Rural Land Proclamation Comes to Light

May 18 , 2024


  A landmark legislation that grants title holders in rural areas the right to use the property as collateral was unanimously ratified by Parliament last week. It primarily focuses on extending access to finance for farmers and pastoralists, through a structured land title system. It also introduces criminal penalties for the illegal transfer of property. Replacing the 18-year-old proclamation for rural land management, the law sentences individuals engaging in land invasions and unauthorised transfers to up to five years in prison. The decision came after nearly 22 rounds of discussions with several players. The proclamation grants regional states the authority to formulate their standards on how property on rural land may be transferred following their respective regional master plans. Some MPs expressed concerns about provisions that give second and third wives access to shares in the property, potentially greenlighting polygamous relationships. Solomon Lale, chairman of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Affairs, assured Parliamentarians that it reflects the realities of rural communities in Ethiopia and avoids revisions to family law. "This is a property law, not a marriage one," he said.


Radar

Tech Ministry Falters as Audits Expose Mismanagement, Unmet Ambitions

The Ministry of Innovation & Technology is under scrutiny after an audit revealed lapses in project management and financial oversight. This raised questions about governance standards within a Ministry central to the country's tech-driven growth ambitions. According to the Federal Auditor General, the Ministry has completed only 11pc of its planned projects with its overall financial administration standing at 37.4pc for a year-long project that commenced in 2022. Budget mismanagement an...


Radar

Central Bank Keeps Lending Lid Tight as Inflation Squeezes Economy

The Central Bank has reaffirmed its decision to maintain an 18pc cap on credit growth, reinforcing a commitment to tighter monetary policy during persistent inflation and economic uncertainty. The National Bank of Ethiopia's (NBE) monetary policy committee cited ongoing concerns over inflation, which stood at 19.9pc year-on-year (YoY), and liquidity imbalances as reasons to uphold the restriction on lending. Bankers and analysts interpret this move as evidence of regulators' determination to...


Radar

Ethio Telecom Expands Services with DStv Streaming

Ethio telecom enters the entertainment pool with bundled DStv streaming services through high-speed broadband internet and mobile data packages. The partnership with MultiChoice Ethiopia aspires to merge the telecom's fiber broadband and mobile network with DStv's content. Subscribers can access DStv channels through mobile data or fiber broadband bundles, with discounts of up to 35pc through Telebirr or My Ethiotel (*999#) and up to 26.5pc at sales centers for fiber broadband bundles. Acc...