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Some 40 years back… things were not pleasing across the country. Rival political parties were fighting one another to grab central power. Secessionist groups in the north and the Somali invading force in the east were fighting against the central government… The then provisional military government had to issue a national call so that every citizen could stand vigilant against enemies… The young Ali Berkie who was born and raised in Assosa area, western part of the country, responded to the national call by being registered voluntarily.
At first a military officer rejected Ali telling him that he was too young to be recruited as a soldier. He was fifteen then. Ali was known in his home village for his bravery on hunting wild animals. He used to kill a buffalo or antelope with a single shot. He took time before he shot. When the animal fell into his aim, he pulled the trigger and hit the poor animal through the head. He was successful in his hunting sport for years. The then district official convinced the military officer that the young man was a sharpshooter and fit for the military service… It was after that Ali was taken with his friends to the famous Tatek military training centre, which was located near Addis Ababa. After months of basic military training, he was given a brand-new AK 47 with three magazines full of bullets numbering about 90.
Days after, a division in which Ali belongs to was transported to Hararghe. Once on duty station, the soldiers were ready waiting for the last command to be given by their leader, a young lieutenant. Then, they were ordered to take positions, dig trenches and respond to the firing coming from the invading force. Though many of the soldiers in his subdivision shot, Ali did not fire a single bullet. He was rather impressed why his partners were firing sporadically without they got the enemy soldier within their sight.
Later at night the commander made a check-up of his soldiers. His unit was taken to a nearby camouflaged fortress where a close inspection was made. All members of the subdivision lined up and were counted. Then every one of them was asked to report in particular the number of kollos (roasted grain as coded for bullet) they had used including the remaining ones kept in their magazines… When it was Ali’s turn, the lieutenant raised his voice as usual and said, “private Ali Berkie!”
“Yes, sir!” Ali stood at attention.
“Say your quick report on your line of duty…!”
“Yes, sir! … Everything is going on well… regarding kollo … None eaten up! Ninety pieces are still in, sir!”
“What?!” the lieutenant glared at Ali.
“No enemy was in my sight, sir! … I want to kill my enemy with a single go… Sir!”
“I can’t believe that, man! … Are you saying you did not give them a single kollo while they were showering us with theirs?” the lieutenant was full of rage.
“No, sir! … No single kollo I did give them the whole day, sir!” Ali, who was on alert, responded loudly.
During the other regular inspection, the next day, Ali reported similarly. He did not fire a single bullet. “None shot out, sir! …Ninety are still kept in magazine, sir!”
“Can you please tell us why, comrade Ali Berkie?” asked the lieutenant.
“I detected no enemy soldier in my sight, sir! … No enemy in my vision, sir!”
The third day Ali announced similar report to his commander who was still very surprised at the time… There was a long silence. Then the lieutenant was determined to do something to check Ali. He got closer to Ali and said, “Young man, I order you to take a firing position by my side tomorrow. Understand?”
“Yes, sir! …Firing position by the side of the commander on the morrow, sir!”
“That’s what I need!”
The next day the two glued their bosom against the earth with the barrel of their guns towards the direction of the invading enemies. Their fatigues and helmets were camouflaged with the surrounding area, which was bombarded by artilleries and cannon fired from afar. Jet fighters were also ploughing the sky with their deafening sounds… A Somali machine gunner who took position behind a boulder did not allow the Ethiopian soldiers to raise their heads and march ahead… The machine gun was popping nonstop like a popcorn being roasted. Terrrr! …. Terrrr… Ta ta ta ta ta …Terrrr! Then suddenly, the gunner peeped out raising his helmet-covered head. Ali nudged the lieutenant and whispered by pointing to the Somali soldier, “sir, please, can you see the machine-gunner scanning over us… Look at him! …Please don’t shoot at him… Leave that man for me. I can take care of him.” Ali took aim and clicked the trigger of his AK-47. The Somali machine gunner was shot through the forehead. Ali calls this kind of hitting, “piercing through the forehead”. Immediately another Somali partner sat on the dead soldier’s body and held the machinegun. Ali winked at his commander pleading to give him another chance. Minutes later the new gunner raised his head which was saluted instantly by Ali’s shot… another “piercing through the head”. Now the simmering mouth of the machinegun has been silenced. Mission accomplished! …Late in the evening… the commander stood as usual before the lined-up soldiers.
“Private Ali Berkie! … Say your report!”
Ali Berkie stood at attention and saluted. “Yes, sir! Two shots! I had two ‘piercing through the head’… right on the forehead, sir! …two shots against two machine gunners and 88 kept in magazines, sir!”
The commander of the division clapped with broad smile in his face. Others roared saying, “Hurrah! …Hurrah!”
The other day Ali was given a command to clamp down three tanks that were sluggishly moving into the commanding areas of the Ethiopian soldiers. He carried several hand grenades and made snake-moving towards the rolling tanks. His partners were watching him. Then he squatted and made a dangerous move. All including the commander stopped breathing. They did not believe what they were watching. Was that Ali or his ghost? They saw him jumping on a tank from its rear side and opened the lid at the top… Then, he dropped a grenade inside. Black smoke was seen gushing out of the tank… In the same way, Ali Berkie destroyed two more tanks that were moving into the fortress.
Commanders of the enemy soldiers were Ali’s target. He knows they are accompanied by entourage and communication aides who carry radios with long antennas. Wherever there is that antenna, there is a commander around. Then after, quite simple for Ali… “Piercing through the forehead”. He hunted and shot many commanders in this way.
Ali likes tej (local mead). Many of his friends extend invitation of beer to him. But tej is his preference. One day he was given two days off duty and went to a renowned tej bet in Harar. The owner of the tej bet, a lady, was very happy to have the war hero, Ali as a customer. She clapped and called attention of all the other customers and said, “…this is a privilege for me to have an Ethiopian hero as a guest in our midst here in my tej bet. I haven’t got the chance to be a war hero like him. But I am very lucky to host this Ethiopian hero, Ali Berkie. This is a special occasion for me and you all Ethiopians. …I want to celebrate this event by allowing you all to take whatever you like for free. Enjoy drinking as much tej as you like on behalf of our hero, Ali Berkie!” The hero received a standing ovation from the customers of that big tej bet…

