Some Facts About the WIF’s Continental Representative for Africa Sir Andy Chande Sir Andy Chande with his friend of many years Mr William Benjamin Mkapa (President of Tanzania) and Richard Clarke (British High Commissioner) celebrating his recent knighthood  INVESTITURE OF JAYANTILAL KESHAVJI CHANDE WITH HONORARY KBE: DAR ES SALAAM: 29 AUGUST 2003 Your Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Your Excellency Mama Mkapa, Your Excellency Mama Karume, Honourable Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished representatives of the Government of Tanzania, Your Excellencies Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Representatives of International Organisations in Tanzania, Other Distinguished Guests, Andy and Jayli Chande, and their family and friends, This is a day of immense significance to me. I have spent almost twenty years in the Service of My Queen and country. Today’s event is the last official duty of my Diplomatic career, at least in a Diplomatic Residence. There can be no more fitting conclusion to that long and happy career, than to bestow an Honorary Knighthood on a man whose many accomplishments are already legion; a man whose friendship I genuinely cherish; a citizen of a country that I have grown to love; and in the presence of a President, who, I firmly believe, is touched with greatness. Investitures of this kind are increasingly rare events. The recipients of Honorary Knighthoods, more than at any other time since the inception of this order by King George V in 1917, have to meet extremely exacting criteria. The only other Honorary Knighthood of my direct experience - to Caspar Weinberger from the United States - was a celebration in part of the closeness of the UK/US 'Special Relationship'. Which again serves to underline the importance of this occasion and the extent of Andy’s achievements. I am sure that everyone gathered here will agree with me when I say that Andy has made an immeasurable contribution to this country, both before and after independence. And throughout almost all of that time, he has played a crucial role in nurturing the deep and long-standing friendship between the UK and Tanzania. I speak not only for myself but on behalf of my many predecessors when I say how greatly valued his vast experience, sound advice, inexhaustible energy and above all keen intelligence have been. His contribution to the Legislative Council, to the Tanzanian Red Cross, to the Rotary Movement worldwide, to the British-Tanzania Society and to the Royal Commonwealth Society are but a few of the many instances of Andy’s dedication to the distinguished service of others. Andy’s sustained desire to want the best for Tanzania, to help others less blessed than himself, and to promote greater understanding between peoples has been an outstanding contribution to Tanzania, and to humanity. For all this, I salute you Andy, as we all do. Before I move to the investiture proper, I also want to pay tribute to his wife Jayli, and to his family more generally. Throughout his long and distinguished working life, indeed for forty eight years of married life, you, Jayli, and then your children, have selflessly shared Andy with all of us. And you yourselves have emulated the distinctions of your husband and father. Again I pay tribute to you all, as a family. And now I move on to the investiture ceremony proper. Andy, will you please rise. It is in recognition of the valuable services rendered to UK/Tanzanian relations, and indeed to the voluntary sector worldwide, Mr Jayantil Keshavji Chande, that Her Majesty the Queen has appointed you to be an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It is with great pleasure that, on her Majesty’s behalf, I present you with the badge of the order. Congratulations.
Accolade by President of Tanzania Mr William Benjamin Mkapa during the wedding reception of his son Saturday 30th August 2003 For me today is the second day of rejoicing. The first was yesterday. I rejoiced yesterday because I was able to witness the conferment upon a distinguished Tanzanian of a most deserved order of Knighthood in the British Empire. It was deserved because it marked a recognition of a long life of service to the people of Tanzania by a Tanzanian patriot. A recognition testified by an important and powerful external polity. But for me there was also a personal reason why I had great pleasure in witnessing that event. I first knew this distinguished Tanzanian at a time of transition and some turmoil of immense economic transformation of our country. I was editing very ideological party newspapers and he was heading as a captain of multifarious industries. We were always together and we got on well together and worked even better when I started showing an interest in educational and humanitarian work – on the board of Shaaban Robert Secondary School, on the National Parks and the African Medical Research Foundation and others. He has shown steadfastness in his loyalty to this country despite the vicissitudes of the economic fortunes. And above all, he has been extremely instrumental in sustaining the relations between successive Tanzanian governments with successive British governments. It was in recognition of that work of bridge-building, consolidation of relations, humanitarian work that he was given this very rare honour of a Knighthood in the Civilian Order of the British Empire. But for me of course, throughout these years and from his association he has had an impact on the growth of my character, my capacity for political analysis and projections, my understanding of the realities of the modern economic world and the encouragement of hopes for reform and the betterment of our people. So, I was very happy yesterday. But it had to be a narrow circle of people that witnessed his conferment and because tonight there is such a wide cross section and even more representation of the Tanzanian society than yesterday, I feel obliged to start by recognizing before you, this distinguished elder of mine, great loyal Tanzanian who has been so instrumental in assisting me to acquire prudence, charity, magnanimity and humility. J. K. Chande, may I ask you to come up please. (APPLAUSE - DR. CHANDE COMES ON STAGE) May I add to Her Majesty’s gratitude to your contribution to the development and strengthening of relations between Tanzania and the United Kingdom and to contribute to your great humanitarian work and care and concern for the needy, sacrifice and fulfilment. I invite all of you to join me in respectful tribute to a great life and a great contribution. Raise your glasses to his good health. TOAST C:kbe/President’s speech 24/09/03 |
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