Professor Sachs indicates that the “world is not a zero-sum game in which one country’s gain is another’s loss, but it rather a positive-sum opportunity in which improving technologies and skills can rise living standards around the world”. As we can see in our world today, growth and increased living standards are attained through participation in the global economy, thus, the poor of the poor must be part of the development process in order to escape poverty. Without the poor nations of the world participating in the global economy, poverty eradication will continue to be a daunting task or downright unachievable. Fast growing economies of Asia such as Bangladesh and India are cited as examples where dynamic economic developments are fostered by helping poor of the poor to “place their foot on the first rung of the ladder” towards poverty eradication and economic growth. Professor Sachs is quite an idealist and an exemplary voice for the poor and the impoverished. Among other great ideas and action plans formulated by Professor Sachs, the African Free Trade Opportunity Act which offered African states access to the US market for textile exports was initiated by Prof. Sachs. He is an advocate for the poor-of-poor and for those in need of a helping hand in the fight against poverty. “The End of Poverty”, by Professor Jeffery Sachs, is indeed a must reading.

On the other hand, Professor Sachs believes that the primary cause of the poverty in poor countries, such as Ethiopia, is the lack of resources rather than the lack of good governance. “The End of Poverty” identifies Ethiopia a one of the countries of the world where “good governance” is making a difference. In a stark contrast to this perception, the economic and political realties demonstrate that there is a lack of good governance in Ethiopia. The lack of good governance, corruption, wasted resources, numerous costly and wicked decisions made, opportunities squandered, and the overall ineffectiveness of the administration are the primary factor for our economic predicaments, social problems and downhill path to a disaster. In view of these facts, majority of Ethiopians and a number of foreign scholars profoundly differ with Professor Sachs on his opinion regarding the existence of “good governance” in Ethiopia. This is not to say that the problems of Ethiopia, or Africa as a whole for that matter, are not directly related to the lack of resources, physical geography and pandemic diseases such as Malaria, TB, HIV and the like as Professor Sachs indicates.

With the above recognized, allow me to offer the following few comments regarding the lack of good governance in Ethiopia and how Meles Zenawi’s inept government has failed to govern thus not capable of alleviating poverty and fostering economic growth in Ethiopia.

1. Those of us who are more than eager to see a democratic, peaceful, self reliant and developed Ethiopia expect a great deal from those who claim to have the adequacy to lead and govern our country. The repressive regime which has been ridding on the back of the Ethiopian people, has violated, robbed and repressed Ethiopians in a stark contrast to providing good governance. It remains to be the one of the worst regime in the history of the country. Accordingly, vast majority of Ethiopians believe that Meles’s government is nothing but a tyrannical-domineering force. It has failed to govern and cannot provide competent and firm leadership much needed to uplift our destitute country from economic misery.

