ኢማም ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ

በአብዱረዛቅ መሐመድ


ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ ምን ያህል እናውቃቸዋለን? ከጀግንነታቸው በተጨማሪ ሲበዛ ሐይማኖተኛ እና ሰብዓዊነት የተላበሱ እንደነበሩስ እናውቃለን?
ሼህ ዑመር ሼህ በሽር (ከ1860-1923 ዓ.ም) በአረብኛ በጻፉትና ሼህ አብደላህ መሐመድ አሊ “ጥሮነ - የኢትዮጵያ ቀደምትና ታላላቅ ዑለማዎች ታሪክ” በሚል ርዕስ ወደ አማርኛ በተረጎሙት መጽሃፍ እንደተገለጸው፥ ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ ከቁመቱ ረዘም ብሎ ቀጠን ያለ፤ ብዙ የማይበላና የማይጠጣ፤ ጥቁር ቢሆንም ቆንጆ ፊት ያለው፤ ጀግናና በዚህ ሙያውም ማንም የማይደርስበት፤ ከጀግኖች ሁሉ ፈረሰኛ የሆነ፤ ከፈረሰኞች ሁሉ ጀግና የነበረ፣ ከፈረሱ ላይ ወርዶ መጋደልን የሚወድ፤ የትም ቢሆን በጀግንነቱ የሚታወቅ፤ ለጦርነት በሄደበት ሁሉ ድልም ተከትላው የምትሄድ፤ ብቻውን ሆኖ እንደ ብዙ የሚቆጠር ስመጥር ጀግና ነበር።

ኢማም ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ በዲኑ ላይ ለስደት የተዳረገ፤ ብዙዎችንም ያስከተለ፤ ሸሪዓ ድል እንዲያደርግ ያስቻለ፤ በበጎ ሕይወት የተሞላ፤ ጥመትን ያስወገደ፤ ኢማምነትን ያወጀና በሰሃባዎች መንገድ የተጓዘ . . . ታላቅ መሪ ሆኖ አልፏል።
ጦርነት በተጋጋመበት ወቅት ከ’ርሱ ወገን የሆነ አጋዥ ያለ የማይመስለው፤ ጠላቶቹን ብቻውን እያጨደ ለመጨረስ ሳንባው የሚከፈት፤ አጋዦቹ ካሉም ከ’ርሱ ጀርባ ሆነው የሚጠለሉበትና ጋሻቸው የሆነ፤ ይህንንና መሰል ባህሪዎችን ተላብሶ ጠላቶቹ ሲመለከቱት ያለ ጦርነት የሚሸነፉለት፤ እርሱና ከ’ርሱ ጋር ያሉት ደግሞ በአሸናፊነት ምርኮዎችን እያፈሱ እንዲመለሱ የሚያደርግ ወደር የሌለው ጀግና ነበር።

ይህም ገጽታውና ባህሪው ከ’ርሱ ጋር የቆየ ሲሆን ከስደቱ በፊት፣ በስደቱ ጊዜና ከስደቱ በኋላም ጠላቶቻቸው የ’ርሱን ድምጽ ከሰሙ ለመጋደልና ከፊቱ ለመቆም ቀርቶ እግራቸው ርዶ ይፈረጥጡ ነበር። አብረውት የሚዘምቱ ሰዎች ምርኮዎችን ለመሰብሰብ በሚራወጡበት ወቅት እንኳ እርሱ ትኩረቱ ለሱ ሳያደርግ የጠላት ፈረሰኞችን በዓይነ-ቁራኛው የሚጠብቅና ካገኛቸውም ብቻውን ገጥሞ የሚጥላቸው፤ የጀግኖች ጀግና እንደነበር በሁሉም ዘንድ ተመስክሮለታል።

ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ ሲበዛ ቸር እንደነበር ይገለጻል። ለዚህ ምሳሌ እንዲሆን አንድ ታሪክ እናንሳ። የቀቤና ሰዎች በከብት ብዛት የታወቁ ቢሆኑም እርሱ ግን ለዚህ አልታደለም ነበር። ምክንያቱም እርሱ ዘንድ የሚመጡ ከብቶች ለሚስኪኖችና ለወታደሮች ስንቅነት ከመታረድ አልያም ለዘማቾች ከመታደል አይድኑምና ነው።

በአንድ ወቅት ከቀቤና ህዝቦች ጋር ዘምቶ በተመለሰበት ጊዜ ለቤተሰቦቹና ለራሱ እንዲያደርጋቸው ተብሎ 30 ከብቶች ተሰጥቶት ነበር። ሼህ ዑመር (ከላይ የጠቀስኩት መጽሃፍ ጸሃፊ) እነዚህን ከብቶች ለማንም እንዳይሰጥ ወይም እንዳያርድ አስምለዉት ነበር። ነገር ግን አስራ አምስት ቀናት ባልሞላ ጊዜ ውስጥ ሁሉም ጨርሷቸው ተገኘ።

በአጠቃላይ ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ ለሸሪዓው ተገዢ የሆነ፣ ቁርዓንን በብዛት መቅራት የሚወድ፣ ከዑለማዎች ጋርም በመቀመጥ ብዙ የሚሰማ ነበር። ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ ማለት ግርማ ሞገስ ያለውና በአጋጣሚ ካልሆነ በቀር የማይስቅ፤ ትጥቁን አንድም ቀን ያልፈታና መሳሪያውን ከራሱ የማይለይ፤ በመስጂድ የሰዎች ጥሪ አድራጊ (ሙዓዚን) እና አገልጋይ የሆነ ነበር።

ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ ከልግስናው የተነሳ አባጅፋር ሰጥተዉት ከነበረው ብዙ ብር 4 ሪያል ብቻ ይዞ ተገኘ። የተረፉትንም ሁለቱን ለሼህ ሱለይማን፤ አንዱን ለሼህ ሁሴንና ቀሪ አንዱን ደግሞ ለሼህ አብድሽኩር ሰጥቶ ተገላገለ። አባቱም እንደዚሁ በጀግንነት፣ በፍትሃዊነት፣ በቃል አክባሪነት፣ ድሆችንና ወላጅ አልባዎችን በመርዳት የታወቁ ነበሩ።

