Who Runs The World? Ethiopia has your answer

Power to the girl child as Sahle-Work Zewde, makes history by becoming the first female elected president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Sahle Work now replaces Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, who tendered his resignation to parliament on Wednesday, a year before his term ended said that he wanted to be part of change and reforms. Teshome had held the position of President for five years.

“In a historic move, the two Houses have elected Ambassador Shalework Zewde as the next President of #Ethiopia. She is the first female head of state in modern Ethiopia,” said Fitsum Arega, Prime Minister’s Abiy Ahmed Chief of Staff.

“In a patriarchal society such as ours, the appointment of a female head of state not only sets the standard for the future but also normalises women as decision-makers in public life,” he added on a post on Twitter.

The position of President is a ceremonial one in Ethiopia because the Prime Minister is the Head of State and holds all executive power.

According to Article 71 of the Ethiopian constitution, the powers and functions of the President include:

1. He shall open the joint session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of the Federation at the commencement of their annual sessions.
2. He shall proclaim in the Negarit Gazeta laws and international agreements approved by the House of Peoples’ Representatives in accordance with the Constitution.
3. He shall, upon recommendation by the Prime Minister, appoint ambassadors and other envoys to represent the country abroad.
4. He shall receive the credentials of foreign ambassadors and special envoys.
5. He shall award medals, prizes and gifts in accordance with conditions and procedures established by law.
6. He shall, upon recommendation by the Prime Minister and in accordance with law, grant high military titles.
7. He shall, in accordance with conditions and procedures established by law, grant pardon.

The appointment of Sahle-Work as the fourth President marks a shift in Ethiopia’s political system. Speaking in Parliament after her approval, Sahle-Work said, “When there is no peace in country, mothers will be frustrated. Therefore, we need to work on peace for the sake of our mothers.”

Ethiopia seems to be embracing women and including women in government after Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed reshuffled his cabinet and appointed 10 female ministers. The inclusion of the 10 women in Ethiopia makes her the third African country to achieve gender parity in cabinet.

 

Before being elected President, Sahle-Work was an Ethiopian diplomat serving as a Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres and Head of the UN Office to the African Union.

Do you think Kenya as a country has made any steps to bridge the gender inequality gap especially in governance?

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