A Close Look at Gambella, Ethiopia

I went on vacation to Gambella in September, 2007. There, most people appeal for investors and advanced education from Diaspora. It appears change was what they needed and plead for help from the Diaspora. Somehow I was convinced and returned home to contribute my education and invest any wealth at my capacity. In the past, my brother and I built a miller shop which was burnt down in Pinyudo by Ethiopian Military Forces in the Anuak massacre of December, 2003. In 2008, I bought a boat and it provides transportation services from Pinyudo to Jor villages during winter seasons and it still utilizes.

Although I tried my best through business investment, I believe my education might have enhanced Gambella to a better phase but administration wasn’t willing. I risked my career in the United States and returned home to help bridge what was not there as appealed by local. It seems the home return plea by Gambella government was a covered up with illusion.

I met the governor Omod Obang Olom during my first visit in September, 2007. I never met him again upon my return home from March, 2008 to August, 2009. Incredibly, the governor avoided meetings with me for sixteen months leave alone considering suggestions. I talked to him few times on his cell phone and agree for meetings.

However, when meeting time is imminent, the governor becomes reluctant and prefers reschedule or has me wait until he gets a chance. Nonetheless, he will meet others as scheduled if he believes the outcome will be productive. The governor even invites some diaspora to his home and have others ridden his governor’s vehicle for pleasure. The governor seems to have known my views stand and he doesn’t like critiques. Thus, he avoids individuals with challenging ideas and probably that’s why he dodges meetings.

May, 2004, I earned my Bachelors of Science in Social Work from Minnesota State University and received my Masters of Arts in Health and Human Services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, August, 2007. January, 2004, did my Social Work internship as program assistant and subsequently became an employee with Blue Earth County Employment Services assisting welfare recipients toward self-sufficiency.

April, 2005, became an Employment Counselor with Lutheran Social Service helping low-income families transition to economic stability through welfare reform program with Hennepin County in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I risked this career and returned home with purpose to help bridge what was broken as requested. Gambella wasn’t ready for change and their appeal for help simply resembles crying crocodile tears. Fortunately, I retained my job as an Employment Counselor with Lutheran Social Service upon my return to Minnesota in August, 2009.

The Gambella community, in general, depends largely on government employment opportunities. Therefore, most of the workforce is civil servants, employed by the Office of Civil Service. Conceivably, about 33% of the population relies on private sector contributions such as agricultural farming, fishing, livestock rearing, transportation means, mini clinics and pharmacies.

Most people seek employment after completing a high school education in order to begin caring for family members in need. Few are able to pursue two year trade or technical programs available locally to obtain certificates in accounting, teaching, nursing, etc. Those who are unable to attend trade and technical schools will immediately embark on their job search. For the most part, job seekers are required to register with the civil service agency responsible for determining the authenticity of the documents, pay scale, and referrals to job posting agencies. The civil service agency will match available jobs to job seekers based on work experience and educational background levels indicated on the seekers resume.

Once an employment match is identified, job seekers will be provided with an employment packet and be sent to meet with the hiring agency. The hiring agency will process new employee packages and discuss the appropriate orientation, job description, complete pension forms etc. After the employment process is finalized, new employee will begin work and become regular staff.

New hires typically are particularly determined to work hard and to give a good performance in order to pass the probationary period. But soon they will learn the habits of co-workers and begin socializing during their leisure time. Because job descriptions are not available, many staff operates without obtaining a clear understanding of their job responsibilities. As a result, government employees can often appear lost or without purpose.

There seems to be a sense of job insecurity by those required to provide on the job training. Some staffs are afraid their positions may be taken by the Diasporas after the completion of their trainings. As a result, offices were not assigned accurate job descriptions and training was not properly provided. In my case, I was supposed to be employed as a Land and Housing Policy Team Leader with the Department of Works and Urban Development. My Chair never provided a clear description of my responsibilities, an office never assigned, and my job description never laid out for me. Instead, I was redirected to work with the Planning and Programming Coordinator. Frequently, upon reporting to work, excuses were mentioned including a lack of electricity, the Odinga virus crashed computer systems, among others. In reality, it seems that there is more benefit to refraining from raising concern or question as it allows them to continue operating under false pretenses. Hence, Diasporas are now returning to the United States and other foreign countries.

Occasionally, I would ask people about their job responsibilities. However, many only know their superficial job title. It is believed that the only vital information needed for new employee is the job title because it will interpret job responsibility and have workers perform what it implies. Staffs rarely receive appropriate job training and of course, without proper and continuous job training, the success of the program and organization is in jeopardy.

Work hours in Gambella begin at 7:00am. Lunch is typically taken around with a long afternoon break. Workers reconvene around 4:00pm and the day wraps up around 6:00pm. The government believes the long lunch break between noon-4:00pm will help avoid rising temperatures, direct sun heat and heatstroke when sun reaches its peak. Breakfast is about 8:30am and it is common for workers to not return to work afterwards. Those who engage in personal activities during this mealtime break might not return to work in the afternoon and this becomes a subsequent and continual recurrence.

