Hon Chairman, hon members, it is nearly 12 years since the Inter-Parliamentary Union adopted the Universal Declaration on Democracy.
The IPU did this to affirm the principles of democracy and of the elements and exercise of democratic government. Naturally, the IPU was keen to see the parliaments of the world doing more to entrench these principles within society. Since last year, 40 countries have begun participating in celebrating the International Day of Democracy.
It's a pleasure for me to stand up this afternoon and affirm the principles of democracy on behalf of Cope. I know that we all share the ideal.
A mere 20 years ago it was not even possible to conceive of such a thought, yet here we are, celebrating democracy. The theme for this year's International Day of Democracy is "Political Tolerance". It is common cause that political tolerance is indeed a central tenet of democracy. As such, political tolerance is absolutely essential for the functioning of our parliamentary system and mode of government.
Today, we should not only be mouthing platitudes concerning political tolerance, but should also be reflecting deeply on it and committing ourselves to it without reservation. Our commitment to political tolerance has to be absolute.
Our unique history must teach us political tolerance. The example of the iconic Nelson Mandela must teach us tolerance. The philosophy of ubuntu, to which all of us subscribe, must teach us tolerance. A perfect democrat, in my view, is the person who shows the greatest political tolerance and is open to new ideas for the common good of all.
In our country we have many political parties. Political parties have many disagreements about processes and policies, but never about outcomes. All of us who are here are motivated by a single desire to serve our people in the best possible manner.
As parties, we are therefore united on the outcome we want. Our contestation, therefore, is limited to practice and policies. This is democracy at work, and let us therefore set high standards for ourselves in this regard. We know that it is through debate that the best ideas are born. And where debate is suppressed, the worst excesses occur.
In conclusion, may I propose to this House that we take the cue from Uruguay and launch an essay competition for grade 11 learners on the phrase that appears on the upper walls of the General Assembly, namely:
My authority emanates from you and it ceases before your sovereign presence.
If our children imbibe the principle of democracy, that which we are seeking to build here today will indeed last into the future. Let democracy in our country never falter. Let us, therefore, on this momentous occasion, recall the following stirring words by Nelson Mandela:
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. Let freedom reign.
I thank you. [Applause.]
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Sihlalo ohloniphekile waleNdlu, Mnumzane uMahlangu osihola kulezi zinkulumompikiswano, namalunga ahloniphekile aleNdlu,ngithi thina lapha njengezwe laseNingizimu Afrika siyazi ukuthi inkululeko yethu sayilwela kanjani ngendlela ezehlukene kule lizwe.
Ukwehlukana kwemiqondo yethu sasilwa nabantu ababodwa-nje, nabantu ababodwa ababezama ukusikhubaza nokusikhinyabeza ukuthi ezweni lethu sibe yizihlupheki. Kepha angeke sakubamba lokho ngoba sesalilwela lelizwe futhi sesikhululekile sonke. Ngiyazi ukuthi ngonyaka ka1994 kwakungokuqala ukuthi ngivote kule lizwe ngivotela uhulumeni wentando yeningi. Uhulumeni usekhona manje kufuneka sazi ukuthi bab'u Mahlangu, impilo yentando yeningi emazweni womhlaba yilapho kuphikiswana khona. Kodwa ukuphikisana kwethu akungasho ukuthi kufuneka sibambane ngezandla kodwa silwa impi yamazwi ukuze sikwazi ukuthi uhulumeni obusa ngaleso sikhathi abesendleleni okuyiyona yona.
Akungasho ukuthi kufuneka ngigxeke ngephuzu lokuthi kufuneka ngizuze amaphuzu ezepolitiki yini ohlangothini lwami kodwa kufuneka ngigxeke ngokwakhayo uma kugxekwa ukuze kwakhiwe kuyiwe phambili. Ngithi-ke sonke lapha kufuneka siyijabulele inkululeko yethu sikwazi futhi ukuyigada ukuze sibone ukuthi kuhamba kanjani ezintweni eziningi. Ngoba inkululeko ihamba ihambe ibenomkhawulo.
Uzakwethu uthe Isahluko 9 soMthethosisekelo nezinye izinhlangothi kufuneke ziyekwe zisebenze nje. Hayi! Mina ngithi cha! Cha! Ngeke kuthi uhlelo lwezobulungiswa luyekwe nje lusebenze ngaphandle kokuthi lugadwe nguhulumeni ngoba uma kungenzeka lokho ngoba sonke sophelela emajele singabantu ngenxa yentando yemantshi ethile eyodwa noma ngomeli othile. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Hon House Chairperson, hon Mahlangu who is leading us in the debates and the hon Members of this House, we know as the people of this country how we used different strategies as different people when we fought for our liberation.
We used different strategies in our fight against a group of people - we were fighting a group of people who were trying to cripple us so that we could not prosper; they wanted to make us impoverished in our own country. But we are not going to hold on to that now because we have fought and won and we are all free now. I know that I voted for the first time in 1994 when I voted for this country's democratic government. We have a democratic government now, hon Mahlangu, and we must be aware that in a democracy there are disagreements, and that happens all over the world. But our debates should not necessarily end up in physical fights but we should engage one another so that the government of the day can stay on the right track.
It should not mean that I need to criticise for the sake of scoring political points, but I must criticise constructively when there is a need to do so, so that we can go forward. I am saying that all of us here must be grateful for our freedom and be able to safeguard it by seeing to it that everything goes well because at times freedom has its own limitations.
My colleague said section 9 of the Constitution and other parts thereof must be left unchanged. I disagree with that. We cannot allow the justice system to function without being monitored by government because if that happens many people will end up behind bars because a magistrate or a lawyer did as he/she pleased. Thank you.]