Address your comment to the writer through gizaw.haile@yahoo.com

The costs of unsafe food

Doing Business

July 1, 2019

Two weeks ago, I picked up a friend from the airport who came to visit for 10 days. All was well, and we enjoyed spending time together, visiting friends and dining out. Until one evening she was struck by food poisoning and she became very ill indeed in a very short period of time. We went to a clinic where she was given an IV treatment to rehydrate her and after some lab test she was given medication to deal with the cause. Until the evening of departure however, she remained ill and very weak indeed. As a result, a large part of her visit was spoilt, and a considerable amount of money was spent on medical costs. Now, this is the experience of only one person, and imagine the medical and economic costs caused by unsafe food at a larger scale, also in the perspective of the current high incidence of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD).
A large proportion of these costs could be avoided by adopting preventive measures that improve how food is handled. The economic cost of unsafe food varies according to the level of economic development. It is important to recognize the need for effective investment, a better understanding of the cost of reducing unsafe food, and the achievable impact on the country’s food security, public health, and economy. Any food safety standards that are developed and implemented have associated costs for governments, industry and consumers. Nonetheless, the economic benefit and public health cost reduction resulting from reliable food safety systems outweigh the cost of food safety investment. Government not only needs to invest in food safety, but also invest strategically. This means investing in foundational knowledge, human resources, and infrastructure; realizing synergies among investments in food safety, human health, and environmental protection; and using public investment to leverage private investment. A transparent and constructive dynamic between food safety authorities and the food industry is fundamental in enabling public confidence in the food supply. The assurance of reliable and effective enforcement of regulation is fundamental to building a credible system. However, it is important to seek a productive balance between enforcement and facilitation and support to value chain actors to meet requirements to achieve their full potential. The public sector needs to put in place a set of enabling policies and provide public goods that create the enabling environment to foster private sector investment. The public sector can also support clustering of agribusinesses within specific geographic areas (e.g. technology parks) with assured infrastructure and access to output and input markets. Investment flows into value chains in which small-holder producers and processors are involved (e.g. as raw material suppliers) can be stimulated by improving coordination in the chain through strengthening groups that bring these actors together, while also building their technical and managerial capacity to meet market requirements.
In previous decades, government and donor investments in food safety in low and middle-income countries often focused on exports and formal sector food production and retail. This was driven by the economic benefits of export and the belief that modernization of the food system would improve productivity and deliver safer food and more benefits to workers. While both export sectors and formal food businesses remain key to many
countries’ development strategies, recent years have seen increasing evidence of the huge health and economic burdens falling on domestic consumers who primarily access food, especially perishable, higher-nutrient produce, from informal outlets and distribution channels. A broad-based food safety strategy is needed which gives balanced attention to trade and domestic matters, and, for the latter, covering food safety risks in formal and informal markets. Food safety has complex bidirectional linkages with nutrition, livelihoods and equity. For example, unsafe food is associated with stunting and malnutrition and predisposes people to gastro-intestinal illness and affects the most vulnerable people who have limited food choices and often rely on informal markets. Concerns about food safety may push people away from fresh produce and towards low-nutrient, highly processed foods, with adverse long-term health consequences. In low and middle -income countries, hundreds of millions of people, many of them women, depend on food production, processing, and retail for their livelihoods. Wherever possible, food safety interventions should act to secure rather than threaten these livelihoods.
The image of Ethiopia has changed much over the past few decades, from a country struck by drought and starvation, to a country with substantial economic growth and capable to deal with the challenges of climate change and related risks. We receive more visitors than ever before, including tourists but even more delegates from organizations and foreign countries that come and attend international meetings in the capital of the Africa Union. We don’t want that image to be weakened by illness, food waste and rejects because of unsafe food production and consumption.

