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From: awetnayu@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Jun 23 2011 - 20:01:58 EDT
Eritrea and Social Justice
By: Berhane Woldu
>From Asmara
May 24, 2011 was Independence Day. A day full of excitement
the weeks and days, which proceeded Independence Day, was historic. There were
symposiums by different ministries and regional administrators that gave
in-depth analysis of the achievements and the set goals of the plan. Carnivals,
musical shows, bazaars, and art shows were some of the highlights of the
festivities. My most favored part of the anniversary was the Asmara stadium show and UMOJA South Africa
musical group. UMOJA’s performance reminded me of my teenage political life
where I took part in the demonstration in support of South African blacks
against apartheid. The African National Congress (ANC) fought against apartheid
while the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) fought against Ethiopian Colonialism.
There were historical and political differences between the ANC and EPLF.
Nevertheless, both fronts fought for Independence
and Social Justice; Social Justus means that those who have been on the
underside of history must see that there is a qualitative difference between
repression and freedom. And for them, freedom translates into having a supply
of clean water, having electricity on tap; being able to live in a decent home
and having a good job; to be able to send your children to school and have
accessible health care.
Naomi Klein in
her book titled “The Shock Doctrine” states
that, In South Africa, the largest economy on the African continent, it seemed
that some people believed that freedom included the right to reclaim and
redistribute their oppressor’s ill-gotten gains. “The historic Kliptown
gathering which brought out the Freedom Charter reads, “The People Shall
Govern”. The young radicals when they were asked what they were fighting
against, they answered, “Apartheid and Racism”; asked what they were fighting
for, many replied “The Freedom Charter” Polices that exploded both inequality
and crime to such degree that South Africa’s
divide is now closer to Beverly Hills and Baghdad. Politically
people can vote majority rule is in place. Yet economically, South Africa has surpassed Brazil as the most unequally
society in the world. ANC negotiation on the economy and owner ship failed;
whites when it came to safeguarding the wealth they had amassed under
apartheid, they would not give up so easily. It portrayed key sector of
economic decision-making – such as trade policy and the central bank –as
“technical” or “administrative”. Then it used a wide new policy tools-
international trade agreements, innovation in constitutional law and structural
adjustment programs- to hand control of those power centers to supposedly
impartial experts, economist and officials from the IMF, the World Bank, GATT
and the National party. It was a strategy of balkanization, not of the
country’s geography but its economy. Make Democracy work failed the central
bank and the treasury would be run by their old apartheid bosses, it meant
“everything would be lost in terms of economic transformation” Since 1994 people
living on less than a $1.00 a day has doubled from 2 to 4 million in 2006.
Unemployment has increased from 23% to 48%. 1 Million People have been evicted
from farms, ¼ South African live in shantytown without running water and
electricity.
Eritrea
declared its independence in 1991. With gold and abundance of high valued
natural resources swirling around, there was no shortage of “carpetbaggers”
coming to call. The Eritrean government treated them with high degree of
skepticism. As elsewhere in Africa, suited and
booted conmen brandishing their credentials swarmed over the country like bees
around honey. Based on the Golden Principle of Political and Economic
independent and self-reliant free from external support and dependency. Faced
with a zero economy, no viable economic institutions, no sustainable
infrastructure in education, health, socials services and transportation system,
the government and people started in building a holistic development and
economic emancipation and prospers nation.
According to Dr. Georgis T/Mariam minister of National
Development in 1991 two hundred forty-five million ($245,000,000.00) dollars
was budgeted to re-start Eritrea’s
economy that was devastated by war.
