Kasonde Mukonde's Introduction of Guest of Honor Mr. Jeremiah Mwamba

June 8th, 2017 at the Lubuto Mthunzi American Youth Library opening in Lusaka

Thank you, Mr. O'Donnell.

My task here is to introduce the Guest of Honor, the Honorable Dr. Dennis Wachinga, Minister of General Education, represented by the Director of Planning and Information. However, before I do that, allow me to say a few words.

Guest of Honor, Zambia has made tremendous strides in improving the welfare of its citizens. Unfortunately, however, many people still remain poor. I believe that creativity, imagination and new ideas are the key to solving our country’s biggest problems and to Zambia’s long term prosperity. One of our favorite authors here at Lubuto, Dr. Seuss, tells us: “Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if you only try!” We’re here today to celebrate a place where young people will be free to think left and think right and think low and think high to imagine a better Zambia and world. In this library, the young people of Mthunzi will encounter resources that will inspire them to dream about the next generation of safer highways, a robust agricultural sector or better healthcare. A child visiting this library might dream about becoming Zambia’s Maya Angelou or Martin Luther King, Jr. Guest of Honor and Invited Guests, for me the most striking function of a public library is that it is a community center that brings people of all backgrounds together.

The Lubuto Mthunzi American Youth Library will complement your Ministry’s efforts to provide enriching educational opportunities to out-of-school children. Public libraries globally serve their communities in a variety of ways: they are places where people can access government information, places where young children gain early literacy skills, places where teenagers learn to program computers or access life-saving information about HIV-AIDS. And, yes, libraries still provide books and other cultural resources. Guest of Honor, Lubuto Library Partners is proud to be partnering with government in bringing high quality children’s library services to Zambia. It is my singular honor and privilege to call upon the representative of the Ministry of General Education, Mr. Jeremiah Mwamba, to make remarks on behalf of the Honorable Minister.

Please put your hands together.