Ethiopia ranks 126 in 2008 World Corruption table by Transperncy International

According to Transparency International, Ethiopia is still classified as one of the most corrupt states in the world, as close circle of people in power are looting the nation. The anti-corruption commission itself has proved to be the most corrupt organ of Meles Zenawi’s regime. It is very difficult to abandon corruption so long as Meles Zenawi himself is benefiting from it. The Prime Minister’s wife, Azeb Mesfin, is an ambitious businesswoman, who has long been the head of the multi-million dollar business empire, Mega Corporation, which earned her the nickname “Queen of Mega.” One of the serious complaints of businessmen that have been ignored by the ruling party is the crippling effect of TPLF-backed business enterprises like Mega. Independent businessmen have long been alleging that they could not compete freely as the favoured companies and corporations that are connected to the ruling party, have unfairly monopolized many sectors owing to their links with the top brasses of the TPLF. Only the likes of Seye Abraha who challenged the PM were accused of corruption and ended up in jails, but the impropriety of mingling public, private and party-owned businesses remains a contentious issues.

Among the largest TPLF companies are Wegagen Bank, Guna Trading, Almedia Textiles and Garment, Africa Insurance, Beruh Chemical, Express Transit, Hiwot Agricultural, Mega-Net, Mesebo Building, Sheba Tannery, Meskerem Investment, Mesfin Industrial, Sur Construction, and Trans-Ethiopia. ENDEAVOR, as a junior partner, has more modest holdings which include Dashen Brewery, Zeleke Agricultural, and Blue Nile transport. The other EPRDF member fronts are in the early stages of mastering the get-rich-quick scheme.

To end up corruptions and sufferings of our nation, people must join hand and fight the root cause of these miseries which is the Meles Zenawi regime. Two decades in power, Meles is the same.

Related documents:

1. The 'Queen of Mega' in Parliament. http://www.kinijit.org/content_JIL.asp?amonth=2007&ContentType=News&contentid=2212
2. 2008 world corruption table by Transperncy International. http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2008
3. The Ominous Clouds of Woyanne/EPRDF’s Business Empire.http://tegbar.org/?p=52
4. The book and the corruption. http://ethioforum.org/wp/archives/783
5. The Link between ethno-centric minority rule and corruption; the case of Ethiopiahttp://ethioforum.org/wp/archives/588