H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, at the Official Opening of the Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital, Maun

source: Republic of Botswana (27/4/09) TAUTONA TIMES no 12 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

B2) 24/4/09: REMARKS BY H.E. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE LETSHOLATHEBE II MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, MAUN


Your Excellency, Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana; Honourable Ministers; Honourable Members of Parliament; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Excellencies; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I thank you so much, my dear brother, for giving me the honour and privilege to officiate the opening of the Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital. To the people of Maun, I thank you for your warm welcome and for performance of Dikonyana Cultural Group and the sweet voices from the Spirit of Praise Choir. I bring with me to you the warm and fraternal greetings of your brothers and sisters in Tanzania. They are proud of the good relations that our two countries enjoy.

2. We join you in mourning the untimely death of the Chief Medical Officer of this hospital. Please accept our deepest sympathies and condolences. I pray for your strength. May God rest his soul in eternal peace!

3. Mr. President, allow me to use this opportunity to congratulate Your Excellency for the remarkable achievements you have made and continue to make in providing basic social services to the people of Botswana. Today's event and ceremony speaks volumes about your efforts, your leadership and your successes. Your achievements have been noticed and appreciated both in Botswana and beyond. I can say, without exaggerating or fear of contradiction, that Botswana is a good example of good things happening. You are the envy of many of us in the region.

4. Ladies and Gentlemen, I congratulate the people of Botswana, particularly the people of Maun, for this great achievement. I am informed that, with 270 beds, this hospital will be serving a population of 72,000. This is not a small number. The people of Maun and the nearby villages can now rest in comfort and pride that they will be served by excellent medical facilities. Many lives will be saved and many people in pain will get relief. I am very impressed to learn that this hospital has been improved to the highest standards and also fitted with the best equipment in the medical profession. It is now a totally different outfit from the 1935 hospital that you are accustomed to know and use. The improvements made enable the hospital to provide not only different but also the highest quality medical services.

5. Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, wider access to quality healthcare service to people is an important measure of development. It is a basic necessity and, indeed, a basic right for every citizen. The construction of the hospital demonstrates in clear terms that President Khama cares and is committed to deliver on this important service to his people. He is the President who loves his people and has their interest at heart.

6. The people of Botswana are lucky to have President Khama as their leader. This hospital, together with other hospitals in Botswana, which are also of a high standard, moves this country a big step forward in the journey to providing quality healthcare services for all the people of this great nation. This is something for all of us on the African continent to emulate. No wonder that many people in our region flock to Botswana for an assurance of excellent medical care. Indeed, able and competent medical professionals from different corners of the world come to Botswana to practice medicine. They do so because of the high quality facilities you have put in place.

7. I congratulate you, Mr. President, and the government of Botswana for continuing to uphold this high standard and good reputation. Ladies and Gentlemen; it is important to remind ourselves that this hospital will last as long as we ensure adequate investment in its care and maintenance. I have no doubt that this matter has been considered and that provisions have been duly set for this purpose. The definition of a good hospital is not just a shining building. It is a combination of modern facilities and excellent medical care and services. From what I heard and saw, this is indeed a world class hospital.

8. I am confident that the management of this hospital will retain able and competent medical personnel who will maintain the reputation for excellent medical care that this hospital must provide. Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen; In conclusion, I wish to congratulate, once again, the Government of Botswana for great achievement in providing quality health services to its people. You are doing very well with the implementation of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 on the reduction of child and maternal mortality. You are making remarkable achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This is the fight that we must win.

9. Before I conclude, allow me to once again congratulate the people of Maun for getting, in their area, such a high quality hospital. Definitely, this will translate into better health and improvement of their lives. And please don't forget care and maintenance. I wish you the best of luck. Pula! Your Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is now my pleasure and honour to declare that the Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital is officially opened.

10. I thank you for your kind attention

Lt.Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana, at a State Luncheon held in Honour of his Excellency Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete

source: Republic of Botswana (27/4/09) TAUTONA TIMES no 12 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

B1) 23/4/09: STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY LIEUTENANT GENERAL SERETSE KHAMA IAN KHAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, AT A STATE LUNCHEON HELD IN HONOUR OF HIS EXCELLENCY MR. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
   
Your Excellency, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwet;...{Salutations}...Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;

1. I am delighted to once again welcome to Botswana, His Excellency Mr Jakaya Kikwete, the First Lady Mrs Salma Kikwete, and your entourage.

