Youth to Exonerate Nation

Some say that when something has suffered damage and has a history, it becomes more beautiful.

In what ways is this true for us Ethiopians?

It is not worthy to start with the status quo. Facing the truth and being honest with all requires courage and commitment. No one profits from a past filled with weakness, deceptive strategies, disappointments and hopelessness.

In Ethiopia, as some social scientists argue, the trend suggests that, culturally, we are building delicate mindsets in many regards. With the intention of becoming richer one day, we have come to believe in success under strict governmental protection and incentives piled on incentives. Even, by protecting essential sectors, the government and some economists tell us that by 2025 we would transform into a middle-income country.

The preceding thought sometimes seems to be an echo of 19th-century anthropologists who believed that Western culture is the pinnacle of social evolution. Likewise, the previous view appears to signal that our economic growth is transforming our social structure as the unilineal evolutionary theory suggests. This hypothesis, though, is now generally obsolete and disproved by some realities in the economic and social transformations of some Asian countries.

In the very recent past, we used to argue against displacement occurring due to the government’s desire to renovate the city or commercialise agriculture. Quite recently, we added other causes of displacement, and hopelessness, with conflicts becoming common.

Thus, it seems crucial to mention the missed opportunities for growth and economic development, for our failures are multiplying by the day. It would be entirely fair to suggest the chances of employment, prosperity and innovativeness weakening from time to time. It is frightening as well that the think-tanks and the concerned bodies seem lost for words. While at the same time many potentials are lost.

We could start by opening up our doors, bringing what is known as civilising agents to our doorsteps. There are chances of learning from the wider world. By harnessing diversity, transcending differences and accommodating others, we could go a long way. Such lessons are for the regional states of our country, that are losing their way as a result of some of their residents’ misguided views.

On a larger scale, the country itself should learn to be more open to regional and global inclusiveness. A way of doing this would be by encouraging economic integration, which would lead to economic and political unification. Multinational companies that come into the country would also have a two-fold purpose, by bringing new technology and services, hard currency and stringent competition. Far more importantly, they would create job opportunities and improve Ethiopia’s working culture.

And with improved productivity will come more domestic resources. But this needs to be complemented with a better tax system and mobilisation efforts. The system of taxation by estimation, a prescription for the economy’s informality, which is one of the main reasons the country cannot help but look to developmental partners for more dough, may very well see its end.

But economic dynamism is meaningless without integrity, regard for our fellow Ethiopians and honesty, both by the government and the people. With a more open-ended economy, better disposal incomes and a smaller wealth gap, communities are encouraged towards greater self-knowledge and solidarity with their peers. Ethiopians would begin to identify experiences and qualities in their lives that will help them shape their future and accomplish their goals. As Ethiopians start the new journey together, they embrace their worth and the belief that they can attain global citizenship by acquiring the core skills and development assets that prepare them both as a nation and global community.

Violence transforms people and communities. It is also changed by those same affected people and communities, as they struggle to live in its wake or under its continued threat. As the daily news of destruction and death become familiar, the socioeconomic crisis is normalised. The efforts of the government, communities and individuals to remain vigilant, to discuss openly and honestly are the only things that can heal the wound.

The youth should be allowed to think and thrive instead of telling them to copy and leave.

Why reinvent the wheel?

In a world of possibilities, in the digital age, the wheel has to give way to strengthening access to digital platforms, where one can innovate and compete. This could be improving our network provider Ethio telecom or by liberalising the telecom sector, bring in players that can compete. The youth, thus, would be better privy to a world that is dynamic and demands newer things by the second.

The youth, thankfully, likes a challenge. So, we shall support, mentor and coach them so that they reach for the stars. Blocking their desire and ambitions is a recipe for disaster and will lead us to harvest failure. It is crucial to understand that they too want to use their energy appropriately. They want something exciting and arresting to discharge their energy on. That could only be through innovation and openness.

It is true that Ethiopia has suffered damage and has a dark history. Nevertheless, the future is yet to be drawn. The responsibility lies with our policymakers who should concentrate on long-term investments, which is the youth. All theories that may have worked 26 years ago, if irrelevant today, should change, for the world itself is changing.


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