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| Haile Selassie I |
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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Selected Speeches |
| Haile Selassie the First - November 2, 1961 |
| Speech On Far-Reaching Administrative Reforms Nov. 02, 1961 |
In 1955, persuaded that events so required and so permitted, We
promulgated a Revised Constitution. By virtue of this document a
popularly-elected Chamber of Deputies today sits in Parliament and
participates in the regulation of the affairs of their country. And this year,
as has already been announced, broad and far-reaching studies have been
launched to sweep away any obstacles which still stand in the way of
further growth which, God willing, will proceed unabated until all
Ethiopians stand proudly as citizens of a State which will not suffer by
comparison with any on this continent or in this world, a State in which
each man enjoys, without let or hindrance, those rights and liberties which
are man's most precious possessions. We shall devote Our entire being to
this purpose, and We call upon each Ethiopian to take for himself this
same pledge.
Within the past months, We have convened a number of special
committees and have charged them with the task of exploring ways and
means of speeding the development of Our nation in various fields. The
work of these committees is proceeding rapidly, and the results of their
deliberations and the recommendations which they make will be made
known to you and, if required, you will be asked to act on them. The
Committee on Constitutional and determine whether there is need to amend
it in order that the system of responsible ministerial government which We
have created, deliberately and of Our own free will, may be rendered more
efficient and effective. Government today in Ethiopia has attained such
magnitude that no single man nor any few men can control its every
aspect and operation. Responsibility must be increasingly delegated to
those who have demonstrated themselves efficient and devoted
administrators. You, the members of Parliament, must take an ever
increasing part in government.
The Committee on Administrative Reform is undertaking a task which
must be discharged periodically in all developing-nations, that of analyzing
the form and institutions of government so that its working may be
simplified. The Committee on Local Government is exploring the
possibility of granting an increased measure of autonomy to local
administrations within the unified provincial administration which already
exists. Decentralization is required as administration grows in size and
complexity. The Committee on Education is seeking the means of
expanding Ethiopia's existing educational facilities so that they may
adequately meet the increasing demands being made -- and properly so --
for instruction in the learning and wisdom of the modern world. Other
committees may, perhaps, have more immediate impact upon the course
of events in Ethiopia; the work of none of them will be of greater
importance in influencing, over the long term, this country's future.
promulgated a Revised Constitution. By virtue of this document a
popularly-elected Chamber of Deputies today sits in Parliament and
participates in the regulation of the affairs of their country. And this year,
as has already been announced, broad and far-reaching studies have been
launched to sweep away any obstacles which still stand in the way of
further growth which, God willing, will proceed unabated until all
Ethiopians stand proudly as citizens of a State which will not suffer by
comparison with any on this continent or in this world, a State in which
each man enjoys, without let or hindrance, those rights and liberties which
are man's most precious possessions. We shall devote Our entire being to
this purpose, and We call upon each Ethiopian to take for himself this
same pledge.
Within the past months, We have convened a number of special
committees and have charged them with the task of exploring ways and
means of speeding the development of Our nation in various fields. The
work of these committees is proceeding rapidly, and the results of their
deliberations and the recommendations which they make will be made
known to you and, if required, you will be asked to act on them. The
Committee on Constitutional and determine whether there is need to amend
it in order that the system of responsible ministerial government which We
have created, deliberately and of Our own free will, may be rendered more
efficient and effective. Government today in Ethiopia has attained such
magnitude that no single man nor any few men can control its every
aspect and operation. Responsibility must be increasingly delegated to
those who have demonstrated themselves efficient and devoted
administrators. You, the members of Parliament, must take an ever
increasing part in government.
The Committee on Administrative Reform is undertaking a task which
must be discharged periodically in all developing-nations, that of analyzing
the form and institutions of government so that its working may be
simplified. The Committee on Local Government is exploring the
possibility of granting an increased measure of autonomy to local
administrations within the unified provincial administration which already
exists. Decentralization is required as administration grows in size and
complexity. The Committee on Education is seeking the means of
expanding Ethiopia's existing educational facilities so that they may
adequately meet the increasing demands being made -- and properly so --
for instruction in the learning and wisdom of the modern world. Other
committees may, perhaps, have more immediate impact upon the course
of events in Ethiopia; the work of none of them will be of greater
importance in influencing, over the long term, this country's future.
| Pension And Civil Service |
... The first is the enactment of a pension law whereby Government
employees who have devoted themselves to the service of their nation will
be assured, when the time comes, that they may enjoy the leisure which
the modern world denies during man's active years, of continued financial
independence. Man's ingratitude to man is often manifested in the
willingness to relegate human beings to the scrapheap of life when they
enter the twilight of their careers and younger brains and stronger arms
are found to replace them. This has, happily, never been the case in Our
nation, and with the establishment of a Government pensions scheme,
these rights, traditional to Ethiopia, are preserved and expanded.
