Hon Deputy Speaker, tempting as it always is to look for areas where criticism can be made, today is a day when all such is forsaken. Today is one of the rare occasions where we can all afford to pat each other on the back and say, "Well done, Africa!" [Applause.]
Congratulations to all Africans for the successful hosting of the most popular global sporting event. Indeed, we silenced the critics who thought that Africa was not good enough to host an event of this magnitude. It is with a great sense of relief and delight that we report that the sporting event was without the incidents that the doomsayers had prophesied.
Congratulations to the Police Ministry are also in order. Indeed, you have done us proud. You did not only protect our visitors and ensure the enforcement of the law, but you planted a seed of hope that the country has the capacity to deal effectively with the scourge of crime that has tormented our teenage democracy.
If we as a nation can work together, as we did with the organising of this event in developing magnificent stadia and fascinating infrastructure topped by Africa's greatest virtue of ubuntu, we can and should be able to address effectively the issues of poverty, unemployment, crime and HIV/Aids. What we have to do is say that the same zeal that we displayed with the World Cup has to be displayed in addressing the above-mentioned. We need to forge ahead with the very same spirit and let the people who are the slave masters know that Africa can come triumphantly out of all the challenges that have been mentioned. I thank you. [Applause.]