Ethiopian Review has asked scholars and prominent individuals what 10 things they would do immediately if they are elected president or prime minister of Ethiopia. The following is by Dr Getachew Metaferia. (Click here to read what others wrote.)

If I am accorded the highest honor of serving Ethiopia, I will initiate and execute the following policies. I hope any democratic leadership of Ethiopia can also consider them.

1. Based on our long history, shared values, and diversity, I will consult with a broad spectrum of our population and set a national collective aspiration, a vision, for Ethiopia. A nation without vision lives day-by-day and is destined to obliterate itself gradually. Our national vision is not abstract but embraces virtues such as: meet the basic needs of our people, declare war on poverty, cherish our diversity, tolerate differing opinion, etc.

2. I will convene a national peace and reconciliation conference. We must create a culture of peace in Ethiopia; reconcile our differences, and move on to build a pluralist Ethiopia where citizens feel safe and free, their human rights guaranteed, and equality assured.

3. Establish a constitution review panel. The constitution must ensure separation of power between the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. Establish rule of law, guarantee ethnic, religious and gender equality, and build a vibrant democratic society.

4. Build transparent, efficient and effective government bureaucracy led by incorruptible professional civil servants and technocrats whose goal is to serve the nation and not any ruling party. The same goes with the national defense force whose objective is to defend the nation and maintain military ethics of the highest order. Our foreign policy, crafted and executed by professional Foreign Service officers, must promote and maintain the long-term national interest of the country.

5. Empanel blue-ribbon commissions, consisting of elders, religious leaders, learned individuals, civil society actors, and experts to investigate certain issues, such as land grab by foreigners, ethnic and religious-based conflicts, and submit their findings with appropriate recommendations.

6. Provide quality education and improve access to education that propels Ethiopia to the 21st century. Education is every one’s human right, essential for the growth of the individual, and the nation. Our philosophy of education must be based on the history and cultures of Ethiopia and must address the needs of the 21st century. It must be practical and help solve Ethiopia’s myriad problems.

7. Build infrastructure to develop healthy communities. Healthy citizens ensure the security of Ethiopia and quality health service is a fundamental right.

8. Develop and expand Ethiopia’s agriculture sector; launch green revolution so that Ethiopia can feed itself. Restructure the land tenure system, utilize our rivers for irrigation, and initiate integrated rural development system.

9. Build small industries and protect them from foreign competitors that have become detrimental to our budding industries and to the ingenuity of our citizens.

10. Provide the Ethiopian diaspora with opportunities to use its resources [financial, intellectual, and expertise] in helping build the country in a more coordinated, creative, and transparent way. Its investment must be focused on development and must not compete or undermine the efforts of Ethiopians in the country. Provide health services, create jobs, transfer skills and expertise and build confidence between the diaspora and Ethiopians in the country.

(Dr. Getachew Metaferia teaches political science at Morgan State University. His recent book is titled Ethiopia and the United States: History, Diplomacy, and Analysis. [Algora Publishing, 2009]. He can be reached at [email protected])