STATEMENT BY HON. DR. STERGOMENA LAWRENCE TAX (MP), MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SERVICE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 
COMMEMORATION OF THE AFRICA DAY 
25TH MAY, 2022

Honorable Justine Lumumba Kasule, Former Secretary General NRM, and Minister, Office of the Prime Minister – General Duties;

Honorable General Kayinda Otafiire, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Chairperson Pan African – GLOBAL;

Madam. Grace Kabayo, Secretary General, Pan African Women Organization; 

Hon. Cecilia Ogwal, Member of Parliament, and Chairperson Pan African Women Organization – Uganda Chapter;

Hon. Ministers and Members of Parliament present;

Excellences Ambassadors and High Commissioners;

Members of the Diplomatic Corps;

Government Officials;

Members of Pan African Youth Union;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Allow me to express our gratitude to the government of Uganda led by His Excellency Kaguta, Yoweri Museveni, and the people of Uganda for the warm welcome and hospitality. May I also thank the Pan African Women Organization for the kind invitation and for recognizing Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Her Excellency wished to be part of this great event, nonetheless, due to other equally important international engagements, she could not make it. She therefore, sent me to represent her. On her behalf, I am extremely honoured and privileged to receive the award you have dedicated to her. I will faithfully deliver the award.

Since Her Excellency’s inauguration in March 2021, as the 1st Female President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency has been a champion in promoting prosperity and welfare of people of Tanzania, including women and the youth. Her excellency, the President, has become a great role model for girls in Tanzanian schools, young women, the youth, and society at large, whereby many of them now dream of becoming great citizens, and leaders of tomorrow. Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan is not only a role model to girls in schools and the youth in Tanzania, but also in Africa and beyond. Within a year of her presidency the United Republic of Tanzania has recorded tremendous achievements and strides in socio and economic arenas, and in the consolidation of democracy, peace and security. I therefore, would like to take this opportunity to thank the Pan African Women Organization for recognizing the important role she continues to play, a lot has been said by several speakers about the strengths and capabilities, and we see all those in Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, a strong and Pan Africanist leader. May I appeal to all women and men to continue supporting her. 

Ladies and Gentlemen;
As we commemorate the Africa Day, which affords us a unique opportunity to come together as Africans, let me also acknowledge contributions by all African women from various backgrounds who have engaged in liberation struggles of Africa and made major contributions to the continent. We thank them tremendously and will forever cherish them.

Ladies and Gentlemen;
Over the years, considerable progress has been achieved for women in Africa, and we pay tribute to the Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO) that continues to mobilize African women to build collective energy around a common agenda, for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Despite efforts around the world to tap the potential of women in Africa, there is still much to be done to secure full recognition of women in political and socio-economic development. Therefore, it is our duty to call for stronger cooperation among the people in Africa to understand the potential that women hold for the future of Africa.

Ladies and Gentlemen;
As I conclude, may encourage all women, including myself to teach our children and the youth to dream big, and to love one another. Let me conclude by a quote from the First President of the United Republic of Tanzania, a true Pan Africanist, the late Mwl. Julius Kambarage Nyerere who used to say “It can be done, play your part”. Let us play our part. His legacy moves on, and his Pan Africanist spirit continues. We have in our midst a member of his family, Ms Emma Nyerere. 

Ni furaha pia kuwa tunatumia kiswahili lugha iliyotumika kutuunganisha wakati wa kupigania uhuru. Tuendelee kukienzi, kukidumisha, na kukikuza.

Long live Pan Africanism, long live Africa, integrated, prosperous, stable and peaceful.

	Asanteni kwa kunisikiliza!