VIEWPOINTS

Professional Associations: From Nonexistence to Hibernation

By Getachew Teklemariam Alemu

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

It was a difficult time for citizens of the culturally wealthy horn of African nation, Ethiopia. The flavor of socialism, in its distorted version, has filled the environment. Though a spark of hope had been witnessed at the start of it all in 1974, the centralization of all economic and political activities has made the hope of change so dim. The overthrow of the century old monarchical administration would have been considered an achievement in some sense, had it not been replaced by an even bloodier military government, the Derg.

The centralization of the economy and the subsequent nationalization of private assets summed up with corruption have thrown the country into the quagmire of indebtedness and structural stagnation. The people, on the other hand, were left to poverty, disease, illiteracy and, beyond that, to serial killings. By then, speaking what one feels might get him/her a capital punishment. Creating associations, out of the permit of the governing council, is considered to be an act of treason and a trail of coup d’ tat. The only associations that were allowed to recruit members and spread the “golden” words of Marxism were those satellite Men and Women associations of the governing council, which functioned as instruments of ideological baptism for it. Smart minds of the poor nation were pushed to the edge of forced exile. The air was filled with suspicion, hopelessness, sorrow and fear.

With time, however, the sorrow that was accumulated in the hearts of the faithful citizens of the nation resulted in another revolutionary movement, which grew up to attain extra-ordinary public support… 

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About the Author Getachew Teklemariam Alemu Author Getachew Teklemariam Alemu is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Mr. Alemu is also an Infrastructure Projects Expert in the Development Projects Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, government of Ethiopia.  Getachew is responsible for monitoring, appraising and reporting on public sector infrastructure projects financed by the Ethiopian government and bilateral/multilateral donor agencies.  He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection from Mekelle University in Ethiopia.  He has also been educated in macro economic development, infrastructure development in developing countries, national economic development and project management.  Getachew is currently studying at Addis Ababa University for a Masters Degree in Regional and Local Development.  Getachew can be contacted at getdem2006@yahoo.com. More information can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5.