By Yacob Wolde-Mariam

A NEW DAY DAWNS

The abolition of land as private property on March 4, 1975 had definitely marked a new epoch in the modern history of Ethiopia.  Considering that the vast majority of the Ethiopian peasantry – who constituted over 80 per cent of the population – were handing over as much as 75 per cent of their harvests to absentee landlords in town and cities, the move was, in fact, standing on an equal footing with the abolition of slavery in Ethiopia in 1922. However, that was not the alpha and omega of things yet to come in this country. 

As President Abraham Lincoln had said on 17 June 1858, no government can ‘endure permanently half-free and half-slave’. It is remarkable that the lust for power, prestige and property is more in evidence among the urban robber-barons than among any other classes of exploiters. That is precisely why the nationalization of urban land has been always welcomed by the vast majority of people living in the cities and towns of this great country. What we are now witnessing is, therefore, the dawn of another day in Ethiopia.

It is an ineluctable fact of life that land – no matter whether one has to till it or to build a house on it – has been bestowed upon man by nature for all to share equitably. It is a pity, however, that, throughout the greater part of human history, land has been expropriated by the elite in society and used as a mere commodity of trade. According to Bernard Shaw, an outstanding British playwright and critic (1856-1950), ‘Property, says Proudhon, is theft. That is the only perfect truism that has been uttered on the matter’.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was a prominent American novelist. Here is what he had to say on landed property: ‘What we call real estate – the solid ground to build a house on – is the broad foundation on which nearly all the guilt of this world rests’. There is no denying the fact that the rotten land tenure system in Ethiopia was being righted by our courageous leaders – no matter what their political beliefs – in the overriding interest of the vast majority of the Ethiopian people who had suffered much for far too long..

There is no doubt that the new urban land lease proclamation is bound to advance the paramount interests of our cities and towns in the field of urban development. In fact, an academic was expatiating upon the significance of the land lease proclamation in an article measuring 2.44 column metres he had written for this weekly. However, as an American politician had put it long ago, ‘I have made up my mind; don’t confuse me with the facts.’ Yes: ’They have eyes; and they see not. They have ears; and they hear not..!’

Addis Ababa has been always reminding me of Florence – a beautiful Italian town. Judging by what has been taking place in our metropolis over the past twenty years or so, there is every reason to believe that Addis Ababa is going to be one of the most beautiful cities of the world – if not, actually, the most beautiful one. The new land lease policy of the government has placed immense resources at the disposal of urban administrations – besides facilitating matters for a growing number of investors.

Yes, forward ever – backwards never!

* * *
A POST-MORTEM

Ethiopia has been suffering from a plethora of religious holidays – of mainly Christian origin – from time immemorial. There are five major annual festivals characterized by extreme extravagance in this country. These are New Year’s Day (Sept. 11), Maskal, the festival of Lights or the Cross (Sept. 27), Ethiopian Christmas (Jan. 7), Epiphany or Timket (Jan. 20) and Easter (on variable dates in the lunar year in March). The multiplicity of these festivals does not certainly promote thrift here on a national level.

Extravagance has been an integral element of Ethiopian celebrations of various festivals for generations on end. However, it is an incontrovertible fact that Ethiopians are, today, sharing local markets with buyers from the more opulent foreign world. Under such circumstances, therefore, it is inevitable for foodstuff to be extremely expensive for local consumers. One must note here that in Europe and the Americas people are celebrating not more than one major Christian festival during the whole year – Christmas.

Realization must now be forthcoming in this country that one cannot live above one’s means. There are certainly some people who are in a strong position to catch up with the Joneses. But it is difficult to believe that the vast majority of the people can do so. Under these inauspicious circumstances there is every reason to believe that if we all make a decisive effort to live within our own means then everything is bound to be hunky-dory with our precarious economic situation to the ultimate benefit of our economy.

Personally speaking, when I started work here in January1955 one can prepare a sumptuous dinner for half a dozen people for only ten birr. One could then hire an experienced cook whose vocabulary was sprinkled with Italian words for fifteen birr. A chicken would cost 75 cents, and not over 150 birr as now; a kilo of meat was worth one birr, and not over 90 birr. And, in 1974, one litre of petrol was being sold for 50 cents. There is a local saying that one lives according to one’s own income – and not that of one’s neighbour.

Yes, what we must always do is to practice the philosophy of thrift! And, pray, what was that wise Amharic saying? Sew inde betu inji indegorobetu aynorim!

* * *

BEER AND SKITTLES

One of the most undesirable – not to say invidious – legacy of imperialism is the alcoholic drink. The assumption was that he who controls beer halls can be fully in charge of the human psyche. It is small wonder then that these dens of evil have been proliferating in this formerly sober continent of ours for over 100 years now. This is to say that from Cape to Cairo – and from the Horn to the Bulge – beer halls, virtually all of them owned by European magnates, are doing brisk business, turning some drunk and others mad.

It is instructive to note here that alcoholic drinks in the form of ouzo were first introduced into our own country by Greeks – and to their credit ethnic Armenians were making shoes and introducing printing presses here. With the acquisition of the Meta Robi (Abbo) Brewery, Europe has now clinched the last deal in attaining the commanding heights of beer production in this country. However, there is every reason to believe that the consumption of alcoholic drinks and beverages is a sign of excruciating social decadence.

Realization must be now forthcoming that the consumption of alcoholic drinks and certain indigenous narcotic weeds is sapping the vital energies of our people. This is in the vital interest of the political, economic and social well-being of our people. Ethiopians should not be delivered bound hand and foot to foreign missionaries of spiritual degeneration.