There is no gainsaying the fact that a wide spectrum of openhanded and kindhearted Ethiopians live under the umbrella of Ethiopia time and again giving their all for the love of changing the lives of fellow citizens. As a matter of fact, the satisfaction they get in doing so is indescribable and remarkable seeing that God showers them with continuous blessings, love, respect and other related aspects.
To my dismay, some people do not believe in helping others except busying themselves in fattening their own pocket at the expense of their compatriots. What is more, some of them are as careless as the wind, as mean as the miser and as cruel as death. If they see somebody caught between a rock and a hard place, they turn a blind eye at the stroke of a pen. They feel neither pain nor pity for the sufferings of others.
In fact, the intended target of this writer is to acquaint our esteemed readers with Zemetawork Negash, the manager and owner of Negash Resort PLC and Freighters International (PABOMI)plc. She has left no stone unturned to change the lives of several people by getting herself involved in a wide spectrum of societal issues over and over again.
Once upon a time I had the opportunity to pay homage to Dendi Lake found in Western Shewa Zone. Honestly speaking, when I saw the lake firsthand, I could not believe my eyes. I was completely taken by surprise. The area was beyond imagination. I did not expect I would chance upon such an attention-grabbing lake hiding itself in the heart of the zone.
Honesty speaking, I have been to various parts of Ethiopia with the purpose of visiting various historical attractions of the country. But when I stumbled upon the Dendi Lake, a feeling that defies description overwhelmed my heart. I thought I was overseas. I really felt consternation reflecting relevant bodies are not paying due attention to the huge resources positioned in the zone. The Dendi Caldera is an outsized volcanic hollow fashioned by a high explosion. In fact, the lake is surrounded by enormous level surface green areas, which amplify the spanking new magnificence of the nice looks of the surroundings. The greenery makes the lake an unmatched natural tourist site in the continent of Africa.
In my brief sojourn in the area, the inhabitants of the area were not tire of talking about Zemetawork Negash. They were relating to me primarily a wide spectrum of contributions she has made in the area. I really felt irk for not finding her in the person in a little while. Quite a lot of things kept on coming in and out of my mind on the topic of the openhanded woman.
Some time back, somebody did tell me in black and white the whereabouts of the woman and what she does for a living. I really turned out to be infinitely happy to see the woman who had been fighting for years to change the lives of the inhabitants of the area in different ways. Days passed, weeks passed and months followed and in due course I met the kindhearted person I had been looking for.
Finally, when the long awaited day arrived, my colleague and I headed straight to Zemetawork Negash’s office. She welcomed us with warm smile and excellent hospitality. After a moment or so, I embarked on raising a wide array of questions revolving around her professional and personal life.
Zemetawork Negash was born in Woliso. She came to the capital, Addis Abba at the age of six and grew up here. Her dad went to meet his maker when she was a two month baby girl. Oromigna was the only language she spoke at that point. As a child she was dreaming of helping needy people and changing the lives of people who are above the dead and below the living. She believes that there are no boundaries for helping others.
To the surprise of everyone, nowadays she is making her childhood dream turn a reality. Nothing makes her happier than helping someone in trouble. She loves changing the lives of people for the better. Following her contribution on various social issues, she has been showered with various certificates and troupes.
Zemetawork Negash said, “After my children grew up, I embarked on dreaming of returning to Woliso with the intention of standing by the side of those who need my help and do the whole lot I can for the people. Many thoughts pertaining to the area were flickering through my mind. After that, I opened a school between Woliso and Dilala. Quite a lot of students attend school there at this point in time. I am really happy for allowing many students quench their thirst for education.”
She went on saying, “If students from a low-pursed family score university entrance points, I happily cover their school expenses without batting my eye. To this point, I have been lending a hand to quite a lot of students seeing that I do not want them to interrupt their studies. I do want them to stand on their feet and grow to be the breadwinner of their parents.”
Likewise, she still gives out learning materials for needy children. She is ready to satisfy their interest from time to time. She encourages them over and over again. Whatever the students need she is always on their side.
More often than not, if a needy fellow falls sick, she does not shilly-shally to cover medical expenses. She accepts as true that by spending some amount of money she can save life and the satisfaction she gets out of this is immeasurable. Furthermore, she gives out some amount of money for those who lead a life above the dead and below the living.
She would like to draw the attention of tourists to a wide array of tourist attractions of the attention-grabbing area. She had a wild dream to make the locality one of the touristic spots in the country no matter how long it takes. It is out of this dream and managerial verve she brought into life Negash Resort in Woliso. She would like to see to the birth of a resort which is the extension of the Negash resort found in Woliso. The area and Zemetawork are two sides of the same coin.
She knows the nitty-gritty of the lives of the people living in Dendi Woreda. She was endeavoring to do something which changes the lives of the inhabitants of the area with determination. Once upon a time, the people of the area put in the picture the sad episode that “Mothers in labor and ailing inhabitants of the locality do not have access to ambulance given that there was no road.”
This time, she did not sit binding her hand and foot. Instead she funded mobilized residents of the locality and presided over the clearing of a twenty eight kilometers gravel road. Now the fate-cursing inhabitants of the area are as happy as a pig in puddle. The road is extremely beautiful.
The inhabitants of the area put on the market woods and other related aspects for their daily bread. Zemetawork is pressing ahead with the task of rendering Dendi a tourist magnet at this point in time. She has been given a land around the lake. She has not yet got investment license for this project. She would like the investment commission to issue her a license and get herself involved in the work within the shortest time possible. Taking facts on the ground into consideration and examining things, pertinent bodies should help such developmental investor in next to no time.
The Ethiopian Herald, Sunday Edition June 2/2019
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
