Water security on the airwaves: Lamees El Hadidi put water policy under the spotlight on El Sora last night, sitting down with Irrigation Minister Hani Suweilam to discuss the topic.

GERD is more political than it is about anything else: On the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Suweilam said power generation was never the dam’s real goal (watch, runtime: 1:38). “The main purpose of the dam is political — to control the Nile’s headwaters and dominate regional decision-making,” he claimed. He added that the power output doesn’t match the amount of water stored, and pointed to Ethiopia’s repeated refusal to strike an agreement.

REMEMBER- Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam earlier this month after more than a decade of construction and negotiations with downstream nations, Egypt and Sudan, that never went anywhere.

Water isn’t for sale, and no new fees are coming: Suweilam dismissed recent talk of new charges on irrigation or potable water, saying the cost citizens pay is strictly for maintenance and service — not the water itself (watch, runtime: 1:48). “No farmer or citizen pays for water,” he said, adding that his ministry is responsible for ensuring supply flows at the right levels, while the Housing Ministry handles pricing. The two ministries work together to guarantee delivery without passing on new costs to the public.

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