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GREAT ETHIOPIAN RUN

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GREAT ETHIOPIAN RUN

The Great Ethiopian Run is an annual 10-kilometre road running event which takes place in mid-November in Addis Ababa. The competition was first envisioned by Ethiopian great runner Haile Gebrselassie, Peter Middlebrook and Abi Masefield in late October 2000, following Haile’s return from the 2000 Summer Olympics. The 10,000 entries for the first edition quickly sold out and over the two decades the event attracted hundreds of thousands of participants.
The elite race attracts a number of prominent runners. Haile Gebrselassie won the inaugural men’s race and at the second edition many of the country’s top long-distance runners competed, with Gebreegizabher Gebremariam, Sileshi Sihine and Kenenisa Bekele comprising the top three in the men’s race and Worknesh Kidane and Tirunesh Dibaba taking first and second in the women’s race. The race is also synonymous for providing impact to society under the initiative “Running for a cause” where the race is used as vehicle for fundraising to support people in need in the community.
For the 21st edition of the run, Capital drew links with Dagmawit Amare, General Manager at Great Ethiopian Run for an inside look at this year’s run. Excerpts;

Capital: It has been 20 years since the inception of ‘The great Ethiopian run.’ How have the last 20 years been?
Dagmawit Amare: The first great run was held on November 25, 2001. Twenty years is not by any means a simple time, it is a long journey which has been encompassed by different milestones. I have been here for the last 18 years in different roles and within the last 20 years, the great run has achieved different progresses. Due to the pandemic, we have decreased the number to 25,000 which is still higher than last year and less than the previous years.
The other thing that the great run has achieved is that it has become a large public driver in terms of changing the public awareness on sport. Whenever we promote our races’ we not only promote the races but we also give training to adopt active health living in the society.
The other things we do in relation with the race are different kinds of charity work. There is a campaign called running for cause with the aim of helping.

Capital: What were the main challenges throughout the last 20 years?
Dagmawit: The Great Ethiopian Run is the first of its kind in Ethiopia, and being the first always presents challenges. Using sport as a business was tough. The whole aspect of commercializing sport, such as getting sponsors, doing consistent athletic races with the public are some of the challenges. And in context of our country also timing at times is an issue. In one of our races, two of our participants had died during the competition which is an unfortunate challenge. However, from all of the challenges we have continued to learn from them as we seek to provide a great experience.
As for this year, we are working round the clock to focus on all precautions, so that we can have an all rounded fun experience.

Capital: What are your precautions regarding Covid-19?
Dagmawit: We have decreased the number of participants; there will be availability of hand sanitizers at multiple locations around the start and finish; and a requirement for participants to wear masks in all assembly areas at the start until the point at which they start the run and after they finish the run will be mandatory.
Furthermore, a wave system will be used for the start which will enable participants to take part in the run with a degree of distancing.
The course will be a point-to-point course with a finish area that is different and separated from the start. We will have a system in place that guards against the gathering of large numbers of participants as they exit the finish.

Capital: How was your overall preparation for this year’s great Ethiopian run?
Dagmawit: The 2021 TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run International 10km will take place in Addis Ababa on Sunday 14th November, 2021. We have been heading this race for the last 21 years, and from our preparation this year, about 25,000 participants will be able to take part.
Last year the number was only 12,500 due to the pandemic, and this year round, the number has doubled to 25,000 participants although being less, than the years pre-pandemic. Doing such huge events in a global pandemic time needs great preparation. The good part is for a long time we have been planning to start the race by three waves to minimize the crowding and following the success of wave, we will deploy the same.
Additionally, we are staging a virtual run for international participants who are not able to travel to Ethiopia.
Similarly, a number of precautionary measures have been put in place to guard against the spread of the virus. All participants have had to sign a waiver form saying they undertook not to take part in the race if they had any underlying health problems that would make them more vulnerable to transmitting or becoming infected by the COVID-19 virus.
All participants this year shall also receive together with their race t-shirt, a WHO-approved 3-layer cotton mask. Moreover, race packs will be distributed at 8 selected TOTAL service stations with participants selecting their preferred collecting station at the time of registration. Race packs will be provided in the week before the race where all participants will receive mask together with their race t-shirt.
Similarly, participants are strongly advised not to come to the race, if they do not feel well in the 14 days leading up to race day. Temperature checks as participants arrive at the start will be administered. We have likewise increased number of health workers on the race day and it is mandatory to wear a mask.

