‘Villagisation’ in Ethiopia The Development & Human Security ‘Realpolitik’

Public Lecture - Respublica Literaria CXII, MMXV

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy, School of Graduate Studies,

College of Business & Economics, AAU

Abstract

     The villagisation programme to transform rural society started in earnest in Jan 1985 under the Dergue to relocate more than 30 million peasants over a nine-year period. The plan now is to resettle 1.5 million people in four regions: Gambella, Afar, Somali and Benishangul-Gumuz. The aim is to give rural people better access to amenities such as agricultural extension services, schools, clinics, water, electricity and cooperative services. It would strengthen local security and self-defence. Improved economic and social services would promote efficient use of natural resources and would lead to increased production and a higher standard of living. Nonetheless, critics point to the fact that instead of improved access to services, however, new villages often go without them altogether and the resettlement of people is connected to leasing large areas of land for commercial purposes.

      Good intentions of the state notwithstanding, it must listen to the social and environmental activists and convince its sceptics by proving itself right. In this regard, it must host roundtables for dialogue to convince them that the human and environmental impacts will not adversely affect the intended purpose of the schemes. It must ensure that all recommendations of impact assessments are implemented correctly by setting up a monitoring system that checks on progress. On the other hand, international lobby must also refine its advocacy so that protests that are not based on scientific facts and solid evidence and impact assessment evaluation do not hamper well-meaning development projects. In fact, a balance must be created between what is logically tenable in terms of the incessant dependency on international charity and ‘unsubstantiated’ militancy against such development projects, without which, that dependence will not be addressed. Ultimately, the legitimacy of the fledgling political pluralism process underway will depend in important ways on it being perceived as reasonably honest, transparent and accountable to its citizens in the execution of the state’s responsibility. A skilled and committed leadership at the district and federal levels can mitigate conditions that are hostile to political pluralism.

     Key words: villagisation, resettlement, conflict, ACM, service provision, political pluralism

See talk here