all Africans miss him for he
was our responsible spokesman who unreservedly and unwaveringly defended our
real interests in the international fora. That is why various leaders across
the globe shocked with the news of his death. And that is why African leaders
expressing their deepest condolence still now.
Meles accomplished his glorious tasks selflessly. What is remained, I think,
is maintaining and consolidating his visions that transcend both generation and
time. Hence, we need to contribute our maximum efforts to realize the Ethiopian
Renaissance in particular and the African Renaissance in general.
REST IN PEACE Meles Zenawi!!!
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