The Sunday Mail
Ibbo Foroma
The Conquering Lion of Judah (Moa Anbessa Ze Imnegede Yehuda) title and office to Emperor (Atse) Haile Selassie I the Great, performed pivotal humanitarian works towards liberating our then colonised Rhodesia, latter Rhodesia-Zimbabwe and now Zimbabwe from the brutal British colonial yoke.When Africa was colonised due to arrangements arising from the Berlin Colonial Conference, Ethiopia (then Abyssinia) was the only territory in all Africa that escaped the evil whip of colonisation, better described as terrorisation.
Liberia was colonised by the American Colonisation Society hence Abyssinia became, as W.E.B. du Bois put it, “a beacon of hope,” for all colonised citizens of the world. Inspired by the popular “Lion of Judah shall break every chain” as church chorus systematically hymned throughout contaminated (colonial) Africa, the Emperor had no choice but to act His office.
After being Crowned Emperor (Atse), King of Kings (Neguse Negest), and Elect of God (Seyoume Igziabeher), in 1930 and being the only newly crowned black leader throughout Africa during the time, His Imperial Majesty reign and independence was tested by the vile forces of Mussolini Italian Fascism.
Again ironically, with the help of Britain, Ethiopia was redeemed from its brief occupation from a heavily armed and industrialised European power lasting from 1936 – 1941. This first-hand experienced of the colonial forces’ vileness infuriated the Ethiopian Imperial realm to seek vengeance from the oppressors.
Through the aid of Ketema Yifru, the Minister of Foreign Affairs during His Imperial Majesty reign, Ethiopia was pivotal in founding the OAU.
This organisation was pivotal in delivering freedom and independence from white oppressors to black majorities suffering due to a variation in bio-chemical pigmentation.
The OAU, as a collective influence of African united states, practiced what His Imperial Majesty (Germawi) Selassie I, the first Chair of the esteemed voice of Africa coined “collective security” amongst member states of the unbalanced United Nations Organisation (UNO), now United Nations (UN).
On December 2 1965, whilst addressing the Polish President and nation thereof, at the same time highlighting how the international organisation need not ignore the violation of human rights “enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations Organisation and the International Declaration of Human Rights” His Imperial Majesty pours the following sentiments in defence of Rhodesia:
“Economically, co-operation serves us all well, but economic co-operation while of crucial significance, is not in itself an end. There must also exist a body of shared principles of morality and justice which governs not only economics but human relations as well.
Many of these principles have already been established and are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations Organization and the International Declaration of Human Rights. To these principles the peoples of Ethiopia and Africa are earnestly dedicated, and we are proud to have with us
