Address by the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mrs Happy Joyce Mashamba, at the event of the International 2010 Communication and Media Summit, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Programme director
The Honourable Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. John Landa  Nkomo
The Honourable Minister of Tourism and Hospitality,
Cde Walter Mzembi
The Honourable Governor and Resident Minister of Matebeleland South, Cde Angelina Masuku
The Honourable Governor and Resident Minister of Matebeleland North, Cde Thokozile Mathuthu
The Honourable Governor and Resident Minister of Buluwayo Metropolitan Province, Cde Cain Mathema
The Consul General of Botswana, Cde
Mathabo Matshika
His Worship the Mayor of the City of Buluwayo, represented by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Amen Mpofu
His Worship the Mayor of the Municipality of Victoria Falls, Councillor Nkosilathi Jiyane
His Worship the Mayor of the Municipality of Gwanda, Councillor L De Necker
The Town Clerks of the respective
Municipalities here present
The Municipal Manager of Host City Polokwane, Mr Sam Mabotja
The Head of the Limpopo 2010  Provincial Coordinating Unit, Ms Seipati Tlaka
 Delegates from Botswana and Zimbabwe
Representatives of the respective parastals and government departments of Limpopo Provincial Government
Members of the media
Comrades and compatriots
Ladies and gentlemen
All protocol observed
 
Purpose of the event

The first democratically elected President of South Africa, Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela once said of Africa: “Africa yearns and deserves to redeem her glory, to reassert her centuries-old contribution to economics, politics, culture and the arts; and once more to be a pioneer in the many fields of human endeavour.”

I am proud to announce, today, that this time has come, for Africa! Now is our time to show the world what we have to offer in Africa and in particular, southern Africa. Now is our time to shine!

There are only 76 days left in the countdown to the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  We therefore take this opportunity to once again acknowledge the strong and thriving relationship between Limpopo and its neighbouring countries. We have a lot in common and our histories are intertwined, having toiled side by side in the trenches for the liberation of our respective peoples and countries.

There are a lot of benefits to reap from this African World Cup and it is important for us to inform our biggest partners, the media, about recent developments in Limpopo with regards to the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so as to ensure that our stakeholders and all the people of Africa have first- hand knowledge of the opportunities and activities of this soccer spectacular.

As today’s activities unfold, you will soon realise that indeed, South Africa, Limpopo and its host city, Polokwane is ready to receive the world.  However, we need the help of our neighbours in the Southern African Development (SADC) region to ensure that we place Africa on the map for the future of this continent and for posterity.

We are promoting Limpopo as a destination of choice for tourism and one of the biggest parts of this attraction for tourists is the fact that the province is a direct gateway to many more destinations beyond the South African borders.

We are humbly imploring our African brothers and sisters to receive the world with open arms and extend this warm welcome to all visitors who set foot in Africa.

In closure, I wish to emphasise that this World Cup is not about soccer alone. It is about nations and cultures taking hands and embracing this African unity to ensure that, beyond the soccer spectacular in June and July 2010, Africa prospers and her people move together as a unified force to propagate peace, unity and stability.

We therefore once again extend an invitation for everyone to join us for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Come and celebrate with us. We also invite the media to absorb as much information as possible during this session and take the message back to their audience.

This is Africa’s time!

Limpopo is ready, South Africa is ready and we say: “Ke nako!”

Source: Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture