Ethiopia PM Hailmariam Deslagen Vs. Girma Seifu at the Parliament

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On Thurday afternoon PM Hailemariam Desalegn defended his government’s position and priority areas for the upcoming budget year, presented earlier to the two Houses by the newly elected President Mulatu Teshome. The motion was challenged by the sole opposition MP, Girma Seifu.

Although a few MPs from the ruling party posed questions asking for the premier’s explanation on a range of issues, it was Girma who took the longest time, presenting around ten questions and alternative suggestions for the president’s opening speech.

Responding to Girma’s question regarding further government action to allow more space for a multi-party system in the country, Hailemariam reiterated his interest to work with political parties operating under the Constitution.

He indicated that the government is ready to work with parties operating peacefully and in a civilized manner, but continues to blame some political organizations for “operating under the pretext of religion and striving to use street violence as means to fulfill their political agenda”.

The government would not refrain, he warned, from taking the necessary measures on those parties striving to seize power through violence.

Concerning export earnings, Girma said, “The goal is set to secure more than USD five billion from our export revenues, however, the report has failed to show what challenges were experienced in the previous year, and what new problems are faced this year, while last year’s plan showed one billion birr deficiency. From this, the report looks like a demonstration of selected positive achievements only and a praising showcase.”

Hailemariam responded by telling MPs that every effort would be made to earn USD five billion, despite the nation failing to attain its target of USD 4 billion last budget year, only reaching USD 3 billion.

Girma accused the government of branding investors as rent seekers, forcing them to engage in the manufacturing sector.

However, Hailemariam underplayed Girma’s criticism, explaining that his government is actually encouraging investors, by providing space for the construction of industry and adding value to agricultural products.

“We are just calling them to participate in the industry sector. One thing that has to be noted, highly lucrative economic sectors would not be branded as being rent seeking. Maybe this is for lack of understanding of what rent seeking is all about,” retorted Hailemariam.

“We do not brand all of them as rent seekers,” he continued. “But there are so many short cuts and illegal ways of getting money.

“If you have some bad oranges in a sack full of oranges, you don’t generalize it as the whole sack is full of bad oranges. You remove the few bad ones so that they won’t affect the rest.”

Concerning urban housing development projects, the opposition MP accused the government of inviting Diaspora Ethiopians to participate, subsidized by local taxpayers money.

Hailemariam responded to Girma’s query, sighting the success of Eastern Asian countries as a model.

“When we look at countries such as China, India, Philippines, Thailand and others, they are in the process of fast economic development,” he said. “Their Diaspora played a great role in that regard. Similarly, we believe that Ethiopians in the Diaspora can also play a similar role.”

“But we don’t need them just for foreign currency. More importantly, we need them for their skills and knowledge, as they have technology exposure. But it is true that they come with a lot of foreign currency.”

In response to Girma’s accusation of the ruling party targeting votes while launching the housing project, Hailemariam said, “For us, the Diaspora doesn’t support us during the election period as it doesn’t vote. Even our party doesn’t get any money from them, so this is not a matter of concern for us.”

Girma also called on the government to pull together, forming a collective effort with opposition parties to build the image of the country and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Appreciating Girma’s sentiment, Hailemariam said that it is enough to look at what his government has achieved in 2013, citing the recently agreed energy project with Reykjavik Geothermal.

In addition, Hailemariam name-checked electronics giant Samsung, Swedish powerhouse H&M, British mega-retailer TESCO, Germany’s CHEVO and US’s Walmart among numerous foreign investors, and is confident that more will follow.

And the PM posed a question to Girma, “Who is really tarnishing the country’s image? Of course, we can get the answer about who is giving a negative image to our friends and partners.”

“The good thing is that our friends are not paying that much attention”

The Reporter Ethiopia

WRITTEN BY YONAS ABIYE