EMAKHOSIKATI,
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES,
COUNCILLORS,
CHIEFS,
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
CHIEF JUSTICE,
CABINET MINISTERS,
EXCELLENCIES, MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,
PRESIDING OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE MANZINI REGION,
ARMY COMMANDER, USDF OFFICERS AND OTHER RANKS,
VISITING ARMY CHIEFS,
DEFENCE ATTACHES PRESENT HERE TODAY,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
SIYANIVUSELA NONKHE BEKUNENE LAPHA ENOKWANE.
INTRODUCTION
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I JOIN THE UMBUTFO SWAZILAND DEFENCE FORCE (USDF) HERE AT NOKWANE TODAY TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMY DAY SINCE ITS INCEPTION 42 YEARS AGO.
MAY WE WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS IMPORTANT DAY IN THE CALENDAR OF OUR NATIONAL ARMY. WE RECOGNISE THE PRESENCE OF OUR GUESTS FROM FAR AND WIDE WITH GREAT APPRECIATION.
PEACE AND STABILITY
LAST WEEK THE NATION HAD PEACEFUL GOOD FRIDAY FESTIVITIES. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT IN OUR KINGDOM WILL CONTINUE TO PREVAIL BECAUSE WITHOUT PEACE THERE CAN BE NO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
THE CHURCH IN THE COUNTRY HAS CONTINUED TO PRAY FOR PEACE AND THIS HAS GONE A LONG WAY IN UNIFYING US AS A NATION.
WE ENCOURAGE EMASOTJA TO PUT GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. GOD SHOULD REMAIN YOUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AT ALL TIMES.
APPLAUD NEW SQUARE
TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE ARMY DAY IN A NEW LANDSCAPE AND WE WISH TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SQUARE.
WE HOPE THESE FACILITIES WILL PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE AND CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FORCES.
IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT UMBUTFO SHOULD LOOK AFTER THESE STRUCTURES AND KEEP THEM IN GOOD CONDITION FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.
CO-OPERATION WITH SOLDIERS IN THE REGION
THE NATION ALSO WELCOMES THE WARM AND CORDIAL RELATIONS THAT YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH OUR NEIGHBOURING DEFENCE FORCES. SINCE CRIME KNOWS NO TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES, AS A SUB- REGION WE NEED TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER FORCES AND COMBAT CRIME AS A COLLECTIVE.
WE ARE, THEREFORE, PLEASED TO LEARN THAT MOZAMBIQUE HAS JOINED FORCES WITH THE SWAZILAND AND SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE FORCES IN ENSURING THAT OUR TERRITORIAL BORDERS REMAIN WELL CONTROLLED.
GLOBAL PEACE INTIATIVES
TERRORISM AND ARMED CONFLICT ARE PROVING TO BE A SERIOUS DISRUPTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE ELEMENT TO DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ACROSS THE GLOBE, THUS PLACING GREATER NEED FOR ARMED INTERVENTION.
WE WILL ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR DIALOGUE AS A SOLUTION TO ALL CONFLICT. HOWEVER, WE ARE ALIVE TO THE FACT THAT SOME SITUATIONS REQUIRE THE INTERVENTION OF PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS.
THE SUCCESS OF THESE MISSIONS TO ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE GLOBAL PEACE INITIATIVE RELIES ON A UNITED EFFORT BY SECURITY FORCES OF THIS WORLD THAT ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF ALL PEOPLE.
WE CONTINUE TO URGE OUR CONTINENTAL ORGANIZATION, THE AU, TO PRIORITIZE ISSUES OF PEACE AND SECURITY. WHERE CONFLICT PREVAILS, THE AU SHOULD TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT PEACE IS RESTORED.
THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING MILITARY PERSONNEL TO SERVE IN CONTINENTAL AND GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS. WE BELIEVE OUR ARMY IS WELL TRAINED TO BE OF GOOD SERVICE WHENEVER OR WHEREVER A NEED MAY ARISE.
COMMITMENT TO DUTY
MASOTJA, IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT DURING SUCH OCCASIONS TO REMIND YOU OF YOUR OATH OF OFFICE. THIS IS A SERVICE OF 100 PER CENT LOYALTY TO THE STATE AND ALL NATIONAL STRUCTURES AS THE SAFETY OF ALL EMASWATI IS IN YOUR HANDS.
YOU OUGHT TO BE ABOVE REPROACH, WHICH MEANS YOU CANNOT BE BRIBED IN ORDER TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THOSE WHO ALWAYS SEEK TO FIND WAYS OF HARMING OUR PEOPLE IN ANY WAY.
THIS JOB IS NO BED OF ROSES FOR IT HAS THORNY CHALLENGES, SOME LIFE THREATENING, THAT CAN ONLY BE OVERCOME BY THE BRAVE AT HEART. IF YOU TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SERVE WITH DISTINCTION, HONOUR SHALL FOLLOW YOU FOR ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIVES.
A SOLDIER IS ONE WHO RESEMBLES STRENGTH AND VITALITY. A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO BUILDING YOUR GOOD PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THIS GOOD CONDITION AT ALL TIMES.
