| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Haile Selassie I |
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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Selected Speeches |
| Haile Selassie the First - May 4, 1960 |
it is an historic occasion of twofold significance in the life of Ethiopia
when We, today inaugurate and place into service the Koka Dam and
hydro-electric installation. In so doing, We witness the realization of an
undertaking which has, since its inception, been very close to Our heart
and in which We have always maintained the highest personal interest.
We humbly render Our thanks to Almighty God, who, having laid upon Us
the heavy responsibility of leading Our beloved people in the path of
progress and enlightenment, has spared Us to witness the fruits of Our
labours.
This project, so impressive in its proportions, its complexity and its
ramifications, reflects in common with all other undertakings designed for
the promotion of progress and welfare of mankind, the fruition of
intelligence, faith and diligence; intelligence to penetrate and discern the
hidden resources and opportunities that a Benevolent Providence has
spread before Us, in challenge to prove ourselves worthy of the means for
bringing them to full development: faith in the ability of Our people to
respond to that challenge; faith in the ability of Our people to respond to
that challenge; faith to penetrate through the fatigues and difficulties of the
hour to the vision of their future welfare and progress which these
resources, these opportunities and these labours offer; and, diligence to
pursue through hardship and fatigues, the attainment of that vision.
Thus the opportunities which the Almighty, in His generousity and
wisdom, extends to Us, must be found, created, developed and exploited.
It is the duty of all mankind to make the maximum use of the gifts,
ingenuities, capacities and resources which have been placed at its
disposal. These are not ours to do with as we will; they have been given
to Us in trust, that we may, following the example of developed countries,
apply them for the highest benefit to oursevles and to posterity, and each
one of us has a sacred duty to fulfil this trust and to prove ourselves
worthy of the confidence reposed in us.
So it is with the installation which We are today inaugerating. Ethiopia has
been blessed -- with an abundant rainfall, and well-fed streams, a rich soil,
a propitious climate and an industrious population. Indeed, the challenges
presented by the opulence of our resources, has required a careful
selection, planning and timing, in order to devote to each challenge the
discipline thought and effort that it merits. Thus, viewed in the broader
spectrum of Our national Five-Year Plan, the Koka Installation takes its
assigned place not merely as a significant unit of Our national power
resources, but also as a part of a nation-wide programme for the
exploitation of our river systems.
That same selection and that same planning are revealed in the structure at
Our feet. It was not sufficient to note the existence of the resources in
water power, it had meticulously to be measured and the amount and
regularity of future flow computed.
It was not sufficient to note the existence of a waterfall, it was necessary,
by exhaustive surveys and studies, careful drillings and precautionary
measures to make certain that the construction at this site was feasible
from the points of view of engineering, the economics of electrical
distribution and public communicatins. All this planning and labour under
the direction and supervision of officials appointed by Us, lie before Us in
expectant completion and justify and nourish Our faith in the youth of Our
country.
This impressive installation is, therefore, a national resource, having its
origins in the life and history of Our people and offering opportunity for
the expansion of industry and of agriculture through the husbanding of the
dynamic and the fructifying powers of our water resources. It is Our
bounden duty, to exploit them to the full, in a surge of development of our
agriculture and industry.
It is, therefore, particularly appropriate that the financial and technical
resources placed at our disposition by the Reparations Agreement, should,
for the most part, have been devoted to this seminal and powerful
programme of hydro-electrical and agricultural development. Such a
programme in assuaging past wounds, can contribute powerfully to
improvement of relations.
However, as We have observed, this project has already been integrated
not only into the larger programme, by which the Awash River will yield,
again and again, of its treasures to turn the wheels of industry and to
fructify the fertile soil of Our homeland, but also into the yet broader
programme including the Blue Nile, the Webi Shebelli, the Akobo, the
Dinder, the Taccase, the Mereb and others.
In this way, the Koka hydro-electric installation will along with others to
be constructed, enhance the welfare of Our beloved subjects. To this end,
We have ordered the reduction of the present rates for the electricity
produced by this enterprise constructed from reparations funds.
Moreover, in order that outlying regions should not be handicapped by
their remoteness, the same reduced tariff shall apply to all communities, so
that everyone will receive his fair share. In this way, the new installation
can serve as a powerful stimulus to the development of Our rapidly
expanding economy and society.
We must, all of us, then, look beyond today and beyond the vast structure
which lies at Our feet, to find the real significance of this occasion. In
doing so, we must rededicate ourselves to the cause of the progress and
advancement of Ethiopia and her people which has played so large a role in
this project. We for Our part, shall never falter in Our efforts to assure
that the benefits of modern science and technology shall be lavished upon
Our people without any loss of the underlying moral and spiritual values
which have contributed so much to our history. We ask no less of each
of our subjects.
While we are appreciative of the residence which has been constructed for
Us, near the site of this dam, plans are being prepared for its utilization in
the interest of Our people.
And, therefore, having entrusted all available finance in the hands of those
in whom We have placed Our full confidence, it will never occur to Us to
entertain the belief that they will be so negligent as to betray Our faith in
their integrity or be so motivated by gains as to be led astray from their
responsibility.
