Ethiopian parliament endorses program, appoints new cabinet
Oct 11, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian lower House of People’s Representatives (HPR) on Tuesday endorsed a political program of the new government and approved the appointment of cabinet members nominated by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The House also endorsed a proposal providing to strip off the legal immunity of the newly elected members of parliament who have not yet sworn in and extend the administration of the Addis Ababa City by the existing provisional administration.
During its first year first regular session held here on Tuesday, the House approved the proclamation with 347 votes, 66 objections and four abstentions.
According to a statement regarding the political proclamation, it mainly deals on structural affairs and powers of the various ministries and the accountability of Ministries, among others.
When the federal government was established in 1987 E.C. in accordance with Proclamation no.4/1987 E.C, there were only 15 ministries.
The number of ministries set up in 1994 E.C. increases to 18, the statement said, adding that the number was reduced later to 17, as the Ministries of Rural Development and Agriculture were merged.
The number of Ministries has now been raised to 20, as the Ministries of Work and Urban Development, Culture and Tourism and Women’s Affairs have been set up, according to the Proclamation issued with the intention of raising the capacities of the ministries.
The proclamation did not only provide the increase the number of ministries but also enables to change names and duties as well as powers of the ministries, according to the statement.
The Ministry of Infrastructure changed to “the Ministry of Transport and Communication,” the Ministry of Mines to “the Ministry of Mines and Energy”, the Ministry of Youth, and Sport and Culture to the “Ministry of Youth and Sport”, according to the proclamation.
Issues concerning construction which was the powers and duties of the Ministry of Infrastructure have been transferred to the Ministry of Work and Urban Development while issues concerning energy have become the duties and powers of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Issues regarding urban development which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Federal Affairs have been transferred to the Ministry of Works and Urban Development.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism retained culture affairs which was previously the powers and duties of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. It also takes over the power and duties of the Tourism Commission.
Women’s and children affairs, which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry Labor and Social affairs previously, to the newly established Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
According to the proclamation, it was decided that offices which are out of offices commonly known as “Institute, Office, Center and Administration” or others be named as “Agency”.
The executives of the stated agencies should be named as Director General.
The Members of the Parliament had endorsed the proclamation with unanimous vote after an in-depth discussion.
The House also approved the appointment of 20 cabinet members with 364 votes, 57 objections and six abstentions.
Following is list of the newly appointed Ministers:
1. Addisu Legesse, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture.
2. Tefera Waliwa, Minister of Capacity Building
3. Dr. Sintayehu Wolde-michael, Education Minister.
4. Girma Birru, Trade and Industry Minister.
5. Jundein Sado, Minister of Transport and Communication.
6. Dr. Kassu Illala, Minister of Work and Urban Development,
7. Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
8. Melaku Fenta, Minister of Revenue.
9. Siraj Fegisa, Minister of Federal Affairs.
10. Assefa Kessito, Minister of Justice.
11. Kuma Demeksa, Minister of National Defense.
12. Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
13. Berhan Hailu, Minister of Information
14. Asfaw Dingamo, Minister of Water Resource
15. Aster Mamo, Minister of Youth and Sport.
16. Hirut Delebo, Minister of Women’s Affairs.
17. Mohammed Dirir, Minister of Culture and Tourism.
18. Alemayehu Tegenu, Minister of Mines and Energy.
19. Hassen Abdella, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.
20. Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, Minister of Health.
The House also stripped off the legal immunity of the newly elected parliamentary members who have not yet sworn in during the formation of the parliament with 377 votes, 15 objections and two abstentions.
The House also endorsed a proposal providing for stripping off the legal immunity of the newly elected members of parliamentary members who have not yet worn in and extend the administration of the Addis Ababa City by the existing provisional administration with 368 votes and 10 abstentions.
Members of opposition parties and one independent parliament member walked out of the meeting when then decision providing for stripping off the legal immunities of the stated parliamentary members.
The final election results indicate that Meles-led Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Party (EPRDF), which has ruled the country for the past 14 years, has won 327 seats of the 547-seat lower house of parliament, enough to form the federal government.
Ethiopians went to poll on May 15 in the country’s two separateelections to elect representatives to the House of People’s Representatives and regional councils.
(Agencies)