The Diaspora role in the New Ethiopia

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The Diaspora role in the New Ethiopia


By Araya Belay

         Since the early 1970s, Ethiopia has witnessed an effective reversal of development trends; failing to sustain any degree of development momentum and was moving into an ever deepening crisis of the human Environment. Added to the economic and ecological problems, Ethiopia has been marred by protracted wars, ethnic strife and communal violence for the past many decades. This has meant severe and unheard of hardship for the people of Ethiopia. The overwhelming majority of our citizens were preoccupied by the need for sheer survival -- most eking out a daily existence at a very high price. The impact of crushing poverty and the extent of economic deprivation is simply too overwhelming to provide a fertile ground for nourishing a pluralist society. At this moment the new Ethiopia where nations and nationalities got the upper hand, Ethiopia is moving the right direction, economically, politically and socially.



Whereas, much of the Ethiopian Diaspora, which numbers over a million, is highly educated and technically advanced became silent majority in the Diaspora society. Through creative programmers and linkages the Diaspora can assist to Ethiopia to come out of brain drain and misery of draught. Now is the time we all Ethiopians to unite and help our beloved motherland in all spheres’ of field regardless of our political view. Working and helping alongside our national compatriots, play a major leading and vanguard role in coming to the help of our fellow Ethiopians. It is incumbent upon the Diaspora to mount diligent efforts to ameliorate the humiliating human tragedy. In a win-win game, the Diaspora will achieve its aspiration to be part of Ethiopia’s development and harvest the fruits of its investment. The Diaspora can do for Ethiopia what the Indian Diaspora has managed to accomplish for the Indian economy. However, that can not be accomplished without creating organic relationship between Ethiopia and its Diaspora investors.



What is the solution blaming each other in paltalks and other medias? No, I am saying to the Diaspora who are willing to help and support their compatriots, I am talking to the Diaspora with deaf ears, who are blaming each and every day the current government with no reason. Let’s see how Greece, India, Isreal, Portugal and other countries went through extensive development by their Diaspora investment and helped after the Second World War ended. We Ethiopians can be also proactive in the current development by investing our money and knowledge. The Diaspora is well placed to develop investment and entrepreneurship with long term strategies for employmentand growth. Small businesses constitute the bedrock of entrepreneurial development anywhere in the world. The Diaspora can assist in the developing national think tanks that nurture democratic and human development values and develop entrepreneurial culture in Ethiopian society. While the current dynamics of political change and opportunities for popular participation in governance in Ethiopia are unprecedented, a significant challenge, however, is to place these dynamics in a coherent perspective and within the context of basic principles of the market and good governance, and determine how, in the implementation of such principles, relevant experiences may be shared between nations and nationalities. This can be achieved when the Diaspora follows the rules and laws of the of the society not in violence adventure.



Araya Belay /