December 31, 2012
In this very large undertaking, not all projects met their targets. The main causes were the Dergue’s incessant acts of distraction, followed by the lack or scarcity of machinery and material and financial resources. Even though many non-governmental aid agencies played an important role in alleviating the shortages, their contribution fell far short of the needs. Moreover, the international community and especially governments, which should have seen the issue in humanitarian and in political terms, failed to give it the barest attention. The Eritrean people and the EPLF were, therefore, forced to bear the burden almost on their own. Let alone in times of war, but even in time of peace, agricultural developments projects are long term and require vast inputs. This is all the more so as the cultural level of our people is low, particularly in the areas where pastoralism predominates and cultivation has not been developed. In fact, one of the reasons why EPLF’s agricultural development projects have not induced substantial changes is primarily because they are carried out in nomadic areas where it is difficult to change the life style of the people. Moreover, agricultural developments projects have been affected by limitations in related sectors of constriction transport…..etc.
Extensive infra-structure, which played a key role in the construction of a national economy and improvement of peoples live hood has been one of the objectives of the EPLF’s economic program. Before the strategic withdrawal, though in a limited way, the EPLF began to reactivate agricultural and industrial development services, including the construction of roads, dams and irrigation structures; operation of electricity generating plants, telephone, water and transport services; and the construction and rehabilitation of schools, hospitals and stores. The growth of the enemy’s destructive capacity after the withdrawal did not stop our construction work but made their expansion all the more necessary. The base area, as the center of our economic activities, was given priority for road construction and within a short period extraordinary roads were constructed through the rugged, mountain terrain of Sahel. Roads linking the expanding liberated and semi-liberated areas were also built. Construction work was very difficult since it was carried out on rocky terrain and depended on manual labor and rudimentary tools. In the past few years, however, the demand for machinery and other tools was met by equipment captured from the enemy, bought or obtained from donors. This has enabled us to undertake bigger construction projects and implement them efficiently.
Much progress was also made in the construction of buildings (for schools, hospitals, garages, workshops, stores, residences, etc.). As well as dams, wells and irrigation canals. The introduction-albeit slowly- of construction, drilling and brick making machinery as well as necessary materials has pushed construction work forward. Training programs were also designed and put into effect to meet the demand of professional and skilled personnel
Production of basic consumer goods and work tools is an important part of the EPLF economic program. Over the past few years a plastic shoe factory, a plant for producing sanitary towels, wood, spare parts, and metal good work shops, electric generating plants and distribution lines, as well as workshops for sowing cloths and hides material were set up and their production and services expanded. Due to financial and other limitations, only a few of the factories and workshops that were planned have been set up.
The EPLF gives high priority to developing transport facilities, as transportation is the life blood of the economic life of any nation and greatly influences its economic development. Curiously, the war despite its destructiveness, has contributed much to the EPLF experiencing in this sector. The transport equipment captured from enemy before, during and after the strategic withdrawal served as a basis for the EPLF’s transport services. But it did not come anywhere near satisfying our needs. Repair and maintenance of our vehicles, supplies of spare parts, fuel, tires batteries were essential demands.
To effectively utilize what was available, it was necessary to set up garages and workshops, properly use transport materials, ensure constant supply of spare parts, as well as retread tires and manufacture car batteries in the field. Several of these projects were successfully completed. The deli vary of emergency relief supplies to drought affected areas was an additional burden on our transport services. The cooperation shown by non-governmental agencies and humanitarian organizations in this regard was substantial. Yet our transportation service has not been able to meet even basic needs. The EPLF has also given due attention to the use of pack-animals since transportation demands in densily populated areas even where roads exist could not at all times be met by vehicles. Veterinary services were expanded and pack-animals rearing projects planned. But our effort to improve our transport capability in this area was not was successful, primary due to the drought but also because pack-animals remained prime targets of the Ethiopian regime.
Other factors have also restricted the growth of our transport services. Driving by night, which is a must, hastens vehicle decoration and reduces efficiency. As goods are generally hauled in one direction, fuel and other items used up on the return trip are virtually wasted. Limited financial resources, the unavailability or difficulty of obtaining spare parts are additional constraints. Although great emphasis was to the training of skilled personnel and considerable success registered, the department of transportation was affected by efforts to entice (through promises of jobs and good pay) its skilled personnel to desert. Finally, very little was accomplished in the EPLF plan to improve sea transport due to financial and human resources limitation and security problems.
The growth of markets and commercial operations to facilitate economic activity and as a source of revenue constituted a part of the EPLF’s economic program. This includes the organization and distribution of goods produced internally for social consumption and export, as well as running profitable import-export operations. Primacy was given to supplying basic consumer goods to the population, as the war, the Dergue’s embargo on our liberation and semi-liberated areas and the sky rocketing of prices caused by the devastation of the economy due to drought had created much adversity. Public institutions on their part tried to supply basic consumer items at cost utilizing EPLF provided loans and transport facilities, as well as public contributions. But as these efforts were not enough to cover all requirements due to the lack of capital, the EPLF’s Commerce Commission opened shops selling goods at cost and encouraged traders to supply essential goods at reasonable prices.The policy of setting up and controlling prices -which went hand in hand with the incentives provided to traders to engage in profitable commercial activities did not succeed due to the greed and manipulation of the traders. It was also not possible to properly administer the levying of taxes and duties due to the difficult condition of war, the extent of area that had to be covered, the sophistication contrabandist as well as the EPLF concentration on other tasks. The EPLF has also embarked on various commercial enterprises both inside the country and abroad. Their income has solved many problems, but the enterprises have not grown because management technique has not yet been mastered and profit made were consumed restricting capital accumulation. In general the EPLF’s main financial source has remained the dues paid by members and contribution from our people both inside the country and abroad. But, this important source has been seriously affected by the weakening of the economy and the lack of employment.
The EPLF relies on its policy of self-reliance to persecute the liberation struggle and build the national economy. The implementation of this policy has involved raising the consciousness of the people, upgrading their know how, skill and participation in production, laying down an infra-structure foundation; fostering creativity and innovation to increase what can be locally produced, independence from market forces; protecting the wealth of the people and the nation; developing a just system of distribution of wealth and produce, instituting just and cooperative relation based on common interest; and developing a well-organized and streamlined planning and implementation system. The experience gained constitutes a precious national wealth and the tangible result achieved attest to the correctness of the policy of self-reliance and the EPLF’s serious commitment to that policy.
Education is a decisive weapon on national reconstruction and economic development. The Eritrean people’s cultural level has lagged behind as a result of successive colonialism. Particularly in the era of Ethiopian colonialism, and continuous war. An entire generation-educational and cultural developments came to stop. This has been exploited by colonialists and internal opportunist forces to promote their political schemes. It’s virtually impossible for an uneducated population to be active in politics, properly administer its affairs, improve its economic conditions and achieve development.
The EPLF’s educational policy is based on recognition of these facts. It has broad aims, with eradication of illiteracy as its primary and fundamental objectives. Literacy and the raising of educational levels are an integral part of the campaign to politicize, organize and arm the people. Before the strategic withdrawal, the program was implemented over a broad area and an intensive literacy campaign had began to bear fruit. Although the program was impeded, for a time, by the strategic withdrawal, it was resumed and developed as a regular mass-activity complementing production and other aspects of social life. Schools were also opened in various parts of the country.
