Elections of Administrators of Zoba Debub (southern region) of Eritrea.

Without clear picture of date of elections and the circumstances of the conduct of elections, sheabeia.org web site posted an interview that expresses Direct elections for administrators of districts and villages
were carried out last week in the most populated Zoba Debub Region this month. These were appointed executive posts before. Abraham Kahsai met Mr. Kahsai Ghebrehewet, governor of Zoba Debub, to discuss the timing, procedures, objectives and more about the elections

The timing of the election manifests that Eritrea is recovering from the dark years of war and conflict with neighboring country Ethiopia. The Eriterean government wants to test the capacity of the people in conducting
elections freely and fairly as rehearsal for the coming national election. It is good start and we welcome it.

The objective of the election is obvious. The Eritrean government registered the failure of the appointed administrators to address the message they were
envisaged upon. The appointed executives were not accountable to the people and they exercised bad administration and corruption was their trade mark.
This time, the people has got chance to directly elect their administrators. The newly elected administrators are expected to show modest and capability to perform planned projects of development. They are entitled to introduce justice and efficiency in their administration.

The procedure followed during this election was a direct election in secret ballots. The rules and electoral conduct was outlined by Regional Committee with wide ranging representation from functional Ministries and various segments of society drafted specific electoral rules and procedures.
Here it is natural to raise questions asking why the election commission appointed by the 14th session of the national congress in year 2002 sidelined? Wasnt it appropriate to have one guidelines and uniform procedure in conducting elections throughout the country?

There are 197 villages in Zoba Debub (Southern Region) of Eritrea. It means that one administrator and one deputy for each village has been elected. It is confusing in the interview that at one time the interviewer refereed the deputies as secretaries. In this case the difference of a deputy administrator and secretariat is not precisely defined. I hope the concerned bodies to clarify the roll of the deputy administrator as different with secretariat of the administration. Out of a total of 394 Administrators and Deputies elected 47 were women of whom 4 are Administrators and 43 Deputies.

Now, we know that a pilot election in the Zoba Debub ( southern region) of Eritrea is tested and the result seems promising. The elected administrators term is for one year and their activities is going to be monitored closely. This is going to be the base for future elections in Eritrea. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate the Eriterean government for its recognition of the basic human rights and that is conducting elections and counting the say of the people. I hope, soon this trend to follow to the national election. By doing that the Eritrean peoples say will be counted at the national level as well. Therefore, by saying good luck for those who took responsibility to administrate and wishing overall success to the Zoba Debub, I would like to comment, related within the subject of election on village level as a starting point.

I remember, the time, when I devoted Focus on Eritrean Election, part two and part three, related with the topic of election at the Adi (Village) level, mentioning the name of the outstanding person Mr. Hirue Tedla. Some readers of my articles were very disappointed, considering that as if I were shifting side from pro government to the side of support to Mr. Hirue Tedla. Actually, what I was doing that time and try to do this time is not to have side but to play as a reconciliatory between the opposing forces in Eritrean politics. First and utmost, I want to give much credit to being an Eritrean as a value that deserves recognition and respect. Secondly, I want to emphasize in elaborating and searching out the true and scientific analysis of the Eritrean politics. I mentioned it, in my previous articles, that I am concerned and working to transform the common sense Erritrean politics to scientific Eritrean politics. One example that could be mentioned as case study for the tangible phase change of Eritrean politics from common sense to scientific analysis is the document of Mr. Hirue Tedla about elections starting from Adi (Village). Now, practically, the Eritrean government has applied it at the Zoba Debub(Southern region of Eritrea). The most significant point here is the concept, the idea, irrespective of the political stand of the originator. As long as it is scientific and useful to Eritrea we have to recognize its validity and we should accept and imply innovative ideas and creations.

Let me elaborate the subject matter of giving recognition of useful ideas irrespective of the political stand of the originator in a different way. Assume that, Albert Einstein is Eritrean and he is Jebbha (ELF). He creates an idea that energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared. If this idea is true and scientific the important point is to give recognition and imply it to the good purpose of the benefit of Eritrea. Some body a supporter of Shaebia(EPLF) accepting the idea that energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared which is scientific doesnt make it to be the follower or supporter of Albert Einstein, an Eritrean and Jebbha (ELF). The same logic applies to the case of my reference of the concept of Mr. Hirue Tedla, the election of Adi (Village) prior to the national election as the first step of the complete democratization of Eritrea. Again now, I emphasize that, lets forget this shaebia that is Jebbeha and give credit and respect to being an Eritrean is a value by itself. What I am saying is; let us recognize the existents of each other and work to give comfort for every Eritrean so that one Eritrean to feel, being Eritrean is; God given grace and not disgrace by itself. Lets make every Eritrean to say, I am proud being Eritrean. On this occasion, I would like to encourage Mr. Yemane Gebrab, the head of the political wing of PFDJ, for his promising words he mentioned during his recent interview. That is, he said he dont wont any more to add wounds to the already much wounded Eritrean people. That is very encouraging and shows us that we are nearly at the end of the dark tunnel.

In another development, elections are progressing in Makelia (central) region of Eritrea. The outcome is not disclosed, but we hope to be successful like the Zoba debub (southern region). Another promising news is the national election commission is on the way to finalize its preparation and it is expected to announce the date and procedures for the national election of parliament. The national election is not expected to be in year 2002. The tendency of the political move in Eritrea, this times, seems favoring towards local issues than the national issue. For reasons that are not obvious to me and I dont have any speculation at all, but I consider it, as the wise maneuver by the government side, to concentrate on the local issue. My guess is, that will enable the Eritrean government, at least to win the hearts and minds of the local people to concentrate on the outlined reconstruction programs. The activities of the opposition groups, this times, seems inclined to give the Eritrean government, the time it needs to settle calmly and I sense that the opposition groups are leaving space and time for good, that he Eritrean government to act as a government without harassment. I think, the Eritrean government should register this good gesture from the opposition groups and has to reciprocate by taking positive steps that leads to nation reconciliation. For instance, as good gesture, the Eritrean government could release the detained veteran colleagues and journalists. It is possible to open the closed free press and other relevant steps that brings national reconciliation. I hope, so long the Afghans managed to gather and discuss the national issue under one roof there is no reason why we Eritreans cant do it. Of course, the Afghans did it by foreign help. We Eritreans liberated our country with out assistance from foreigners, the same we can do our reconciliation by ourselves.

conclusion, the elections held at the Zoba Debub (Southern region of Eritrea) are a beginning of the long march to the national election and that gives us hope that democracy is alive in Eritrea. These elections will pave the way to the emergence of civil society in Eritrea. The ongoing elections on Makelia (Central) Zone of Eritrea are expected to be completed successfully.
I wish peace, development and a harmonious life for the Eritrean people. I think, we can achieve happiness of all Eritreans, by coming together, reconciling our differences and utmost by taking measures that includes all. We have to fight arrogance and exclusion which are evil and obstacle to the Eritrean people happiness.