By Zelalem Girma
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), Semayawi Party (Blue Party), the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (MEDREK), Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and the All Oromo People’s Democratic Party (AOPDP) took part in the televised debate on infrastructure held at the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) studio here yesterday in the context of the upcoming election.
EDP Representative Wondosen Teshome argued that infrastructure should be of such quality and standard so that it can be transferred to the next generation while the latter should be kept away from corruption. The condos should be constructed taking the growing number of population into consideration, he added.
According to Wondosen, EDP will resettle the scattered rural dwellers to benefit everyone, if elected. The infrastructure should also be made to connect the various States well.
Wondosen said that EDP will strengthen diplomatic ties with neighbouring countries with the view to alleviate the strains of being a landlocked country with 90 million people. EDP plans to construct 6 huge tourism and industrial cities with full electric power service he said.
MEDREK Representative Amdom Gebre-Sellasie argued that the current infrastructural works had problems of corruption along with poor quality of the work due to inadequacy of human power. The roads do not have durability and the public have not been consulted during the construction programme.
As most infrastructural works are carried out in Addis Ababa only, various political, social and economic problems remain unresolved in other parts of the country, Amdom said. “If MEDREK is elected, it will transfer the electric power, telephone and water provision services to private investors to serve the wider public adequately.
AOPDP Representative Tesema Hundessa on his part argued that there have been gaps under the EPRDF infrastructural undertakings. AOPDP will invite political parties in the infrastructural activities.
Tesema said that the infrastructural undertaking does not consider value adding. Currently, the people are fed up with the continuous power outages and disruption in the telephone and water provision services as well.
Blue Party Representative Luelseged Degefu argued that the roads constructed by EPRDF do not last long. The internet service remains low and of poor quality. Even the once stateless Somalia did better than Ethiiopia, he added. Luelseged also noted that Blue Party has an inclusive policy in infrastructure which contrasts with the non-inclusive EPRDF policy.
CUD Representative Ayele Chamiso on his part said that the construction of health institutions and roads are being constructed in an atmosphere of poor accountability. The condominium houses are of poor quality while their costs are too high for beneficiaries.
EPRDF Representative, Dr. Debre-Tsion Gebre-Michael, argued that several new roads have been constructed besides the maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrading works. EPRDF works towards bridging the gap between demand and supply of electricity thereby increasing the current per capita income and supply of power to the level of exporting it.
Debre-sion also said that to increase the power supply coverage, the ongoing rural electrification programme will be strengthened.
Testifying to the development of infrastructure, Debre-Tsion said that the country is currently generating over 4,000 MW. EPRDF believes that infrastructure should be supported by modern technology. Currently, the mobile service has reached 35 million subscribers. According to him, if the private investors were handed infrastructural projects, the results would favour only urban dwellers as investors normally focus only on profit.
The other ERPDF representative, Workineh Gebeyehu also argued that although there is a problem of project delays due to shortage of supply, EPRDF works to enable the provision of high quality, sustained and safe electric power to help promote investment. He noted that the Addis Ababa – Djibouti rail road project has reached over 70 per cent of completion.
Source: The Ethiopian Herald