ሐሰን ኢንጃሞ ወደ ጅማ ሄዶ ሲመለስ ቃቄ በምትባል ቦታ ላይ ወባ መሰል ህመም ነክቶት ክፉኛ ታመመ፤ ቤቱም ደርሶ አረፈ።

ሐበሻን (ኢትዮጵያን) ከሌሎች ሙስሊም ሀገራት ልዩ ከሚያደርጓት ነገሮች በጥቂቱ

በአብዱረዛቅ መሐመድ

=> ነብዩ መሐመድን (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ያጠባን በመሆናችን፦ በረካ (ዑሙ አይመን በረከተል ሐበሻ) የተባለች ሴት የነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) እናት በሞቱ ጊዜ ነብዩን ተንከባክባና ጡቷን አጥብታ ወደ አያታቸው አብዱልሙጠሊብ ዘንድ ያደረሰች ሐበሻዊት ናት። በዚህም የማጥባት ሂደት ከነብዩ ዘር ጋር በመቀላቀሏ ሐበሾች የሆኑት አባቷ፣ ወንድሟ፣ እህቷ . . . . የዘር ሀረጓ ሁሉ ከ’ርሳቸው ጋር በመቀላቀሉ ክብሩ ይደርሳቸዋል። (የጋራ ጡት የጠቡ ማናቸውም ልጆች በሸሪዓ ወንድማማቾች/እህትማማቾች ናቸው)

እንዲሁም ነብዩ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ለበረካ ክብር ሲሉ ጋቢያቸውን መሬት አንጥፈው እንድትቀመጥበት ማድረጋቸው አይዘነጋም። ይህም ከእርሷ ጋር የመጡትን ሁሉ ክብር ያጎናጸፈ ነበር። (ነብዩ መሐመድ በህይወት በነበሩበት ጊዜ በረካ የጀነት መሆናቸው መስክረውላቸዋል ይባላል)።

ቡሰይሪ የተባሉ ዓሊም “ሀምዚያ” በተባለው የግጥም ስራቸው ላይ እንዳስቀመጡት ዑሙ አይመን ለነብዩ አጥቢያቸው እንደሆነች ገልጾ ክብሯ “የሰማይ ያህል የሰፋ ነው” ብለው ገልጸዋቸዋል። በመቀጠልም ይህ አሊም የነብዩ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ጋቢ ጉዳይ ጠቅሰው የሐበሻን ታላቅነት፣ ጀግንነትና የጦር ኃያልነት በዚያ ጊዜ ሳይቀር የታወቀና ነገራቸው ሁሉ ጠንቃቃነት የተሞላበት እንደሆነ አሳውቀዋል።

=> አረቦች እንዳይተናኮሉን ነብዩ ማዘዛቸው፦ ነብዩ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) “ሐበሾችን ሳይነኳችሁ አትንኳቸው” ብለዋል።

=> የሀበሻ ሰዎች ጥሩነት በቁርዓን ውስጥ መገለጹ፦ ሱለይማነል ጀመል ሀዚም የተባሉ ሰው ኢብኑ አባስ አወሩት ብለው እንደገለጹት “እነዚያ እኛ ነሳራዎች (ክርስቲያን) ነን ያሉት ወደ ሙዕሚኖች (ሙስሊሞች) የቀረቡና የተወደዱ ሆነው በርግጥ ታገኛቸዋለህ” (ቁርዓን ማኢዳ፡82) የሚለው የአላህ ንግግር ለሐበሾች እንደሆነ መስክረዋል።

=> የነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ስደተኞችን ማስጠለላችን፦ የነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) የራሳቸው የመካ ህዝቦች ባሰቃዩአቸው ጊዜ መጠጊያ ያልነበራቸው ሰሀቦችን፥ “ወደ ሐበሻ ሂዱ፣ እዛም እርሱ ዘንድ ማንም የማይበድል የሆነ መንግስት ታገኛላችሁ። ፈረጃ እስኪገኝ ድረስም እዛ ቆዩ” በማለት ላኳቸው።

የስደተኛ ቡድኑ 11 ወንዶች እና 4 ሴቶችን ይዞ የነበረ ሲሆን ከእነሱም ዑስማን ኢብኑ አፋን (ነብዩ መሐመድ ከሞቱ በኋላ ሶስተኛው የሙስሊሙ ዓለም መሪ) እና ባለቤታቸው የሆነችውና የነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ልጅ ሩቂያ ይገኙበት ነበር።

እንደዚህም ዙቤይር ኢብኑ አል-አዋም፣ አብደላህ ኢብኑ መስዑድ፣ አብዱራህማን ኢብኑ አውፍ፣ አቡ ሁዘይፋ ኢብኑ ኡትባህ እና ባለቤታቸው ሳህለት ቢንቱ ሱሄይል ኢብኑ ዐምር፣ ሙስዓብ ኢብኑ ዑሜይር፣ አቡ ሰለማ ኢብኑ አብዱልአስወድ እና ባለቤታቸው ዑሙ ሰለማህ ቢንቱ ዑመያህ፣ ዑስማን ኢብኑ መዝዑን፣ አሚር ኢብኑ ረቢዓ እና ባለቤታቸው ለይላ ቢንቱ አቢ ሀሰማህ፣ ሀጢብ ኢብኑ ዑመይር እና ሱሄይል ኢብኑ በይዷዕ ባህር ተሻግረው ወደ ሐበሻ መጥተዋል።

