Name: Gidey G/Egziabher

Age: 28

Sex:  Male

Education: 12+ 1

Work: Student

Address: Student of Commercial College Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Have you taken election cards? Yes.

 

Q. What is your general impression about the upcoming election? Are you following events with interest or casually?

1.      Casually.

Q. Which political personalities or Parties have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

2.                  I am confused; some of the oppositions sound good but I lost confidence that they may not be able to rule the country as their experience and distribution all over the country is not enough, you can’t do something just only because you want to do it. This means all the blood shade and sacrifice of life made by our brothers and friends, to put down the past regime is lost, that I don’t want to see. Even some of the parties such as Kiniget which I was impressed in, is not doing good in  this very time were we are approaching the election, I really hate their advocacy especially against the Tigray people. Some of the leaders can’t see the difference between the Tigray people and EPRDF. That is why I am confused.

 

Q . In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family? (The economic condition, democratic rights, employment, peace and stability, others?) How about for the whole country? (The Eritrea question, famine/drought, the economy, AIDS/HIV, poverty, ethnic relationships, land tenure, environment pollution, population growth, etc?)

3.                  Economy and Peace.

Q. Do you expect the election to be a democratic one? How do you view the pre-election activities like the campaigns and debates on TV?

4.                  The situation of the pre-election sounds good.

Q.  Which parties do you expect to win most seats?

5.                  Most probably EPRDF.

Q. Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country?

 

6.                  Well, both we have witnessed many improvements but I have also reservations.

Q . Do you think the Ethiopia of 2005 is better or worse than the Ethiopia of 2000?

7.                  No, the last five years were by far better compared with the time before 2000. As I said there are merits and demerits. For example in my personal life, I am from a farmer family and because of EPRDF education expansion policy, I got a chance to be in collage, this sounds good. But my situation in the school is worst, It doesn’t look we will continue. Thus I lost in two ways I am not a good farmer or office worker. After all that hope, it is really hard to go back and start farming. So …

Q. What is your impression about Prime Minister Meles?

  1. I appreciate and support Meles except his positions and stands on the Eritrean condition.

 

Q.Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles' cabinet, who is -in your opinion -most respected (least disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

  1. I like Seyom and Arkebe in Addis.

 

Q. If EPRDF loses, which candidate would you like to see as Ethiopia's next Prime Minister? (Dr. Beyene, Professor Mesfin, Professor Merara, Ato Lidetu, Ato Shawel, Dr. Berhanu, etc)

  1. I could’t say any.

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Name : Diakon Mebratu

Age : 32

Sex : Male

Education:  12th + church education

Work: Priest

Address : Dolomena

Have you taken election cards? No.

 

Q. What is your general impression about the upcoming election ? are you following events with interest or casually ?

1                                            Casually.

Q. Which poletical personalites or parties have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

2                                            None, because none have been good for our city.

Q. In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family? None.

Q. Do you expect the election to be a democratic one? How do you view the pre-election activities like the campaigns and debates on TV?

3                                            In Dolomena no. There is no even opposition representatives here.

Q.  Which parties do you expect to win most seats?

4                                            EPRDF.

Q. Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country?

5.                   EPRDF was really bad for our town. Dergue was far better for us .In that period electricity has been installed for us, our roads were good, there was trading and our town was active. One reason is “Meslo” military training camp was around us. In any case, every thing is deteriorating even the camp is looted and now inhabited by farmers, even the situation of the forest is unfair.  Settlers are coming in to it. In any ways Dolo is now the forgotten town.

Q . Do you think the Ethiopia of 2005 is better or worse than the Ethiopia of 2000?

6. The situation will be worsen.

Q. What is your impression about Prime Minister Meles?

7.      –

Q. Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles' cabinet, who is -in your opinion -most respected (least disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

8.      –

Q.  If EPRDF loses, which candidate would you like to see as Ethiopia's next Prime Minister?

9.      I don’t expect better from any one of them.

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Name Mariamawit Yonatan

Age 26

Sex Female

Education: B. Pharm

Work: Instructor, AAU

Address : Addis Ababa

Have you taken election cards? YES.

