LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA

Am Jacob mwale from Zambia,I believe in order to reduce poverty, donor dependance, diseases etc in Africa the major solution is an focused accountable to the people, not greed or clinging to power and democratic governance system' aiming at fighting illiteracy to liberate the people's minds from the doldrums and shackles of poverty. What do you think people...please, any more suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by Jini Sebakunzi on November 1, 2011 at 8:44am

Hi Jacob ! Nice to meet you! Your headline aroused my interest, and instantly made me think of the book ''Challenge for Africa'' by Wangari Maathai. Great book to read, if you have not read it yet. Here is a review from a Zambian source, pointing the good and bad stuff from the book:

http://www.zambian-economist.com/2009/08/challenge-for-africa-by-wa...

Nevertheless she covers the issue of ''leadership''. Indeed ''leadership'' is a missing piece to combat poverty, all the issues that a consequence of it (disease, donor dependence etc), but I personally believe there are so many difficult barriers to combat as well. You need a strong leader, but one that really understands the issues on the ground. For example, in some African countries, corruption is almost a ''way of life'': not the people's fault, but the previous leaders who ONLY used corruption as a ''way of living''. I just believe there is a whole psychological issue within communities. It is all to do with trust at the end of the day. Until the communities will not trust their local govertement, nothing will change.

Because of the dependence of international aid, some govertments have no flexiblity to ''choose'' the source of this aid: one donor can easily say ''if you say no, I will make sure no one else gives you anything''. The rise of China has helped changed the monopoly of ''International donors (EU, USA), but there is still lots of work to be done.

Leadership is one factor that can help, but I believe you need to have a combine of factors (i.e. policies) that need to be put in place in the long run, to lower the level of poverty.

Let us not underestimate the power of entrepreneuship for low income people: with increased individual wealth, comes savings, which gives choices. Things that are not at all given to low income people. But for entrepreneurship to work, you also need a leader to implement the right policies.

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Permalink Reply by Ambika Singh on January 24, 2012 at 10:24am

Hi Jacob, I read a rather unique article earlier today that you may find interesting. It (potentially) highlights existing issues in Africa, albeit stated harshly, but as the author (Zambian as well) concludes his encounter was an eye opener and one to be taken constructively. In agreement with Jini Sebakunzi's comment below, the article summarises dynamic entrepreneurial leadership as a way forward for Africa.

"Wake up Africa. A fundamental transformation of the continent from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior one requires bold risk-taking educated leaders with a triumphalist attitude and there is one in each one of YOU!" - A must read article (with an open mind)! http://lordbanks.com/2012/01/you-lazy-intellectual-african-scum/

Another interesting book is 'Dead Aid' by Dambisa Moyo.