Commercial farm investors in Abobo Werada, Gambella are complaining about corruption and maladministration in the area which is hindering their businesses and preventing them from expanding.
Agro businesses in corn, sorghum, mug bean, and sesame, said the unsafe environment has delayed thirty businesses from opening.
One investor who asked to be anonymous said that his corn is frequently vandalized and stolen by migrants coming from South Sudan. “The government really wants to have more commercial farming but in order to do that the environment needs to be safe to attract more commercial investors. Abebeo has fertile land suitable for many crops but there is a problem with security. Many migrants have come with their animals, damaged my farms and stolen my corn. Another problem that occurs is that I am asked to give money to government workers when I pay taxes, renew my license and sell my products. All these hinder my business.”
Guay Sissay who received 500 hectares in the area said that when he cleared trees to till land, he tried to make charcoal out of the wood he cut. However, the bureau confiscated his license.
“When they gave me the farm for commercial agriculture work, it was full of tree and other plants so I had to cut the trees and clear the place to plant the sesame and mug bean and they told me that I could use the cut trees for charcoal so I got the proper letter to do that. Then I began to make charcoal with the trees and pay royalty payments to the region. However, a few months ago they came to my farm and confiscated over 5,000 quintals of charcoal worth over 1.3 million birr.”
“I asked them why they took the charcoal out of my yard and they told me that I was indulging in illegal charcoal making and I said that they were the ones who gave me the permission to do that but they didn’t want to listen me and instead seized the coal and one of my cars and I saw that the tires of the car was moved into the Abobo Wereda and then they were chasing me in order to arrest me although I did nothing wrong.”
Okre Omud, head of Abebeo Werda said “Yes we gave investors a license to make charcoal but it was illegally given by some people so we stopped this and confiscated the charcoal. In terms of cases of corruption and maladministration we have done many things to improve this situation now over 90 investors including the billionaire Mohamed al-Amoudi are working here safely.”
In related news, journalists who went to Gambella to report about the issue including Capital’s reporter were detained for three hours by the region’s police and were ordered to delete any recordings.
Investors in Gambella cry foul over maladministration, corruption
Road to Djibouti Ports to be improved
The Djibouti Ports Corridor Roads (DPCR) has come into effect to improve the road network with the port logistics hub.
DPCR, an entity established in 2017, is in charge of the planning, building, operations and finance of Corridor-roads connecting its port system to the neighboring countries.
This company is jointly owned by Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) 65 percent and Djibouti Road Agency (ADR) with 35 percent. Both shareholders fully owned by Djibouti government.
“To ensure efficient, cost-effective, well serviced and maintained connecting roads it is important to exert a better control on the corridor roads connecting the ports to our neighboring countries,” Aden Douksieh, Project Manager at DPFZA told Capital via email.
Ethiopian transporters have complained about the road quality on the way to Djibouti, but the new company is expected to improve the road safety and efficiently in the country, according to experts.
“Our port system, is globally recognized for their modern and state-of-the-art facilities, and needs to be further strengthened with an efficiently functioning and well-maintained road network,” Aden said.
“It is important to mention that that road is not the core business of DPFZA. The transport is a chain whereby the port is only the interface of the sea and the land transportation (Road/Rail). If one component is broken, it will definitely affect the overall chain,” DPFZA Project Manger added.
The emailed response of DPFZA indicated that the vertical integration of the services is the rationale behind the involvement of the port authority.
“The port services don’t end at the gate of the port but starts from the gate, the road being only a continuity of that service. The overall quality of the service will depend on the enhanced integration of the different components of the chain, most importantly the road,” it added.
DPCR will be in charge of the planning, construction, financing, operating and managing seven road corridors with the total length of 567km.
It added the advantage of the new entity is the creation of fully functioning intermodal transport system, efficiently operating corridor roads system; better management and more transparent logistics cost, and well serviced and maintained roads.
Shimeles Bekele is leading Egyptian top scorers’ chart
Ethiopian international Shemeles Bekele is making headlines in Egyptian Sport’s news leading the 2018/19 top scorers’ chart. The other Ethiopian international Oumed Oukri’s side Samoha is third in the league table a point down from league leaders el Entag Harby taking the top spot with 18 points from 11 matches.
The only surviving international player from the historic 2014 South African nation’s Cup final appearing squad is a hot cake in Sport’s headlines leading the top scorers chart with seven goals in nine appearances. The diminutive play maker who is in the final year of his three years contract is the only good news from his team Petro Jet otherwise dwindling 10th in the table with just 10 points from ten matches. Shimeles’ 62nd minute equalizer over home side Ethad Alexandria made him the darling of the sport’s media as the golden boy of Petro Jet.
The midfield orchestrator of Ethiopian national team Shimeles not only surpassed his contemporaries by playing in Egyptian top division but also becoming the first ever Ethiopian Footballer to skip a team in foreign land as well emerging a top scorer despite being a midfielder.
The midfielder that played a major role in Helping Ethiopia back in to the continent’s biggest sports stage South African nations cup final after three decades absence achieved a lot more than his share as a footballer from Ethiopia that sits 103rd in world ranking. An attacking midfielder who managed to score important goals for his club as well skipping the team is now one of the most popular foreign players in the league.
El Entag Harby where Oumed used to play is leading the table with 18 points from 11 matches followed behind by Zamalek with seventeen points from eight matches and Oumed’s side Samoha third in goal differences. African giant Al-Ahly currently engaged in African Champions league is 12th in the table with 11 points from six matches.
Dedebit officially dispersed its Women’s side
Imagine all time Ethiopian Women’s League highest scorer Losa Aberra returning home from her trial in Sweden only to discover her beloved team Dedebit disbanded? It is real shocking but it is true that three times defending champion Dedebit is no more in existence.
The sudden demolition of the defending champions was a real shake not only for the players but for the sports’ fans now very much worried Women’s football might be endanger of evaporating in to thin air. According to the club manager Amdemichael it is because of shortage of finance that they are obliged to disperse the team that produced big name players for Ethiopian national team Lucy.
Well Dedbit’s move to Mekele was expected to benefit the team in every way including finance. But the Manager claimed the club is no more in command of the huge money to spend like good old times. It is remembered Dedebit was the one that sky rocketed players’ transfer money when the current EFF vice president Colonel Abdurakim was in office. Dispersing the team that he worked hard means a huge blow on the face for the big guy thus something a miracle is expected of him to reverse the decision.
Women’s football all time highest scorer Losa Aberra, greatest play maker Birtukan G/Kristos, Lucy skipper Senait Bogale, are among the few the prides of Lucy at international stage. Many of the big name players have already joined Ethiopia NegedBank therefore the new season a one horse race.
