Date Signed
English
I am delighted to be here tonight and be part of this gathering on this important day and event on the calendar of the Southern Africa Trust and Mail and Guardian. I received an invitation in October 2013, soon after my appointment as the Executive Secretary of SADC, to speak at this event last year, unfortunately due to prior commitments, I could not make it. I am happy that I could make it this time. Celebrating achievements and honouring those who are at the coalface of eradicating poverty in our region is a noble deed. I wish, therefore, to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in this initiative for pushing the boundaries of our thinking.
