Dabat: History
Little is known about how the town was founded. In the late period of emperor Menelik II's reign the town grew in significance due to its telephone station.
In September 1930, slave trade was banned after a proclamation by its governor, dejazmach Ayalew Birru was published.
Reportedly Dabat had a landing field for air travel, and was utilized before and during the conflict with fascist Italy. On 4 December 1935, 12 Italian planes dropped over 150 bombs and struck Ras Imru Haile Selassie's army near the landing field. After an initial battlefield victory, dejazmach Ayalew was ordered to send Italian prisoners under his custody to Addis Abeba by air. The fascists bombed Dabat every two days for a period during the conflict. Dejazmach Ayalew's fortified residence and the town's church (Gebriel) were completely destroyed and burnt by bombs.
On 2 April 1936, Dabat fell under fascist occupation. The Italians established a large farm, a granary, a small food processing plant, and an agricultural research centre in Dabat. They also opened a post office on 1 December (or 29 November) 1937.
In April 1941, the East African campaign was in full swing, when Major Basil Ringrose took Dabat, and effectively cut off the large Italian garrison at Uolchefit from Gondar. During the final confrontation with the Italians in October–November 1941 the allies had a base hospital in Dabat.
Dabat was the capital of the Wogera awraja between 1950 and 1980. By 1967 there were telephones for the governor, police and public health center.
On 21 April 1977, Ethiopian Democratic Union claimed they had captured 300 heavily armed Ethiopian Government troops of the Flame Division near Dabat.
On 1 January 1989, the TPLF launched an offensive against the 603rd Corps Army of the Derg on 1st of, and having destroyed government forces stationed at Dabat they controlled the town of Dabat on 3 January.
In the national elections of 15 May 2005 the Dabat constituency had 50 polling stations and 54,743 registered voters of whom 75% cast their votes. Leading party was the Coalition for Unity and Democracy with 16,690 votes with candidate Major Bayeh Ayalew Reda, defeating the ruling EPRDF with 13,745 votes. The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces party received 1,111 votes. The remaining 9,587 votes are not explained.