 

Q. What is your general impression about the upcoming election? Are you following events with interest or casually ?

1                                            Positive. I am following it with full interest.

Q. Which political personalities or have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

2                                            The Coalition (Kinijit).

Q.  In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family?

3                                            For my family: Democratic rights. For the country: AIDS/HIV, poverty and land tenure.

Q. Do you expect the election to be a democratic one? How do you view the pre-election activities like the campaigns and debates on TV?

4                                            Hopefully yes. But I don’t think EPRDF has the gut to allow that. The debates on TV were very good and I think they had a significant effect on the views of people.

Q.  Which parties do you expect to win most seats?

5                                            I want the Coalition to win but EPRDF will win the seats; they will make sure that they do.

Q. Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country?

6                                            There are some things EPRDF has been good for and there are some where things were changed even worse.

Q. Do you think the Ethiopia of 2005 is better or worse than the Ethiopia of 2000?

7                                            The rich become even richer and the poor even poorer, so I can’t say better or worse. The next five years fate depends on the winning of a strong challenge, like the coalition significant number of sits. Personally we are ok but not because of EPRDF but because many of my family have left the country, finished a school and get a job etc.

Q. What is your impression about Prime Minister Meles?

8                                            He is brilliant man but used his brilliance for bad. He is a charismatic dictator.

Q. Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles' cabinet, who is -in your opinion -most respected (least disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

9                                            Least disliked – Genet Zewde; Most liked – Arkebe.

Q. If EPRDF loses, which candidate would you like to see as Ethiopia's next Prime Minister?

10                                        Dr. Berhanu Most liked – Arkebe (I like him too).

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Name : Suzi Mebratu

Age : 25

Sex : Female

Education: 11th

Work: Bar lady

Address : Shashemene

Have you taken election cards? YES.

 

Q. What is your general impression about the upcoming election? Are you following events with interest or casually?

  1. I follow events with interest but casually.

 

Q. Which political personalities or parties have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

2.      EPRDF.

Q. In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family? Economy.

Q. Do you expect the election to be a democratic one? How do you view the pre-election activities like the campaigns and debates on TV?

3.      The pre-election campaign sounds democratic, but sometimes it sounds as if the oppositions don’t have enough time to address the public.

Q.  Which parties do you expect to win most seats?

  1. EPRDF.

Q.  Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country?

  1. Yes EPRDF has been good for the past but still many things remain untouched.

Q.  Do you think the Ethiopia of 2005 is better or worse than the Ethiopia of 2000?

  1. As I said EPRDF was good for the last five years in my judgment, I mean even if it doe’s work as to our expectation. Still I will expect the next five years to be better.

Q8. What is your impression about Prime Minister Meles? 

  1. He is intelligent. He is a man who has an answer for every thing even for insults.

 

Q. Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles' cabinet, who is -in your opinion -most respected (least disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

  1. I don’t know.

Q. If EPRDF loses, which candidate would you like to see as Ethiopia's next Prime Minister?

  1. Even if I am the supporter of EPRDF, I want to see someone to be elected except EPRDF.

 

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Name Ehitalm Kasahun

Age 40

Sex Female

Education : 12 +1

Work: Government Employee

Address : Goba

Have you taken election cards? YES.

 

Q. What is your general impression about the upcoming election? Are you following events with interest or casually?

1                                            Casually.

Q. Which poletical personalities or parties have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

2                                            Any ways EPRDF is better.

Q. In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family?

3                                            Stability and democratic rights.

 

Q. Do you expect the election to be a democratic one? How do you view the pre-election activities like the campaigns and debates on TV?

4                                            It sounds ok but I think it has something hidden behind, I mean it is for me a means of cheating.

Q.  Which parties do you expect to win most seats?

5                                            By hook or crook,  EPRDF.

Q. Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country?

6                                            EPRDF was not that good for our town GOBA, but I think far better than Dergue.

Q. Do you think the Ethiopia of 2005 is better or worse than the Ethiopia of 2000?

7                                            A lot has happened in the last five years, I will also expect many in the next five years. You know ever since in History, we are going to have a University in Bale.

