16.05. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - FOUNDATION STONE OF CHIS ISSAT HYDRO-ELECTRIC PLANT IN BAHR DAR

On May 16, 1959., His Imperial Majesty, Haile

Selassie I, laid the foundation stone of the

Chis Issat hydro-electric plant in Bahr Dar.

Below is His Imperial Majesty's reply to the

address made by Major Assafa Lemma, Vice-

Mayor of Addis Ababa in charge of the

Technical Department of the Municipality &

Administrator of the War Reparation Office:

"We are not satisfied with the pace towards progress

and development of Our beloved people but are

confident that the Almighty will assist Us to reach the

designed goal, since Our efforts are directed to see that

the progress made by Our people will keep in step with

that of the other advanced peoples of the world.

As We lay the foundation stone for this small

hydroelectric plant, insignificant among the major

schemes envisaged for the Blue Nile and Lake Tana, We

have almost simultaneously laid the cornerstone for a

textile plant which will, utilising the energy drawn from

this plant, operate for the benefit of the area and its

people. This has been done because We realise that

food and clothing are two fundamental necessities and

We have planned it so that these enterprises would

contribute to the lives of Our patriots and the people of

Gojjam and Begemdir whose blood was shed in the

liberation, and to provide employment for those who are

without jobs. Not only will the electric energy springing

from this project be the basis for establishing other

plants, the electricity generated will give additional beauty

to the proposed city of Bahr Dar.

Prosperity comes not from the mere wish but from

the proper utilisation by each one of you of the talents

bestowed on you by Providence. Gojjam is a country

which possesses fertility of land as well as of patriotism

and you should, therefore, work assiduously so that

this reputation will be maintained for many generations

to come. Our territorial army Proclamation is designed

to help you to preserve this patriotism as well as the fame

of your patriots.

It is Our hope that the tasks outlined in your

speeches you, Assafa Lemma and Seifu Mahtema Selassie,

will be executed with vigour."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 127 -