The Quest for Eternal Clauses in the Ethiopian Constitutional and Democratic Reforms

For continuity of states, some constitutions have eternal clauses, which areimmune from amendments forever. However, the concept of eternity hasnever been recognized in any of Ethiopian constitutions despite long historyof constitution-making processes. Ethiopians have been tackling to establisha viable, constitutional, and democratic government through making andremaking many constitutions in their political history. Among theconstitutional reforms in Ethiopia are the 1931 and 1955 MonarchicalConstitutions, the 1987 Socialist Oriented Constitution and the 1995 FederalOriented Constitution. The chief challenge in the Ethiopian constitutionaland democratic reforms is that the previous reforms have never been utilizedas steppingstones for the new reforms. To this date, Ethiopians have neitherdeveloped their common constitutional culture nor recognized the eternalclauses on important political and constitutional matters. There is noconsensus on the issue of national identity, state structure, the form ofgovernment, language policy, regional state formation and others.Currently, Ethiopia has also been facing multiple challenges, includingethnic tensions, sporadic border conflicts, massive internal displacement,drought, poverty, and gross human rights violations. For this reason, thisArticle argues that Ethiopia must introduce ‘eternal constitutional clauses’on issues of common national interest

Assessment of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used for livestock treatment in five selected Kebeles of Kersa District, Jimma Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Plants have been a source of medicine in Ethiopia from time immemorial to treat different human and livestock ailments. The purpose of this study was to identify the medicinal plant species and associated indigenous knowledge in livestock treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess indigenous knowledge of local people on medicinal plants used for livestock treatment in five selected kebeles of kersa district from March to June 2014. A total of 40 traditional healers (33 male and 7 male) 7-9 from each study sites were selected purpouvely with the help of knowledgeable elders, local authorities and kebele leaders. Ethno botanical data regarding plant species, plant parts used, livestock disease treated, and method of preparation and route of administration were collected through structured interview and field observation. A total of 33 plant species distributed in 24 families were identified in the study area. The majority of the medicinal plants 63.63% were collected from the wild and 33.33% from home garden. The major growth habit of the medicinal plants identified in the study area were herbs 39.39%, followed by shrubs 33.33%.The most frequently harvested plant parts were leaves and roots with proportion of 57.7% and 21.21%, respectively followed by seeds (9.09%) and fruits (6.06%). Pounding and crushing were the most commonly used method of remedies preparation whereas the widely used method of administration is oral. The study reveals that the local people of the study area harvest medicinal plants used to treat livestock health problem from the wild habitat. Therefore, awaring the local people of the study area to conserve medicinal plants in their home garden is recommended

Creeping Towards Multicultural Federalism in Contemporary Ethiopia: Assessing the Legal and Political Complicatedness

From 1991 onwards federalism has been introduced as the best option of governance to ensure constitutionalism and democracy in Ethiopia in particular and in the Horn of Africa in general for the first time in history. Despite this fact, currently there are numerous political parties, Liberation Fronts, and governments, basing their political questions on quest for federation, unification, and secession (Independence) in Ethiopia. As a result of these divergent political questions; ethnic conflicts, inter-state and intra-state conflicts, rampant corruptions, and poverty are still remained as a brand of Ethiopia in particular and in the Horn of Africa in general. Consequently, the Horn of Africa, in which Ethiopia is considered as the center is globally known as a center of crisis. Accordingly, Ethiopia has been suffering from the prevailing contending political ideologies, legal, and practical problems; though she has been introducing and practicing multicultural federalism as her state structure since 1991. Hence, this research has the objective of analyzing the prevailing legal and political challenges against the present-day Ethiopian multicultural federalism. Consequently, as its research methodology; this research has employed: critical legal and political analyses, historical interpretations of multicultural federalism in Ethiopia and beyond, document analyses, observation and personal experiences of the researcher. Therefore, it has utilized a qualitative research method. Consequently, the findings of this research has pointed out that there is a legal, political, and practical problems in order to ensure genuine multicultural federalism in the present-day Ethiopia. Keywords:Constitutionalism, Ethiopia, Federalism, Law, Politics DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/109-02 Publication date:May 31st 202

Assessment of Utilization of Health Information and Associated Factors at District Level in East Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, West Ethiopia

