Last week saw an uncharacteristically polemical moment after parliamentarians questioned three nominees of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's (PhD) for ministerial positions, tabled for their confirmations on January 24, 2023.

Alemu Sime (PhD), who previously served as state minister for Mines, was nominated to serve as the minister of Transport & Logistics, while Habtamu Tegegne, the former director general at Ethiopian Roads Administration (ERA), assumed the position of minister of Mines.

The reading from the Chief Whip of the incumbent Prosperity Party (PP), Tsefaye Beljige, of the credentials and expertise of the two ministers revealed their backgrounds suited for the reverse positions. The seemingly misplaced appointment raised confusion among MPs, such as Birhanemeskel Tena (PP), who probed whether the roles should be reversed. However, the Chief Whip retorted that the nominations are "well thought out and informed."

"Their expertise is not that unrelated. Habtamu can manage the mines sector as he has a background in engineering," said Tesfaye.

Alemu, for his part, said, "political appointments require leadership rather than technical expertise."

With studies in development, business administration and enterprise sectors, Alemu has served as an investment commissioner and director of the Water & Mineral Bureau in Oromia Regional State. Following his debut as a State Minister for the Mines and Industry ministers, his experience stretches to deputy executive of the Ethio-Engineering Group (EEG). He had been serving as a coordinator for democratization at the ministerial level before his nomination last week.

Habtamu studied civil engineering and completed his post-graduate studies in Construction Technology & Management (CoTM). His career journey kicked off as a contract engineer in the Shashemene District Office of the then-Ethiopian Roads Authority, now the Ethiopian Roads Administration (ERA). Assuming various leadership responsibilities in the Ethiopian Roads Construction Corporation and Addis Abeba Roads Authority, his last position before the ministerial appointment was the director general of ERA.

The third nominee for the minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente (PhD), studied forestry management and production for his post and undergraduate studies. He followed his doctoral studies in civil culture and has worked at regional and federal agencies.

He led farm and forest management projects and managed the Forest Enterprise Agency under Oromia Regional State.

Parliament confirmed their nominations with a majority vote. Not every MP was content with the confirmations.

Christian Tadele, an MP-the National Movement of Amhara (NAMA), questioned why it was necessary to reshuffle the executive branch a year after the last reshuffling. He asked the House to revise the norm, including sending for the standing committees which oversee the nominations for review to avoid early reshuffling.

Expressing his discontent on why Girma's nomination was not sent for MPs review alongside the two others, Christian urged for Parliament's votes for each nominee individually instead of together. It was a motion rejected by the House Speaker, Tagesse Chafo.