Zenawi was a gallant leader - Kagame

President Paul Kagame has described the late Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, as a visionary leader who was committed to placing Africa in its rightful place in the World. The former Premier passed on in a hospital in Belgium. His body arrived in the Ethiopian Capital – Addis Abeba yesterday evening. He was 57. “Zenawi was a visionary and gallant leader with a genuine concern for the socio-economical transformation of Ethiopia, and Africa as a whole – with a commitment for Africa’s rightful place in the world, Kagame said in a condolence message to the Government and people of Ethiopia, as well as the family of the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi President Kagame pointed out that Rwanda was “deeply appreciative of Prime Minister Zenawis exceptional friendship and continued partnership over the years, and expressed solidarity with Ethiopia during this period.” In Rwanda, Zenawi is remembered for his role during the 1990-94 liberation struggle, when he supported the Rwanda Patriotic Front/Army.Born in May 1955 in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, Zenawi was widely considered a dedicated leader and freedom fighter, esteemed son of Africa who steered his country toward peace, prosperity and promise.Since taking up power in his late 30s, Zenawi, a veteran fighter, dedicated his life to advancing the cause of Ethiopia and Africa’s liberation.In 2009, Rwanda decorated Zenawi with “Uruti” (National Liberation Medal), and “Umurinzi” (Campaign against Genocide Medal) for his support of the liberation struggle and campaign against the Genocide.In the citation read out during the awarding ceremony, it was stated that in 1998, Zenawi offered steadfast support to the establishment of the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) Panel of Eminent Persons that investigated and documented the Genocide of the Tutsi of Rwanda.“In doing this, you contributed to a work that will throughout history serve as a lesson to the world’s citizens, of our responsibility to protect one another as members of one global family,” read part of the citation.Following Zenawi’s death, several African leaders sent condolence messages to the people of Ethiopia.In Ethiopia, citizens received the news of their leader’s death with grief.A woman only identified as Biseat said Zenawi did much to improve the country’s economy. “I think that the passing of our prime minister, his Excellency Meles Zenawi, is going to have long lasting implications for peace and security in the region. He also was a torchbearer for publicizing Ethiopian development and economic stability. Under his rule we have had enormous amounts of progress and also enormous amounts of foreign direct investments,“ she was quoted as saying.Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki described Zenawi as a pragmatic and visionary leader who helped stabilise his country and placed it on the right path towards economic growth.President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said, “Zenawi was an economic transformer; he was a strong intellectual leader for the continent.”South Sudanese Information Minister Barnaba Benjamin in his statement, said, “It’s a very, very sad day for the people of the Republic of South Sudan and the people of the Eastern African region as a whole.”Somalia’s outgoing president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the fallen Ethiopian leader was a significant figure in the Horn of Africa.The outgoing Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, said that the Commission will remember late Zenawi for his exceptional contribution to the advancement of the objectives of the AU and the promotion of Africa’s interests in global fora.Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, 47, who has also been foreign minister since 2010, will take over interim power.