ADDRESS BY PREMIER
His Royal Highness Ingwenyama Mayisha II
His Excellencies, members of the House of Traditional Leaders
Honourable members of the Provincial Government
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen .
Thank you most humbly for inviting us to speak to you on this very important occasion of our history. It is an important occasion indeed because we can be able to tell our younger generation of our past.
It is on occasions such as this one where as a tribe and other tribes, we can show to the best of our ability the respect and love we have for our fallen heroes.
Over 300 years, our history has been suppressed, but today we can tell it freely with no fear. Those that aimed at destroying our origins could not succeed, they failed.
Today, here we are, proud of our history. Confident and determined of our future. Today's celebration takes place a few weeks after a completely new type of local government has been ushered in. Of course, there are those who did not, and still do not understand well our concept of democracy in relation to the role of traditional leaders.
Others have even gone to the extent of saying that this new government undermines Amakhosi, that it is has no respect for Amakhosi.
I wish to reiterate this point, which I have made at many of the meetings held with Amakhosi across the province. That, this is one government ever, that has given all its respect to Traditional leaders in our country. We have to understand this government within the context of our history of wars we wedged side by side with Amakhosi.
That the same organisation in power today is the one that was led by leaders such as Chief Albert Luthili.
Many years ago, our forefathers fought pitched battles over these very plains in defence of encroaching colonialism and land theft. They resisted colonialism. They resisted to be ruled by foreigners. They could not afford to see their land, their cattles being taken away from them. They fought for their freedom.
Despite being out-gunned, they laid down their lives so you and me could be free. They laid down their lives in defence of their dignity, their land and their freedom.
It was here, on these very plains, that the enemy applied the scorched earth policy in a bid to drive our forefathers from their strongholds in the caves, valleys and meadows of this beautiful land.
Today we meet, as descendants of those valiant fighters, in a different setting, in a different era, to plan for peace and not war; to promote unity and not division; to forge a common nationhood and not exclusive privilege. We also meet to assert the humanity of persons one to the other; to seek unity and reconciliation; to set shoulders to the wheel in building a better life for all.
I had mentioned already, that we also meet to remember and celebrate our fallen heroes.
On 16 December 2000 the reconciliation day, we have seen some of those people who are not happy of what their forefathers did to us, signing a pledge of apology. We must congratulate them for this bold step they have taken. Yes, they owe us an apology. They benefited from apartheid, whether directly or indirectly.
We are mindful of the fact that the journey to where we are today has not been easy. But all of us persevered because we knew that what we had set out on was the right road.
In our province, we have already set pointers to the kind of co-operation we want between traditional leaders, the province, district and local councils. We have started to address unity across ethnic lines. But there are challenges ahead.
What are these challenges?, you may ask.
Indeed, because we are meant to be leaders of the people, our challenges cannot be different from those that the people are facing. Foremost amongst our tasks as a nation is to mobilise the people for reconstruction and development. As the people were their own liberators, so should they become active agents in changing their lives for the better.
As leaders, we need to be vigilant in ensuring that the diversity, which is our strength, is never again used to divide us. No more should we see ourselves different from the rest. No more should the “Amampondo” fight against ”Abesuthu”.
No more should “AmaNdebele” be caused to fight against “Abesuthu”. No more should “Abesuthu” be caused to fight against “Amaswazi”.
No more should AbeNguni be caused to fight against Tsongas. We do not need tribal wars. We have to stand together in defence of our country like our forefathers did. We all have to unite as one nation.
Fundamental to our unity is the mutual respect for the rich variety of our languages and cultures. While the constitution recognises rights in this regard and proposes institutions to promote them, this will have little effect without the involvement of traditional leaders.
Perhaps more difficult than most, is to find the best ways in which our elected structures of local government and traditional leaders can work together for the good of their communities.
If there is any gift or respect, we can pass over in the recognition of our fallen heroes it is to look together for all our people in harmony.
This is a crucial area for reconstruction and development, and a resolution of outstanding differences and conflictual matters is of the greatest importance.
Our experience has shown that with goodwill and a commitment to the interests of the community as a whole, even the most difficult problems can be overcome and mutually beneficial solutions found.
All these tasks will demand infrastructure and resources, and Government commits itself to providing these, within available resources. We need to clearly define the role, functions and duties of traditional leaders, so that we can work together.
Our people are not waiting for us to resolve our differences first, they need service delivery.
These are over and above social development issues affecting your people. Water, crime, the country is in the hands of the people. Let us roll up our sleeves and get down to work.
Thank You.