The Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) is to finance the construction of a four-storey building designed for mixed use in Hawassa (Awassa) Town, the seat of the Southern, Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPR), 276km south of Addis Abeba.

Designed by private architect Wondwossen Gemeda for free, the construction is projected to cost over 10 million Br, and is to be completed in two and a half years. CETU obtained a 1,000sqm plot, located alongside the main highway in front of Hawassa University’s main campus, adjacent to Lewi Hotel (number three).

This is the same plot the now defunct Building Construction Corporation used to own during the Derg regime. It is in the same compound as homes that have been housing high profile personalities such as the town’s mayors.

Incorporating 57 trade unions, with a total membership of 20,000 workers, CETU’s branch in Hawassa has been housed in a two-room office inside a building owned by the regional administration, located in front of St. Gabriel Church. This edifice also houses close to 10 bureaus of the regional state.

The branch office is one of five CETU has across the country, including in Mekelle, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa and Jimma. Construction of the new branch offices began in Jimma, where foundation work has already started as of last year.

CETU selects towns to open branches based on geographical distribution and not on regional state boundaries, according to Kassahun Follo, president of CETU.

“For instance, our office in Hawassa provides services to workers and unions in the Borena Zone [of the Oromia Regional State],” Kassahun told Fortune.

The financing for the first phase of construction came from companies operating in both regional states in addition to the 100,000 Br contribution from CETU’s headquarters in Addis Abeba, Salini Construction’s Project Office for Gilgel Gibe III (50,000 Br), Amibara Commercial Farm (50,000 Br), Bale Commercial Farm (40,000 Br), and the trade union of MIDROC Gold (15,000 Br), to name a few.

Construction will begin at the end of January 2010, Chanyalew Aweke, head of the branch office, disclosed to Fortune.

The new building, to be erected on a 495sqm plot, will incorporate two meeting halls with the capacity to host 350 and 150 people, as well as a library. CETU will lease some of the spaces for restaurants, supermarkets and cafes, while office spaces will be available for lease, according to Chanyalew.



By Abnet Assefa
Special to Fortune