adminmany revolutionaries throughout the world, Halimeh’s life was shaped by the very difficult circumstances in which he grew up.
He was born into a Palestinian family that had fled from Tarshiha in northern Palestine to Lebanon during the Nakba in 1948.
This led to him to joining the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, “Fatah”, at the tender age of 16 in 1969. He carried a heavy burden at the age of 18 when his father passed away and he was left with the responsibility of looking after his family.
During his stay in Africa, Ambassador Halimeh became involved in nationalist struggles for independence and had ties with liberation movements in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia.
In Zimbabwe, Ambassador Halimeh nurtured the Zimbabwe-Palestine Friendship Association that has gone to shape the view of local people in the happenings of the Middle East.
The man had cultivated such a good relationship with Zimbabwe and the region that his death is sad loss not only to his family but the entire diplomatic corps accredited to Zimbabwe and the region.
Ambassador Halimeh’s journey in Africa spanned a considerable time starting with his posting to Tanzania at the age of 30.
His posting coincided with the time Dar es Salaam was a political hotbed, supporting number of liberation movements that waged wars of independence on the continent. As such most people that he brushed shoulders with during his posting to Dar es Salaam in the late 1970s went on to become leaders of countries within the region, or to spearhead liberation struggles.
A brilliant strategist in his own right, Ambassador Halimeh was very successful in mobilising support for the Palestinian war in Sadc and the opening of the first fully fledged Palestinian embassy on the African continent — in Zimbabwe.
He was an objective, pragmatic and supported a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is threatening to divide the Middle East.
He naturally became the face of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the Sadc region, successfully informing people of the suffering of his people.
Those who worked with him described Ambassador Halimeh as a man who was not afraid to air his views particularly on the Palestinian crisis. He was a man who articulated well the Palestinian question.
He would, however, do it in a polite, calculated and reasonable manner that would compel even his greatest critic to at least pay attention.
In a condolence message to Palestine and the Halimeh family, President Mugabe lauded the former envoy’s role in the struggle and search for Palestinian statehood.
He described him as a down-to-earth man, whose grassroots ambassadorial approach helped raise awareness of Palestinian plight and cause.
This endeared him with a cross-section of Zimbabweans.
“To this day, the question of Palestine remains well grasped and well supported in Zimbabwe. He leaves behind a legacy of commitment and loyalty to his people’s revolution, but a commitment that would soon take a toll on his health.
“In their collective grief, let them be consoled by the fact and fervency of Ali’s commitment to their just cause which is sure to triumph one day,” President Mugabe said.
Ambassador Halimeh left Zimbabwe in 2006, after serving Zimbabwe for 16 years for a posting in South Africa where he later died.
Former Minister of Information and veteran nationalist Dr Nathan Shamuyarira said Ambassador Halimeh managed to articulate the Palestinian question in Zimbabwe and also drew parallels between the struggle for his country and that of the people of Zimbabwe.
He, Dr Shamuyarira said, regarded the struggle for Zimbabwe and Palestine as identical.
“Ambassador Halimeh was a good spokesperson for the people of Palestine. A committed cadre of Palestine’s search for nationhood who did spend his entire life propagating the theory of Palestinian freedom. In fact, he helped champion the Palestine Liberation Organisation views in the entire sub-region.
“I had the pleasure to visit his birthplace when I travelled with him through Jerusalem and could see why he was that committed to ensure that the city remained
the home of the Palestinians.
He managed to unite the people of Palestine and Zimbabwe by ensuring they understood that their struggle was against the same people — the West — who sought to impose their rule on other nations.
“He will be greatly missed by the people of both Palestine and Africa. He was a rare breed of politician who was very close to Zimbabwe’s fight for independence and the emancipation of women folk. We hope one day we will set aside a day to honour his contribution to the fight for the liberation of the oppressed,” he added.
Zanu-PF national chairman and former ambassador to South Africa Cde Khaya Moyo described Ambassador Halimeh as a revolutionary who served his country well.
“Ambassador Halimeh was not only a brother to me but a revolutionary par excellence. We knew each other for over 30 years and shared common and mutual ideals in pursuance of human freedom, total independence and sovereignty of our respective countries.
“He was endowed with unquestionable liberation war credentials, a man of compound courage, a visionary, always principled, focused and, above all, a man of destiny,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.
He described the late Ambassador Halimeh as a man who always led from the front and a great revolutionary, humanist and patriot.
Head of the Cultural Centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Harare Mr Muhammad Assadi described the late Mr Halimeh as a gallant freedom fighter and distinguished diplomat who gave his life for the emancipation of the people of Palestine.
Accepting the condolence message from President Mugabe, Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Hashem Dajani said the Palestinian people were really comforted by the people who enjoyed Halimeh’s friendship. “It was not only a condolence message; it was yet another confirmation of Zimbabwe’s firm solidarity with the plight of the Palestinian people.
“It is with great admiration and deep respect that I express my gratitude, for your continued support and solidarity over and over again, with the Palestinian people and their just cause,” Ambassador Dajani said.
Online Reporter