A Short Biography of Zeru Kehishen 

After a long and courageous struggle with illness, Zeru Kehishen died on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 1:45 p.m. in his home in Amsterdam. His funeral was held on January 4, 2003 in Amsterdam. A summary of his life history follows: 

Zeru was born on March 22, 1942, in a small place called Adi Ametekiristos in the city of Adigrat, Tigray, Ethiopia. He grew up in the Adigrat area (main City of the Agame district) in a town and region he was always proud to come from. 

Zeru was an outgoing and an athletic person. During his youth, he played football, basketball, and table tennis. He was a good chess player and up to a few years ago played at some of the Amsterdam chess clubs. He also loved music particularly Ethiopian classical and jazz. 

Zeru was an outstanding student at school. He attended the Agazi Elementary School in Adigrat and transferred to Atse Yohannes IV Secondary School in Makelle and later to Haile Sellassie I Secondary School in Addis Ababa, where he graduated in July 1961. 

After high school, he attended the Haile Sellassie I University in Addis Ababa (now Addis Ababa University). Zeru was a strong leader and always at the forefront of the Ethiopian Students’ Movement, which was the only voice of the Ethiopian people at that time. Thus, Zeru became one of the well-known political activists against the Haile Sellassie regime and his name was at the top of the government’s watch list. He was often imprisoned and suspended from the University, and as a result it took him nine years to get his first degree when he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in June 1970. 

In 1973, Zeru graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in Economics from the City University of New York and continued for a Ph.D. program in economics at the same University. However, because of the rapid political developments in Ethiopia at the time, Zeru had to discontinue his studies and return back home. He played a very critical role during the initial stage of the 1974 Ethiopian Revolution. 

Zeru played a prominent role in the creation, organizing, and leadership of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party (EPRP) – which was the first and the most popular political party fighting for basic democratic and human rights issues in Ethiopia. It was also during this period when Zeru and Tadelech Kidanemariam, his former wife and an active participant in the political struggle were married and started a family. Their marriage produced two wonderful children, Gebray and Selam. 

While in Ethiopia, he was a high school teacher, an analyst in the Planning Departments of Ethiopian Airlines as well as the Ministry of National Resources. Zeru also served on various national committees and task forces that were formed by the ruling military council that led the country at the time. 

However, because of some difficult and unbearable political situations in Addis Ababa and other major towns, particularly for his organization, the EPRP, Zeru had to leave Addis Ababa to continue with the struggle in the countryside. In 1979, he had to leave the country and people he loved so much because of health and other reasons and began his life of exile in Amsterdam. There, he continued his studies and a Drs. degree in Economics from the University of Van Amsterdam in 1983. He worked at Free University of Amsterdam as an economics researcher until he was forced to resign because of his illness about two years ago. 

Since he met and married Timna Van Dam, Zeru has always mentioned to his family and friends that meeting Timna was one of the best things that has ever happened to him. He loved and respected her and was very appreciative of all the things she has done for him particularly during his illness.  

Zeru spent his entire life fighting for what he believed is right for the Ethiopian people. Even when he was seriously, he worked tirelessly with individuals and advocacy groups on the issues of Ethiopian sovereignty and territorial integrity. He wrote and co-authored articles in defense of Ethiopian interests and its territorial integrity including the issue of Assab.  

Zeru had health problems for the last thirty years, but he had defied all medical knowledge and doctors predictions that said he had only a few more months to live. With his great fighting spirit and strong will to live and with loving and caring family members and friends around him, he had managed to live so many years.  

Zeru had all the enviable human qualities and virtues. About two years ago, some of his friends and family members met in Washington DC and had a special evening to honour Zeru. The plaque they gave Zeru expresses some of his virtues and reads as follows: 

Zeru Kehishen

In appreciation of your lifetime commitment for justice, equality and democracy, patriotism, courage and sense of humor, heroic and legendary contribution to our nation and society exemplary role to many of us who know him as a wonderful human being and personal inspiration, best wishes for the future. Washington DC, 11, July 2001. 

Zeru has lived his life to the fullest. During the last moments of his life, he was happy, peaceful, grateful, and full of courage, pride and love. All these have made his departure less painful to family and friends. 

Zeru Kehishen is survived by his wife Timna Van Dam, his son Gebray, his daughter Selam, his stepson Michael, stepdaughters Simone and Rosa, nephews Binyam and Habtay and nieces Selamawit and Kiros.

His family and friends

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