Ethiopian political parties heat up election Campaigning
By Tesfa Alem tekle
March 22, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – As nation heads toward nationwide election, various contesting political parties have stepped-up their campaigning via print and electronic medias.
As part of their election campaigning to introduce their future plans to the public, a series of televised debates have also continued between the ruling EPRDF and opposition parties, both sides exchanging furiously on agendas set, reflecting wider differences on their stands to policies.
Last week, six political parties contesting in the forthcoming national elections held debate on Health Affairs of the country.
Opposition groups widely attacked the ruling EPRDF party of doing little on the battle to curb malaria, spread of AIDS, on maternal and child mortality in line with millennium development goals (MDGs).
Opposition parties further accused the ruling government of allocating little(less than 5%) of the total annual budget to the health sector of Africa’s second most populace nation.
Representative of the ruling party, Tewodros Adhanom, state health minister, fired back with figures he said were achieved, accusing the opposition parties of deliberately attempting to deny the reality.
According to Tewodros Adhanom of EPRDF, Ethiopia has declined malaria prevalence by 54% in the past two years, making the country among few most successful African countries succeeded in the battle. He said in 2009 some 5.2 million Ethiopians took voluntary HIV test/counseling and this is part of the Ethiopian Government’s commitment to reduce infections. He added life expectancy of the country being improved to 55 years from 47 due sustained efforts taken.
Despite growing questions whether vote would be fair, the Ethiopian government has repeatedly gave its word that it will conduct a fair, democratic and peaceful election.
Senior political figures of the country including deputy prime minister and a number of other ministers and state governors won’t be seeking re-run in the upcoming national election. The move is said to be as part of the ruling party’s plan of handing over power to the new generation.
Some 30 million Ethiopians will go to polls in May this year to cast their votes for the country’s parliamentary election. Ethiopian officials say that necessary preparation is made to conduct the elections peacefully.
(ST)