Source and for more background reading:
https://www.who.int/food-safety/international-food-safety-conference/background-documents/
ton.haverkort@gmail.com

Tsion Asmare

Entrepreneurs

July 1, 2019

Name: Tsion Asmare

Education: BA in Psychology

Company name: Bitsite Berebaso Leather Products Manufacturing

Studio Title: Shareholder

Founded in: 2016

What it does: Makes and sells leather shoes and bags

HQ: German Square around Mekanisa

Number of employees: 23

Startup Capital: 150,000 birr

Current capital: Growing

Reasons for starting the business: To be able to work freely

Biggest perk of ownership: Being my own boss

Biggest strength: Commitment

Biggest challenge: Finance and finding a suitable work place

Plan: To open a big factory

First career: The psychology profession

Most interested in meeting: Steve Jobs

Most admired person: None

Stress reducer: Reading

Favorite past-time: Working

Favorite book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey

Favorite destination: Addis Ababa

Favorite automobile: Land Rover

The Dream Lives On

Interview

July 1, 2019

Last Saturday, June 22, Ambachew Mekonnen, President of Amhara Regional State was tragically murdered. In memory Capital reprints his interview with us from December 2018. At that time he was serving as an advisor to the Prime Minster before being appointed to head Amhara Regional State.
Ambachew Mekonnen could smile through difficult times. He was known for being assertive, standing for what he believed in and academic prowess. Before leading Amhara Regional State and serving as an advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, he served in various government posts over a 28 year period. Ambachew, was a major protagonist in reforming the ruling party. He talked with Capital about the four year struggle which culminated in electing Abiy as Chairperson of EPRDF. He provided much insight in this exclusive interview. Given recent events we felt it appropriate to print his words which were full of hopeful idealism.

Capital: Tell us a little about you, who is Ambachew?
Ambachew Mekonnen: I grew up in a diligent farming family in Gayint, Gondar. I am very proud of my hardworking farming community. I passed through a number of schools since I joined high school because at the time the full package was not provided in one school. I was not a bad student and was promoted several grades in a year. I was passionate in natural science especially Physics and Math. Unfortunately I was unable to complete high school when it was shut down because of war which later led me to join the guerilla fight with EPDM/EPRDF, in 1990. When the war ended I was appointed to serve as a cadre and after five years of interruption I continued my education through Mexico distance education and Temehert Be Radio. It was a difficult time to learn. I had a busy schedule working with the administration in Abichu ena Gne’a/ Sheno area, North Shoa. Then I joined the Ethiopian Civil Service University and I studied Economics and graduated in 1998. Even though I aspired to be a teacher as a child and liked natural sciences I diverted to Economics. In my childhood I was inspired by my good teachers. I went to South Korea for a Master’s Degree and studied economics. After I returned to my country and had 11 years of political and administration engagements I went to England, United Kingdom to study my PHD in the University of Kent at Canterbury. I also obtained another MS in International Finance & Economic Development as a precondition to the PhD. It was made mandatory by examiners and it was difficult in terms of course loads but advantageous to have another education. “Economic growth, trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa: nexus and determinants” was the title of my thesis. After I came back I worked in different Federal and Regional posts.

