Mr Speaker and hon members, the UCDP joins other political parties in lamenting the death of Florence Nyanda. In most cases, as Christians, we say that a person has been promoted to glory when they are no more and we have no doubt that this is so in the case of Florence Nyanda.
The fact that I did not know her from a bar of soap, although I was also here from 2004 to 2009 before my sojourn in the province, is proof that she was not controversial. She kept to her place and minded her own business.
Her diligence cannot be denied when one takes into account the portfolio committees she served on, and particularly the roles she played and offices she held in the community and in her party, the ANC. She has run the whole marathon as an elected representative: councillor, member of the provincial legislature and, finally, Member of Parliament. Like Florence of old, she bore the lamp to show that diligence yields results.
We in the UCDP convey our condolences to all the people directly affected by her death, such as her next of kin, the community she served with dedication, and the ANC. We say they should be strong in the Lord. May her soul rest in peace.