ይህ የመጀመሪያው ስደት ተብሎ የሚታወቅ ሲሆን የመጡበት ጊዜም በረጀብ ወር፣ ነብዩ መሐመድ በተላኩ በ5ኛ ዓመት ነው። ቀጥሎም በጃዕፈር ኢብኑ አቡጣሊብ ከ82 በላይ (82 ማለት ሴቶች ሳይቆጠሩ የወንዶች ቁጥር ብቻ ነው) ሙስሊም ስደተኞች ወደ ሐበሻ ዘልቀዋል።

=> የተሻለ ፍትህ እንዳለን በነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) መመስከሩ፦ የበድር ጦርነት በተከሰተና ቁረይሾች በተሸነፉ ጊዜ በቀላቸውን ወደ ሐበሻ በተሰደዱት ላይ ሊወጡ አሰቡ። ሁለት ሰዎችም ስጦታ አስይዘው ወደ ንጉስ ነጃሺ ላኩ።

ነጃሺም ሰሃቦችን ከቁረይሾች አስጥሎ “ሂዱ! በምድሬ ላይ ተረጋግታችሁ ኑሩ” በማለት በሰላም እንዲኖሩ ፈቀደላቸው። ስደተኛ ሙስሊሞችን/ሰሃቦችን ለመበቀል የመጡት የቁረይሽ ሰዎች የከሰሩ ሆነው ወደ ሀገራቸው ተመለሱ። ሙስሊሞቹ ደግሞ በነጃሺና በጥሩ ሀገሩ፣ በጥሩ ጉርብትና ነብዩ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ወደ መዲና እስከተሰደዱበትና ጠላቶቻቸውን እስኪያንበረክኩ ድረስ በሰላም ቆዩ።

አላህ ሐበሻን አስመልክቶ በቁርዓን ሱረቱል ማኢዳ፡82 እንዲህ ብሏል፦ “. . . በውስጣቸው የተለያዩ ቄሶችና መነኮሳት ያሉ ሲሆን እነርሱም የማይኮሩና ሀቅ በመጣ ጊዜ የሚቀበሉ በመሆናቸው ነው”

=> ነብዩ መሐመድን (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ከዑሙ ሀቢባ ጋር ያጋባንና መህሩንም የከፈልን በመሆናችን፦ በ6ኛ ዓመተ ሂጅራ ነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ወደ ነጃሺ ደብዳቤ ላኩ። በደብዳቤው ውስጥ ዑሙ ሀቢባ ቢንት አቡ ሱፍያን የተባለች ሴት ከባሏ ጋር ወደ ሐበሻ ተሰዳ ሳለ ባሏ በስደት ላይ በመሞቱ ነብዩ ሊያገቧት እንደፈለጉ የሚገልጸው መልዕክት ይገኝበታል።

ነጃሺም አብርሃ የተባለች ተላላኪያቸውን ወደ ዑሙ ሀቢባ በመላክ የነብዩን (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) መልዕክት አበሰሩላት። መህርዋም (ሴት ልጅ ስታገባ ከባል የሚሰጥ) 400 ዲናር ሲሆን በነብዩ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ወገን ሆኖ ለኒካሁ ስኬታማነት ትልቁን ሚና የተጫወቱት የሀበሻው ንጉስ ነጃሺ ነበሩ።

=> ንጉሳችን አህመድ ነጃሺ እስልምናን መቀበላቸው፦ ከቆይታ በኋላ ነጃሺ በአላህ ያመኑ መሆናቸውን ገለጹ። ይህንንም “ታማኝና አሳማኝ መልዕክተኛው መሆንህን እመሰክራለሁ” ሲሉ ለነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) በላኩት መልዕክት ይፋ አድርገዋል። ነጃሺ መልዕክቱን የላኩት በልጃቸው አዝሀን እና በ60 ባልደረቦቹ አማካኝነት ነው። በመልዕክቱ ውስጥ “. . . ልጄንም አዝሀን ልኬአለሁ። ከፈለግክም እራሴ መምጣት እችላለሁ። የአላህ ሰላም ባንተ ላይ ይሁን . . .” የሚል ይገኝበታል።

=> የነብዩ ቤተሰቦችና ታላላቅ ሰሃባዎች በሀገራችን መኖራቸው፦ የነብዩ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ልጅ ሩቂያ፣ በጣም የሚወዷቸውና የቅርብ አማካሪያቸው የሆኑት እንዲሆም ለእርሳቸው ያላቸው ከበሬታ የላቀና የሁለት ልጆቻቸው ባለቤት ዑስማን፣ የአላህ ካዝና በእርሱ እጅ ያለ የሚመስለው ሀብታሙ አብዱራህማን፣ ነብዩን (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) በመልክ የሚመሳሰሉትና የአጎታቸው ልጅ የሆኑት ጃዕፈር፣ የዑለማዎች ኮከብ ተብለው የሚታወቁት ታላቁ አብደላህ ኢብኑ መስዑድ . . . ይህቺን ሀገር መርገጣቸው እንዲሁም ከእነርሱ ክብር ያልተናነሱ ታላላቅ ሰሃባዎች በሐበሻ ምድር በሞት መቅረታቸውና ከቁርዓኑ አያ (አንቀጽ) ጋር ተደማምሮ ከእነርሱ የተያያዘ የነብዩ ሀዲሶች መኖራቸው፤ ነጃሺም የነብዩን እጮኛ ማክበራቸውና መህሩንም በራሳቸው መክፈላቸው፤ የነጃሺ ባለቤቶች የነብዩን እጮኛ በተለያዩ ስጦታዎች ማንበሽበሻቸው . . . ከሌሎች ሀገሮች በተለየ የሐበሻ ታላቅነትና ክብር የሚገለጽባቸው ነጥቦች ናቸው።

=> የቢላል አል-ሐበሻ ወገን መሆናችን፦ እስልምናን በመቀበሉ ምክንያት ከጠላቶች ቅጣትን ከመቀበሉ ባሻገር በቅጣቱ ሰዓት እንኳ ባሳየው ታላቅ ጽናት ከሚያወጣቸው ቃላቶች የተነሳ “ወደ አላህ ተጣሪ” በሚል ከአላህ ሙግስናን አግኝቷል። “ያ እርሱ ወደ አላህ ከሚጣራው የበለጠ ድምጹ ያማረ ማን ነው?”

