The passing of our deae colleague Murad Zakaria

HAJE Press Release

Jannuar 10, 2023

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that Harari Alliance for Justice & Equality (HAJE) learned of the passing away of our dear colleague and friend Murad Zakaria (Zak to his friends) on the morning of January 09, 2023. Murad was born on the 17^th September 1964 in Addis Ababa to Zakaria Hassen and Hanim Ahmed Omer Khalaf. Murad was an only child to his mother and was raised in Harar with many siblings from his father’s side. He is survived by his wife Saada Haji Ahmed who is also a Harari Activist and a philanthropist, and two daughters, Teetrea, 17 and Aisha, 13.

Murad was a dedicated lifetime Harari patriot whose accomplishments and contributions as a political commentator to the Harari cause will be sorely missed. His deep knowledge of Ethiopian political history and dynamics was a source of knowledge that we all benefited from at every opportunity. More recently, he had become a prominent HAJE Public Relations and External Affair Committee member.

HAJE members and the larger Harari community have lost a dear friend and very valuable Harari political activist. Murad was highly engaged in numerous Harari matters as well as on the current issues that mattered to the larger Ethiopian political community. His thorough knowledge and understanding were very much sought -after and garnered the attention of a wide audience on various social media outlets. His political activism and opinions on social media was noted on a national level due to his fierce style of discourse. In addition, most people would recognize Murad during his appearance on IHMS Harari Media as a political analyst and contributor both in Harari language programs and in Amharic programs in which he communicated fluently.

As a person, Murad was very respectful to his friends, humble and with superb sense of humor. His optimism that Hararis will overcome their current predicaments despite all the challenges faced by the Harari community in Ethiopia and in the diaspora was infectious and endeared him to all! May Allah bless him and accept him in his grace. Please make duaa for him and his family to give them the strength to bear this hardship with patience.

We all are going to miss Murad tremendously. May Allah grant him Jenettul Ferdows! Ameen.