{{Foreign Minister, Louise Mushikwanbo, on Tuesday paid tribute to Ethiopia’s great leader and African Statesman, late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. This was at the first memorial held at Gulele Botanical Gardens in Addis Ababa. }}
Representing President Paul Kagame at the anniversary, Mushikiwabo described Meles as a friend, comrade, great leader and true son of Africa with exemplary dedication to Ethiopia and to the African Continent:
“Meles Zenawi dedicated his entire political life in the service of his people, always searching for answers to Ethiopia’s development challenges, and what would propel Africans forward. In this search, he was steadfast, selfless and uncompromising.”
Minister Mushikiwabo also applauded Meles Zenawi’s visionary policies and his belief in the ability of Ethiopians to transform their lives:
“We take pride in Meles Zenawi’s transformational leadership that led to impressive levels of social and economic development in a short time. We have to have the conviction that it can be done, the will to do it and the ability to rally our people to this need. Meles Zenawi had all this and the progress that Ethiopia has made and continues to make is an unmistakable sign of his great leadership and that of his successor.”
Minister Mushikiwabo concluded by calling on all present to honor Meles Zenawi’s legacy through action:
“We must do everything possible to ensure that the many contributions he made to the emancipation of our continent will never be forgotten. We must uphold and promote his message that Africa must make its own decisions”.
The event was marked by the unveiling of a cornerstone for the construction of a public park and library in honor of Meles as well as a photo exhibition of key moments that marked his life.
Leaders present: Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, President’s Omar Al Bashir of Sudan, Ismail Guelleh of Djibouti, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, Vice President Ssekandi of Uganda, Joseph Lenku, Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, Barnaba Benjamin, Foreign Minister of South Sudan. About 500 people attended the memorial.
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