GOOD IMAGE
TO ALL RANK AND FILE OF EMASOTJA, WE WISH TO REMIND YOU TO DISPLAY A GOOD CHARACTER AT ALL TIMES. EACH ONE OF YOU IS THE MIRROR IMAGE OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
YOUR CHARACTER ALSO REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES YOU COME FROM AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD NEVER BE FOUND TO BE IN DOUBT.
IMPORTANCE OF THE ARMY
THIS DAY ALSO PROVIDES US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE ARMY PLAYS IN OUR LIVES. GOVERNMENT HAS A PIVOTAL ROLE OF KEEPING ALL CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY SAFE AND SECURE AND THIS REQUIRES 24 HOUR TERRITORY PATROLS. A SECURE COUNTRY IS ABLE TO HARNESS PEACE.
PEACE PROVIDES US WITH AN ADDED ADVANTAGE OF A DESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR INVESTMENT WHICH CREATES JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
IT IS A VIBRANT ECONOMY THAT AFFORDS A COUNTRY THE ABILITY TO MEET MOST, IF NOT ALL ITS SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS.
THE NATION IS PROUD OF YOUR ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR COUNTRY’S BOUNDARIES ARE NOT USED FOR ILLICIT DEALING AND SMUGGLING OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. OUR TERRITORIAL BORDERS NEED TO BE KEPT SAFE AT ALL TIMES AND WE APPLAUD YOUR GOOD WORK IN THIS REGARD.
WE WISH TO ASSURE THE UMBUTFO SWAZILAND DEFENCE FORCE THAT GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE NEEDS OF SOLDIERS BY PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION, CLEAN WATER, HEALTH AND OTHER SOCIAL AMENITIES AS YOU SECURE OUR NATION.
HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT
THE NATION NOTES WITH APPRECIATION EMASOTJA’S ACTIVE ROLE IN RELIEF SUPPORT ACTIVITIES, WHENEVER THE NATION FINDS ITSELF DEVASTATED BY NATURAL DISASTERS OR OTHER CAUSES.
YOUR DOORS TO MEDICAL FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE ALSO REMAINED OPEN FOR USE BY EMASWATI.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE A HEALTHY NATION IS A PRODUCTIVE NATION.
WE APPLAUD YOUR HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT AND FURTHER URGE YOU TO CONTINUE COMPLEMENTING GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO MITIGATE LIFE’S HARSH CHALLENGES AND BRINGING QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES CLOSER TO OUR PEOPLE.
TO ALL EMASWATI, WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE UMBUTFO SWAZILAND DEFENCE FORCE TOWARDS ACHIEVING ITS OBJECTIVES. THE ARMY IS THERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT YOU FROM HARM.
LET US ALL WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS DEVELOPING A SAFE AND PEACEFUL KINGDOM FOR ALL. MEMBERS OF THE USDF ARE PART OF US AS WITNESSED IN THEIR PARTICIPATION IN ALL OUR CULTURAL AND NATIONAL ACTIVITIES WHICH IS HIGHLY VISIBLE AND ENCOURAGING.
NEW RANKS IN THE ARMY
DUE TO THE EVER CHANGING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WORK OF THE ARMY, IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE A NEW STRUCTURE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING NEW RANKS;
FULL GENERAL: SOBANTU DLAMINI
LT. GENERAL: JEFFREY SHABALALA, LENFORD DLAMINI, TSEMBENI MAGONGO.
MAJOR GENERAL: MOSES FAKUDZE, PRIVON MAGWAZA, SISUSA DLAMINI, WELILE MAGAGULA, SIMELANE DLAMINI, SIDZA DLUDLU
BRIGADIER GENERAL: BONGANI SIKHONDZE, RICHARD DLAMINI. VUSUMANGO DLAMINI, SHAYILANGA KUNENE, MANZEMVULA MAMBA, SIMON GULWAKO, MBOKODVO SIKHONDZE, ALMON NHLABATSI.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROMOTED AND THEY WILL BE NOTIFIED ACCORDINGLY.
WE CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON THE NEW RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU ARE NOW ENTRUSTED WITH BY THE NATION.
CONCLUSION
AS I CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE PLAYED VARIOUS ROLES IN PROVIDING, TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT TO OUR ARMY.
KINDLY EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO YOUR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS FOR THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION THAT HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN DEVELOPING OUR ARMY TO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF THE ARMY, WE WISH TO APPLAUD YOU FOR A JOB A WELL DONE IN MOULDING THESE MEN AND WOMEN INTO VALUABLE ASSETS TO THE COUNTRY.
WE ALSO RECOGNISE YOUR EFFORTS TO ENGAGE IN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMMES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ESPECIALLY YOUR MAIZE.
DO NOT BE DETERRED BUT USE THIS EXPERIENCE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER DIVERSIFYING INTO OTHER FARMING PRODUCTS THAT CAN GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE OF THE ARMY.
THIS DAY, AS WELL AS ALL ITS ACTIVITIES, HAS CERTAINLY BEEN WELL WORTH OUR PRESENCE. WE THANK ALL THOSE WHO MADE THIS EVENT A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
WE ALSO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE GIFTS PRESENTED TO US.
I THANK YOU, MAY GOD BLESS US A