Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party has called on political parties to look past election-focused politics and adopt long-term strategies centered on governance, investment, and national development, ENA English reported on November 7, 2026.
The appeal came from Dr. Dereje Duguma, head of strategic affairs at the party, during a panel discussion in Addis Ababa held under the theme "Political Parties as Engines of National Development." According to ENA English, Dereje argued that parties should devote less attention to winning votes and more to turning development goals into concrete, durable results for citizens.
Why it matters
The remarks carry weight because they come from the ruling party of Africa's second most populous nation, and they touch on a question that shapes politics across the continent: whether parties should be judged mainly by how they campaign or by what they deliver in office. ENA English reports that Dereje framed the issue as a matter of institutional responsibility, saying parties have a duty to set development agendas, push strategic priorities forward, and make sure plans produce meaningful outcomes.
He also tied the discussion to continental goals, stressing that parties should align their policies with long-term national and continental aspirations, particularly the African Union's Agenda 2063.
A marathon, not a sprint
Dereje's central argument, as reported by ENA English, was that sustainable development depends on investing in the country's future, building strong institutions, and sustaining leadership commitment beyond electoral cycles. He compared political engagement to a marathon rather than a 100-meter sprint, suggesting parties must treat their work as a long-term undertaking aimed at national transformation.
He further noted that effective governance should start with preparation and institutional capacity even before a party takes office — a point echoed in separate reporting from Fana Media Corporation, whose linked coverage notes that the chair of an Africa governance center urged political parties to prepare for government before winning power.
Training structures and the Medemer philosophy
Dereje pointed to the Prosperity Party's own institutional efforts as an example. According to ENA English, he cited the African Leadership Excellence Center, known as AfLEX, along with similar bodies set up at regional levels, which provide leadership training and strengthen institutional capacity. He said these structures support leadership development, performance evaluation, monitoring, and accountability within the party.
He also identified Medemer as the philosophical foundation behind the party's policies and strategies across social, economic, and foreign affairs. ENA English's coverage links to a separate piece titled "Medemer in Action," though the summary does not detail its contents.
In addition, Dereje highlighted a leadership incubation programme intended to develop capable leaders at various levels through structured initiatives and objective performance assessment. He concluded that strong leadership, capable institutions, and a long-term development vision are what allow parties to move past electoral competition and become genuine drivers of national transformation.
The panel took place against a backdrop of broader activity around political party development in Ethiopia. EBC reported that the country has opened leadership academy training to African political parties, according to a linked headline in the same ENA English summary.
What to watch: whether other Ethiopian parties respond to the call, and whether the Prosperity Party's training institutions produce measurable changes in how it governs ahead of the next electoral cycle.
