Meles’s Development Paradigm and Its Impacts on Economic Transformation in Ethiopia

Teshome A.

Assistant Professor of Economics at Ethiopia Civil Service University (ECSU)

E-mail address: feysaduu@yahoo.com

Accepted 15 October 2012

Abstract

On August 20, 2012, Ethiopia lost its brave son the late prime minster Meles Zenawi.  When the state media announced his death, various international news agencies reported about the death of the prime minster the way they perceived him. Many newspapers presented his significant contribution in social, economic and political development in the country. In contrast to these, few individual and organization tried to write a report against the fact that prevailed in the country. For instance International Crisis Groups (ICG) said that Ethiopia’s much praised economic development was not as robust or cost free as Meles would have wanted or as the international community believes (ICG, 2012). Such kind of flawed report or analysis arose mainly due misunderstanding the recent social and economic development in the country or purposely construed to undermine the contribution of our late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Chicago boys like ICG and Mesay Kebede who would like to shape Ethiopia in their own image cannot understand the prevailed structural transformation observed in Ethiopia during the last eight years. It is the responsibility of all Ethiopians to remember and maintain the legacy of our late Prime Minster. We want stable and prosperous Ethiopia as well as independent nation that depend on the vision of its leaders. I think this is against of the interest ICG and its scholars.

Keywords: Development, Paradigm, social, economic development