Capital: How is your fund raising scheme ferrying on?
Dagmawit: As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), we use the 2021 TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run International 10km which will take place on Sunday 14th November 2021 as a vehicle for fundraising to support people in need in our community. For the past 16 years, our “Running for a Cause” fundraising campaign has been an effective platform for raising funds and awareness about the work of our beneficiaries. To date, we have been able to raise more than 15.7 million Birr through this work.
This year our fundraising target is 650,000 birr. These funds will be divided between two non-governmental organizations: the “Youth Athletics Project” working with disadvantaged teenagers to improve their personal development and the “Grace Center for Children and Families” supporting parents, orphans and juvenile delinquents.
Great Ethiopian Run has used different Fundraising methods to meet its target such as distributing Pledge Form, visiting a number of Companies, organizing different Fundraising events and so forth.

Capital: What kind of challenges did you face during the last run?
Dagmawit: Since it was our first time facing the pandemic we have been working a lot to cope with challenges, of course we had to be very cautious because of the number of participants but to this end we deployed a lot of manpower, to ensure all health protocols were observed.
This year the vaccination makes it better. We have health station as well as 500 volunteers who are on standby to give participants a great experience. In the previous run, temperature checks were carried out as participants arrived at the start; there the course was a point-to-point course with a finish area different and separated from the start. Medals were given to all finishers. There was also a wide availability of hand sanitizers at multiple locations around the start and finish; and a requirement for participants to wear masks in all assembly areas at the start until the point at which they started the run and after they finished the run.
A wave system was used for the start which enabled participants to take part in the run with a degree of distancing. Although we had used wave starts in the past, for this race we employed multiple waves with no more than 3,000 participants in each wave.

Capital: How many international participants are you expecting to come?
Dagmawit: Great run has seen good results when it comes to sports tourism. Tourists have been coming to Ethiopia with the aim of participating in the race. Last year alone, 400 people came to Ethiopia to participate in the race. This year we are expecting about 100 people to come to Ethiopia for the race, and an additional 150 participants to take part virtually.

Capital: What makes this year’s race special?
Dagmawit: In support of the Ethiopian Government’s initiatives to address issues of climate change, Great Ethiopian Run is promoting a “Go Green” campaign in connection with the 2021 TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run International 10km in November 2021 and carrying forward to our races planned in 2022.
Over the coming months we will be implementing an action plan with the twin goal of working for the good of our environment and fostering a greater awareness about the importance of green issues. To this regard, we will minimize carbon emissions, recycle wherever possible, encourage proper disposal of rubbish, use less plastic as well as use less paper.
We no longer use paper for registering participants. All registration has been done electronically. Participants also receive their race magazine electronically replacing the previously printed magazines.

Capital: Is there any special guest from international athletes?
Dagmawit: Faith Kipyegon, Kenya’s double Olympic 1500m champion and one of the ten 2021 World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year nominees will appear alongside Haile Gebrselassie who will be the VIP guest at the 2021 TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run. The visit to Addis Ababa by the 27-year old Kenyan whose second Olympic title in Tokyo confirmed her status as the world’s leading 1500m runners will be her first-ever trip to Ethiopia.

First mortgage bank receives homely reception

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First mortgage bank receives homely reception

In the presence of several ministers, governmental officials and the banking community, Goh Betoch Bank, the first private mortgage bank, held its official opening ceremony on Monday October 25, 2021 at the Sheraton Addis.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the organizers of the bank, Chaltu Sani, Minister of Urban Development and Infrastructure, Aysha Hussein, Minister of Water Irrigation and Lowland Environment and Lense Mekonnen CEO of Federal Land Bank and Development Corporation.
The mortgage bank that received its license from the National Bank of Ethiopia in August is expected to be an alternative source of finance for the housing scheme, which usually access less than 10 percent from the total fresh loans in the financial industry.