On this occasion, We would extend Our thanks to the Reparations
Commissioner, Major Assefa Lemma, and those consultants, scientists and
engineers who contributed to the timely completion of this enterprise and
to the others who laboured so long and diligently to that end.
when We, today inaugurate and place into service the Koka Dam and
hydro-electric installation. In so doing, We witness the realization of an
undertaking which has, since its inception, been very close to Our heart
and in which We have always maintained the highest personal interest.
We humbly render Our thanks to Almighty God, who, having laid upon Us
the heavy responsibility of leading Our beloved people in the path of
progress and enlightenment, has spared Us to witness the fruits of Our
labours.
This project, so impressive in its proportions, its complexity and its
ramifications, reflects in common with all other undertakings designed for
the promotion of progress and welfare of mankind, the fruition of
intelligence, faith and diligence; intelligence to penetrate and discern the
hidden resources and opportunities that a Benevolent Providence has
spread before Us, in challenge to prove ourselves worthy of the means for
bringing them to full development: faith in the ability of Our people to
respond to that challenge; faith in the ability of Our people to respond to
that challenge; faith to penetrate through the fatigues and difficulties of the
hour to the vision of their future welfare and progress which these
resources, these opportunities and these labours offer; and, diligence to
pursue through hardship and fatigues, the attainment of that vision.
Thus the opportunities which the Almighty, in His generousity and
wisdom, extends to Us, must be found, created, developed and exploited.
It is the duty of all mankind to make the maximum use of the gifts,
ingenuities, capacities and resources which have been placed at its
disposal. These are not ours to do with as we will; they have been given
to Us in trust, that we may, following the example of developed countries,
apply them for the highest benefit to oursevles and to posterity, and each
one of us has a sacred duty to fulfil this trust and to prove ourselves
worthy of the confidence reposed in us.
So it is with the installation which We are today inaugerating. Ethiopia has
been blessed -- with an abundant rainfall, and well-fed streams, a rich soil,
a propitious climate and an industrious population. Indeed, the challenges
presented by the opulence of our resources, has required a careful
selection, planning and timing, in order to devote to each challenge the
discipline thought and effort that it merits. Thus, viewed in the broader
spectrum of Our national Five-Year Plan, the Koka Installation takes its
assigned place not merely as a significant unit of Our national power
resources, but also as a part of a nation-wide programme for the
exploitation of our river systems.
That same selection and that same planning are revealed in the structure at
Our feet. It was not sufficient to note the existence of the resources in
water power, it had meticulously to be measured and the amount and
regularity of future flow computed.
It was not sufficient to note the existence of a waterfall, it was necessary,
by exhaustive surveys and studies, careful drillings and precautionary
measures to make certain that the construction at this site was feasible
from the points of view of engineering, the economics of electrical
distribution and public communicatins. All this planning and labour under
the direction and supervision of officials appointed by Us, lie before Us in
expectant completion and justify and nourish Our faith in the youth of Our
country.
This impressive installation is, therefore, a national resource, having its
origins in the life and history of Our people and offering opportunity for
the expansion of industry and of agriculture through the husbanding of the
dynamic and the fructifying powers of our water resources. It is Our
bounden duty, to exploit them to the full, in a surge of development of our
agriculture and industry.
It is, therefore, particularly appropriate that the financial and technical
resources placed at our disposition by the Reparations Agreement, should,
for the most part, have been devoted to this seminal and powerful
programme of hydro-electrical and agricultural development. Such a
programme in assuaging past wounds, can contribute powerfully to
improvement of relations.
However, as We have observed, this project has already been integrated
not only into the larger programme, by which the Awash River will yield,
again and again, of its treasures to turn the wheels of industry and to
fructify the fertile soil of Our homeland, but also into the yet broader
programme including the Blue Nile, the Webi Shebelli, the Akobo, the
Dinder, the Taccase, the Mereb and others.
In this way, the Koka hydro-electric installation will along with others to
be constructed, enhance the welfare of Our beloved subjects. To this end,
We have ordered the reduction of the present rates for the electricity
produced by this enterprise constructed from reparations funds.
Moreover, in order that outlying regions should not be handicapped by
their remoteness, the same reduced tariff shall apply to all communities, so
that everyone will receive his fair share. In this way, the new installation
can serve as a powerful stimulus to the development of Our rapidly
expanding economy and society.
We must, all of us, then, look beyond today and beyond the vast structure
which lies at Our feet, to find the real significance of this occasion. In
doing so, we must rededicate ourselves to the cause of the progress and
advancement of Ethiopia and her people which has played so large a role in
this project. We for Our part, shall never falter in Our efforts to assure
that the benefits of modern science and technology shall be lavished upon
Our people without any loss of the underlying moral and spiritual values
which have contributed so much to our history. We ask no less of each
of our subjects.
While we are appreciative of the residence which has been constructed for
Us, near the site of this dam, plans are being prepared for its utilization in
the interest of Our people.
And, therefore, having entrusted all available finance in the hands of those
in whom We have placed Our full confidence, it will never occur to Us to
entertain the belief that they will be so negligent as to betray Our faith in
their integrity or be so motivated by gains as to be led astray from their
responsibility.
On this occasion, We would extend Our thanks to the Reparations
Commissioner, Major Assefa Lemma, and those consultants, scientists and
engineers who contributed to the timely completion of this enterprise and
to the others who laboured so long and diligently to that end.
| Chapter XIII |
| Kola Dam - Inauguration May 04, 1960 |
| Light & Power |