Discontent on new Land Reform in Tigray!

(Aigaforum, Feb 25, 2007)

The main reasons for EPRDF poor showing in major cities during the last election are said to have been a) the dismantling of squatters in Addis Ababa to make space for apartments and other commercial real estates and b) the exuberant retroactive tax arrears small business owners were asked to pay. Small business owners as well as taxi drivers were so upset they used the ballot to punish EPRDF. In the end the election brought the desired effect as far as tax increase when the federal government and EPRDF rolled back and adjusted many of the unpopular policies since but left a black spot in our history where innocent citizens were killed when the irresponsible kinijit called the unlawful demonstration that went astray. This could have been avoided and lest one is ignorant one should not repeat.

Today we have heard the Tigray regional government is about to introduce some sort of new law in regard to farmland in the countryside. Since the demise of the old land ownership system Tigray has seen many readjustments of farmland ownership. During the struggle days TPLF redistributed land to farmers as well as to TPLF fighters. The old system was replaced and revoked forever.

Since then land has become scarce in some areas, so much so it is impossible to divide lots any further. With the growing population the regional government has been trying to relocate farmers to areas where there is abundant of land to solve the scarcity. Though some regions in Ethiopia have less success with such resettlement program, Tigray has done better. Resettled Tigrean farmers have become self-sufficient and few of them have become model exemplary farmers. However lately there is a growing discontent in Tigray because of an impending new scheme sought to be implemented across the region.

As we have heard it the new scheme is planned to deny farmers who have recently settled in near by small towns of their farmland as well as distant towns and cities. We do not know the details of the program thus we lack sufficient information to comment on the merit of the program but it would be prudent the respected government body implementing this new policy explain why it has become necessary to have this policy at this point. In addition we ask on behalf of our readers who are really a proxy for our people back home the following questions.

1. We understand those fighters who have become handicapped and unemployed to be allocated their god given right to live off of the land but why is it necessary for those living and with government jobs to still own land?

2. We understand if the State confiscates land from those farmers who leave their farm land unattended and unproductive but why is it necessary to confiscate land from some one who chose to settled in near by city and still manage his farm land and keep it productive?

3. We suspect the government may be worried with the swelling of cities at this point in time where the many city governments can not provide necessary services, but is forcing people to stay in the country side degrading the soil and depleting the environment a better choice? If so how so?

4. Last but not least did the Tigray regional parliament discuss this change of land ownership? Who has jurisdiction to land in Ethiopia. Regional States or the Federal?

We think a timely explanation is necessary. There is a discontent and it is deep. If a policy does not make sense it is better to push it aside and use what works. Involve the public before some one in some office corner decides a policy that affects society in such magnitude. We say this because we were told the regional government/parliament might not have been the source of this new law.