Right Honourable Prime Minister Paul Berenger of Mauritius and Chairperson of SADC,
Your Majesty King Muswati III,
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government,
Honourable Ministers,
Distinguished Executive Secretary of SADC,
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel honoured and privileged to be accorded this opportunity to address this SADC Ordinary Summit. On behalf of my colleagues and indeed on my own I would like to thank our host, the Right Honourable Prime Minister Paul Berenger, the Government and people of Mauritius for the warm welcome and the typical Mauritian hospitality accorded to us all since our arrival in this beautiful Island. The excellent facilities you availed to us have contributed to the constructive deliberations during this Summit.

I congratulate you, Right Honourable Prime Minister, on your election as Chairperson of our regional body, SADC. I assure you of our continued support during your tenure at the helm of our organisation.

Your Excellencies

I would also like to thank His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa President of the United Republic of Tanzania and outgoing Chairperson of SADC for the strong and able leadership he provided during his tenure of office. He has successfully steered our organisation around our common agenda, for which we are very grateful.

I further extend my appreciation to you, my fellow Heads of State and Government, for your tireless efforts and commitment to finding solution to social and economic challenges facing our region. Your participation and contribution during this Summit is a manifestation of our collective resolve of forging a stronger SADC, united around our commitment toward a common destiny. Your Excellencies,

This is the last time that I am attending the SADC Ordinary Summit as President of the Republic of Namibia. As you may be aware, Namibia will conduct national and presidential elections during November and December this year. A new Government will come into office in March 21 next year, during which period I am going to step down as President of the Republic of Namibia.

Your Excellencies, it is with fond memories that I remember that as a Leader of Namibia’s liberation movement, SWAPO, together with my Comrades and Colleagues, I witnessed the birth of the Southern African Development Coordinating Conference the predecessor of the current SADC. The new Organisation stood firm in its support towards the course of the Namibian people and the fight against apartheid. The support by the Southern African Development Coordinating Conference to the Namibian people during those dark days of our liberation struggle and the subsequent support after the attainment of Namibia’s Freedom and Independence will be remembered by the present and future generations.

Namibia is indebted to the international community in general and Members of the Frontline States in particular who provided not only rear bases, but also diplomatic, political and material support towards our struggle for freedom and independence. Together we have defeated the dark forces of colonialism and minority white apartheid regime in South Africa from Namibia and the Republic of South Africa. In this regard, I want to pay tribute to those visionary leaders, who are no longer with us, such as Mualimu Julius Nyerere, Dr. Augustino Netto, Samora Marchell ,Sir Seretse Khama and General Murtala Muhamed.

Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Comrade Robert Mugabe deserve a special mention for their selfless commitment towards the total liberation of Southern Africa from foreign occupation, as leaders of the frontline states at critical stage in the history of the region.

Historically, it was indeed the Frontline States and Nigeria whose Governments and people spearheaded and rendered concrete assistance to the National Liberation Movements in the Southern Africa and supported by OAU, the Movement of Non-Aligned countries and the United Nations Organisation.

They carried with determination and in an uncompromising stance the torch of Freedom until final victory was achieved. This is a vision which we must pursue with commitment and unity. Above all, we should not compromise with the forces that have a hostile agenda of neo-colonial tendencies. We must guard our national sovereignties so as to ensure genuine economic development and eradication of poverty among our societies. Any economic co-operation with other countries should be based on the policy of respect, equality, genuine recognition of our interests and mutual benefit for all stakeholders and partners.

I further wish to express my gratitude and appreciations to my Brother and Comrade Nelson Mandela former President of the Republic of South Africa for his sacrifice and contribution towards the final decolonization of the continent of Africa.

I also want to pay special tribute to my comrade in arms, the late Oliver Tambo, with whom I had not only shared various political and diplomatic fora, but also trenches in the course of the liberation of Southern Africa.

Your Excellencies,
I am also honoured and privileged to have worked with you, dear fellow Heads of State and Government.

(continues)
Namibia continues to enjoy a lot of support and solidarity towards its institutions building, consolidation of independence and economic development. I would therefore like to express my profound gratitude to you all and the people of your respective countries.

Your Excellencies
Since its formation, SADC has undergone great transformation from a Coordination Conference in 1980, Development Community in 1992 and to a deeper regional integration aimed at a common future in March 2001.

It is therefore against that background that through our commitment to shared future, born out of a collective desire to bring about sustainable development, political stability and security in our region, we continue to deepen economic co-operation and integration based on harmonised economic, political and social policies.

We have made remarkable progress in laying foundation for cooperation in identified critical areas covering infrastructure and services, trade, industry, finance and investment, food, agriculture and natural resources as well as social and human development.

We have also made good progress towards forging regional identity and sense of common destiny amongst the countries and peoples of Southern Africa. I urge you all, Your Excellencies, to continue this spirit of cooperation in order to drive our collective vision for mutual regional benefit specifically through the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.

I am convinced that strong regional cooperation will contribute to the acceleration of economic growth and development that will lead to poverty alleviation amongst all our people. A united SADC will undoubtedly be a stronger and forceful competitor internationally, that will actively participate in the shaping of equitable world order both economic and politically.

Your Excellencies,
SADC, as a regional economic grouping, has actively participated in the transformation of the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union. As a building bloc of the AU, we are conscious of the fact that every success we record in the various fields as a region, contributes to the economic, political and social progress of the African continent.

We therefore must harness our resources in the region to strengthen the African Union in order to build a solid foundation upon which Africa’s future generations will build.

I urge SADC to pull her collective strength together and provide impetus to the realisation of Africa’s developmental objectives through the implementation of the strategic framework of the African Union and its implementing arm NEPAD.

Your Excellencies,
Namibia continues to associate herself with efforts aimed at prevention and resolution of conflicts and civil strives and the maintenance of peace and security in the region, the African continent and the world at large. We believe that peace and security is a precondition for socio-economic development.

Your Excellencies,
I wish to advise that SADC direct her efforts, resources and energy towards the following challenges that we together as a region need to tackle.

• 1. Regional Infrastructure Development
  Greater regional integration cannot be achieved without the necessary regional infrastructure to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services. We should therefore improve our infrastructure for telecommunication, water, energy, and transportation.
• 2. Trade and Investment
  We need to increase intra-SADC trade through the removal of all obstacles hampering the speedy creation of a free trade area in our region. The harmonization of common economic policies is very important as a way of making our region investment friendly.
• 3. Information Technology, Research and Development
  SADC must implement its regional strategy and program for the promotion of information technology, and provide sufficient incentives to encourage research and development by regional entrepreneurs and institutions.
  

Your Excellencies
Namibia will continue to be an active advocate for SADC unity and the continent of Africa. In my personal capacity I shall continue to promote the aims and objectives of SADC.

It is once more an honour for me to thank the Government and the people of Mauritius for hosting this SADC Summit.

I wish you all good health and unity to continue to work for greater prosperity for all our people in the region and Africa.

I believe that a people united striving to achieve common good for all members of the society will always emerge victorious.

Long live SADC!

Long live African Unity!

I thank you