Capital: After you went to the UK you were told to stop your PhD studies and return, what happened?
Ambachew: After I completed my first year of classes and won two scholarships, some shrewd appointees said the region did not have the budget for my education and I was told to quit. I opposed the decision and went back for the second year. My colleagues in the party used to collect money and tried to support the payment of part of the university’s tuition fee. At the end, despite my reluctance, the government tried to send me the money via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but I kept refusing their conspiracies. But, I continued exposing the conspiracies for the objective of not to be repeated again on others. Many brilliant minds were pushed away from ADP (Amhara Democratic Party) with these kinds of toxic political conspiracies. We are bringing back those who were pushed away by those people. In any case as it is a struggle with human beings there are different kinds of ideologies and this is normal. But life in the ADP was difficult. But, among all, it was challenging for us to entertain the legitimate demands of the public. Controversial ideas have been raised which were not acceptable most of the times. So, the people were forced to conclude that ADP is a dependent annex to others.

Capital: Do you have an official social media account?
Ambachew: Yes, I use but with limited contacts. I usually use to follow a few and selected writers. But I hardly check them continuously.

Capital: You once stated that political appointments are similar to sitting on a hot pan. You also said that you wished you could be relieved from political posts. Do you still feel the same way?
Ambachew: It was during the fractious days of our country when we were very sad and devastated. I was sad because people who trusted and followed us were victims of various human rights violations. During the meeting, when I said that, I saw many victims with wounds that touched my heart. Nothing was as embarrassing for a leader to witness the people you represent suffering but being helpless to do anything about it. Our party was able to bring many economic and political fruits but later it changed. When we failed to manage the differences of ideas and political gaps, use of force was deployed. Many youth have died and were injured due to bad leadership and political decisions. This can only be regarded as a failure for the nation and the appointees. The way that we handled peaceful demonstrations was harsh and took precious human life. So appointments are even more difficult at such moments. The chair is still hot but it is a historical responsibility for us to handover our country to the next generation.

Capital: Do you think that your party will be again trusted by the people?
Ambachew: The change which has come to this nation is not brought by the reformist group in the party only, but the frustration and anger of the people who took the major share. If I have to compare from any other moments of resistance in the party, the most difficult struggle was made to the most maximum point, over the last three years until that night which Abiy was elected as our chairman. What we struggled against was the wrong doings of individuals against the law and also against the party’s values. We weren’t sure if we were going to achieve the change until Abiy was elected, let alone being the people’s party again, but on that night a hope sparkled. The change was driven so fast and well by the people which became more than our expectations. We know our people deserved more and that means the people itself should determine what it needs. If the people didn’t support what we believed to be better for the country we have to respect its decisions. We have to give back the complete autonomy to the people to decide on its country exclusively and that is when we believe that the change is complete. We want the people to get its country back on its hands and the rest is nothing for us.

Capital: Do you believe the reform has reached the stage where it won’t collapse?
Ambachew: It is like two steps forward and one step back, which is we are going forward one step ahead amid the problems. The change will not be taken away from the one who owns it, the people. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to sleep, rather it’s the most critical time which the people have to stand firm and keep the reform alive. There are people in support and in favor of the change, but also those who are against. The pace of our walk could be slowed if we couldn’t stop to tackle each other. Of course we have to expect such problems which we are witnessing but resolving them quickly is mandatory to bring the change which this people deserve timely. Our people need to be patient and avoid opportunities for those who are working to bring this change down. What we see in the Universities is an example.

