REST IN PEACE, MS OTTILIA CHIKOSHA!!!

It is with great The former President described Prime Minister Zenawi as “an outstanding and committed African patriot and leader” who did his best to address Ethiopia’s and Africa’s developmental challenges.”

“Those of us who have had the privilege to spend time with our brother and leader will sorely miss his razor-sharp intellect which he deployed for the advancement of Ethiopia, the East African region and the continent as a whole.”

Former President Mbeki recalled the readiness with which Prime Minister Zenawi contributed a 4,200 Ethiopian peace-keeping force to Abyei, Sudan, under the auspecies of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). This was at the request of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) which former President Mbeki chairs.

Said Mr. Mbeki: “Throughout the life of the AUHIP, Ethiopia, through Prime Minister Zenawi, has been a critical component to the Panel’s success.

“He often found time in his busy schedule to think together with members of the Panel on how to realise the Panel’s mandate and to overcome various obstacles and challenges.

“We join millions of Africans from across the continent as we convey our deepest condolences to Prime Minister Zenawi’s family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.”sadness to inform you about the passing away of Ms Ottilia Chikosha who was buried on the 18 August 2012 in Zimbabwe. We learnt this week that Ms Chikosha passed away after a short illness. Ms Chikosha served as an Executive Director for Regional Export Promotion Women's Trust, an organisation based in Zimbabwe that amongst others; do independent research on trade markets to provide Zimbabwean women with expertise and training on business expansion in emerging regional markets.

The partnership between ESSET and Regional Export Promotion Women's Trust started after Ms Chikosha attended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Churches Dialogue on Justice and Informal Trade hosted by ESSET in October 2010. Our partnership with her organization after this event was very critical as they work with women, informal and cross border traders in Zimbabwe. Ms Chikosha played a leading role last year partnered by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches in co-ordinating Economic and Sexual Violence campaign in Zimbabwe. The same campaign was concurrently run in other SADC countries like South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia.

Those who interacted with Ms Chikosha appreciated her assertiveness, lively personality, her commitment to women empowerment and advancing their socio-economic rights. ESSET would like to convey a message of condolences to the Chikosha family, the Regional Export Promotion Women's Trust staff and all her friends and partners in struggle.

May her soul Rest in Peace!!!