Food security has been the priority as diverse factors converge
to affect the demand for food around the World. In Eritrea, there was scarcity of
mechanization, transportation, storage and exportation. Hence, Agro-Macro
policy was devised, Irrigation based agriculture was introduced to increase
output and create surplus in cereal corps, vegetables, fruits, and livestock. Dams,
micro-dams and water diversion schems were constructed. Since 1991 in Gash
Barka region alone 67,754 hectares of land has been cultivated 35,500 hectares
by irrigation, 20,980-splash irrigation 2,257 hectares uses spray irrigation
and 1,100 hectares use drip irrigation. Agro-industries have also been put in
place case in point; Aligider cotton farm, Elabered agro-industry, Mersanni,
Afhimbole, Gerset, the Fancos and Ad Omer agro-industry. The Red
Sea coastline is rich in fish, lobster, shrimp, crab and
anchovies. Annually 80,000 tones of fish and 50,000 tones of Anchovies and
Sardines can be harvested for export. In-addition there is abundant of fresh
water fish for domestic consumption. Poultry farm, honey farms and animal
husbandry are new industry. The animal husbandry at Alebu is one set to export
meat and hide. In the last 15 years, the Eritrean Agriculture has emerged from
subsistence farming to a modern agro-business.
The violent manner of Ethiopian colonialism in 1991left Eritrea even
more poorly equipped than most in terms of human capital to function as an
independent country. Realizing the need and education being the fundamental
right that all nationals are entitled to, the government built elementary,
junior and secondary schools in even the most remote areas assuring access and
equity as well as quality and relevance of education. Eritrea constructed four
hundred ninety five (495) early learning centers, nomadic educational centers
and boarding schools with a very high price to gain balanced education system. In
addition, Eritrea constructed seven colleges to provide higher education. Since
2004, 8,000 students have graduated from these colleges. Three thousand six
hundred forty (3,640) students from Eritrean Institute of Technology, 1,946
from School of Business, 1136 from college of Agriculture, 561 from college of
Marine Science, 532 schools of Arts, 207 School of Health and 32 from Medical
School.
Eritrea is amongst the first African countries certified for
its endeavors on health management system. Skilful management system with
well-equipped health care services is one from which Eritrea is best renowned. Health
for all is the motto in Eritrea.
The goal is to provide sustainable and excellent health care
that is effective, efficient, accessible, acceptable and affordable to all
citizens. Access to health care is available in an area of 10 kilometers
radius. 75% of the population lives in an area of 5 kilometers from a health
center. HIV/AIDS is the lowest in Sub-Sahara Africa 90% of children receive the
necessary vaccination. Since Independence five referral hospitals, 28
hospitals, 56 health centers and 256 health stations have opened for services
and established 259 drug outlets, 28 pharmacies, 28 drug shops and 203 drug
venders. This is an increase of 180% in health services since 1991. Furthermore,
in 2003, Arotta School of Medicine and in 2005, College of Health science were
inaugurated and have since graduated 5,404 health professionals 40% percent of
these professionals are women. Due to these health institutions Doctors and
nurses to population ratio has increased by more than 100%. In 1991, Doctor to
population ratio was 1: 50,500 in 2010 it is 1: 20,000. In short Eritrea
in the last 15 years have eradicated communicable and non-communicable diseases
i.e. Malaria, Polio, Small pox and many other. Has lowered infant mortality
rate and is providing good health services in all corners of the country.
Eritrea has been prioritizing improved water sanitation in
order to alleviate people’s living standard water reservoirs, embankments have
now reserved good amount of water, and 95% of the urban and 78% of the rural
area now have clean water.
Eritrea’s Social services are, based on rights and needs to
assure social justice. Social welfare programs are available to orphans,
disabled, parents and children of Martyrs and people with no means of survival.
There are 28,000 licencedfoster homes to care for 70,000 orphans. Over
500,000,000 Nakfa has been paid to Martyrs family.
Since 1991, transportation coverage has reached 65% of the
population. Every city has an inter-urban linkage for transport. Bus routes
have increased to 215. There are 1,175 new buses to serve over 20 million
passengers per year.
Eritrea
has become an international success story in terms of post conflict
reconstruction and economic progress. Freedom should not be taken for granted,
it is the demands and aspiration of present and future generation towards its
promise of peace, justice and prosperity.
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