Main Chamber, Pietermaritzburg: Wednesday, 06 May 2009

Honourable Speaker

The Hon. Acting Judge President, Justice P. Levinsohn

The new Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize

Leaders of Political Parties

Colleagues and Honourable Members 

Mr. / Madam Speaker, we have arrived, as a province, at a time in our history when the election rhetoric has been made, when the repeated clashes of election manifestos have bred a widened gap of policy proposals and the present period when we must all show that we have attained the political maturity needed to spring into action and enter the business of government (for the ruling party) and opposition politics (for those of us who sit on this side of the House). 

After the electoral battles have been fought, the election results declared and celebrations concluded it is now down to this day that we have come to elect the fifth Premier of KwaZulu-Natal province.

The recent elections delivered a resounding mandate for all of us but more especially for the majority Party.  The ruling Party will do well by embracing that mandate with humility and dedicate itself to the challenges of government and cordial working relations with the opposition parties.  There can never be a more fitting call to the governing Party than the famous words of a renowned Zimbabwean poet, Solomon Mahaka who wrote:

Last night we met,

My friend and I,

Two wars old.

Said I to him,

“Let us build bridges

To cross rivulets of blood

Canals of hate

Canyons of prejudice

And furrows of pain.”

Mr. / Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Official Opposition I wish to congratulate my colleague, Dr Zweli Mkhize on his election as the Premier of the province of KwaZulu-Natal and I wish him well on his high calling to lead government.  Khabazela kaMavovo, we wish that you will serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal faithfully, honestly and to the best of your abilities.

In executing your duties as Premier I wish to urge you as colleague in the medical profession to practice that old medical maxim: “to cure KZN where possible, to alleviate its people’s plight often and to comfort the citizens of this beautiful province always.” 

I thank you!