Capital: When did the struggle that brought Abiy Ahmed to the front begin in the party?
Ambachew: The latest reform could be traced four years back while there were lots of them earlier. The 2001 renaissance could be the first one I can say. The reluctance to solve problems makes them a tumor and causes the latest explosion. The people went out for demonstrations not because they were crazy or to cause violence rather it was to tell us their sadness. The party’s use of force to put the demonstrators down caused multiples of damages. The extent of the problems created differences in the party and that was not only limited to arguments rather there were strong fall out. Naturally it might be hard for one to see its own problems but rejecting others observance might be due to bad intentions. So the struggle took long time because we couldn’t agree on our problems which we agreed at the end. The government couldn’t bring equal treatment of citizens, which was the main cause for the anger. We couldn’t hear what the people said and we were not responsive. Of course politically motivated people could inflate the problems but it was the people itself speaking.

Capital: I know Tesfaye Getachew was your close friend. I think he was gone before the people knew him. Tell us a little about him.
Ambachew: Tesfaye shined on the moments which need bravery but not shrewdness. He is known for his direct confrontations. What Abiy said in the US about him was not just sweet talk rather it was absolutely true. He was ahead of the leaders and always in front of every struggle. I always feel bad that he couldn’t taste the fruits of his struggle and see the release of our friends, which he was advocating for. General Asamnew Tsege, Melaku Fenta, General Tefera and many others, not only in Amhara Region but also in the Oromia. He fights for them and he always stands for the truth and that is why our brothers from the Oromia and South were sad when he died. Whenever I think of how the people honored him I forget that he was taken away too soon. He didn’t like to show off which you never see on the media, but he was a real hero. At this moment which political leaders were hated, the people gave this honor. In our country nobody will be happy of any ones death but there might be some which were challenged by him. What we all have to learn from him is that those who stand for truth will be honored by the people even on their death. He had various surgeries but worked until the last weeks of his life. He is a model for us with his consistent stands for the truth. Our system is disrupted by servility. There were individuals who breathe and lived to praise their superiors but not for truth, and this still exists. Tesfaye also knew that he was in a bad health condition but he focused on his duties. When he was appointed as the party office head he resisted accepting and I asked him why. He told me that he wanted to have his last moments with his children, and he became critically ill before serving for a month. But now his children have Ethiopians from all over the country as their father. So when you live for truth your children will walk with their heads up, no matter if you are alive or not. He was my best friend since 1990.

Capital: What are the procedures that the government is taking to decide if the election is going to be extended or not?
Ambachew: I believe the respected government bodies are doing the necessary measures to that end. But in general what I can say is about how the election has to be conducted would be repeating what Abiy said. The worst life is in the political appointment. Especially back in those days we lost the popular support and the legitimacy and we use the law and the security force to put people down. No one is going to live happily in such condition. So, unless we bring an election which avoids such chaos it will be our failure. What drives the youth to go out on the streets and face the bullet was because it they were denied their right to have a say in their nation. Political appointments are no more going to be occupied by those who want to get benefit from their duty rather to benefit the people.

Capital: There were social media campaigns predicting you would be appointed, during the reshuffling over the seven months. How that did affect you and where were you since the reform?
Ambachew: I think I became a topic in the past few months for a reason I didn’t know. I don’t think those campaigns were meant to benefit me rather it showed the expectations of the people. I believe most of the people who wanted me to be appointed don’t even know me. But it was so difficult for me as my friends who were in the post and many more who claimed the posts felt bad about it. But it has caused unnecessary damages in respect to some relationships I had. So it has to bethe government who researches and appoints the appropriate person for the appropriate position. One could not forbid such campaigns as they are the reflection of the people but we have to leave the final decision to the legitimate bodies.

Capital: Were you a candidate for those posts actually?
Ambachew: I was a candidate for the presidency but as the public opposed that and wanted me to continue in political participation I changed my mind and also the party’s. The information leaked about my candidacy when people didn’t see me in the Ministerial posts and people’s opinions led to the fact I think. Also, I asked for some people to conduct a public dialogue and collect the real information doubting if the stand was driven by activists. It all turned out to be the same. So an idea came would the appointment cause unnecessary unfitness between us and the people so then we decided to wave it. I believe the fundamental services the president had are known but I think considering my age the people want me to keep participating in the political activities. I am in the executive committees of both the party and the front so I have various assignments. I am appointed, since the last Monday, as the Infrastructure and Urban Development Advisor for the Prime Minister now.