Revenue Ministry drafts scheme to inspire tax payers

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Revenue Ministry drafts scheme to inspire tax payers

Ministry of Revenue (MoR) announces that it is drafting a scheme to encourage well accomplished tax payers in terms of different operations in which they conduct their business.
The revenue authority announces that there are companies that contributed billions of birr as tax but were not included on the latest tax payers’ recognition day.
Since the reformist government took office, tax payers who have good performance in the sector have been receiving recognition.
The third round event that recognized 300 tax payers from different sector was held last week in the presence of PM Abiy Ahmed at the Banquet Hall of Emperor Menelik II Palace.
Kebede Lidetu, Risk and Compliance Director at MoR, said that the companies which were recognized on the day are selected by a criteria mainly on their compliance of their responsibility, “compliance takes about 70 percent of the selection requirement, while the remaining merit is their contribution for the revenue.”
According to Kebede, MoR is giving a priority for tax payers commitment for the taxation than the value they paid.
Some tax payers that Capital interviewed about the latest recognition said that they are delighted by the recognition and appreciated the initiative that the government took.
One of the awarded company leader said that for the two years running his company was included on the recognition which continually rejuvenates him to keep his commitment to be part of the upcoming similar occasions.
However the tax payers also expressed their confusion citing that that there are companies out there with similar level of their business but were not included in the recognition.
They added that there are even companies that have secured more benefits and incentives in relation with access to finance and huge foreign currency and other opportunities for the government but are not included on the tax payers’ recognition.
“For instance companies with similar status as us and with different beneficiary were not recognized,” they said.
They expressed their concern that the government should follow these companies who are supposed to be included in the scheme whilst also suggesting for the government to consider special treatment for those who are committed in their obligation to pay government revenue.
Kebede said that there are companies which contributed to the generation of billions of birr but were left out on the recognition.
“For instance there was a company which generated five billion birr to the taxing system but was not awarded in the latest event,” the Risk and Compliance Director explained showing why compliance is key when giving the recognition.
He underlined that the process is not directly related with the amount that a given company paid or contributed.
Kebede accepted the claim from prudent tax payers and added that there are initiatives that the government has started to introduce aiming to encourage tax payers.
“We have similar concerns regarding those who are considered good performing tax payers to get better service in the bureaucracy,” he says, adding, “so far we already have introduced a structure to benefit model tax payers to provide better service at our branches.”
He said that MoR has special window or dedicated manager for prudent tax payers; similarly it is to be expanded in other public offices or benefits.
Dawit Tadesse, Taxation Expert and Managing Partner at Lead-Plus Management Consultancy and Training Center, said that special treatment through different approach is proper.
“There are different schemes like authorized economic operators, facilitating plots of land for expansion projects, and provide swift security support and other benefits that go with the government policy,” Dawit said.
“For instance one of the government policies is industrialization. If these model tax payers are involved on manufacturing sector and may have expansion, the government will provide foreign currency as per its policy since they are highly committed to pay their duties properly,” Dawit explained.
Kebede said that the draft law that may be ratified by the Council of Ministers tried to include special benefit and treatment for prudent tax payers to get from different authorities that will be in terms of finance or hard currency or may be other VIP services in the government bureaucracy.

AFRICAN MAJORS DISCONNECT

Staff Reporter
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AFRICAN MAJORS DISCONNECT

