HONOURABLE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR THE OFFICIAL HAND-OVER OF THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR POTABLE WATER SUPPLY ON THE 6th FEBRUARY 2012 AT MATSAHPA RURAL WATER SUPPLY DEPOT AT 10:00 AM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC
OF CHINA ON TAIWAN
HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO RECEIVE THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER FACILITIES INTENDED TO SERVE THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
· I AM INFORMED THAT THE INITIAL BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT WAS IN THE SUM OF TEN MILLION EMALANGENI (E10,000,000). HOWEVER, DUE TO DEPRESSION IN THE EXCHANGE RATE BETWEEN LILANGENI AND DOLLAR, THE PROJECT VALUE DECLINED TO ABOUT E8.6 MILLION EMALANGENI. AS A RESULT THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASED FROM THE ABOVE AMOUNT WAS REDUCED.
· THIS PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED TO PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES THAT PROVIDE POTABLE WATER IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOALS FOR POTABLE WATER SUPPLY.
· FIRSTLY, THE PROVISION OF THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT WILL EQUIP AND FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING MACRO AND MICRO-SCHEMES IN THE RURAL AREAS.
·SECONDLY, IT WILL ENABLE THE MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO MEET PREVAILING DEMAND FOR POTABLE WATER IN RURAL AREAS OF SWAZILAND.
· THE BENEFIT THAT WILL BE REALISED FROM THIS PROJECT INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
-INCREASED ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER TO WITHIN A RADIUS OF TWO HUNDRED (200) METRES IN LINE WITH THE NATIONL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
-INCREASED CAPACITY AND COVERAGE FOR THE PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER SUPPLY IN THE RURAL AREAS.
-SPEED-UP THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER SCHEMES TO BE A STEP CLOSER TOWARDS MEETING THE SET NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOALS FOR CLEAN WATER REQUIRED FOR HUMAN HEALTH.
· THESE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT WILL BE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED TO THE FOUR (4) REGIONS WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS OPERATES THROUGH DEPOTS TO SERVE THE RURAL COMMUNITIES.
· THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE WORK FOR THE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ENGINEERS, AND UNDER SUPERVISION OF THE CLERKS OF WORKS WITHIN THE FOUR REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
· YOUR EXCELLENCY THIS ASSISTANCE COMES AT A VERY CRUCIAL TIME WHEN THIS COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, YET THE DEMAND FOR POTABLE WATER SUPPLY TO OUR PEOPLE IS ON THE RISE.
· I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN FOR THIS VALUABLE ASSISTANCE WHICH WIIL CONTRIBUTE A GREAT DEAL TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND. YOU ARE REALLY TRUE FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE OF SWAZILAND.
· IT IS THE GOAL OF HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE CLEAN AND ADEQUATE WATER TO EVERYBODY IN THE RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY BY 2022. WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING AND VERY SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS LIKE YOURSELVES, OUR COUNTRY WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MEET OUR OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
· I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE YOU YOUR EXCELLENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN THAT MY MINISTRY WILL DO ALL IN ITS POWER TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THESE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT SO THAT THEY CAN BE USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH TODAY’S AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
ON BEHALF OF HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF
SWAZILAND, I HEREBY ACCEPT THE HAND-OVER OF THESE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT.
· I THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MAY GOD BLESS US ALL.