=> የሐበሻ ምድርና ሕዝቦቿ በሚዕራጅ መታየታቸውና አንድ የኑር ብርሃን በሐበሻ ላይ ማረፉ፦

ነብዩ መሐመድ (ሰ.ዐ.ወ.) ሚዕራጅ በወጡ ጊዜ በሐበሻ ምድር ብርሃናቸው እንደ ክዋክብት የሆኑ ሰዎች ተመለከቱ። ለጅብሪልም “እነዚህ ሰዎች እነማን ናቸው?” ብለው ጠየቁት። “እነዚህማ ከዑመትህ ውስጥ የሆኑ ሐበሾች ናቸው!” ብሎ መለሰላቸው። ነብዩም “ጌታዬ ሆይ! እርዳቸው!” ብለው ዱዓ አደረጉ።

የመረጃ ምንጭ፦ “ጥሮነ - የኢትዮጵያ ቀደምትና ታላላቅ ዑለማዎች ታሪክ”

ጽሁፍ (አረብኛ)፦ ሼህ ዑመር ሼህ በሽር (ከ1288-1351 ዓመተ ሂጅራ ወይም ከ1860-1923 ዓ.ም)

ትርጉም (ወደ አማርኛ)፦ ሼህ አብደላህ መሐመድ አሊ

የመጽሃፉ አሳታሚ፦ አብዱልፈታህ አብደላህ

ማሳሰቢያ፦ ጽሁፉ ከመጽሃፉ የተወሰደው ሙሉ በሙሉ ሳይሆን ለንባብ እንዲመች በማሰብ በተወሰነ መልኩ እንዲያጥር ተደርጎ ነው።

Ethiopia | የሀገር በቀል ዕውቀቶች ላይ የተደረጉ የጥናትና ምርምር ሥራዎች - አብዱልፈታህ አብደላህ

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Aviation college to graduate students

By Abdurezak Mohammed

ADDIS ABABA – National Aviation College will graduate 201 students in the fields of aviation and tourism tomorrow for the sixth round.

The college, sister company of National Airways, will graduate 131 students who have attended travel and tourism, flight attendant (hostess), flight operation, hotel and catering supervision, and ticketing and reservation. And 71 students are those who have been trained in Hotel Management in the undergraduate program, disclosed so on a press conference held at ECA.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of National Airways and National Aviation College, Captain Abera Lemi told a press conference that currently aviation and tourism sector is the fastest growing and the most focused sector.

The college is contributing for the industry in producing highly qualified professionals to ensure the continuity of the industry and to increase its competitiveness.

He said that the college is the first private college registered as an Authorized Training Organization (ATO) and it is a pioneer private college in delivering aviation trainings in Ethiopia.

The college is fully licensed by Ethiopian Ministry of Education, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority as well as Authorized by International Air Transport Association (IATA), it was learnt.

Supporting self-reliance

By Abdurezak Mohammed

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” This is one of the famous quotes of Helen Keller, a deaf-blind American author, and educator.

Robert M. Hensel is a Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, covering a total distance of close to 10 kilometers. He is also known for his saying, “My disability has opened my eyes to see my true abilities.”

Based on a-2013 joint report of the World Bank and the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 15 million persons with disabilities in Ethiopia, representing 17.6 percent of the total population. A vast majority of people with disabilities live in rural areas where access to basic services is limited. Many of them depend on family supports and alms for their livelihoods.

Like Helen Keller and Hensel, there are many PWDs in Ethiopia who have worked hard and become successful. What matters most is the kind of support given to the community.

Etaferahu Ayele, a resident in Addis, can be a good example in this regard.

She earns a living by making eyeglasses finely crafting them as per the prescription of physicians.

She was first admitted to Misrach Handicraft Training and Rehabilitation Center – an organization specializing in offering training of various sorts to PWDs to help them become self-reliant.

She had received a-two year training on how to make eyeglasses after graduating grade twelve. Etaferahu served the Center for 17 years.

The wealth of experiences she emulated so far has now allowed her to establish her workshop. “I trained my sister and my son on how to make eyeglasses,” she said.

“The supports of the Center are fruitful, it has integrated me with society, and I’ve started supporting the community in one way or another.” Such Centers should not only be supported, she said, adding that more and more centers have to be established to reach PWDs living in remote areas.

“I used to feel that I was the only individual with a disability, and it was at the Center that I had understood the reality. Hope and optimism instilled into my mind when I had seen many people with various kinds of disabilities engaging in handcraft.”

The Center was established in 1982 (1974 E.C) in Addis Ababa by Swiss-based NGO – Swiss Evangelical Nile Mission (SENM), currently known as Service Along the Nile International.

The Director of Misrach Centre Wendaferaw Assefa told to this writer that professional-training courses are preceded by an aptitude test. The courses last for 2 years. “We have wood + brushes section, optics section (frames and lenses), sewing section, weaving section, wood engraving and puzzle section, and cards section (various kinds of hand-made enveloped cards: made with materials such as sand, cotton, straw; photographic cards depicting daily life scenes; hand-drawn or printed cards).

For the last 37 years, the Centre has been giving training and rehabilitation services for PWDs to make them self-reliant, he said.

“And also, the Centre has “Braille School” to train Amharic and English to persons with visual impairments, he said.

Around 170 pupils are now attending courses, according to him.

After they get done with the training, the Center offers financial supports ranging between 1,000 Birr and 1,600 Birr. Besides, it grants equipment and tools worth 12,000 Birr to help them establish own businesses.

