By Tesfu Telahoun Part One
In the last few years, I have come to realize that I’m a really lousy judge of character.
Take for instance, my first impressions of the late Hugo Chavez, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I thought then, ‘Here is a true statesman, a man of the people. One whose sole interest is to serve to the best of his capacity in whatever way would be best for the nation.
I was thoroughly convinced of this when he set in motion a series of reforms which were unabashedly and heavily skewed to benefit lower income groups-to the chagrin of the 300 or so super-rich family dynasties which controlled 87% of Venezuela’s wealth.
Now, I’m no communist. Nor am I a socialist. Like most Ethiopians my age whose youth was blighted by a radical Marxist-military regime, I have grown up hating the hammer and sickle. So, I can’t be red-not even a closet pinko. Universal social equity is my thing however and, if takes a self-avowed Bolivarian Marxist to bring it about, so be it.
All that a real freedom fighter needs is an inner strength, an unshakeable resolve to do all-up to and beyond, sacrificing one’s cherished principles for the ultimate good of the nation.
Think of Nelson Mandela-a true communist at heart but one who had the integrity it takes to rise above party interests and personal political ideals. Mandela did remain loyal to the ANC’s leftist manifesto throughout his sixty odd years in the struggle. But, he was never a ‘party man’- that despicable and abundant breed of politician for whom the party is more important than the nation.
This meant that Mandela did not hesitate for a moment to agree on a Grand Compromise for the sake of achieving that which was best for his multi-layered country. Now there is a genuine statesman for you! May ha-Shem restore fully the great Madiba’s health so that he perseveres with us for many more years to come!
My ex- hero Hugo Chavez did redress centuries of economic oppression by introducing the most equitable level of wealth distribution in Venezuelan history. He made millions happy and was touted as a ‘third world’ hero.
He gave rise to wild speculations of being the trailblazer of that elusive Third Way-the middle road between the devil’s alternatives of free market capitalism and central planning. Venezuela was seen to be charting a new path and its ‘commandante’ began to inspire the leaders of the Latin American left.
But all too soon, as these things tend to do, it all went to his head and the unraveling began. Instead of consolidating the successful inward focus, Chavez assumed continental, then hemispherical and finally, global ambitions.
It was no longer a matter of doing what was best for the country. Maintaining the cult of personality through demagoguery and a corrosive party machine replaced the national agenda in importance.
Indeed, just like other manipulative demagogues Chavez & Co went into survival mode as the vast silent majority turned away to seek other political options. The economy went into free-fall as crude oil output declined due to underinvestment. Profligate use was made of dwindling export earnings which were lavished on unsustainable social/political programs domestically and abroad.
He made a bitter enemy of the United States, further alienated the otherwise patriotic and apolitical Venezuelan middle-class, muzzled a once vibrant media and finally drove his nation to near pariah status. Clearly, Hugo Chavez had none of Mandela’s leadership skills-consensus and bridge building, bold compromise, inclusive policies and above all, an aversion to the path down megalomania avenue.
So, then, what is to be the place of Hugo Chavez in Venezuelan and world history? Well, I guess that, like most all leaders/rulers, he will have left behind a bitter-sweet after taste.
And now, to the late Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. In comparison with Hugo Chavez, the late prime minister was a more complex character as well as a higher calibre thinker and a much more sophisticated political operator. Reflecting upon his 21 years of reign/leadership/rule/tenure-take your pick- I have decided to categorize them as:
* Idealist Meles-from the early 1960s to the late 1980s
* Mellow Meles-from 1991 to the first few months of 2005
*Bitter Meles-from the second half of 2005 up to his unexpected passing
(the three ‘phases’ sometimes overlap and synchronize for various stated reasons )
IDEALIST MELES
Idealist Meles was among the more intelligent and driven members of what must surely have been modern Ethiopia’s most dynamic generation of youth. The most promising students were recruited from across the empire and put into the best schools, institutes and the renowned university-college.
The young scholars were actively nurtured by His Majesty Emperor Haile-Selassie, a monarch whose dedicated and relentless efforts to expand modern education will forever remain among the most enduring aspects of a rich legacy.
It is only prudent to note that the Emperor was not entirely unaware of the bellicose attitude of his courtiers toward his ambitions in the educational sphere. The nobility, landed gentry and hangers-on were in mortal dread of the implications of educating the masses.
And, these fears were to be justified when the newly emergent intelligentsia and an empowered student movement quickly dismantled the anachronistic feudal system and ultimately deposed their Educator-in-Chief.
