PM addresses Namibian parliament
NEW DELHI, JULY 10. 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been given Namibia’s Highest Award “Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis”, on Thursday.
Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis is the highest civilian award of Namibia. The award was established in 1995, shortly after Namibia gained independence in 1990, to recognise distinguished service and leadership.
Named after the Welwitschia Mirabilis, a unique and ancient desert plant endemic to Namibia, the order symbolises resilience, longevity and the enduring spirit of the Namibian people.
This makes it the 27th award for PM Modi and the 4th award in this ongoing tour.
Prime Minister addresses the Namibian Parliament
At the invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Parliament of Namibia. This special gesture from the Namibian side made the Prime Minister’s State Visit to Namibia even more meaningful.
Addressing the Parliament, the Prime Minister conveyed greetings from the “Mother of Democracy” and the largest democracy in the world to the members of the august House and to the friendly people of Namibia. Recalling the historic ties between the two countries and their shared struggle for freedom, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the legacy of Dr. Sam Nujoma, the founding father of Namibia. He noted that the democratic values and principles championed by the founding fathers of the two countries continue to illuminate the path of progress in both countries. He lauded the role of the government and people of Namibia in deepening democracy in the country.
The Prime Minister thanked the people of Namibia for bestowing upon him their highest national honour. He noted that this special gesture was a tribute to the achievements of the Indian and Namibian democracies. As sentinels of freedom, equality and justice, he called upon the two countries to work for the betterment of the Global South, so that the voices of its people are not just heard, but their hopes and aspirations are fully realised. He emphasised that India will always work for Africa’s progress, as it had during its presidency of the G-20, when the African Union was elevated to a permanent member of the group. He stated that India was privileged to share its development experience with Namibia and other countries on the continent. India remains committed to building capacity, developing skills, promoting local innovation and supporting Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Prime Minister thanked the Speaker for the honour extended to him. He called for greater people-to-people interaction between the two countries so that the two democracies ever prosper. “Let our children not only inherit the freedom we fought for, but also the future we will build together,” – he said as he concluded his address.
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