Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Dinner speech

Dinner speech
Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:01:00 +0000

THE following is the full text of a speech made by South African President and Sadc chairman Jacob Zuma at the dinner hosted for him by President Robert Mugabe on 28 August 2009.

Your Excellency President Robert Mugabe and Mrs Grace Mugabe,
Your Excellency, Vice-President Mujuru,
Honourable Prime Minister; Morgan Tsvangirai
Hon Deputy Prime Ministers
Honourable Ministers;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished guests;

I would like to thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind words of welcome. We further wish to extend our words of gratitude for the warm and comradely hospitality you have extended to us since our arrival in your beautiful country. We bring fraternal greetings from the people of South Africa who have closely followed with keen interest the positive developments that have taken place in this great country in recent times.

These are positive developments that foretell good things that will come to the Zimbabwean nation. These positive developments are the historic signing of the Global Political Agreement and the subsequent formation of the Inclusive Government. These achievements signalled to the people of Zimbabwe, the region and the world, that the Zimbabwean political leadership was ready to collectively tackle the political and the socio-economic challenges head-on.

We are all encouraged by how the three parties put their differences aside in the service of this country. It is indeed very encouraging to note the significant progress that has been made under the auspices of the Inclusive Government. SADC remains at your disposal for assistance. The remaining issues are not insurmountable, and can be overcome.

The most difficult path has already been travelled. Your Excellency, the bonds that united us when we battled the inhuman systems of apartheid and colonialism still guide us today as we endeavour to build a better life for all our people.
We remain very committed as guarantors of the implementation of the Global Political Agreement and partners, to continue working with the Zimbabwean people to find solutions.

Ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow we will be attending one of the mainstay shows in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society Show. We are humbled by the invitation extended to us to experience this country's enormous potential in agriculture.

We are encouraged by what Zimbabwean farmers have managed to achieve amidst the scarcity of resources and the global recession that afflicts the world. We look forward to the show.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Please rise and join me in a toast to the people of Zimbabwe, and to peace and prosperity! To the cherished success of the Global Political Agreement.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency

Labels: JACOB ZUMA, MUGABE

posted by MrK @ 3:29 PM