Azeb Mesfin Haile (Amharic and Tigrinya: አዜብ መስፍን ኃይሌ; born 21 December 1966)[1] is an Ethiopian politician who was the second First Lady of Ethiopia from 2001 to 2012. Azeb is the widow of Ethiopian Prime MinisterMeles Zenawi.[2] She is the founder and patron of National Initiative for Mental Health of Ethiopia.[3] In early 2009, she was appointed CEO of the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray by its head Abadi Zemu.[4]
Azeb was born in Welkait[5] in the Tigray region, and was raised in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan. She is from her peasant farmer father Mesfin Haile and mother Konjit Gola. Her maternal grandfather, Gola Goshu was as an Italian Askari during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936). Following his action to the country, Gola was killed by Ethiopian patriots. By her early age, Azeb raised with her aunt Maniahlosh Gola who is the daughter of this "Fitawrari" who had this title by Italian invaders to mean commander of the vanguard; which was feudal era military title.[6]
Azeb was married to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi until his death in 2012. Together they had three children: Semhal, Marda and Senay Meles.
Careeredit
She was elected in 2005 to the House of Peoples' Representatives (the lower House of the Ethiopian Parliament) representing her home woreda of Welkait and Humera, and serves as chair of its Social Affairs Standing Committee. Her role has at times been controversial, with some members of Ethiopian diaspora alleging that, during the period in which she was an executive at the parastatal Mega Corporation, she was involved in "the impropriety of mingling public, private and party-owned businesses."[7]
However Azeb is also known for her work to teach rural Ethiopians about the issues of HIV/AIDS Her appearance at a special ceremony to honor the First Ladies of Africa for their efforts against the spread of HIV/AIDS held by Georgetown University of Washington DC on 15 January 2007 was met by protests of exiled Ethiopians."[8] The University was awarding its "John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award" to the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS for its leadership and service toward the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mesfin was to accept the award on behalf of the organization along with the first ladies of Zambia and Rwanda.
She started the organization "Ethiopian Coalition of Women against HIV/AIDS" and continues to work closely with community leaders to ensure the rights of women, fight harmful traditional practices and HIV/AIDS.[9] She said the award she received is not just for her organization but for the entire Ethiopian women declaring "the award is the result of the relentless struggle waged by Ethiopian women.
^David Smith (30 March 2012). "Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi's death sparks fears of turmoil". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
^Azeb Mesfin Vice President of OAFLA January 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
^"First Lady Makes it to EFFORT's Helm" 2009-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Addis Fortune, published March 2009 (accessed 5 May 2010)
^"Azeb Mesfin, MP and Widow of Meles Zenawi". Addis Fortune. Addis Ababa. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
^ECADF (6 December 2011). "Azeb Mesfin: The woman from Gadarif". Retrieved 26 April 2021.
^Gelaw, Abebe, "The 'Queen of Mega' in Parliament 2007-01-17 at the Wayback Machine," Ethiomedia, 24 January 2006. (accessed 30 September 2006)
^Mays, Kate, "Group Objects to University Giving Award to 'First Lady', Protests Disrupt MLK Jr Commemoration 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine," Ethiomedia, 18 January 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
azeb, mesfin, this, ethiopian, name, name, mesfin, haile, patronymic, person, should, referred, given, name, azeb, haile, amharic, tigrinya, አዜብ, መስፍን, ኃይሌ, born, december, 1966, ethiopian, politician, second, first, lady, ethiopia, from, 2001, 2012, azeb, wid. In this Ethiopian name the name Mesfin Haile is a patronymic and the person should be referred by the given name Azeb Azeb Mesfin Haile Amharic and Tigrinya አዜብ መስፍን ኃይሌ born 21 December 1966 1 is an Ethiopian politician who was the second First Lady of Ethiopia from 2001 to 2012 Azeb is the widow of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi 2 She is the founder and patron of National Initiative for Mental Health of Ethiopia 3 In early 2009 she was appointed CEO of the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray by its head Abadi Zemu 4 Azeb Mesfinአዜብ መስፍንAzeb in September 20092nd First Lady of EthiopiaIn office 8 October 2001 20 August 2012PresidentGirma Wolde GiorgisPrime MinisterMeles ZenawiPreceded byRegina AbeltSucceeded byRoman TesfayePersonal detailsBorn 1966 12 21 21 December 1966 age 56 Welkait Begemder Province Ethiopian EmpirePolitical partyTigray People s Liberation FrontOther politicalaffiliationsEthiopian People s Revolutionary Democratic FrontSpouseMeles ZenawiChildren3 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 See also 4 ReferencesEarly life editAzeb was born in Welkait 5 in the Tigray region and was raised in Gadarif Eastern Sudan She is from her peasant farmer father Mesfin Haile and mother Konjit Gola Her maternal grandfather Gola Goshu was as an Italian Askari during the Second Italo Ethiopian War 1935 1936 Following his action to the country Gola was killed by Ethiopian patriots By her early age Azeb raised with her aunt Maniahlosh Gola who is the daughter of this Fitawrari who had this title by Italian invaders to mean commander of the vanguard which was feudal era military title 6 Azeb was married to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi until his death in 2012 Together they had three children Semhal Marda and Senay Meles Career editShe was elected in 2005 to the House of Peoples Representatives the lower House of the Ethiopian Parliament representing her home woreda of Welkait and Humera and serves as chair of its Social Affairs Standing Committee Her role has at times been controversial with some members of Ethiopian diaspora alleging that during the period in which she was an executive at the parastatal Mega Corporation she was involved in the impropriety of mingling public private and party owned businesses 7 However Azeb is also known for her work to teach rural Ethiopians about the issues of HIV AIDS Her appearance at a special ceremony to honor the First Ladies of Africa for their efforts against the spread of HIV AIDS held by Georgetown University of Washington DC on 15 January 2007 was met by protests of exiled Ethiopians 8 The University was awarding its John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award to the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV AIDS for its leadership and service toward the ideals of Dr Martin Luther King Jr Mesfin was to accept the award on behalf of the organization along with the first ladies of Zambia and Rwanda She started the organization Ethiopian Coalition of Women against HIV AIDS and continues to work closely with community leaders to ensure the rights of women fight harmful traditional practices and HIV AIDS 9 She said the award she received is not just for her organization but for the entire Ethiopian women declaring the award is the result of the relentless struggle waged by Ethiopian women See also editFirst Lady of EthiopiaReferences edit Tigray PDF House of Peoples Representatives Retrieved 9 October 2013 6 Hon W ro Azeb Mesfin Haile permanent dead link David Smith 30 March 2012 Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi s death sparks fears of turmoil The Guardian Retrieved 22 August 2012 Azeb Mesfin Vice President of OAFLA Archived January 1 2011 at the Wayback Machine First Lady Makes it to EFFORT s Helm Archived 2009 04 02 at the Wayback Machine Addis Fortune published March 2009 accessed 5 May 2010 Azeb Mesfin MP and Widow of Meles Zenawi Addis Fortune Addis Ababa 8 September 2013 Retrieved 9 October 2013 ECADF 6 December 2011 Azeb Mesfin The woman from Gadarif Retrieved 26 April 2021 Gelaw Abebe The Queen of Mega in Parliament Archived 2007 01 17 at the Wayback Machine Ethiomedia 24 January 2006 accessed 30 September 2006 Mays Kate Group Objects to University Giving Award to First Lady Protests Disrupt MLK Jr Commemoration Archived 2007 09 27 at the Wayback Machine Ethiomedia 18 January 2007 Retrieved January 18 2007 Ethiopian Coalition of Women against HIV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Azeb Mesfin amp oldid 1175008465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
