got rid of the military junta that had imposed its reign of terror on the country for 17 years.
This ushers in a new era – an era of peace and development – in the history of this ancient country of more than 2000 years.
The national question that had been in the core of much of the violence in the past was answered by a system of decentralised political arrangement.
Nations and Nationalities are able to govern themselves by electing their local representatives through periodic elections, as well as using, developing and promoting their languages and cultures.
Unlike during the past regimes where monolithic culture was promoted, the new Ethiopia recognises multi-culturalism and diversity of its peoples. It also emphasizes unity based on the free will of the people.
Thus, the newly found unity with diversity has brought an end to cycles of violence, and ushers in a period of stability that has helped the country to turn its attention to development.
Consequently, Ethiopia’s economy has witnessed unprecedented growth in the last decades. Powered by agricultural, the economy has been growing at an average of 11 percent GDP per annum for the last seven consecutive years.
This makes the country the fastest growing non-oil economy in sub-Saharan Africa.
In recognition to this, The Economist Magazine ranked Ethiopia the world’s fifth fastest growing economy in 2010. Also this success is behind the reason for selecting the country to host the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa next year.
Contrary to what critiques say, Ethiopia’s development success is neither abstract nor a mere statistics; any casual visitor can’t miss it. The first thing that one can observe at a glance is the construction boom. Much of the city of Addis Ababa has been transformed into construction sites with rows of cranes dominating the skyline. This extends to all regional centres and small towns.
The construction boom is led by the government’s investment in low cost houses, roads, dams and public universities, as well as, private real-estate investments. In February, Addis Ababa city council alone handed over to new owners, 10 000 units of low cost houses.
The length of Federal roads that was only 26 650km 14 years ago has now increased to 49 000km, excluding the 100 000km roads constructed by the districts and the local people.
When the military regime collapsed, there were only two universities for 70 million or so population. Now the number of public universities has reached 21, with another 10 due to start operation within these two years.
There has been considerable achievement in health and sanitation too. Much of the above achievement was scored during the last five years plan dubbed, Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP) which ended in 2009/2010.
With the current pace of growth, experts believe Ethiopia is one of the few African Countries on course to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
The overall objective of the development in Ethiopia is to achieve a broad-based, accelerated, and sustained economic growth so as to eradicate poverty.
So in order to sustain the momentum, the country has embarked on an ambitious plan known as Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), which assumes two outcome scenarios. In a base case scenario, it hopes to maintain the last economic growth of 11 percent GDP. The high case scenario assumes that the GDP and Agricultural Value Added achieved in 2009/2010 would be doubled by the end of the GTP period in 2014/15.
Every year, May 28 is commemorated not only to remember the past injustices, but also to cement the gains the country has shocked in recent years.
Rightly so, the theme of this year’s celebration is, ‘let us all do our best to make the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam a success’. This Dam whose construction was launched by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi last month is located on the Blue Nile, and when completed will generate 5,250 MW electricity.
Understandably, the dam has been given a big place in the GTP because of the crucial role it will play.
Besides providing power for the economic growth, it will also bring capital by selling the surplus power to the neighboring countries. So it has additional benefits of accelerating regional integration, as well as, controlling floods and silt that have troubled Sudan and Egypt for too long.
Notwithstanding these benefits however, the Nile politics has made it difficult for Ethiopia to secure funding from international financial institutions. Consequently, the government has no alternative than to raise close to US$5 billion locally.
It’s therefore imperative that all Ethiopians, Foreign Nationals of Ethiopian origin and friends, chip in by buying bonds. So this year’s May 28 will be marked by rallies, symposia and fundraising activities.
But as Ethiopia finds its rhythm in development, it’s mindful that it can’t sustain it for long unless Africa is at peace with itself and the outside world. Ethiopia believes Africa needs to speak with one voice in order to secure its interest.
It’s with these in mind that the country has often accepted the honour to represent Africa in many international forums including the United Nations Climate Change negotiations and the G-8 Summits.
It’s also with these in mind that it maintains strong relation with most African countries, and participates in the search for peace in hotspots like Sudan and Somalia. Ethiopia cherishes its relations with sisterly African countries like Zimbabwe.
The relations between the two countries date back to the time of Zimbabwe struggle for freedom from the white minority rule. Ethiopia had extended a helping hand to Zimbabwe’s freedom fighters, and the relation between the two countries has continued to thrive after independence.
The leadership of both countries maintains similar views on Africa’s issues and the world at large. Ethiopia intends to augment this long-standing relation with economic cooperation, building on the operation of the Ethiopian Airlines, which connects the capitals of the two countries daily.
In conclusion, the history of 2000 years of existence as a sovereign state and the ancient artifacts including palaces, royal toms and magnificent churches, some of which still standing today are a testimony to Ethiopia’s glorious past.
That glory has gradually declined over the centuries to the extent that the country’s name has become synonymous with some negative adjectives. But the demise of the brutal military junta on May 28, 1991 has ushered in the dawn of a new era of renaissance.
As Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Signh said during his recent visit, “Ethiopia has overcome many adversities and better times have come.” Even better times are yet to come with the realisation, in the next four years, of the GTP whose flagship is the Grand Renaissance Dam.
Undeniably, the progress in Ethiopia today is unprecedented leaving no doubt about the dawn of renaissance of this once a glorious ancient African country.
Dr Koang Tutlam Dung is the Ethiopian Ambassador to Zimbabwe.

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