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The Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF), the ruling political coalition, is to
construct a seven-storey headquarters and a training
centre with a projected cost of 120 million Br. The
headquarters is expected to lie on a 4,330sqm plot
in Arat Kilo, off the road from the Parliament
building to the Social Security Authority.
The party secured the plot in 2006 from the Addis
Abeba Land Development and Administration Authority
under the City Caretaker Administration. Settling a
20pc down payment of the 6.2 million Br lease price,
the EPRDF acquired the plot for 90 years.
The design of the structure was developed by
Begziabher Architects for free according to sources
close to the project.
However, Begziabher Alebel, major shareholder of
Ultimate Consultancy, has declined to comment.
Budgeting 40 million Br for this project, the party
has requested the City Infrastructure Development
for a construction permit. The cost of the
construction, however, is yet to be fully
calculated.
“We expect to secure financing for the construction
from our supporters as we did for the design,” top
brass of the party told Fortune.
The training centre on the other hand is planned to
be installed in Sendafa, 39Km northeast of Addis
Abeba, in the Oromia Regional State. This centre,
which is expected to consume the remaining 80
million Br, is to be constructed on 25hct of land
and MH Engineering Plc will undertake consultancy
work.
The centre is will incorporate a 673sqm
administration building, museum, 20 classrooms each
with 70 seats, four lecture theatres with 70 seats
each and 470 student dormitories. For senior party
members, there is expected to be VIP bedrooms with
en-suite baths, lounge and dinning and kitchen.
EPRDF is an alliance of four groups; the Oromo
Peoples’ Democratic Organisation, the Amhara
National Democratic Movement, the Southern Ethiopian
Peoples’ Democratic Front and the Tigrayan Peoples’
Democratic Front. Together they hold 472 of the 527
seats in the house of peoples’ representatives
following the election held in May 2005.
The results of the last legislative elections on May
13, 2005, have not been accepted by all contesting
parties. The disagreements led to a prolonged crisis
and public unrest which led to deaths tallied to 193
by the Election Inquiry Commission.
The EPRDF came to power in 1991 toppling the
military Derg regime after intense guerrilla
fighting ousting the president Mengistu Hailemariam
(Col.). It now claims that its membership has grown
to four million.
According to a top party official, the training
centre is needed to upgrade the capacities of these
members.
Beyene Petros (Prof.), member of Parliament and head
of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), is
not moved by the decision of the ruling party.
“The EPRDF would not change no matter what it
builds,” he told Fortune. “What difference
does it make? The resources of the public are under
its grip.”
Not all opposition party members agree with Beyene,
though.
Moshe Semu, chairman of the United Ethiopia
Democratic Party (UEDP)/Medhin, believes that the
move would flash a glimmer of hope on the future
politics of Ethiopia.
“Members of the party may develop a better
ideology,” he told Fortune. “It is also good
for the opposition.”
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