
Radar | Oct 17,2020
Apr 1 , 2023
By Eden Sahle
Last week saw a glimpse of politicians taking the hot seat at the Parliament while debating about the public outcry. Few Members of the Parliament (MPs) were seen voicing the concerns and interests of their constituents confronting the incumbent.
It was great that some of the MPs took a break from praising each other for a change. However, they have a long way to go to understand their role as public representatives fully.
We have a dormant Parliament, where members clap to the tune of the incumbent as if they are guests at a wedding. Many do not seem to grasp their purpose, some even taking a nap in the middle of a session.
It is only appropriate that they seek debate on political and economic reforms and learn from past mistakes. Lawmakers must strive to check the influence and power of the executive and bring accountability in the interest of the electorate to the government.
However, their meekness goes to the point that whenever a strong statement is made or confrontation amongst them, which should have been the norm, it serves as a major headline.
This depressing predicament has profoundly impacted policy-making, serving as the prerequisite for the lack of a true multiparty democracy envisioned in the constitution.
The concentration of power in the hands of a single political party has diluted the ability of MPs to question and probe the government about any decision, blocking the path to democracy, which requires the existence of a difference of opinions that sets an opposition apart by its action.
The lack of diversity makes democratisation an exercise in futility since MPs with similar ideologies and parties will find loyalty to the incumbent more important than accountability to the public who placed so much hope and trust in them.
It must be understood that the function of MPs as representatives of the public is also to scrutinize the government's actions and inactions and help address society's challenges.
Nevertheless, practice shows that MPs come to listen and leave, disregarding the challenges of their constituents. Some do not even visit the town they came from to try and understand their constituents’ problems until the next election is around the corner.
Chronic poverty, ongoing unrest, widespread social chaos, and violent divisions are problems that require the utmost attention. The longer the MPs ignore such issues, the more complicated they will become.
The rift between representatives and constituents will fester the longer it is betrayed.
MPs need to amplify the problems, discuss solutions and work for the benefit of their constituents by being truthful. They should take every opportunity to fiercely challenge the government, raising questions and facts through well-prepared research.
The strong words used by MPs may not be swallowed easily. But it proves their care and concern for their constituencies while upholding the responsibility of the people that brought them to Parliament in the first place.
The trust in public institutions has been severely damaged, mostly owing to the hegemonic tendencies of the executive but also the timidity of Parliament that has stood by as the judiciary and democracy were incapacitated.
Parliamentarians must fully exercise their roles and plant the foundation for good governance. They carry the seed of accountability, where their actions and inactions will influence the rights the next generation will have.
MPs should be socially, economically, and politically conscious and consistently uphold democratic values.
A democratic parliament is transparent, accessible, accountable and effective. There must be genuine standards and enforceable codes of conduct for MPs. Accountable parliaments have members who are answerable to the electorate for their performance in office and the integrity of their conduct.
The responsibility of any member of parliament depends on the public need, understanding the satisfactory discharge of those duties according to public expectations. They should develop the habit of confronting one another to make a difference while we, the constituents, will be paying attention.
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 01,2023 [ VOL
23 , NO
1196]
Radar | Oct 17,2020
Fortune News | Jun 01,2019
Commentaries | Mar 09,2019
Radar | Feb 01,2020
Radar | Apr 03,2023
Radar | Sep 17,2022
Fortune News | Mar 12,2022
Fortune News | Aug 28,2021
Fortune News | Mar 12,2020
Sunday with Eden | Nov 12,2022
Photo Gallery | 83146 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 75307 Views | Apr 26,2019
Fineline | 58776 Views | Oct 03,2020
Fortune News | 58527 Views | Jul 18,2020
Dec 24 , 2022
Biniam Mikru heads the department of cabinet affairs under Mayor Adanech Abiebie. But...
Jul 2 , 2022 . By RUTH TAYE
On a rainy afternoon last week, a coffee processing facility in the capital's Akaki-Qality District was abuzz with activ...
Nov 27 , 2021
Against my will, I have witnessed the most terrible defeat of reason and the most sa...
Nov 13 , 2021
Plans and reality do not always gel. They rarely do in a fast-moving world. Every act...
Dec 2 , 2023
The symphony of traffic noise in Addis Abeba is not just a sign of life, but a siren...
Nov 25 , 2023
Ethiopia's quest to develop a functioning capital market is a demanding yet not unach...
Nov 18 , 2023
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has made a fervent call for landlocked Ethiopia to ga...
Nov 11 , 2023
In November last year, a ray of hope pierced the gloomy skies of Ethiopia as the Pret...
Dec 2 , 2023 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Mamo Mihretu, the governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), has outlined a com...
Dec 2 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
BGI Ethiopia, one of the largest brewing companies, is in the throes of a major trans...
Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amentie (PhD), is leading a charge to overhaul the fer...
Dec 2 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
Amidst accession to a cross-regional trade, one of the oldest industries is strugglin...