ADDIS ABABA — Tens of thousands of Ethiopians marked the 20-year anniversary yesterday of the removal of former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam by celebrating construction of a new dam.
The Horn of Africa nation announced it was building the US$4,7 billion project along its Nile waters in March to try to become a leading power exporter in Africa. It has ignored concerns in Egypt and is due to complete the first stages of construction in two years.
“The construction of the Renaissance Dam is just a symbol of our efforts to eradicate poverty and not the beginning nor end of our struggle to develop our country,” Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said, speaking behind bullet-proof glass. —Reuters
