Ethiopian Parliament Member Proposes

DV program for people coming to Ethiopia;

Proposal is “Yesekaram Hasab”,  Analyst Says

By WT, CHEWATA’s reporter in Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Copyright Ethiopis.com and CHEWATA

A member of Parliament in Ethiopia from Dessie has proposed legislation in the Ethiopian Parliament that will require Ethiopians who have changed their citizenship and want to come to enter their names in an Ethiopian DV (Diversity Visa)  lottery program at the Ethiopian Embassy located in the country they reside in order to be able to stay in Ethiopia beyond 6 months.

Ato Chane Kumelachew, speaking to CHEWATA, said people of Ethiopian origin holding passports of other countries are flocking to Ethiopia in greater numbers  than the country can handle and he was concerned that “Agerachin keWuchi ager meroachew bemetu Sewoch Chinik Nek endatel.”

“Look, because the economy is really terrible in America and Europe, these people are just bringing whatever saving they have there and buying up all businesses and houses here and Ethiopia is becoming crowded, ” he said. “Have you seen Addis Ababa lately?  It looks like the Amharic speaking sister of Calcutta, India.  Techenanekin eko!!”
Under his proposal, only a limited number of people will be allowed visas to enter Ethiopia for stays of 6 months or more by winning what he calls, “The Ethiopian DV program!”.  “Just because our country is Yewotalat Chista doesn’t mean you can just buy a one way and 6 month ticket and move in with another country’s passport,” he added. He said he was angry because property value was going through the roofs and only people from America or Europe could afford to buy land and houses.  “Bene YeParlama demoz yeferese Chika bet megzat salchil enesu eyemetu fokun hul wosdew cheresut eko, ” he angrily added.

The proposal is expected not to get a majority vote  in the Ethiopian Parliament and an angry member of Parliament from Harar, Ibrahim Asnake,  said, “Chane eko America DV embi belot new bekenat endih mihonew. His legislation is surely going down.”

Two US passport holders of Ethiopian origin that CHEWATA talked  to in the Piassa area of Addis were nervous about the proposal.
“I was laid off from many jobs in America and I thought I would come and just rest here for 6 months with no problem,” said Alemneh Kassa, a US passport holder visiting Addis. “I got my first DV to America in my 8th try,” he explained.  “I know with my luck, it will take me 20  years to hit the Ethiopian DV and see my country again if this plan becomes law.  I should have kept my Ethiopian passport!”.

A political analyst at Addis Ababa University, Professor Bekele Aregay, said crazy proposals come to the Parliament sometimes but all of them fail eventually.  “Ato Chane may mean well but you know this idea won’t get traction beyond his Yetej Bet Guadegnoch,” he explained to CHEWATA.