Ethiopia: Waste of billions of dollars in gov’t projects

Some of the machineries damaged before they were even put to use

ESAT News (August 21, 2017)

Major government projects that cost billions of dollars have failed due to inefficient and unprofessional management, corruption and nepotism, according to a government sponsored study obtained by ESAT.

The 327 pages document prepared by the Policy Study and Research Center (PSRC) and obtained by ESAT revealed that 73% of the government sugar projects were not realized and none of the 10 sugar factories have become operational. The sugar projects that resulted in the loss of nearly 3.5 billion dollars were previously managed by Abay Tsehaye, a member of the TPLF oligarchy. Ironically, Abay Tsehaye is now the head of PSRC.

The document says the projects have miserably failed as they were run buy people with no knowledge of project management and people who were given the job due to their connections with those in power.

All contracts for the sugar projects were awarded to the Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC), considered the biggest corporation in Africa and owned by the TPLF. METEC is run by a general by the name Kinfe Dagne, whom many hold responsible for squandering billions of dollars in the name of building a number of state projects.

The document also reveals that professionals who spoke against the mismanagement and corruption and who challenged the authorities left their jobs due to the harassment they face and in some instances fired.

The document also details the waste of billions of dollars in road construction, irrigation and construction of condominiums.