Editorial
Viva Africa!
That the Queen of Sheba’s country needs more is evident: If this country is going to grow even faster, it must shed its insularity. Children and their parents must be instructed more and more in English, and this is, obviously happening. The number of spelling or grammatical mistakes on English billboards and posters is unacceptable, but less than 10 years ago, these signs were almost non-existant.
Besides, the strong Ethiopian Diaspora in different parts of the world are doing an excellent job. Their investments and remittances are supplementing the government expenditure on social services and ensuring a functional economy. Under the circumstances, both parties – government and Diaspora – seem to have a quiet respect for each other. Many people feel the yoke of corruption – and yet they see progress. The immigration officers at the airport could use a little finesse in their treatment of foreigners and perhaps, sections of the magnificent airport should not leak during the rainy season; but this does not necessarily mean that the tatters will dominate the good cloth.
No, Addis Ababa is not Lagos. The chaos in the former is so much more on the path towards some sort of victory than the latter. And we only juxtapose Lagos and Addis because they are both fast growing African cities.
The Habari Network Editorial Board
August 20, 2013