Idealist Meles was smart enough to not get caught up in the bloody urban conflict that was soon raging among the revolutionaries. Instead, and in classic rebel fashion, he chose to base the struggle in the remote areas. This acute political instinctiveness was to reap Meles & Co* huge returns by making available to the rebellion an inexhaustible vanguard among the peasantry.
*Refers to the various groups and organizations which coalesed into the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
Idealist Meles was infatuated with the concept of an agrarian revolution and his idols were Marxist forces as diverse and disparate as China’s Mao Tse Tung, Ho Chi Minh of North Vietnam and even Albania’s Enver Hoxa. In fact, Meles and Co have often been referred to as having been inspired by the ‘Albanian model’ of communism.
Given that Enver Hoxa’s Albania had even then (early 1970s) been labeled a hopeless basket-case and ranked as the second worst example of Marxist-Leninist excess (first place went to Cambodia’s genocidical Khmer Rouge) , it is oddly interesting-perhaps even telling-that, Meles & Co were so drawn by such a failed state model.
However, the allegiance to ultra-radical Marxism was always secondary to the rebels’ raison d’ etre-self determination for the home province, in part motivated and supported by secessionist elements in Eritrea.
There are many who have taken in without question, the claim that Meles & Co launched the struggle in order to liberate the whole of Ethiopia. Nothing can be further from the truth.
The fact is, Idealist Meles was first and foremost an ethnic nationalist and it was only late in the struggle that he began to craft and meld a pan-Ethiopian approach in line with the narrow regionalist program.
Not a whole lot is known about the internal feuds and factional splits within the leadership in the first decade. However, what we do know indicates that power struggles were frequent occurrences and that; on the whole, they were dealt with surprisingly little violence. Idealist Meles was at the time a believer in frank discourse and the free flowing exchange of ideas, irrespective of his own position on issues.
As Mikael Gorbachev’s Soviet Union began losing its seven decade old grip on power, regimes in satellite states in Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa tottered and fell like dominoes. In Ethiopia, President Mengistu Haile-mariam, who was fighting on at least two fronts at any given time, was critically short on arms, munitions and spare parts when Moscow abruptly cut off the once inexhaustible flow of weaponry. Soon destined to be referred to as ‘the former Soviet Union’, Moscow was no longer willing to fund and equip an unwinnable war and openly urged Mengistu to seek a political settlement with his numerous adversaries. The sound advice was scornfully rejected and an historic opportunity was lost-clearing ground for what would at best be the secession of Eritrea and at worst; the total and irreversible disintegration of Ethiopia.
Meanwhile in the mountain ravines and crevices of northwestern Tigray province, Idealist Meles had emerged victorious from the internal power struggles. He was now the undisputed, ideological head of a robust party apparatus with a mighty army capable of fielding up to 100,000 fighters on several fronts and boasting artillery, tanks and rocket launchers.
A confirmed bookworm, Idealist Meles devoted time and energy to devour landmark works on political science, philosophy, economic theory, military sciences and books on power relationships and developing country dynamics.
This eclectic interest and a determination to practice what he digested, helped him to almost single-handedly formulate most key strategies, policies and programs well before his forces took control of Addis Ababa. This fact also contributed to a public perception of organizational efficiency; a trait which has since come to be regarded as one of the (if not major) strengths of Meles & Co.
Another useful asset was(and still remains) their ability to effortlessly and unashamedly switch to whatever ideological format which, at that specific time, would best serve to further party interests. In many aspects, Meles & Co operated with a strategic mindset and were willing to forego tactical gains for more ambitious goals.
However, the ‘New World Order’ which followed the utter and near global collapse of communism, demanded yet another major alteration to the party line. The ultra-radical (even neo-Stalinist) doctrine was quickly put on hold or abandoned-on the surface at least.
The new mantra became free market capitalism and a genuine, multi-party political landscape-sweet music to a victorious West (read, USA) and the influential donor community. By the way, Herman Cohen, then United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, played no small role in this ideological transformation. By vetting and consistently advising and subsequently, securing official American support, he provided the new regime in Addis Ababa with the legitimacy it craved.
Gaining international legitimacy however, was an easy enough matter compared to the near impossible task of winning hearts and minds at home among a bewildered citizenry.
Idealist Meles now was poised to make way (although he would never be completely cast aside) for a more pragmatic Meles Zenawi.
There remained however, a significant hurdle to overcome-one that required making palatable to patriotic Ethiopians, the unacceptable but tragically inevitable secession of Eritrea.
The informed reader will know that most Ethiopians held a deep loathing for the Mengistu Haile-mariam dictatorship throughout the seventeen years between 1974 and…
(continues next week under, ‘Mellow Meles’ )
Source: newbusinessethiopia.com
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