IPs fostering tech transfer, offering jobs

By Abdurezak Mohammed

Over 180 domestic and foreign companies joined the industrial parks that have taken shape across the length and breadth of Ethiopia. The parks in Hawassa, Mekelle, Kombolcha, Addis Ababa [Bole Lemi I] and Adama offered more than 60,000 jobs to citizens.

The products of these companies are competitive in the global market. A fact that corroborates this statement is that internationally acclaimed brands like H&W, Pivage, and The Children’s Place buy textile from Ethiopia while Michael Kors buys the leather bag from Kombolcha Industry Park.

Yet, the government has plans to expand the industrial parks. Several parks are in the pipeline including Dire Dawa Industrial Park whose first phase construction is almost complete.

As the country’s investment eco-system is so friendly, compounded by legal and procedural improvements, the country has become the prime investment destinations in Africa.

In a press statement, Ethiopian Investment Commission Deputy Commissioner Temesgen Tilahun said Ethiopia accounts 18.5 percent of all jobs created through FDI in Africa.

Further, so many tasks are being executed to make doing business in Ethiopia easy.

The deputy commissioner also ascertained that institutional reforms and structural changes within the country have created an enabling environment to the investment climate, and investment policy became a central aspect of government industrialization agenda.

He also mentioned the reasons to invest in Ethiopia as growing economy; excellent climate and fertile soils; strong guarantees and protections; abundant and affordable labor; regional hub with access to a wide market; improved economic infrastructure and competitive incentive packages.

Forex earning as a result of the park’s products export have shown remarkable surge over the last Ethiopian fiscal year, Industrial Parks Development Corporation CEO Lelise Nemie told the press. To her, the increment smashes its immediate fiscal year by 115 percent,

Currently, seven industrial parks are operational, she said, adding that the remaining four industrial parks of Bole Lemi II, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, and Kilinto have already been readied for operation, she added.

“Employees at industrial parks also received pieces of training of various sorts.”

Fitsum Ketema is General Manager of Hawassa Industrial Park. He told this reporter that companies known for their brand textile and garment products have been operating at the park. Lying on a-300 hectare of land, with the first phase covering 140 hectares, all the sheds of the park have already been joined by domestic and foreign companies, he added.

To him, the majority of companies in the IP are currently operational and exporting their high-quality products to the international market.

Above all, the park is eco-friendly, he said. “[The Park]I have a water and waste treatment plant which uses the latest technology for treating and recycling about 90 percent of the water used in the park. To this end, a zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) facility has already been set up with a daily processing capacity of 11 million liters of effluent,” says information accessed from Ethiopian Investment Commission’s website.

Currently, more than 26,000 peoples are working in the park.

And also, when the park is fully operational, it is expected to generate one billion USD. The IP generated 66 million USD by exporting various products, he said.

A single window service at the park has also tremendously eased investors hassling, he added.

As the pertinent data show, 60 percent of the population of the country represents the youths. The expansion of education has enabled the youths to be productive citizens. Yet, the government has been working to improve the education system, and feed the manufacturing and other sectors with the required skilled personnel.

The development of industry indeed plays a crucial role in the economic growth of the country because of the large investments attracted in these areas.

As stated in the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) of Ethiopia, the accelerated growth of the manufacturing industry will be promoted through expanding new investments mainly in export-oriented manufacturing and improving the productivity and competitiveness of domestic manufacturing firms.

The strategic directions during GTP II are improving the productivity, quality and competitiveness of both existing and new industries and ensuring structural change, building labor-intensive light manufacturing industries which are globally competitive in terms of productivity, quality and price, transforming the medium and large manufacturing industry to become a reliable source of foreign exchange and building industrial engineering and technological capacity.

Right diplomatic track registers tangible results: Premier

By Abdurezak Mohammed

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia’s efforts for the resumption of direct talks between the two Sudanese parties, and the acceptance of Ethiopia-AU transition proposal are among the major showcases to the growing role of Ethiopia in the region as well as internationally.

Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said this yesterday as he briefed journalists on current national as well as international issues relating to Ethiopia.

The international community has been supporting Ethiopia’s proposals aimed at ushering in democracy and peace in Sudan in a way that regards the country’s sovereignty, he said.

He also noted that Ethiopia, as it has been doing so far, has remained impartial and focused only on creating common ground for both parties.

Also, the premier indicated that Ethio- Eritrean relations are strengthening from time to time. Some people may wrongly perceive the closure of borders as a sign of soaring relations, but the fact is, the premier said, both sides are working tirelessly to put the

 ties on solid ground through devising transparent legal instruments.

The Eritrean government has been evaluating proposals presented to it on the use of ports, and other discussions are in the pipeline, he added. Prime Minister Abiy further stressed that diplomatic cooperation among other African countries has also gathered new momentum.

As to him, Ethiopia cherishes the values of Medemer (synergy) on the principles of Activation, Balance and Common Ground which he summarized as the principles of “ABC”.

To him, relations with countries outside Africa are bringing about tangible results. Ethio-Chinese cooperation, for instance, has been translated into unprecedented financial grants, he said.

Besides, the cooperation with China has brought successes in restructuring commercial loans to concessional ones, not to mention the canceling of debt interests.

“Chinese confidence in the administration has also substantially grown.”

 Meanwhile, the Prime Minister indicated that the government has worked to its disposal to ensure the rule of law in the country.

Despite the government’s strict measures on wrongdoers, unlike the past, the human rights of detainees are respected fully at all correction centers.

Unlike what many people are saying the ruling party EPRDF still maintains the positions that the upcoming election should be conducted as per the schedule, said the Premier who is also chairperson the ruling party.

To him, the government has no mandate to solely decide on the postponement of the election but the strong stance it takes is that series of discussions should be held nationwide, and it is up to all stakeholders to rule out whether or not the election should go as per the schedule.

Regarding investment, the premier said government’s major goal is to make the investment climate conducive to attract more FDI.

He said measures being taken in relaxing the investment climate would pay off in creating jobs to citizens.

