Health Ministry Greenlights General Elections

Sep 19 , 2020


[ssba-buttons]

The Ministry of Health has given approval for holding the general elections in accordance with strict safety precautions. Reported in the presence of 287 parliamentarians, Lia Tadesse (MD), minister of Health, stressed that the elections can be held with new regulations and directives in line with the pandemic and by implementing specific safety measures in areas with higher numbers of cases. The general election, which was set to be held on August 29, 2020, had been postponed due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). It was expected to be held nine months following a declaration by the Ministry of Health stating the virus as no longer a threat for conducting elections. Ethiopia has currently conducted close to 1.2 million COVID-19 tests, the third highest number on the continent. From the conducted tests, over 66,000 people have been confirmed to have the virus with 58pc of cases originating from Addis Abeba and higher percentages coming from Oromia, Tigray and Amhara regional states.  The general elections were originally set to be held on August 29, 2020, and election campaigns were scheduled from May 28 to August 24, 2020. The results of the election were also set to be announced between August 30 and September 8, 2020, accordingly.


Radar

Somali Region Advances Budget Independence as Revenues Rise

Somali Regional State is moving closer to fiscal independence, with nearly half its budget now funded locally. Officials point to rising agricultural output and stronger tax enforcement as key drivers behind growing revenues. The region plans to cover 32.5 billion Br from its own resources in the upcoming fiscal year. Communication Head Mohammed Abdi credited last year's tax collection of 18 billion Br, exceeding the 17 billion Br target, to agriculture, khat, and other taxable goods. The reg...


Radar

Environmental Protection Authority Shuts Down Polluters

Addis Abeba's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken enforcement action against 3,249 manufacturers and service providers found violating environmental standards in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The violations, ranging from air and noise pollution to improper waste disposal, were identified during inspections of 14,872 businesses citywide. Penalties included warnings and closures, with shutdown orders issued to six plastic factories, 23 block factories, a soft paper plant, 102 nightclu...


Radar

Ministry Mandates Full Electronic Clearance for Top Taxpayers

Taxpayers under the Ministry of Revenues' Medium No. 1 branch will have to ditch paper filings and switch entirely to the e-Clearance system for non-audited services starting August 1, 2025. The mandate, routed through the Ministry's e-filing portal, is pitched as part of a broader push to modernise tax administration and advance the government's digital agenda. Officials say the platform lets users process clearance requests remotely via the Fayda national ID, cutting out manual paperwork. A...