Capital: Do you think the government has changed in terms of being responsive and open to other opinions?
Ambachew: The reform in the party gives liberty not only for the people but also for the members and appointees of its own. The leaders could not say anything without the circle marked properly and rule was broken at the end of the reform. But some were not getting away from that circle and others were tackling those who were driving and started to say no. What surprises me now is those who were working to bring the reformists groups down are appearing to be one of them. Some wanted to defame those who paid scarifies, but I considered that they are doing it because they are in a fear. That part of the struggle was closed in the night Abiy was elected. I am completely sure that if he was not elected another person who would sustain the previous system would come. The government is no more comforting some leaders or groups rather it has to bring the people to be happy. Fair distribution of resources and rapid economic growth are different. Economic growth by itself will not bring peace and stability unless that is distributed fairly. There is a proverb in our country which says “kill me with the same knife which you kill him”. Happiness of the people is a collective result but fair and equal treatment is an ultimate element. The people are supporting us not because we lobbied for that rather it is because they believed us. So for us to learn from the previous mistakes is without a choice. The policy of the nation promotes equal distribution of wealth among the people but it is not implemented well.

Capital: Some say the change has not trickled down to the lower levels of the administration to the woreda and kebele level. What is the government doing to close this chapter of power reshuffles and also in the lowest level some are suggesting this might cause unnecessary damages?
Ambachew: Some leaders think appointment is a right. That is wrong and it must be given by the government or the people. The people spoke clearly that it needs change in the leadership in every level, including to the closest appointment to them. So the leaders have to resign themselves believing in the demands of the people. But the forgiveness and love agenda has to go to the woreda and kebel levels also. We have to let go of our anger and move to the next stage. There are efforts to bring the change in the wider level but it needs various efforts to move the nation. The people are actively participating more than any time in history and that needs to be supported not for our people to lose the regained confidence. One thing we all have to know is that most of the middle and lower leaders are shaped by custom and changing them is not easy. Most top level leaders will get the chance to witness other countries experiences. Also change is not free and that will not be implemented this easy. The main thing that could bring change to this beautiful nation is change in the attitude of the human being. Creating trust, benevolence, and love with one another and with nature needs to be our priority. We will be using technologies to bring the change we demand to be real. But our instruments have to be updated, not biased like we do on one to five groups, circles of influence. It was an appealing format which brings other nations be successful but here in our country it becomes a political instrument.

Capital: After exposing the grand corruption crimes and violations of human rights people kept comparing the Derg with EPDRF. Do you think the Derg was worse than the EPDRF?
Ambachew: I don’t think Derg was a total monster. It has various achievements besides the destructions. I sometimes compare what we have brought to this nation in this country other than what Derg did. It had very good developmental agendas and some projects we are doing now were tried by the military regime. We spend our time fighting the failed administration other than constructing our own for many years. In the area which I was grown up Derg achieved the forestry and basic education which the society is enjoying it fruits still now. But, the main problems of Derg were the killing of the innocents and the fact that everything was done with use of force. The settlement of villages was a good platform but done with force.
I don’t think Ethiopians will believe if one told them Derg embezzled the nation more than what happened in our times. Even if I was a little boy at Derg time and as I can’t speak of what was the situation in the big towns of the country there was some briberies. But I don’t think grand corruptions like now were committed. We have to admit the problems from our heart. Do you think the people didn’t know that we were part of the previous party system? No, the people forgive us while knowing us well and we have to respect this generous people.
In terms of human rights violation, it is not a fact you compare based on numbers. Human life is precious and number doesn’t matter. In terms of number a generation was taken away by Derg and it was all made clearly in public. What you have to know is Human Rights were an emerging fact at the moment and the regime was military. There were torture in our times, youth were killed and Ethiopians mothers were not saved from grief. What is shameful is that we throw the Derg for doing so and we did what we oppose. So were we opposing the violation just because we didn’t do them? So what makes us the worst one is that we repeated what we have fought for and what many sacrifice their life. Numbers don’t matter and if one person is torched or killed the entire community will live in fear. No leader admits what has happen to this nation but enormous number of people which were victims of unexpected human rights violation is coming out. So who did it? Never again!