Q. What is your impression about Prime Minister Meles?

8                                            He is very smart and perfect in dialogue and argument.

 

Q. Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles' cabinet, who is -in your opinion -most respected (least disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

9                                            Disliked : Genet; Liked : None.

Q. If EPRDF loses, which candidate would you like to see as Ethiopia's next Prime Minister?

10                                        Kinijit and Dr. Brehanu.

 

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Name Asefaw Werkachew

Sex: Male

Education: Msc.

Work: Instructor, AAU

Address : Adis Ababa

Have you taken Election cards? Yes.

 

Q. What is your general impression about the upcoming election? Are you following events with interest or casually ?

1                                            I am following events carefully with full interest.

Q. Which political personalities or have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

2                                            Till recently I was highly impressed with EPRDF but this time I changed my mind and impressed by the programs and visions of the Coalition- Kinijit. I think this is time to see a change.

Q. In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family?

3                                            Every thing is important for me, I follow each debate with interest.

Q. Do you expect the election to be a democratic one? How do you view the pre-election activities like the campaigns and debates on TV?

 

4                                            The pre- election is really amazing, for the first time in Ethiopian History people felt the possibility of power transfer peacefully, without a gun. But I have a doubt about the last situation. This time Kinijit is getting support from the majority of the people thus I really doubt that EPRDF will face the challenge of Kiniget without any cheating.

Q.  Which parties do you expect to win most seats?

5                                            I wish if Kinijit win.

 

Q. Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country?

6                                            Well in the period of EPRDF a number of progresses were done even if, all was not as expected, I am somehow satisfied. The next five years will be better, in any case. If Kinijit win the election we will expect a better thing, if not peaceful power transfer by itself is something, If EPRDF win most seats, still they will be challenged by the oppositions in the parliament and even the current situation will seriously show them the power of the people and they will work to the interest of the majority not only for their own needs and the need of donors. In any case I expect a better tomorrow.

 

Q. Do you think the Ethiopia of 2005 is better or worse than the Ethiopia of 2000?

7                                            –

Q. What is your impression about Prime Minister Meles?

8                                            Personally I appreciate him and I wish if he joins Kinijit.

Q. Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles' cabinet, who is -in your opinion -most respected (least disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

9                                            Most disliked: Genet  ; Liked : Arkebe.

Q. If EPRDF loses, which candidate would you like to see as Ethiopia's next Prime Minister?

10                                        Dr. Beyene.

 

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Name:  Ahmed Indris

Sex:  Male

Education: 5th

Work: Listro (Shoe Polisher)

Address : Adis Ababa

 Have you taken Election Cards? Yes.

 

Q. What is your general impression about the upcoming election? Are you following events with interest or casually?

1                                            Casually, when there is no football game. On Sundays, it is my working time thus I can’t follow events.

 

Q. Which political personalities have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

2                                            The oppositions are good, but I prefer EPRDF. Any ways both are good.

Q. In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family?

3                                            Economy and Stability.

Q. Do you expect the election to be a democratic one? How do you view the pre-election activities like the campaigns and debates on TV?

4                                            I think it will be good.

Q.  Which parties do you expect to win most seats?

5                                            I don’t know.

Q. Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country?

6                                            Yes EPRDF was very nice in the last periods. You see all the roads are repaired and if you go to Bole and Megenanga every thing is covered by big and beautiful buildings. Some times I feel as if I am in America. The only thing I hate about Arkebe and EPRDF is that they are jealous they don’t want to see people working. A number of my friends go back to the countryside and they are suffering because of Arkebe’s policy in the city, they are chasing us they don’t want us to work in the city, where shall we go then? This is what I hate from EPRDF.

 

Q. Do you think the Ethiopia of 2005 is better or worse than the Ethiopia of 2000?

7                                            Yes Ethiopia is better than before, we don’t know what will come next. The only thing I need is to work peacefully.

 

Q. What is your impression about Prime Minister Meles?

8                                            He is a smart man.

 

Q. Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles' cabinet, who is -in your opinion -most respected (least disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

9                                            Some times I love Arkebe, he gave the new street houses for our poor friends, and sometimes I hate him. I don’t know the rest, and I don’t know you; how could I know who you are? I think it is sometimes good to take care!

 

Q. If EPRDF loses, which candidate would you like to see as Ethiopia's next Prime Minister?

10                                        Dr. Beyene or Dr. Brehanu.

 

April 25, 2005 – MediaEthiopia.

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