The African population continues to eke out a living on the ground. On the other hand, the states, seemingly oblivious to the sheeples predicament are pursuing policies that are formally and informally prescribed by the global dominant interests via the institutions of economic governance, education, as well as others. Adhering to the diktat of the ‘masters’ has not been very encouraging, media/state rhetoric aside. Polarization which breeds instability is in the ascendance and the so-called gains that were registered in recent years were mostly due to higher commodity prices as well as low interest on loans/debts obtained from China and the West, compliment of massive money printing. Conditions are now reversing and the flow of money from the South is accelerating. As the US dollar becomes dear and interest rates on US dollar denominated loans rise, servicing (let alone paying back) the fast accumulated debts will become difficult. In fact, the situation increasingly looks like the old 1980s third world debt crisis!
In the context of Africa, the whole scenario has created a discernible disconnect between the states and their increasingly restive beasts. What is even disturbing is; the attempt to resolve the various disconnects might entail yet another round of generalized violence. Unlike before, however, (when Africa’s population fought European colonialism in unison) the ascending violence that is being waged against the various prevailing grievances seems to be fragmented, disorganized, even unprincipled. Nonetheless, the violence is real and will continue to destabilize the fragile continent. A number of the major African states are clearly dithering while the sheeples (in these countries) find themselves on the precipice. Unfortunately the top four of the most populous states have one thing in common. They are becoming visibly unstable!
However, to sustain the prevailing relative peace & stability, concerted efforts must be exerted by all and sundry to weed out the sources of systemic instabilities. Injustice (in all its manifestations–nepotism, corruption, mal-governance, mal-investments, etc.), which pervades our collective existence, must be seriously assuaged, if not purged all together from the society at large. Don’t forget, unlike many of the African countries, Ethiopia has undergone a wrenching revolution that did away with most of the built-in imbalances/injustices that used to structurally/institutionally impede the general development of the sheeple. In spite of the current superficial affluence that is affected by the connected oligarchy and its decadent culture, the beast still remains rather decent and God fearing in all its major undertakings/vocations, hence, might one day take matters on its own hands and pounce on the whole charade/nonsense. From now on mere palliatives and cosmetic changes might not do, as resentments have against such dispensations have visibly deepened. Let’s hope our forewarning has not been all to no avail!
The above majors, with due respect to their struggle against colonialism, were not allowed to seriously tackle their own shortcomings in their own ways. As a result of (mostly) outside protracted machinations these countries succumbed to fragility and instability. Developing a decent and resilient society based on democracy and equity will inevitably demands all sorts of sacrifices. Entrenched interests and their institutions that also double up as creators of culture (Hollywood, education, sports, entertainments, etc.), find the above African virtues anathema to their narrow objectives. The current lopsided globalization is not helping the African mass to deal with its various problems creatively. In today’s world, the organic and supportive traditional African values/culture that could have served as basis for collective cooperative existence, have given way to bona fide narcissism that certainly will not deliver us from the prevailing and highly articulated polarizing globalization!
DRC was made to move from committed nationalist leadership (Lumumba, et al) to that of degenerate compradors (Mobutu, et la.) in no time! It seems DRC is too big and too rich to be left alone! The descent in Nigeria was more gradual. Nevertheless, this country of frantic activities and dynamic sheeple spirit ended up being the reincarnation of neoliberalism in its raw animalistic essence. Money is now celebrated (by the large majority) as if it is the only “God’, here and in the hereafter! The famously un-bashful thieving elites of Nigeria are probably the most powerful agents in inculcating the whole dehumanization project that subtly (and not always indirectly) pushed by the global power that be. The assumption of the dominant interests is that; once such craziness is sufficiently instituted in a society, the rest of the restlessness of the sheeple can be handled rather easily. No wonder the opposition in the north is having easy headways. Frankly speaking, the likes of ‘Boko Haram’ don’t have much convincing to do, given the reality of the poor on the ground. Just wave the ‘holy book’ and pronto, there will plenty of young people ready and eager to become martyrs for ‘the cause’, whether the alleged divine cause is imposed or internalized! Given the protracted mess Nigeria finds itself in, the analysis and responses of the elites, not only within the political class, is at best disappointing! War of resistance against accumulated grievances will not go away, just because the status quo desires it. We believe a more reflective and mature approach to the ongoing crisis is preferred to the rushed violent reaction that might not secure the future to the whole collective!
Going forward, we believe, the ideology light insurrection of the recent past should remain pertinently instructive. Whichever way we look at it, Africa will still be in need of principled revolutions that favor the sheeple. Whether such revolution will be bloodier than what obtains today, depends mostly on the maturity and wisdom of the generation that is willing to wage it!

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