allAfrica.com: Liberia: You Are Mother Africa! - Namibian House Speaker Refers to Pres. Sirleaf (Page 1 of 1)

Liberia: You Are Mother Africa! - Namibian House Speaker Refers to Pres. Sirleaf

Good leaders are always admired, no matter where they find themselves, it is said. And from what is obtaining, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf seems to be suited in that assertion. Yesterday, the Speaker of the Namibian Parliament, Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab was full of words of encomiums for the Liberian leader for her exemplary leadership prowess and referred to her as "You Are Mother Africa."

The Analyst's Managing Edition, Stanley Seakor, who is traveling with the President, sent this piece, highlighting the speaker's assessment of President Sirelaf.

On July 15, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was opportune to have addressed the National Council and joint session of the National Assembly of Namibia, ricocheting the pleasantries of the ties Liberia and Namibia have enjoyed over the years.

Before her address, the Speaker of the Namibia Parliament, Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, in keeping with tradition, welcomed the Liberian leader with words of admiration of leadership characteristics, and as the first female head of state of Africa.

"Madam President, Not only the female members of our Government and of Parliament but all women, especially those of the younger generations, revere you as their beloved heroine and illustrious role model: The first democratically elected President, Head of State, in the history of Africa.

Please be assured, Madam, we men-folk share fully in this veneration and celebration. You are Mother Africa, indeed."

Full Text of the Speech

On behalf of the Chairman of the National Council, and Parliament, as well as in my own name, welcome the President of the Sister Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to our Parliament. On this unique occasion, I happily also acknowledge the presence of President Nujoma with us. Above the rest of us, Namibians, he was the real pathfinder.

By the same token, we express our gratitude to His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba for his consideration in ensuring that the official programme of the State visit by the eminent Liberian Head of State includes this House of the People. Welcome, Excellency.

Madam President, you have chosen the right time to visit Southern Africa. You delivered a powerful and reassuring Sixth Nelson Mandela Lecture at Kliptown, in Soweto, an occasion which also marked Madiba's 90th birthday.

You rekindled the ideals of The Freedom Charter and reaffirmed its continued relevance for us today. You renewed our belief in African Renaissance in this globalizing world and urged for collective action towards constitutional democracy, the rule of law, gender equality and sustainable social development.

You also addressed encouraging and empowering words to members of regional youth and children's Parliament. Upon arrival a moment ago for this rendezvous with our Parliamentarians, Excellency met a delegation of female members of the Namibian Children's Parliament, led by this year's Madam Speaker, Ms Sharonice Busch.

Those of us, who joined our Head of State, President Hifikepunye Pohamba and his High Table Dinner Guests last Sunday, were greatly inspired by Excellency's thoughtful speech and we are proud that bilateral relations between the two sister countries, Liberia and Namibia, are growing steadily.

The prospects look promising. I will not repeat here all that was said so well by the two Presidents about our shared history and the way forward. Except to say, we share President Pohamba's accolades extended to Ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh, NDF and NAMPOL for their outstanding contributions towards peaceful transition in Liberia, as United Nations' supervisors and peacekeepers.

Formalities are unavoidable but sometimes they get in the way of traditional customs that require ceremony, identifications and rituals. Your Excellency's official visit Monday, to Walvis Bay in the Erongo Region, is a present case in point. More than a century ago, young Liberian seamen came to that part of the country whence I and others present here come from. Those young men liked what they saw and settled down forever. It's all in the extended family.

As things are in such situations, this, that and the other happened and we are today talking about descendants with common roots. As an elder from that region, I would have loved introducing the Marobian offsprings, as they have come to be known locally, to the Big Mother.

But then again, life, like history, is a two-way traffic. At the Soweto ceremony, you remembered, Excellency, a South African liberation hero, Teboho "Tsietsi" Mashinini from this region, and his Liberian wife and children. I know that long chapter and he was not the only one. There were many other similar visitors to Liberia from Namibia as well.

Madam President,.

Not only the female members of our Government and of Parliament but all women, especially those of the younger generations, revere you as their beloved heroine and illustrious role model: The first democratically elected President, Head of State, in the history of Africa.

Please be assured, Madam, we menfolk share fully in this veneration and celebration. You are Mother Africa, indeed!

I now have the distinct honour and personal privilege to invite Her Excellency, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, to address the Joint Sitting of our Parliament.

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