Secondly, by Imperial Order We have, only few days ago, established the
legal framework for a public service system which will govern the hiring,
promotion, dismissal and discipline of the great majority of government
employees. This legislative act, which formalizes a custom followed in
practice in the past, will facilitate the creation fo a corps of career public
servants who may devote themselves without stint to their duties, to the
exclusion of personal or special preoccupations.
These two enactments are epoch-making in Ethiopian history; their
significance cannot be over-emphasized. They may, at the outset, be
administered less than perfectly. The full measure of their impact upon
the carrying on of responsible government in Ethiopia may not be
immediately felt. But impact there shall be. Henceforward, each employee
will know of the conditions of his service. He will know what he must do
to be considered for employment with the Government and what
conditions he must meet to be enrolled in Government service. He will
know that if he performs efficiently and well he will be promoted, and that
if he slacks or shirks his duties or abuses his position for his personal
financial gain, wh will be disciplined and even discharged. He will be
aware of his duties, his rights and obligations. He will be secure in his
position for so long as he serves ably and well. And after having served
his nation loyally, when he is old, or sick, or feeble, he will be guaranteed
his pension to the end of his life. Upon his death, his wife, his children,
even his parents, may enjoy the benefits to which his years in Government
service have entitled him.
Both the pension scheme and the public service system will be
administered by autonomous bodies headed by an independent Board of
Commissioners. The fundamental task of these Commissioners, in
addition to administering the organizations which they head, is to ensure
that no outside influence is involved in awarding pensions and in directing
the public service system. If freedom from political influence is achieved,
every Ethiopian will know that public servants hold their positions by
virture of merit and worth, and that retired Government employees have
earned their pensions by years of faithful and devoted service.
employees who have devoted themselves to the service of their nation will
be assured, when the time comes, that they may enjoy the leisure which
the modern world denies during man's active years, of continued financial
independence. Man's ingratitude to man is often manifested in the
willingness to relegate human beings to the scrapheap of life when they
enter the twilight of their careers and younger brains and stronger arms
are found to replace them. This has, happily, never been the case in Our
nation, and with the establishment of a Government pensions scheme,
these rights, traditional to Ethiopia, are preserved and expanded.
Secondly, by Imperial Order We have, only few days ago, established the
legal framework for a public service system which will govern the hiring,
promotion, dismissal and discipline of the great majority of government
employees. This legislative act, which formalizes a custom followed in
practice in the past, will facilitate the creation fo a corps of career public
servants who may devote themselves without stint to their duties, to the
exclusion of personal or special preoccupations.
These two enactments are epoch-making in Ethiopian history; their
significance cannot be over-emphasized. They may, at the outset, be
administered less than perfectly. The full measure of their impact upon
the carrying on of responsible government in Ethiopia may not be
immediately felt. But impact there shall be. Henceforward, each employee
will know of the conditions of his service. He will know what he must do
to be considered for employment with the Government and what
conditions he must meet to be enrolled in Government service. He will
know that if he performs efficiently and well he will be promoted, and that
if he slacks or shirks his duties or abuses his position for his personal
financial gain, wh will be disciplined and even discharged. He will be
aware of his duties, his rights and obligations. He will be secure in his
position for so long as he serves ably and well. And after having served
his nation loyally, when he is old, or sick, or feeble, he will be guaranteed
his pension to the end of his life. Upon his death, his wife, his children,
even his parents, may enjoy the benefits to which his years in Government
service have entitled him.
Both the pension scheme and the public service system will be
administered by autonomous bodies headed by an independent Board of
Commissioners. The fundamental task of these Commissioners, in
addition to administering the organizations which they head, is to ensure
that no outside influence is involved in awarding pensions and in directing
the public service system. If freedom from political influence is achieved,
every Ethiopian will know that public servants hold their positions by
virture of merit and worth, and that retired Government employees have
earned their pensions by years of faithful and devoted service.
| Chapter VI |
| Legal & Constitutional |
... As the young men who have received advanced training in law return
from abroad in ever-increasing numbers, and as modern legal codes come
into force in Ethiopia, we must act to reform and modernize Ethiopia's
judiciary. This particular responsibility has been confided to the Judicial
Committee. It is labouring to improve Ethiopia's judicial system so that
speedy and impartial justice will be guaranteed to all. All men stand equal
before the law. All men must be able to enforce their legal rights before
the courts. The Judicial Committee is seeking to achieve these objectives,
and to create a system whereby judges will be appointed form among
those best qualified, and the principle of the independence of the judiciary,
already established in the Revised Constitution, will be fully implemented in
practice....
from abroad in ever-increasing numbers, and as modern legal codes come
into force in Ethiopia, we must act to reform and modernize Ethiopia's
judiciary. This particular responsibility has been confided to the Judicial
Committee. It is labouring to improve Ethiopia's judicial system so that
speedy and impartial justice will be guaranteed to all. All men stand equal
before the law. All men must be able to enforce their legal rights before
the courts. The Judicial Committee is seeking to achieve these objectives,
and to create a system whereby judges will be appointed form among
those best qualified, and the principle of the independence of the judiciary,
already established in the Revised Constitution, will be fully implemented in
practice....