Society at large seems poor but the majority of population excessively socializes including the unemployed and minors. Social leisure generates less work efforts essential to appropriately serve the public in need. Many employees failed to get jobs done properly as there are no available job descriptions, orientations, job trainings and performance reviews to civil service workers. However, government exclusively conducts unforeseen frequent performance reviews to its appointed officials with intent to reshuffle or remove unwanted staff.

Education
Although to some extent still scarce; education in the community is improving compared to previous decades. The number of people holding certificates beyond secondary schools has increased considerably. Primary schools are gradually expanding to villages. The number of teachers is also increasing more and more every calendar year. Approximately 65% of regional children enroll in schools at normal school age. Children who used to walk long distances to attend schools in other villages are now able to do so in close proximity.

An increase in the number of teacher graduates resulted in creating more schools in villages. Health Science College also graduates more nurses which create an increase in the number of nurses and clinics in rural communities. These days, women in labor are tended to be performed by trained workers of the Gambella Health Science Students region wide. Infant and mother mortalities due to birth complications have decreased as a result of these health workers.

Business & Economic Growth
Economically, Gambella has improved to somewhat relatively fair scope because of private business owners. Transportation obstacles have been eased up a bit as Bajaj become available during most of the day and evening. A Bajaj is a tricycle motor vehicle with wagon that has a capacity of five passengers including the driver. A passenger can board Bajaj for one Ethiopian Birr to most locations in town. A customer may pay 10 Ethiopian Birr for a round trip ride to most destinations of the town if the driver believes the route has fewer customers even if you will not be back with the vehicle.

Private bus transportation services are available daily to towns between Gambella, Abobo, Pinyudo, Itang, Jikaw, Addis Ababa, Gore, and Metu. Mini vans are also available between Pinyudo, Gog and Pochalla, Ethiopia. Boat services are available from Pinyudo to Jor villages during winter seasons. Jor district can be accessed by roads from Pinyudo during dry seasons. Sudan can also be accessed by boat services from Gambella throughout winter and early spring seasons.

Road construction is improving state wide in Gambella. Inner city contractors can be seen as three story building structures such as the recently inaugurated Regional Counsel’s Headquarter, finance structure and the Police Commission Office Building. Mohammed Al-Amoudi has built a new gasoline station known as NOC. This alleviates fuel shortages and reduces waiting time problems. Even though not available most of the time, internet service is gradually becoming accessible. Phone services can be accessed through mini phone centers across town unlike previously, when it was only through the main telecommunication office.

Business advancement is not progressing as it should. There are native individuals with capacity to create businesses that are deterred or discouraged by bureaucrats. The return of natives in the Diasporas was requested by Gambella government to bring their wealth and distribute their educational knowledge. At least few people from Gambella now living in the United States attempted to invest in businesses there.

A bus known as “Awili’s” was purchased and began providing services. However, it was soon tampered with and it is widely believed that damages were caused to the bus by rival auto mechanics. Isuzu was purchased by a different group and was seized by the government during the aftermath of Anuak Massacre. The government alleged the vehicle must be seized as it provides food to Anuak fighters in the bush. The Miller Shop was burned down to ground in Pinyudo by government military troops in December 2003, accusing it of grinding food for Anuak radicals.

It is believe that Abulla Obang is a co-owner of the second western union bank. Abulla Obang is also a distributing partner of Meta Beer of Ethiopia. Abulla Obang is an Anuak himself and businesses he initiates seem to do well. Perhaps this is because he partners with Highlander groups, which, in return benefit both parties. Anuaks usually do not keep money in banks which causes a resulting distrust within the government, speculating where and how money flows among the community.

Now, more Gambellans are eagerly trying to invest into transportation business by buying Bajaj. In the United States, many Gambellans have the capacity to create and effectively run businesses back home but feared they may lose them to the government as in the past when sticky circumstances occur. Potential business owners worry the government may simply fabricate accusations against them and seize their businesses.

There are many educated Gambella indigenes living in the Diasporas who could come and pass on their knowledge but fear possible political backlash. Recently few strived to return home during long vacations and sought to assist through business and education skills, to enhance what has lacked. This movement was requested by regional delegates headed by Regional Governor Omod Obang Olum in the United States in May 2009.

Land disagreements take a long time before it can be settled between the government and business groups from the United States. To acquire business land, Anuak investors were asked to pay 384,000 Ethiopian Birr just for land alone. City managers tried to convince investors that if 20,000 Birr is paid up front, then the remaining 364,000 Birr will be paid in 40 years, making it just less than 10,000 Birr per year. After long struggles and several criticisms, the Governor had enough and granted free land after he finds Bia Hotel was given land at no cost to an American during Governor Okello Nyigilo administration. Contractors drag their feet so as to delay the completion of the business. Construction was supposed to be completed in six months but has now seriously exceeded the deadline.

