PM Meles delivers most sensational speech to ADF, says “We all have been mad”
By Hallelujah Lulie

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi who made a remark yesterday at the ongoing the fifth African Development Forum (ADF V) meeting said that all of the African leaders, including him have been insane in the development paradigm they have been following.
In the meeting with a theme ‘Youth Leadership in the 21st century’ Meles said, “Madness is doing something again and again and expecting different results every time .In this regard all the leaders of Africa are technically mad.”
He said that the continent has tried the post -independence economic policies till the 80s and other ways which did not change much in the continent and it is still sticking to it seeking development. “Africa is the only continent in the world whose political and economic decisions are not determined not only in Africa.”

“Most African leaders are not young. The main difference between Meles now and Meles 35 years ago was a young person passionate and courageous. Meles now does not have the same type of ambition .Partly the experience, defeats and life itself which makes a person wiser and at the same time less courageous and ambitious changed me. The wisdom of age and the courage and ambition of the youth can break out the mad situation.”

Meles traded the prepared speech to spontaneous speech from his ‘heart’ after a moving remark by a Kenyan youth who spoke strongly about youth empowerment before him. Many at the conference center cheered his speech. “The youth of the Africa are clearly aware of the challenges their continent faces which is the mirror images of the whole continent and its people.” He closed his speech by saying,” the African youth has enough reasons to blame its leaders, but don’t act like victims and slaves. “
He stated, “We should stop blaming others for our failures. True that there are many who deserve to be blamed for our situation by playing a negative role by default or by design,” Meles said that the change and the future of the continent is up to the Africans.