Addis Ababa:Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party has called on political parties to transition from focusing solely on election-driven politics to embracing long-term strategic leadership that prioritizes effective governance, sustainable investment, and national development.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Dr. Dereje Duguma, Head of Strategic Affairs at the Prosperity Party, urged political parties to concentrate less on merely winning elections and more on converting national development ambitions into tangible and lasting outcomes. He made these remarks during a panel discussion themed “Political Parties as Engines of National Development.”
Dr. Dereje emphasized the critical role political parties play in shaping national development agendas, advancing strategic priorities, and ensuring that development plans yield meaningful results for citizens. He highlighted the importance of aligning party policies and actions with long-term national and continental goals, such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
He further noted the necessity of adopting long-term strategic frameworks beyond seasonal election campaigns to foster national prosperity and development. Dr. Dereje stressed that sustainable development requires investment in the country's future, strong institutions, and leadership commitment that extends beyond electoral cycles.
Dr. Dereje compared political engagement to a marathon instead of a short sprint, advocating for a long-term approach to political responsibilities, with sustained efforts directed toward national transformation. He also outlined the Prosperity Party’s initiatives to enhance leadership capacity, including the establishment of training structures and institutions like the African Leadership Excellence Center (AfLEX), which provide leadership training and strengthen institutional capacity.
He identified Medemer as the philosophical foundation of the Prosperity Party’s policies and strategies across various sectors, and highlighted the party’s leadership incubation programme aimed at nurturing capable leaders through structured development initiatives and performance evaluation.
Dr. Dereje concluded by stressing that strong leadership, capable institutions, and a long-term development vision are vital for political parties to move beyond electoral competition and become effective drivers of national transformation.
