‘One of the important events of the week…’ begins the editorial, ‘was the inauguration of the modern banana and tomato processing plant in Alebu [Eritrea].
It’s posted on one of the Eritrean government websites [August 23 of this year] but feels like a report about an event that happened in the 1920s or ‘30s (during the Italian occupation) and the devil is in the title.
It says, ‘Equitable Allocation of Resources between Rural and Urban Areas: The Guide to Securing Social Justice.’
Securing social justice on banana and tomato juice? Analyse that!
I would say it’s probably more equitable and just to probably offer a very long-term household loan for families to buy a juicer that operates on solar or wind power and let village/private farmers provide the fruits and veggies. That, perhaps, is another wishful thinking. A more realistic option would be to let them have it raw. They obviously know what to do with it but, if a government can claim justice and progress by setting up a small juice factory in the 21st century, we must come up with a new definition for the word ‘regression.’
I bought a can of tomato juice the other day. The price had gone up by £0.20 and a bunch of bananas by more than that. If the administrators of a country along the Red Sea are so hyped up and ‘genuinely’ concerned about celebrating or inaugurating a tomato factory, I see red and still smell fish. The way Eritrea is being governed is not even comparable to methods used by a board of pigs that can manage animal farms much more efficiently. One would be well advised to call the liquidators.
Unfortunately, some are more equal than others – as any Orwellian would say.
Whoever wrote that editorial will, sooner or later, declare that they were only following orders from higher forms of life.
Let’s go back to that courtyard before it goes to the juicer.
Here follows the script with litigations in between.
--------------------------
One of the important events of the week was the inauguration of the modern banana and tomato processing plant (Banatom) in Alebu, Haikota sub zone.
We’ve done that. Next!
The construction of the factory is an added drive to the growing agricultural as well as infrastructural activities around the area. The Gash-Barka region being an area of large-scale banana and tomato production, the presence of a processing plant there not only provides a market for the farmers but will also encourage them to increase their production to a much larger and market-oriented scale.
In a country where drought and famine is looming (or probably there by now), people are losing their income by the day and in comes survival. Eritrea has been in that state of economic affairs for some years now. Where is the market base? Even if we can talk about a regional or global export market, it is gloated with tomato juice. It’s not like digging for gold or platinum but the government would say, “We’re working on that as well and all we need is time!”
Maybe that tomato factory is betraying or reflecting some hidden truths about what that golden dream in Bisha Gold Mines and other sites can do. Watch that space!
The most significant aspect of this event is that it brings to light the fact that the Eritrean economic development process is progressing at a pace uniform to all parts of the country. Indeed, such a development process stands out as unique when compared to that of other developing nations. We often hear about some countries scoring a certain percentage of economic growth when in fact only a specific community group reaps the benefits from either the exploitation of natural resources or from foreign investment. Many governments, including those who come to power with the help of the rural majority, only focus on the daily problems in the cities while ignoring or disregarding the rest of the people. Consequently, many have faced failure as their precarious economies based only on erecting tall buildings came tumbling down. But the people and Government of Eritrea have no desire for this type of so-called economic progress.
‘…[development progressing] at a pace uniform to all parts of the country?’ What is that supposed to mean? To what other developing nation can Eritrea be compared?
Wherever you look, Eritrea is at the bottom of the list in virtually all sectors and it is unique in that sense. And if it is looking after the majority [rural] population, why do we have thousands of young Eritreans fleeing their ‘homeland’ and being shot at, dying in the desert, languishing in-country prisons and foreign lands, drowning in the Mediterranean Sea? In short, why are they trying to escape and risk death?
Why the reference to ‘erecting tall buildings… tumbling down?’ Is it a reminder of 9/11 New York or that sleepless guilt that wakes itself up every time the black month of September comes round when Eritrean media died and the hope and fire of reform was extinguished?
Current records from various corners show that the Government of Eritrea has no desire to ensure equitable distribution of national wealth but we still don’t know what the people of Eritrea want to secure their own future and unless that is made is clear, the Government is only working for its own survival in the name of the people.
Let the people speak and we will know for sure if what the Government is claiming is true.
The Eritrean people had paid a huge sacrifice to secure an independent nation and government of their own, and as such they cannot opt for an economic progress in which a handful stands to gain while the majority wallows in poverty. On the contrary they are working to achieve an economic development that will improve the life of every citizen and secure a much more rewarding life for future generations. Based on the collective desire of the entire people, the Eritrean national development strategy has been able to establish a firm foundation for future development while giving equal attention to all parts of the country. Yet, when viewed from the perspective of our long-term objectives and vision this initial progress is only the beginning.
‘…in which a handful stands to gain while the majority wallows in poverty.’
Are not Government officials and their associates who are the handful? Talk to a mother, father or young person on the streets of Asmara, the towns and villages and you might get some idea how it feels not to be part of the handful.
If they were given the chance, the people would probably say more about short-term vision and momentary gratification and that would be the beginning of the end. But they wouldn’t dare.
The changes and progress that are being registered in different parts of the country, particularly in the remote areas is thus a vivid proof as to the efficiency of the development strategy we are pursuing. The development activities accomplished within a few years in exploiting agricultural potential for food security and in the construction of water reservoirs, water diversion schemes and irrigation systems are by all measurements beyond comparison. The fact that we have been able to cultivate the vast plains in the western lowlands at a large-scale and build an asphalt road that connects Tessenei, a town in the western border area with the capital Asmara is no less than a miracle. Today there are hardly towns or villages in Eritrea that don’t have roads accessible to vehicles. Moreover, as part of the extensive efforts to provide social services to all the rural areas, a vast majority of the people have now access to potable water as well as educational and health services. The process of introducing electricity supply and communication systems to all parts of the country is also picking up pace.
‘… are by all measurements beyond comparison.’
Beyond comparison to what? And who is this ‘we’ element? The government of the people or just the hand of the government?
‘Today there are hardly towns or villages in Eritrea that don’t have roads accessible to vehicles.’
Accessible to vehicles! Analyse that. It reminds me of an Eritrean proverb that says, ‘put the human before the road.’ Despite the confidence and claim to all these achievements, why is it so next to impossible to let in an independent observer or visitor make an assessment?
Thus, to achieve sustainable economic development, there must be an equal sharing of benefits among all communities and progress should come through efficient exploitation of national resources. In short, a real and sustainable economic progress is the one that brings about social justice. And that is why the Eritrean government is striving to achieve economic transformation that originates from the rural areas. Congratulations to the Eritrean people in general and the people of the Gash-Barka region!
‘… economic transformation that comes from the rural areas.’
More of the same rhetoric! If that were true, why are the planners of that ‘transformation’ still alive and kicking in the city?
