EPRDF and Political Communication.

Back 2001, Tewelde Woldemariam trashed the American and British democracy and called Ethiopia’s democracy sublime. The Majority, who said they have a problem in the democracy and needs a change, sat on this information and tells the Diaspora that the splinters are guilty of political groupings (Anja). “Anja” is perfectly legal and inevitable in a healthy democratic system. Clinton vs Obama, McCain vs Hukabbee are Anja’s in the crudest sense. The Diaspora who never liked the PM’s “What are you going to do” arrogant stand on Eritrea believed he, at last, is in open showdown with his own comrades. Despite TPLF's poor communication the splinters case fell on its own weight, but not before downward spiral that resulted in the emergence of the good for nothing party that gave as the juvenile Brehanu and his “Yewatalin” tantrum.

. Fast forward 2008, a lot have changed a lot remain the same. Once again the main enemy of EPRDF is itself and its Media. For example there is a news about EPRDF vetting its candidates. No video. Only a still image of the party logo. How was the deliberation? What was the reaction of the people, are the candidates paraded or did they have something to say in their defense. Did they show any motivation? We have no insight. One event in one part of the country never learns from the other. How is this vetting process different from last vetting that gave the same candidates that were defeated over and over? How are citizens going to build trust unless they see the party building on its strength and struggling to correct its weakness.

Sometimes I feel as if the ruling party finds election an inconvenience from focusing on the big job of fighting poverty. On the other hand,I see all its attempt to put the elements of democracy and trust in its commitment to building a democracy. What clear is that the main deficit is communication. Reading “Political Communication Transformed” by John Bartle about the state of the political system of the British since 1945 focusing on election our process is a mixture of modern and pre-modern in comparison. The media shows one way communication (from the party to the citizen) in a declarative manner and asks people who respond in a predictible manner. It just does not have life, energy. It does not inspire it does not inform.
The extreme opposition is weakend except it undying empty boisterous “GURA.” This is time to look inward and make all the corrections. [Alula Nega 02/13/08]