Comparing the previous years’ forex earning with the current one, he said the country has earned currency that far exceeds that of the previous years. “The government has distributed forex to the private sector cutting government spending.”

Moreover, Abiy extended his gratitude to the media for the creative works in promoting the national greening initiative that culminated in setting a new world record by planting over 353 million saplings only in 12 hours.

He also appreciated all parties and individuals who partake in the planting program. “The synergy exhibited in the day should be replicated in other development fronts as well.”

Why practical steps to Nile cooperation

By Abdurezak Mohammed

Ethiopia has tirelessly been working to build trust among the Nile Riparian Countries; thereby, to level the ground for mutual development, say experts who closely follow developments on the Nile.

The various practical steps the country has taken thus far prove the argument true, the scholars say. They also mention the current massive environmental protection works which also set a new world record by planting over 353 million trees only in a day last Monday.

Its genuine effort to create transparency on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as well as the continued push for the ratification of the Cooperative Framework of Agreement (CFA) on the Nile, setting the example by ratifying the document, could also be additional steps, they say.

Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office Director-General Fekahmed Negash stresses that Ethiopia has played a steadfast role to ensure equitable use of the waters of the Nile, and to build trust among the countries.

Over the past years, the country had got an observatory status despite contributing over 86 percent of the water, he says. “But since the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) in 1999, the country started its full participation and has supported the process greatly.”

Also, its ardent contribution for the formulation of the CFA and unparalleled effort of coordinating the upper riparian countries to come to negotiating table has been remarkable, he adds.

Regarding the building of trust, the series of discussions on the Dam by spearheading the establishment of International Panel of Experts (IPoE), not to mention the provision of paving the way for the gathering of information first hand at the Dam’s site, are mentionable, according to him.

Despite a recent stalemate, the discussion continued at the level of heads of state, he said.

Still, Ethiopia has shown keen interest on resuming discussion. In this regard, Fekahmed said as the current situation in Sudan may not allow resuming the trio talks until the Sudanese resolve their internal skirmishes, it could go bilaterally.

Also, an expert who is also close to the matter told this reporter under the condition of anonymity that downstream countries should take practical steps to resume discussion on the Dam in particular and to foster cooperation along the basin in general.

No country can enjoy a unilateral use of a cross-border river, making the rest to remain onlookers, according to the expert. “That old-fashioned way has no place in modern times.”

To this expert, Ethiopia has shown its firm stance for mutual use of the waters.

The expert’s argument goes: Ethiopia since 2011 through the establishment of the IPoE, and accepting its recommendations has established the Tripartite National Committee-TNC and proven readiness for cooperation and brotherhood.

Furthermore, following the May 15, 2018 meeting of Addis Ababa, the three countries have established the National Independent Scientific Research Study Group which tirelessly worked to come up with an agreeable solution for the challenges the three countries faced with.

“Ethiopia has been this much practical and open. It has extended the olive branch to downstream countries. Sudan has accepted and supported the move, and the ball is now in Egypt’s court.”

To both the experts, the only way to benefit the half billion people of the ten basin countries is cooperation. In one hand, the population boom in the region creates more demands for the water. Wastage of water due to various reasons has also been harming the people.

Fekahmed says around 20 billion meter cube of water evaporates from the Dams in Sudan and Egypt. Also, around 25 billion meter cube of water gets wasted through evaporation and seepage at the open irrigation canals of the two countries. That is almost half of the waters, thus cooperation is a must, not an option.

Making informed negotiation and avoiding political and security fig-leaf helps to devise a genuine solution to the existing and emerging problems regarding the waters, he adds.

Ethiopia has recently reiterated its keenness on resuming tripartite talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to reach an agreement on the outstanding issues. Also, countries that have not still signed the CFA need to follow the suits of Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi. The first three countries have also ratified the document. Uganda is expected to ratify it soon.

Uganda’s State Minister for Environment, Dr. Goretti Kitutu told Uganda’s Daily Monitor on Tuesday that the ratification is aimed at ensuring that upstream countries, including Uganda, also benefit from the Nile, The Ethiopian Herald reported.  

Ethiopia, Eritrea preparing to seal trade agreement: MoFA

• 1,150 int’l companies visited Ethiopia

By Abdurezak Mohammed

ADDIS ABABA – FDRE Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that preparations are under way to reach trade agreement with Eritrea. 

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirut Zemene told the media yesterday that Ethio-Eritrean trade agreements are being prepared and the legalization of trade between the two countries will strengthen the existing peace relations and will ensure economic benefits of the two countries.

“Ethiopia has also worked extensively in the area of peace and economic development with Djibouti, Kenya and other countries in the region”, she said. 

She remembered that Ethiopia played a great role this year to restore peace in the Republic of the Sudan.

On his part, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Aklilu Hailemichael said that 1,150 international companies – 159 are anchor companies – visited Ethiopia and 225 companies are under preparation to begin investment in Ethiopia. He said, “168 business forums were prepared to achieve this.”

About 67 joint ventures have been created to enable local investors to cooperate with foreign investors, according to him. 

He indicated that in this year 27,704 Ethiopians have been released from prisons in different countries and returned home. 

In addition, 112,615 people who were living abroad with no residence permit have been repatriated, he added.

The Ethiopian Herald, July 27/2019

Planting trees to achieve international commitments

By Abdurezak Mohammed

Many nations of the world have signed the 2014 New York Climate Summit goal worldwide by 2030. As it is essential to evaluate progress performances after agreements, the reporter decided to provide the readers Internationale and national status of the convention.

The immediate goal was to bring 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. Up to November 2018, fifty-six governments and private organizations have pledged more than 168 hectares to the Challenge, according to Landscape Organization.

Among the other commitments: The Challenge bills itself as a direct contributor to the Convention on Biological Diversity Target 15, which states that 15 percent of degraded ecosystems will be restored by 2020, with their resilience and biodiversity aiding climate stocks; UN Convention to Combat Desertification goal to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality; and the goal of the UN Environment’s on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries program to combat deforestation and degradation.

