Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon.
I am honoured to join you at the official opening of the 9th Session of the 7th Parliament, in accordance with the longstanding practice established since independence.
The assumption of this legislative year is taking place at the time of the loss of our President, H.E Dr Hage G. Geingob on 4 February. He is one of the Founders of the Namibian Constitution, having chaired the Constituent Assembly which drafted our Constitution. He served, as the First Prime Minister and Third President of our Republic. Our country has therefore lost a national icon, a Hero, a committed and dedicated leader who did not only contribute to the building of the modern Namibian nation, but has made durable footprints in Namibia, the African continent and globally in all the spheres of human endeavour. May his soul rest in eternal peace. (Let us please observe a minute of silence).
As Namibians, we should therefore pick up from where he left and re-dedicate ourselves to the noble ideas of unity and inclusivity for all our citizens in the Namibian House.