After his return home in the early 1950s, he held various offices, including that of
Deputy Prime Minister. Under the imperial government he held the following positions: • Economic attache, later Head of Press, Information and Administration Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1951–53 • Director-General of Maritime Affairs, 1953–55 • Deputy Minister, Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Civil Aviation, 1955–57 • Mayor and Governor of Addis Ababa, 1957–59 • Ambassador to Somalia, 1959–60 • Minister of Justice, 1961–63 • Permanent Representative to the United Nations, 1972–74 • Minister of the Interior, March – May 1974 •
Minister of Foreign Affairs, May – November 1974 In November 1974, the Provisional Military Administrative Council's (
Derg)
summary execution of high government officials of the previous regime forced Zewde to go into exile. He eventually became vice-president of the
United Nations Economic and Social Council, and subsequently worked for several years as advisor to the secretariat of the United Nations. Throughout his service, he received national honors from at least seven sovereign states, including the Federal Republic of Germany. Together with some other prominent Ethiopians, he attempted to mediate between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1998. == Publications ==