Namibian President Sam Nujoma on Saturday hailed his country’s 15-year record of democracy and peace, as he gave his farewell speech to Parliament before he steps down.
Nujoma praised the members of the former Constituent Assembly who elected him as head of state in 1990 and who drafted the country’s Constitution after its independence.
”Our Parliament was born out of the Constituent Assembly,” Nujoma said, ”a body that brought together the people of Namibia which represented the founding fathers and mothers of our republic from different political backgrounds for the first time.”
”It demonstrated the resolve of our nation to leave behind the painful past of apartheid oppression and charter a new course towards a more democratic and peaceful society,” the 76-year-old added.
The president hands over the government to his chosen successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, on Monday.
The lawmakers of independent Namibia were faced with the ”mammoth task”, according to Nujoma, to ”repeal volumes of discriminatory laws” dating from the apartheid regime of South Africa.
”Above all, we have established an unbroken record of democratic and constitutional governance which has ensured peace, stability and social harmony,” Nujoma pointed out.
He called on the new Parliament, which is to be sworn in on Sunday, to tackle corruption and poverty.
”They must put the shoulder to the wheel to ensure good governance and find solutions to youth unemployment, to curb the spread of Aids and to address the issues of crime and violence against women and children,” Nujoma said. — Sapa-AFP