ADDRESS BY HIS MAJESTY THE CHANCELLOR, KING LETSIE III ON THE OCCASION OF THE CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE OF dOCTOR OF LAWS (HONORIS CAUSA) TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BENJAMIN WILLIAM MKAPA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO FRIDAY 23^RD SEPTEMBER, 2005

YOUR EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BENJAMIN MKAPA,  

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER AND ‘ME ‘MATHATO MOSISILI, 

HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,

HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,

YOUR LORDSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE,

HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,

HONOURABLE MINISTERS,

YOUR LORDSHIPS, JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT,

CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL,

MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE,

THE VICE-CHANCELLOR,

THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS,

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

IT IS A SINGULAR HONOUR AND PRiVILEGE AS THE CHANCELLOR OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO, TO EXTEND A MOST CORDIAL WELCOME TO THIS EXPECTANT GATHERING ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION OF THE CONFERMENT OF A WELL-DESERVED HONORARY   DOCTOR OF LAWS DEGREE ON one of the leading  

statesmen of our time.  I am, of course, referring to His Excellency, President Benjamin Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania WHO IS AMONGST US TODAY. 

I am aware that I will have another occasion this evening OF formally welcomING your EXCELLENCY and your delegation TO THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO.   NEVERtheless, I would like to extend my sincere words of welcome and compliments and thanks to you, Mr. President, for having accepted this honour and for being able to receive it personally. 

dISTINGUISHED GUESTS, 

The man we are about to honour today is one who was destined from the very outset to play an important role, not only in the unfolding events of our continent but also in the corridors of power around the world.   President  Mkapa  is   listened  to  with  keen interest and thoughtful respect by all those who are in attendance at international gatherings where he is a participant.   

Chairman of Council,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I WISH TO NOTE THAT IN THE LONG HISTORY OF THIS UNIVERSITY, WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL AWARDS TO SERVING HEADS OF STATE.   tODAY, yOUR EXCELLENCY, YOUR NAME HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE ROLL OF HONOUR AS AN HONORARY ALUMNUS OF THIS UNIVERSITY WHICH INCLUDES, AMONGST OTHERS, PRESIDENTS MANDELA, NUJOMA AND THE LATE MWALIMU JULIUS NYERERE WHOM YOU SERVED WITH DIINCTION BEFORE FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOT STEPS TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA.  YOU ARE THEREFORE A SPECIAL GUEST AND WE FEEL GREATLY HONOURED BY YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS HONOUR AND FOR BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE IT PERSONALLY. 

THIS AWARD, YOUR EXCELLENCY, WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE, HAS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE.  PERMIT ME TO MENTION ONLY TWO ASPECTS WHICH CHARACTERIZE ITS IMPORTANCE.   FIRST, IT SIGNIFIES THE CONTINUING BOND OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND UNITY.  OVER THE YEARS, THE PEOPLE OF OUR REGION HAVE YEARNED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND UNITY.  YOUR EXCELLENCY, YOU HAVE, OVER SEVERAL DECADES, BEEN A KEEN CHAMPION OF THEIR STRUGGLES, IN BOTH YOUR COUNTRY AND ALSO UNDER THE AUSPICIES OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC).  SECONDLY, THIS AWARD SIGNIFIES THE DETERMINATION OF THE ACADEMIC LEADERS OF THIS INSTITUTION TO CONTINUE TO FORGE LINKAGES WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA.   IN THIS REGARD, I HAVE BEEN RELIABLY INFORMED THAT EARLY THIS YEAR, PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN TANZANIA JOINED HANDS WITH THEIR SISTER UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES ASSOCIATION  (SARUA) AND ARE NOW WORKING TOGETHER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR COMMON PROGRAMMES.  THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE BY OUR UNIVERSITIES WHICH WE HOPE WILL BEAR THE DESIRED FRUITS.  I HAVE ALSO BEEN REMINDED THAT OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HAD STUDENTS FROM OUR TWO COUNTRIES STUDYING IN EACH OTHER’S INSTITUTIONS.  INDEED, TWO OF THE PEOPLE WHO NOMINATED YOUR EXCELLENCY FOR THIS HONOUR, PURSUED THEIR POSTGRADUATE DEGREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR-ES-SALAAM.   WE HAVE ALSO HAD TANZANIAN LECTURERS IN THIS UNIVERSITY.  I FOR ONE WAS LECTURED BY A TANZANIAN NATIONAL WHEN I WAS DOING MY LEGAL STUDIES AT THIS UNIVERSITY.   CONSEQUENTLY, WE WOULD LIKE THIS AWARD TO REPRESENT THE CONTINUED AND INTENSIFIED COOPERATION AMONGST OUR INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. 

YOUR EXCELLENCIES,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,  

WITHOUT BELABOURING THE POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO INDICATE THAT WE EXPECT OUR UNIVERSITIES TO BE PACE SETTERS IN THE PRODUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IN CHARTING THE FUTURE DIRECTION IN THE REGION.  THEY MUST NOT ONLY BE CUSTODIANS OF OLD KNOWLEDGE, BUT MUST BE AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF NEW KNOWLEDGE.  THIS IS WHY WE, IN OUR VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES  LIKE TANZANIA, YEARN FOR CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND POLICY-MAKERS IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASPIRATIONS OF OUR PEOPLES.   

YOUR EXCELLENCY,  

THE AWARD YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE ENTITLES YOU TO ALL THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF A GRADUATE OF THIS UNIVERSITY.     IT   ALSO   IMPOSES   THE   OBLIGATIONS   OF     AN ALUMNUS OF THE UNIVERSITY.  FROM NOW ON, WE ARE CONVINCED THAT YOU WILL CHAMPION ITS CAUSE NOT ONLY IN TANZANIA  BUT   ALSO  IN  YOUR  VARIOUS  ENDEaVOURS  AS YOU ENJOY YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT FROM THE HIGH OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA.    

Chairman of the University Council,

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER,

Vice-Chancellor,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

In conclusion and as the Chancellor of this University, I would like to thank the university structures for THEIR POSITIVE PRESENCE OF MIND TO HONOUR HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MKAPA WITH AN HONORARY DOCTORATE AND FOR makING APPROPRIATE arrangements for this important occasion despite the short notice.    I  would also like to  thank all of you for responding so overwhelmingly to the hurried invitations to witness this important occasion.   Your presence is highLY appreciated.

dISTINGUISHED GUESTS, i THANK YOU ALL. 

KHOTSO!   pULA!!    NALA!!!

05 October 2005