2. Mr. President, the people of Botswana feel greatly honoured by your visit, and in particular your agreeing to open one of our new hospitals tomorrow. It certainly demonstrates your personal disposition towards Botswana and its people.

3. Your visit will go a long way in consolidating the warm and fraternal relations which subsist between our two countries and peoples.

4. Mr. President, let me pay tribute to your political party, the Party that you ably lead, for its enormous contribution to unity, peace and stability in Tanzania. It is this unity and commitment to people cantered policies that made it possible for Tanzania to play a key and leading role in the struggle for the liberation of Southern Africa. Your Party has been a champion and pioneer of reforms in Africa. You led the way in the introduction of term limitations for Heads of State and Government. Today, Tanzania stands as one of Africa's good examples of plural democracy and good governance. Thanks in part to the wisdom and visionary leadership, and for your own astute leadership in staying the course on those positive attributes.

5. Botswana is certainly proud to be associated with your country, as we uphold the same principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.  Many countries on the continent have a lot to learn from the example of Tanzania.

6. Mr. President, we also note with satisfaction the efforts which Tanzania is expending to transform her economy. Amongst those positive developments are the extensive economic reforms which are aimed at creating favourable macro-economic conditions for sustainable growth and the promotion of an environment conducive to business investment as well as private sector development. These together with the improvement of fiscal and monetary policies, have put Tanzania on a steady path to economic development.

7. With an average economic growth rate of 6 percent over the last seven years, Tanzania's economy is among the fastest growing in the world. This is certainly a commendable achievement.

8. Mr. President, on the continental front, Botswana commends Tanzania for her tireless efforts aimed at finding lasting solutions to Africa's conflict situations. Tanzania has and continues to play a constructive role in this regard.

9. Mr. President, I will be remiss if I fail to recognize and pay homage to you, for your own personal commitment and dedication in this endeavour. To this end, we are reminded of your inspiring and exemplary stewardship during your tenure as the Chairperson of the African Union from 2008 to 2009.  Botswana was amongst those who were reluctant to accept the end of your Chairmanship.  Your contribution did Africa a lot of good, and for that we are grateful.

10. We however, note with regret that Africa is lapsing into the dark days of coups and unconstitutional changes as was the case in Mauritania; Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar.  Africa must remain resolute in rejecting extra-parliamentary transfer of power by isolating the illegal regimes until the constitutional order is restored.  In the same regard, we should equally condemn Africa's leaders who continually show a disregard for human rights and the rule of law as is presently the case with Sudan.  And by not condoning impunity, we should also have the courage to render such leaders to international justice including the International Criminal Court so that they can answer to the charges against them.

11. Mr President, your visit comes at a time when the global economy is in dire straits. The impact of this crisis has already been felt across the globe. Sadly, the economies of the developing countries which are also the most vulnerable are the worst affected.

12. As we face up to these daunting challenges, it is pleasing to note that, the meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) countries, agreed at their recent Summit in London to assist developing countries with financial support as well as to open trade and promote investment. It is important that they honour their commitments.

13. Mr. President, Botswana has over the years benefited from services provided by Tanzanians, especially in the field of Health. Currently, there are 32 Tanzanians employed by our Ministry of Health. Of these, there are medical doctors, nurses, radiographers, to name some. Given the shortage of human resources in this field, these individuals are contributing significantly to the health care services of our country.

14. Tanzania has for a long time offered training opportunities to Botswana nationals. A large number of Batswana have graduated in different disciplines from Tanzanian institutions of higher learning. And they have since come back to contribute to the development of the country.

15. In the area of Defence and Security, Tanzania produced the first batch of Botswana Defence Force female cadets in 2008. And I fondly remember my visit to your country during that auspicious and historic event, which marked the entrance into the ranks of Botswana Defence Force of the first ever Batswana women soldiers.

16. We cannot but express profound gratitude for this generous assistance on the part of your country. Friends like Tanzania are all weather friends. We shall forever be indebted to you for the support and solidarity.

17. On that note Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, May I now ask you to stand and join me in drinking a toast to:

* continued good health and happiness of His Excellency, Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and First Lady Mrs Salma Kikwete;
* continued friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the Government and the People of our two countries;
* continued peace and prosperity for the people of the United Republic of Tanzania; and,
* to international peace and security.

18. I thank you for your attention.