"Hon. Ministers of Local Governments and Decentralisation, Hon. Ministers of Finance and National Planning, Your Worships the Mayors and Leaders of Local Governments from across the continent, Representatives of International Organisations, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the Media, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen:

As a socio-economic problem to many countries, HIV/AIDS has proven to have a serious and devastating effect. It threatens to shred the social fabric of any country.

In Namibia too, AIDS is a serious problem. It is a leading cause of death amongst the young population. This disease has caused a sharp fall in the life expectancy of Namibians from 61 years to an alarming 45 years. On average, HIV prevalence rate in sub-Saharan Africa is 7.4% and rising. That translates to about 70% of all people living with HIV/AIDS situated in sub-Saharan Africa, a glaring figure of over 23 million people. Therefore, it is with seriousness when I say that it is threatening and destroying our most valuable resource, our people, and Africa's social capital.

This disease therefore needs to be combated! However, if we are to succeed in combating HIV/AIDS, the fight has to be a multifaceted one requiring a concerted effort from all sectors of society.

Indeed, AIDS is an international problem, it is a global problem, therefore, efforts must be made to have non-governmental organisations and volunteers trained in counselling and home-based care in this multifaceted approach to combating AIDS.

It is in this regard that I am very pleased to address this important gathering that brings the leaders of Africa at local authority level, at central level and their finance and national planning ministers together, to project and deliberate on serving and leading their people.

I have followed with great interest the innovative work that has been undertaken by the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Through this initiative, African Mayors and Local Government Authorities are demonstrating both political will and social responsibility to protect and promote the health and well-being of their communities.

The majority of the world's poor are increasingly found in urban settlements. On the African continent, one talks of 40% of its total population. African municipalities are therefore experiencing strains on their limited resources as AIDS increases the poverty rate. How to cope with the extensive loss of life and the attendant socio-economic costs is an issue that must be urgently addressed.

Although national policies are important instruments to define broad direction, locally induced and led action, based on community participation, is a fundamental complement to reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on development.

Local development initiatives that include key elements of effective, transparent and inclusive governance need to be increasingly developed, supported and encouraged if our countries are to respond to numerous challenges that the pandemic poses for social, economic, cultural and political development.

Municipalities are well placed to develop effective partnerships to combat HIV/AIDS. Partnerships as we all know are not always easy, but the net result of good partnerships, brought about by inclusion, solidarity, transparency, learning and accommodating one another, can encourage personal, social and institutional change and will build trust.

Your Alliance and its programme of action - AMICAALL - is helping to create effective synergies among those representing the State, other political spheres of government, civil society and communities. It is promoting the sharing of knowledge and experience in the sub-region and globally - and helps create a more enabling environment for decentralised action on HIV/AIDS. This is critical for a sustainable response to HIV/AIDS and also for sustaining human development.

Namibia is pleased in joining the Alliance and I am hopeful that we will be able to launch a national chapter before the end of the year. The Namibian government will undoubtedly support the establishment of a secretariat in order to insure the success of the Alliance.

As I have pointed out earlier, AIDS is a serious disease that requires a multifaceted approach. I am therefore happy to inform this august gathering that one son of Africa, residing in South Africa, Mr. Ernest Adjovi, has taken the initiative to organise a concert to take place in Pretoria, South Africa, on the 19^th November 2000, with the following objectives:

1. To create an awareness of the terrible fact that 2 million Africans died of AIDS during 1999 and that 23 million Africans are now HIV positive.

2. To raise funds that will be presented to Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation, to demonstrate to the world that Africa is not just a mere spectator in the combat against AIDS.

3. That the funds be utilised by the Secretary General's office to buy AZT for Africa at one-fifth of its normal price.

These efforts demonstrate that as Africans, we are not just sitting idly by, but are conscious and committed to ensuring that HIV/AIDS does not stifle our development initiatives and plunge us back to yester-years.

I therefore encourage all the young people of Africa to join hands with the likes of Adjovis and Fisho Mwales of this world to combat this dreaded disease.

In the like fashion, I commend our mayors of Africa and urge all sectors of society, that is the non-governmental organisations and volunteers, to join them in the crusade against this deadly disease.

I thank you!"