2. Good governance assumes respect for the rule of law, democracy, accountability, transparency and openness. The government does not meet the above basic measurements in view of its brutality, lack of respect for the sanctity of human life and failure to uphold the rule of law based on international standards. In the face of illegal detention of political opponents and repression of their freedom and liberty, it is naïve to think that there is good governance in Ethiopia. The lack of accountability and transparency are signs of mal-governance which are plainly visible in Ethiopia.
3. Strengthening institutions of political liberty, as indicated in “The End of Poverty” by Jeffery Sachs, takes much of the credit for the dynamic economic growth which uplifted Britain from economic destitution during the 1700; “The End of Poverty” also emphasizes that political liberty and respect for human rights as the main ingredients for economic prosperity. On the contrary, the repressive regime in Ethiopia is weakening institutions of political liberty and democracy which are much needed for economic growth. Institutions of political liberty are being decimated by force as opposed to being protected and cherished. Ethiopians Trade Union, Ethiopians Teachers Association, Ethiopian Human Rights Council, the Free Press etc… are among institutions of democracy and political liberty which are destroyed or weakened by the despotic regime. In view of the above, Ethiopians say that there is no good governance and the regime is not capable of eliminating poverty and achieving economic growth in Ethiopia, in fact, the regime is a roadblock to economic progress.
4. Elections in Ethiopia are unfair, time and again rigged and ballots stolen. The popular democratic movement is being crush by brutal force in the futile attempt of Melse to gain individual supremacy over popular will. Our people must leave no stone unturned until the present situation is revised and votes are properly registered and counted in every precinct where votes are rigged. The stakes are too high not to face up to this challenge given that the alternative is destitution and continuous blockage of economic uplift and social progress by the same repressive and incompetent leaders.
5. The government of Meles Zenawi has failed to formulate the right strategies and is ineffective in setting-up concrete immediate, short-term and long-term actions plans to combat food shortage. We have an administration that is inside focused and unable to see beyond its strong power-hold. Thus it is ineffective and unsuccessful in the management of the country’s recourses even to overcome recurring food shortage and cyclical drought. In the face of this reality, it is unconscionable to give any credit and an award to a regime’s leader with millions of its people under starvation and food assistance from the donor world. Yara is awarding a failed leader and incompetence.
6. With respect to farming and agricultural production, the regime is neither making the right investments nor is it working day and night for the empowerment of our farming communities which account for over 85% of our agro based population. Enormous human and financial resource are committed and millions are invested to fight senseless and avoidable war with the regime in Eritrea, yet only token investments are made to improve one of the most critical areas of our economy. Agriculture and improving agronomic practices of our farming communities are given a backseat while in the pursuit of war because the regime diverts scarce economic resources to its military machinery. Exploiting our water resource by putting the right systems and action-plans in place for proper management and usage of water or delivery, where water is severely scarce, seem to be daunting or of no priority to this government. If the right priorities were set and the appropriate policies implemented, the country would have averted at least most of the recurring food shortage and gradually make itself food-sufficient if not a bread basket. However, given the lack of focus, failure to enact the proper agricultural and land policies and failure to empower our farming communities, we continue to face food shortage and hunger; as a result the “voiceless continue to die.”
7. The government has utterly rejected the question of land ownership by the farmer; accordingly, it has blocked their stake and property ownership of the land they tirelessly till. In fact, had the government made the right decision to empower the peasantry by making them owners of their land they till, one would think that the country’s food shortage would be partially solved.
8. In the area of energy exploration and production, the proper initiatives are not taken to aggressively marshal our human resources to explore and exhaust fossil fuels such as natural gas, petroleum and the like. In this sector of our economy, the government thus far has shown a great deal of dance and cheap talks as opposed to real actions on the ground, 14 long years have passed yet no significant results. Next door Sudan is pumping petroleum and Saudi Arabia and others across the Red Sea float on a deep sea of oil, and credible researches show that Ethiopia is also endowed with these natural energy resources. Yet they remain untapped due to the lack of focus, vision and failure to implement the right work-plan by those who claim to have the adequacy to lead us. Needless to mention extraction of these vital and highly profitable resources, the government has been ineffective even in finalizing the requisite contractual deals with the right foreign companies to start work in all geographical corners of energy prospect, without any limit, until the results are achieved. The government has miserably failed in this regard thereby hampering a great potential for energy sufficiency and associated economic growth and national income.
9. Basic health services such as hospitals and clinics are in a horrific condition and sad state of management as they are administered by inept individuals. No viable initiatives are taken by this regime to utilize the countries vast human recourses and to encourage a formation of various advisory task forces or consortiums of medical professionals to advise and help with the improvements of the country’s health systems, to provide consultancy in the areas of health care delivery, policies formulations and systems implementation and to lend a hand for optimal management of the countries healthcare systems. Again, due to lack of initiatives by our leaders and token investments made in this sector, the vast of human resources the country has at its disposal abroad and in the private sectors, are not effectively marshaled by those who claim to have the adequacy to lead us, these resources are squandered. 14 long years have passed yet no results.
10. The educational system is a disaster in terms policy and delivery of services. This vital system and key to economic growth is administered by inept political appointees as opposed to competent experts who are condemned by this regime to joblessness due to lack of political loyalty. The dismissal of highly competent professors and lifetime educators from the various institutions of higher education reflects the government’s lack of concern for the country’s educational system and improvement thereof.
11. The government has hampered open and fair competitions and competitive bidding for public work. The domination of key economic activities and major development projects by EPRDF and companies owned or managed by Meles Zenawi’s cronies has undermined economic growth and open competition, needless to mention that these practices are unethical if not outright illegal. They have monopolized much of the economy through their “party business” thereby blocking the private sector from participating and providing goods and services at a competitive cost to the public and the country as a whole. The tax system also is inhibiting growth and no viable and timely action plans for repair are articulated, the tax system is punitive and not encouraging for economic growth and it is administered by inept cadres. The practice of ethnic based economic discrimination and monopolization of the economy by the same leaders continues to build resentments and fuel conflicts in turn discouraging collective economic prosperity and growth involving all Ethiopians. Accordingly, the government had failed to effectively provide much needed infrastructure and social services to the whole population as it is focused on the selected few and the ruling oligarchy. As a result, the country’s economy is not thriving.

In conclusion, with the type of mal-governance, incompetent administration and incoherent and heinous policies the current regime has offered to Ethiopians thus far, let alone economic possibilities during our time, there may not be a prospect for economic possibilities for our grandchildren. There is no good governance in Ethiopia, a change is in order and overdue, and Ethiopians deserve much better administration and a democratic government which has our people’s interest at heart.