Jimma expresses dissatisfaction with the regime

ESAT News

November 19, 2014

The people of Jimma, South Western Ethiopia, and representatives of various organisations, have expressed that they have lost faith in the government and that they want change, during a meeting held in the presence of Muktar Kedir, President of the Oromia Region, Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and also the Head of Security in Oromia region in Jimma town.

They have told the officials that soldiers stationed in the area are killing and abusing locals, citing recent cases.

The residents noted that corruption has been rife especially among the regional officials, who steal money to construct buildings or found companies. Muktar later summoned the regional officials in Central Hotel ordering them to take immediate measures to calm down the peoples’ anger.

Federal police officers stationed in the Zone had in the past weeks killed a son along with his grandmother and also severely wounded another artist, Wonde and his child.

Similarly, in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia, a meeting themed ‘Good Governance Movement’ was held in the presence of the President of the region and his Deputy, when the residents spoke about youth unemployment, nepotism and unfairly distributed development projects.

Although the people raised several questions, the President said that they would get responses from local Woreda offices; which led the participants to leave the auditorium.