AACC appoints acting secretary general

Eyesuswork Zafu takes over the reigns

By Tamiru Geda

The Board of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce appointed Ato Hailemeskel Abebe as acting Secretary General of the Chamber, following Ato Hussien Shibeshie’s notification by fax that he had traveled to the United States for medical attention, in the footsteps of Berhane Mewa who is also reported to be there. The former Secretary General, according to the chamber, is not likely to return to his post since he has not taken the trouble of delegating his responsibilities to a subordinate before he left for the US, in accordance with chamber rules.
Hailemeskel has served in the chamber for more than a decade and was appointed head of Trade Promotions six years ago. “ He is a quite and sociable person like Hussien” said one Chamber board member. Hailemeskel used to work in the Ethiopian investment commission, the then Ethiopian Investment Authority , before State Minister Tadesse Haile took over that office.
In related news, Ato Berhane Mewa, president of the Ethiopian and Addis Ababa Chambers of Commerce has reportedly left the country for the US via Kenya, after he was granted bail of 30, 000 birr following his arrest for charges of alleged tax evasion. It is not yet known how long Berhane would stay in the United States. Capital learned that Ato Eyesuswork Zafu the vice-president of the Addis Ababa Chamber of commerce would run the chambers affairs in the mean while.
Capital also learned that Berhane has yet to contact his family to inform them about his current status in the United States of America or what his next plan would be.