Background: Health Information System in low income countries at all level has an important role to support Ministries of Health and other government agencies for informed decision making at all level. However, its utilization is a challenging task currently confronted by countries throughout the developing world in general and Ethiopia in particular. The main objective of this study was to assess the utilization of health information at district level in East Wollega Zone. Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted in nine randomly selected districts in east Wollega zone from March 1 to April 15, 2015.  Data were collected using semi structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Both bivariate and multivariate methods of data analysis used to determine the predictors. Results: All of the respondents had training on Health Management Information System, only 36 (11.8%) had in service training.  Based on the criteria 140(45.8%) were not utilized Health Information system, 202 (66.0%) of them utilized Health Information system to prepare plan of action. The independent predictors affecting utilization of Health Information were feedback from respective supervisor [AOR=14.5(6.9-30.3)], types of the decision [AOR= 3.9(1.9-7.8)] and, type of the organization [AOR= 3.5(1.5-8.1)]. The proportion quarterly completeness & timeliness of report were 86% and 89% respectively however data accuracy were not 100% maintained as per guideline. Conclusion and Recommendation: The utilization rate of Health Information at district level in east Wollega zone was found to be very low and training on HMIS was not adequate to implement the new system in line with Health Management Information System standard. Efforts should be made by the Zonal health department to strengthen supportive supervision at all levels and ensure availability of standard reporting formats& registers to maximize the utilization of Health Information. Keywords: Utilization, health information syste

A study on the Role of Multipurpose Cooperatives in Grain Marketing in Gozamn Woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the grain marketing role of multipurpose cooperatives in Gozamn woreda. It is widely accepted that multipurpose cooperatives are human associations organized for the benefits of members through collective efforts. Having recognized this, the researcher has conducted this study by focusing on the grain marketing roles and the influencing factors. To this end, data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Four primary cooperatives and 150 individuals were randomly selected in proportion to the membership size of the cooperatives. The data were collected through structured interview and focus group discussion. Both descriptive statistics and econometric analysis were employed for analytical purpose. The result shows that from the total respondents, 58.67% were not involved in marketing of teff and wheat through cooperatives while 22%, 11.33% and 8%, of the respondents sold in the ranges of : 0.5-2.00, 2.01-4.00, 4.01-6.00 quintals of teff and wheat through multipurpose cooperative respectively in 2008/09. The descriptive statistics indicated that the marketing share of cooperatives out of the total marketable surplus was 14%. Some categorical variables like, qualified employees, purchase period, and weather condition showed significant differences between groups at less than at p<0.05 probability level. In the regression analysis, variables like cooperative purchase price, patronage refund, distance of the multipurpose cooperative from the house hold residence, access to market information, farming experience and access to fertilizer were found to have significant relationship to the quantity of teff and wheat sold through cooperatives. Among these significant variables cooperative purchase price, patronage refund, access to market information , farming experience and , access to fertilizer have positive relationship while distance of the multipurpose cooperative from the house hold residence has negative relationship with quantity of teff and wheat sold through multipurpose cooperatives. Based on the result, responsible organizations need to give due attention to overcome strengthen, build their capacities mainly in grain marketing management, internal control, members participation and decision making that ultimately could increase sense of ownership on the part of members and to attain the immense roles and objectives of cooperatives

Evaluation of indigenous fungal isolates and Metarhizium anisopliae var. acriidum against adult lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella (l) (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera)

&nbsp;The lesser wax moth (LWM) is a widely distributed and devastating insect pest to the honey production sector in Ethiopia. The present study aimed at investigating the potential of native fungal isolates against the lesser wax moth and assessing non target effect of one isolate of Beauveria (IITA 18) and five isolates of Metarhizium (IMI 330189, DLCO-AA83, DLCO-AA 109, DLCO-AA5, DLCO-AA14) via inoculating Ethiopian honeybee race, Apis mellifera bandasii. The effects of these six fungal isolates were evaluated in the laboratory for their pathogenicity to adult lesser wax moths. Spore dilutions were prepared in 0.5% Tween 80. Adults were treated by spraying 2 ml of conidial suspensions ranging from 2x104 to 2x107 conidia/ml. Adult lesser wax moths were found to be susceptible to all isolates and concentrations used. Comparison of post-treatment mortality of adult, lesser wax moth (LWM) at the lowest concentration (2x104 conidia/ml) revealed that infection of &gt; 90% could be achieved by day 8 post inoculation. Investigation into effects of mycosis on percentage emergence of adults from fungal treated last instar larvae of the lwm showed no significant difference (P&gt;0.05) between the treated and untreated controls. Laboratory based experiments on the host specificity of the six fugal isolates had no effect in which only 1 individual honeybee (0.5%) was infected with isolate IITA 18 (Beauveria spp.) while isolate DLCO-AA83 (Metarhizium spp.), caused infection in 2 individual honeybees