Regional commitments, namely 100 million hectares in Africa under restoration by 2030 and Initiative 20 million hectares in Latin America and the Caribbean, under restoration by 2020, directly reference the Bonn Challenge as a broader commitment into which they feed.

The Bonn Challenge Barometer is currently in a beta-phase, with six countries piloting its use to track their restoration progress as well as discuss the implementation process with one another. It is expected to be officially launched by 2020.

Separately, in August 2018, India was the first country to release an official report on its progress toward meeting its commitments to the challenge (13 million hectares under restoration by 2020 and 21 million by 2030): 9.8 million hectares of land have come under restoration since 2011.

As well, International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that the Challenge’s 2020 target would result in USD 84 billion per year in income and benefits for rural communities. The 2030 target could bring 170 billion in net benefits and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by up to 1.7 giga tons.

 And Ethiopia is one of those signing countries. Ethiopia agreed to restore 22 million hectares of deforested landscapes in the country by 2030 in the 2014 New York Climate Summit’s goal of restoring 350 million hectares worldwide by 2030.

In addition to increasing forest coverage and restoring degraded lands, the country aims to enhance the forestry sector’s contribution to agricultural production systems, water and energy, to improve food and nutritional security, and to create more opportunities for employment and household income.

Ethiopian government has proclaimed numerous proclamations and also has signed several environmental protection conventions. It has also formulated an environment protection policy, strategy and program to promote and implement carbon neutral and climate resilient development and economic growth.

Ethiopia’s forest coverage has decreased over the past years and the country has suffered from the negative impact of climate change especially in relation to droughts in some parts of the country.

 And reports indicated that in 2017, millions of animals died in Ethiopia due to drought because of the scarcity of rainfall though encouraging progress has been made towards increasing the forest coverage currently.

In this year, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed launched National Green Development Action Program which aims at planting 4.7 billion trees, 40 seedlings per person, during the rainy season.

The premier has also recently informed the parliament that a record of 200 million tree seedlings planting in a day will be made in the country on July 29, 2019.

As many have agreed that Ethiopia’s effort on environmental protection has countless value for not only the country but also for neighboring countries.

Coordinator of National REDD+ Secretariat, Dr. Yitebtu Moges, told to The Ethiopian Herald that soil erosion and degradation are major causes for low productivity and vulnerability of smallholders.

He said that economic growth without forest development is impossible to imagine, because all our activities – agriculture, industry, electricity, urban development, and tourism –are related to forest development.

Planting of trees has many environmental benefits: balancing climate change, saving water by reducing evaporation, preventing water pollution, being food source and habitat for wildlife, reducing soil erosion and increasing fertility, according to him.

He further says: “If this year’s motivation on planting trees continues for the next ten consecutive years, we lay a great base for the development of our country and we have the chance to develop.” protecting the environment, especially through planting trees enables the nation to ensure food security.

Activities on environmental protection such as planting trees should not be just one time’s campaign, he argues mentioning, “studies indicate that about two third of Ethiopia’s rainfall comes from the forests in Western Africa.

Director General of Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO), Fek-Ahmed Negash, to his part, also told The Ethiopian Herald that Ethiopia’s environmental protection works have great value for Ethiopia and its neighboring countries, especially for lower Nile basin countries.

He reiterated that less environmental protection works harm Ethiopia more.And also in Ethiopia there is high level of soil degradation that reduces productivity and it leads us to poverty, he said, adding that we have to give high attention for planting trees to tackle poverty.

For him, currently Ethiopia is working on environmental protection well. “Ethiopia is well-known for its highest water resource among Nile basin countries as it contributes nearly 86 percent of water to the Nile River. So, Ethiopia’s effort on planting trees has great value to take care of the water.”

Planting seedlings has social and economic benefits in the form of flood controlling, reduction of sedimentation, regulation of water flow, uplifted energy, navigation and fisheries, according to him.

Therefore, if the current tree planting move started with 4.7 billion trees planting plan is repeated for several years, Ethiopia may achieve the 2030 forest coverage commitment before the schedule, the stakeholders believed mentioning that the performance after the convention is not yet measured internationally.

The Ethiopian Herald July 26/2019

Africa Hotel Investment Forum boosts Ethiopia’s tourism industry:Stakeholders

• The forum to be held in Addis Ababa in September

By Abdurezak Mohammed

The tourism industry has huge economic importance. But developing countries’ especially African countries’ are often constrained by the lack of infrastructure development, air connectivity and financing. 

Ethiopia is an example. The country is known for its beautiful landscape and rich ancient culture. And it has immense natural, cultural and historical attractions, but it is largely untapped on tourism market.

Comfortable hotels play a vital role in attracting tourists. But, until recently, Ethiopia did not have enough hotels recognized under international rankings or ratings. This made it hard for visitors to judge the quality of a hotel.

To support this, the government adopted a policy that allows duty-free imports of hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment. It also provides for favorable loans to investors for the construction of new rated hotels.

Ethiopia’s tourism sector showed a steady increase in the last decade. Especially, the hotel industry in Addis Ababa is booming. One of the various reasons for this development is that the city is a buzzing hub of economic, social and political activity and home to such notable offices as the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Addis Ababa has the third highest number of diplomatic missions in the world,sometimes referred to as the capital of Africa. There has been a visible increase in the number of tourists in Addis Ababa after PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s rapid reforms. But these increments are not sufficient to fuel Ethiopia’s ambition to become a powerhouse tourist destination in Africa.

This year’s Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) will be held in Addis Ababa between the 23rd and 25th September at Sheraton Addis Hotel. AHIF was previously held in Addis Ababa in 2014 and 2015.The forum is organized by Bench Global Business Events in collaboration with Calibra Hospitality Consultancy and Business Plc and relevant government institutions in Ethiopia –Tourism Ethiopia, Ethiopian Investment Commission and others.

