Rashid Abdulwahid
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Zimbabwe

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rashid Mohammed Abdulwahid, has hailed the commissioning of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a milestone for Ethiopia and Africa, coinciding with the Ethiopian New Year 2018.

Speaking at the Ethiopian New Year reception in Harare over the weekend, the ambassador said the dam, commissioned on September 9, 2025, is the largest in Africa and among the 20 biggest in the world, generating more than 5150 megawatts of renewable energy.

“The GERD is not intended to harm any neighbor. It is a win-win project, fostering integration and cooperation across Africa,” Ambassador Abdulwahid said.

He said the Nile waters would continue to flow, with Ethiopia committed to fair use among riparian states.

Ambassador Abdulwahid said 65 percent of Ethiopians still lack electricity, making the project critical for national development. Ethiopia is already exporting power to Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti and South Sudan, with plans to reach more countries.

The Ambassador said the project was funded largely by Ethiopians themselves through donations and bond purchases.

He praised the Ethiopian community in Zimbabwe for contributing and called them “a living bridge between our two nations.”

Ambassador Abdulwahid also outlined broader national reforms, including plans to build Africa’s largest airport, boost wheat exports and strengthen trade corridors.

He said Ethiopia played a key role as a defender of Pan-Africanism and a hub for continental dialogue, and the GERD’s inauguration drew leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean.

“As we celebrate the Ethiopian New Year, let us also celebrate Africa’s shared resilience and future,” Ambassador Abdulwahid said.

This article originally appeared on HerladOnline on 15 September 2025.