Sikhulekelani Moyo [email protected]
OUTGOING Ethiopian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E. Rashid Mohammed Abdulwahid, has concluded his four-year tour of duty after paying a farewell courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, at Munhumutapa on Wednesday.
Ambassador Abdulwahid, who has served in Harare since 2022, described his tenure as highly successful, marked by deeper commercial, diplomatic and grassroots cooperation between Harare and Addis Ababa.
He expressed his deepest gratitude to the Government and people of Zimbabwe for what he termed unmatched hospitality and support during his assignment.
Ministry officials said the Ambassador’s tenure coincided with a major high point in bilateral relations, anchored on the Second Republic’s re-engagement and engagement drive and the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” doctrine.
Under the leadership of President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia have systematically deepened ties, leveraging Zimbabwe’s chairmanship of the US$1,23 trillion COMESA market and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Beyond traditional diplomacy, Ambassador Abdulwahid carved a distinct legacy in community-level sustainable development.
Throughout his four years, he partnered extensively with local schools to spearhead environmental maintenance and waste management programmes, directly engaging young people in climate action, clean-up campaigns and tree-planting initiatives aimed at fostering long-term conservation habits.
The initiatives aligned with both countries’ climate commitments and Zimbabwe’s education thrust on heritage-based learning and environmental stewardship.
Zimbabwe and Ethiopia share deep historical and pan-African ties, with Ethiopia having provided historic support for Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. Both nations are also founding members of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union.
Trade, agriculture, aviation, education and cultural exchanges have been key pillars of cooperation during the Ambassador’s tenure, with Ethiopian Airlines maintaining a strong presence and Zimbabwean students continuing to benefit from scholarships in Ethiopia.
Prof Murwira commended the outgoing diplomat for his hands-on approach to diplomacy and commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties, and wished him well in his future assignment.
The ministry said Zimbabwe remains committed to further consolidating its fraternal relations with Ethiopia for mutual economic benefit under South-South cooperation and the AU Agenda 2063.