Matthew Weihs, the Managing Director of Bench Global Business Events, stated that when AHIF returns to Addis Ababa at the end of September. It could bring over one and a half million dollars in direct benefit to the local economy, an additional two million dollars in indirect benefit and over a quarter a million in tax to the Ethiopian host government if spending at the 2019 event is a mere 10% more than when it was held in the city in 2014.

“The primary purpose of AHIF is to facilitate dialogue and ultimately deal-making between the top business people present”, he said.“I am aware of more serious investors coming with more money behind them than ever before, so it feels to me that the hospitality industry in Africa is rapidly becoming more mature and sophisticated”, he added.

He reported that looking back over the history of AHIF since the first conference in Casablanca in 2011, the event has made a total impact on the local host economies of $21.24 million of which $8.64 million is direct and $12.6 is indirect.

On her part, Lensa Mekonnen, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Ethiopia said that AHIF will provide an excellent opportunity to welcome the cream of the hotel industry to Ethiopia.

According to her, the main aim is to show them local assets and thereby attract more international-standard hotel and resort brands to establish themselves close to Ethiopia’s historical, natural and cultural sites, in addition to the capital city.

“By promoting regionally balanced development, we will attract more tourists to Ethiopia and encourage them to stay longer”, she added.

Temesgen Tilahun, Deputy Commissioner of Ethiopian Investment Commission, stated that the forum is used to us as initial point to promote tourism industry.

According to him, this event is very important for Ethiopia basically, because the country’s tourism sector in general and hotel industry sector in particular are left behind. So, this forum is important for us to learn how the industry is works.

“It is a good platform for us to attract related African and global companies those are experienced in this sector”, he said.

The Ethiopian Herald July 26/2019

Legal, procedural changes relaxing doing business

By Abdurezak Mohammed

Encouraging private participation is at the top of government’s agenda but the regulatory environment remained a greasy pole to start and sustain businesses.

A fact that corroborates this claim is the World Bank Group’s annual ease of doing business report that ranked Ethiopia 159th among 190 countries. Countries are ranked on their ease of doing business, from 1–190. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a firm. The rankings are determined by sorting the aggregate scores on 10 topics, each consisting of several indicators, according to Doing Business 2019 report.

Ethiopia has, thus, rolled up its sleeves to improve the rank at least to 100th position. A steering committee led by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, comprising members including those with a ministerial portfolio as well as commissioners and Deputy City Mayor of Addis Ababa City Administration periodically meet and review progresses achieved and challenges faced in the effort of providing a better conducive business environment.

A major focus of the sectors include but not limited to, according to Doing Business Database, ease of starting a business; dealing with construction permits; getting electricity; registering property; getting credit; protecting minority investors; paying taxes; trading across borders; enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.

The committee has identified 80 distinct actions to be delivered across 10 government agencies, according to Office of the Prime Minister. “The initiative is expected to make Ethiopia a competitive place to start and grow businesses.” Each and every sector has started to take measures that could improve the country’s ranking.

Public Relations Director of Ethiopian Investment Commission Mekonnen Hailu told The Ethiopian Herald that the Commission launched platform to give investment license and other services online. “We aim to cut time and cost incurred on businesspersons and to provide hassle-free services,” he said.

Also, the investment policy is being reviewed. Stakeholders as well have enriched it. To him, it will be ratified shortly. He further stated that the draft investment policy will address the constraints of its predecessor. For example, there were no details about areas of investment closed for foreign investors, and those reserved for domestic ones, he added.

For his part, Trade Practice and Regulatory Sector State Minister of Ministry of Trade and Industry, Eshete Asfaw, told The Ethiopian Herald said the Ministry has accomplished major tasks that make accessible commercial registration and business licensing.

It has as well removed a previously mandatory proof of lease or rental agreement for a physical business address that was required for registration and business licensing.

Publication of company names via newspapers and a 15-day waiting period for approval has been eliminated as it is a hindrance for business registration, he adds. The Ministry also will start online registration and business licensing, he notes.

Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) Dr. Yinager Dessie argues that one of the requirements to improve doing business ranking is the improvement of the credit system.

Hence, a new directive on credit information system and a draft proclamation on “Movable Properties Security Rights” are the two prominent undertakings NBE has undertaken over the past two months, he told The Ethiopian Reporter earlier last May.

“NBE’s credit registry database covered only 0.4 percent of the total adult population of Ethiopia until very recently, Yinager disclosed; however, the three million micro-finance customers who have been added to the database system, [has helped the bank] expand to six percent.”

According to the study of the World Bank, it takes 32 days to get business licenses in Ethiopia while Rwanda and Kenya managed to slash it to four and 11 days respectively.

According to Office of the Prime Minister, eight new laws and 40 procedural and administrative reforms were enacted over the past few months, to reduce the time, cost and procedural hurdles businesses face from startup to operation and exit.

The Ethiopian Herald, July 19/2019

Online business registration, licensing soon to begin

By Abdurezak Mohammed

ADDIS ABABA – Ministry of Trade and Industry said that it will soon commence online services that include commercial registration and business licensing systems.

The Ministry has developed digital systems that help facilitate online registration and licensing, Ministry of Trade and Industry Trade Practice and Regulatory Sector State Minister Eshete Asfaw told The Ethiopian Herald.

Around 1,049 branches out of 1,134 have so far been fitted with the technology to render all the Ministry’s 19 services, he said, adding that human power has also been trained and deployed at the branches. Additional 200 staff will receive induction training for five days following the commencement of the services.

Also, the Ministry has established a team of well-trained professionals that oversees and coordinates all the activities, according to him. The Ministry has as well been working in close cooperation with Ethiopian Electricity Utility, Ethio Telecom, Information Network Security Agency (INSA), Ministry of Innovation and Technology to make the online system more efficient and effective, he added.

The system is expected to improve the business and investment climate of Ethiopia, it was learnt.

The Ethiopian Herald, July 19/2019