Representatives obtain clarifications from Premier on contemporary issues

June 8, 2020; Addis Ababa: Parliament Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives obtained clarifications on the major contemporary issues of the nation from His Excellence, Abiy Ahmed (PhD), Prime Minister of the FDRE, today.

Representatives obtained the clarifications during the 5^th Special Sitting of the 5^th House of the HoPRs, in its 5^th tenure. The deliberative questions were raised from MPs about how the incumbent government is responding to the pivotal national concerns.

The 17 questions forwarded from the Representatives range from the burning case of the global pandemic #COVID-19, which posed a clear and present danger to the nation, to that of abducted girls whose cases are not resolved, yet. Most of the questions are hardcore types like: how is the current reality of GERD regarding its construction, diplomatic and other aspects? Is the agricultural sector of the nation going well? How is the overall economy and how do you react to the Amnesty International’s human right violations in Ethiopia?

Regarding the national and international threat of the #COVID-19 pandemic, the Premier said; the Ethiopian economy, like that of the rest of the 3^rd world countries, is hit by the blow stretched from the other sector: the health sector. As a result of the global 350 million loss of job, Ethiopia suffered lack of remittance, which caused the foreign hard currency crisis; His Excellence explained.

According to the WFP, the Premier mentioned, about 265 million people could be exposed to severe shortage of food; which, in one or another way affects the already volatile feature of the country. Tourism, aviation sector, social aspects and many more walks of life have been drastically hit by the unexpected consequences of the spread of Corona virus, he added.

“Ethiopia, being determined to lean to the growth zone of the #COVID-19, which paves the way to various opportunities, took some decisive measures. It opened the recurrent account of banks and closed the capital one. The CBE managed to collect 87 billion Birr in savings. The loan disperses of the bank showed a 24 percent increase. The bad credit loan of private banks decreased in 4 percent. In order to balance the liquidity, the government of Ethiopia pushed 48 billion Birr to the private banks. As well, the deferred 78 billion Birr of tax by the tax-payers is also cancelled”, PM Abiy elaborated.

Though #COVID-19 has no good side, Ethiopia did a lot to reap some good fortune from the bad phenomenon, the Premier said. Ethiopia got 6 hundred 67 million USD from coffee export, 4 hundred 40 million USD from flower export and similarly, millions of dollars from beef export during the last three months of Corona invigoration, he disclosed.

Wrapping-up the #COVID-19 issues, His Excellence Abiy Ahmed (PhD) urged all Ethiopians to focus on the preventive measures of the Corona virus by implementing all actions as much as possible. Moreover, to enable the economy of the country should remain resilient, everyone is expected to play his/her role properly, as to him. As well, citizens must grasp lessons for the Post-#COVID world’s effects, he reminded.

The Premier, with regard to agricultural inputs, disclosed that the government is currently importing 10 thousand plus pumps for small scale farming. It also distributed 10 point 5 million quintals of fertilizers for all regions of Ethiopia, which is 4 point 1 million below the original import and dispersal plan, according to the PM. Whatsoever, about 2 million quintals of fertilizers are on their way from Djibouti port, he told the MPs.

As to the PM, the political landscape has become more participatory since the reform, which is about two years old. All regions of the country started to enjoy equal rights in every aspects of politics regardless of their contributions to what the TPLF-led government has set as a pre-requisite, the Premier indicated. The GDP of the nation that surpassed 1 hundred billion USD and the 1 thousand per-capita income are the outcomes of the political hemisphere, he disclosed.

“The national election, which was highly anticipated by the ruling Prosperity Party was prolonged by the concerned National Electoral Board’s request. The Board analyzed the dire situation if election goes to take place under the prevalence of the Corona pandemic and requested the HoPRs to prolong the already decided due date. It was the House that decided the Constitutional interpretation solution to resolve the deadlock through the Council of Constitutional Inquiry”, the Premier elucidated.

In addition to these major national concerns, the PM brought to the table, most cases of GERD. As to him, after the Ethiopian reform, the GERD retrieved from being lost. The electromechanical works of the dam began almost from zero, he said. The natural interlocking spur of the dam area is 5 hundred meters above sea-level and the new design took it to 6 hundred 40 meters above sea-level, in which more than 74 billion cubic meter of water filler is needed, the Premier explained. The government, as to him, is doing all the best in the technical and diplomatic aspects of the dam, he stressed.

Lastly, the Premier mentioned about what the Federal Government is doing to maintain the regional economy and growth of Tigray region despite the ongoing political trashes. The annual budget allocated from the federal Government has increased by 42 percent since the reform, he disclosed. The 1 point 3 billion Birr payment for the water project of Mekelle town, undertaken by the Federal Government of Ethiopia is also another intervention that shows the determination of government for the region, he said.

The Premier mentioned many other points that he believes are good measures for the growth and integrity of the nation. Even the Amnesty International’s disclosure of the 2019 human rights violation in Ethiopia shall be scrutinized other than merely condemning, the Premier reminded the MPs.

Translated By Asrat Addisu

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