Health
Heath appears to be improving when it comes to public healthcare concern. During outbreaks, the public will be notified by posting notices on trees and note boards, and announcements in multiple local languages such as Anuak, Nuer and Amharic. Some department of health bureaus are dispatched to conduct assessments, provide vaccinations to children in the villages. Gambella Hospital is not sufficiently practicing what the public expects. Fewer nurse staff, long patient waiting, improper patient care, high volume of complaints, no available medications as prescribed, and several ethical issues malpractice occurrences. Many patients believe they are mistreated in hospital and chose to seek medical care elsewhere such as local clinics, insisting to pay more for the same services. Hospital care would be cheaper than clinic cares but because of mistreatment, patients will either stay home while sick or borrow money to seek clinic care.

Politics
Loyalty to the government appears to be paramount. All Gambella political parties have been merged to a single party structure and said became a member of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. Any other party to compete against in the region will be barred otherwise face consequences. Party members who campaigns against top officials will usually be accused for inciting violent and get intimidated to withdraw or forfeit future employment opportunities if loses in election. Top officials are promised strong support from federal government in Addis Ababa to defend the party at any cost possible. As a result, top officials in Gambella act in the vein of colonials with concept they cannot be removed by local voters unless influenced by the central government.

Gambella has, in the past, experienced harsh tensions with the Ethiopian central government. Many believe the resettlement of the highlanders from northern Ethiopia was premeditated to gradually displace local indigenous populations, primarily the Anuak from their native, fertile and prosperous lands. Since the defeat of Dergue regime of Mengistu Hailemariam, highlanders have unsuccessfully struggled in various ways to acquire top government positions in Gambella. Knowing tactics didn’t do any good; Highlanders condemned Anuaks and the region at large for backwardness, lack of education advancement and asserting that regional government still too primitive to bring effective representation to the Federal Government. As this technique was not effective, Highlanders authority does not offer Anuaks and other indigenous the opportunities they deserve.

Unlike Gambellans, Highlanders are able to get educational and employment opportunities in other regions. With support of the federal government, Highlander authorities accused and removed Anuaks from seeking top positions. Furthermore, Anuaks were disqualified from getting potential employment or education opportunities region wide. Many were accused of carrying out attacks on “Highlanders” in the bush. As a result, Ethiopian military in uniforms turned their weapons on Anuaks killing thousands in an orchestrated massacre of December 13, 2003 for three days in a row. Numerous homes and properties burned to ground and scores fled to Sudan. Top Anuak officials, including then Governor Okello Akway, were confined in their homes told it was in the best interest of government for their safety. This appears to be an immoral tactic because the governor is the top regional official and should be informed of what is happening.

The killing of Anuaks was blamed on Anuaks themselves. The government states Anuaks deserved this because radical Anuak faction attacked government officials who travelled to assess Odier, a new anticipated Sudanese refugee camp near Itang and Jikaw districts. The dead bodies of government officials were displayed in open public place to have other highlanders get outraged. Initially, the massacre was assumed to have been sparked by local ethnics particularly between Anuaks and Nuers over land and communal resources dispute. Subsequently, the Anuak massacre was blamed on Eritrea government that it assists Oromo Liberation Front and Thwat Pal who was Mengistu former collaborator for disturbing the peace and causes unrest in the region. Then, the alleged local gangs who the government believed to be Anuak themselves were accused of prompting the violent that led to massacre on December 13, 2003.

The repercussion of the massacre was presumed as a retaliation of attacks by outlawed bandits in the bush who are believed the Anuaks. Afterward, the governor of Gambella was forced to flee the region over the number of people died in the massacre and who to be held responsible. Central government said its troops were in town only to protect officials from further harm and to restore calm whereas tensions remain high regarding accurate figure of deaths. Even though still lingering, Anuaks in the past had bitter relationship with their neighboring Nuers. However, it has gradually improved and recently enhanced to encouraging atmosphere.

Security
Security measures in Gambella are lacking. Robberies occur in daylight hours, even sometimes in police presence. Some robbers occasionally threaten police officers not to speak a thing or get into similar situation in their view. Gangs tend to pick on more vulnerable women or drunken people when attacks occur. Current security measures do not suffice public safety in general. You can observe an official or police on duty involved in illegal activity in bars occasionally with guns or batons. Some bodyguards also consume alcohols while on duty providing security protection for officials. How would someone expect such officer to dismantle the disturbance disputes if arises?

In the past, guns were snatched from napping and unconscious on duty officers by unknown people. Essential functions and responsibilities of patrolling officers might have been included basic procedures such as providing routine patrol throughout the town. Provide a very visible professional presence in such neighborhood with high dispute records to deter unruly resident behavior. Police officers should respond to resident calls to ensure violent behaviors are calmed in any location within the immediate vicinity.

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