By Kayeye Cedric Ntumba
According to a paper delivered in 2004, “Strengthening African Leadership”, by Robert I Rotberg, the Director of the Programme on Intrastate Conflict at Harvard University’s John F Kennedy School of Government and President of the World Peace Foundation, Africa has long been saddled with poor, even malevolent, leadership: predatory kleptocrats, military-installed autocrats, economic illiterates and puffed-up posturers. By far the most egregious examples come from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Zimbabwe — countries that have been run into the ground despite their abundant natural resources.
But these cases are by no means unrepresentative: by some measures, 90% of sub-Saharan African nations have experienced despotic rule in the last three decades. Despotic leaders use power as an end in itself, rather than for the public good; they are indifferent to the progress of their citizens (although anxious to receive their adulation); they are unswayed by reason and employ poisonous social or racial ideologies and they are hypocrites, always shifting blame for their countries’ distress.
Before delving further into an elaborate discussion about leadership in an African context, I would like to contextualise some of the leadership experiences that have shaped my thinking on this subject.
Firstly, the DRC has provided Africa, and by extension the rest of the world, with an unambiguous, but rather convoluted, illustration of the potential consequences of inconsistent applications of sound leadership practices. A momentous collapse of our civil society, our economic platforms and our political structures led to a systematic deprivation of basic human rights for many Congolese in the DRC and the diaspora. The leadership of our post-colonial leaders eg President Mobutu Sese Seko et al has left a sad imprint on the minds of many Congolese that would take a couple of generations to erase.
However, through this calamity opportunities have been created by those who have identified that the status quo cannot continue and that leadership is not a concept that should be analysed outside self but rather that inward reflections provide us with the necessary conviction to carve out a different path. I use the word “our” because the DRC is the place I call home even though I reside in South Africa.
Secondly, the story of a professional woman, my wife, who for some time understood that the general provision of quality early-age education in Africa was not of a consistently high standard to enable young African children to compete on the regional, continental and global stages. To my absolute surprise, her attitude of “getting things done” came through very strongly and she promptly decided to “liberate” herself from the “trappings” of corporate life and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, which has already resulted in the education of approximately 200 full-time children in the past two years. Her conviction and leadership of self and her team has created a space for an entrepreneurial venture of considerable success.
Lastly, my reflections on a poignant leadership experience of a young war refugee who has overcome significant hurdles and challenges in his life, including fleeing from his family home in the DRC in order to relocate in one of Africa’s largest refugee camps in Uganda. Yet, he expresses neither anger nor bitterness towards those responsible for these circumstances. Instead, at 17 years of age, he mobilised many youths in his refugee camp and put together education programmes for the children of the refugee camp. His endeavours have now been exposed globally. As a result the global community is getting to appreciate that leaders do arise out of some of the most unexpected circumstances.
I am certain that each one of these experiences would be experienced differently by various folks. Leadership after all is experiential. One’s circumstances and frame of reference would significantly influence how a person not only leads, but how they also experience their leaders too. The abovementioned anecdotes may appear simple, however, are effective ways in which Africans are opting to exercise leadership and, in so doing, taking ownership for, defining and re-directing the development of the African continent.
If Africa has no clear indication of the leaders it wishes to produce to advance its various ambitious policies and aspirations, and it does not unambiguously define the qualities and characteristics of the leaders it wishes to vote into leadership positions in government, civil society or business, why then do we, Africans, complain about the quality of our leaders?
Good governance, in general, dictates that when identifying a leader of a country, corporate or civil-society organisation, it is necessary to clearly define the characteristics, qualities, qualifications and other factors that will assist in the identification and election/appointment of suitable candidates.
Former world sprinting champion Maurice Greene was quoted saying (quote was attributed to Roger Bannister shortly after running the first sub-4 mile):
“Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn’t matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better be moving.”
In order for Africa to improve on its overall global competitiveness it requires its leadership (across all sectors of society), and its followers to be aware of the almost relentless pace of global advancement and the complications these introduce to the requirements of leaders’ abilities. These require that Africans be alert to the real notion that the rest of the world will continue to regard it as the weaker gazelle in the herd, unless it picks up its pace. Africa has started moving, it now needs to pick up its pace. I know I am picking mine up. Are you?
Cedric Ntumba, a DR Congo national, is a chartered accountant (SA), private equity executive at one of South Africa’s leading private equity firms and the chairperson of the South African Ballet Theatre. He is an Archbishop Tutu Fellow, co-founder of The Little Ashford Playschools, a member of the African Leadership Network, member of Africa 2.0 and a growing social activist.
I absolutely agree. In summary, you are saying that Africa needs for first know the kind of leaders that it needs based based on the criteria that seeks to address the incumbent situations and failing to do that will only result in an endless pursuit of selection without a plan. And yes, spontaneous leadership is what Africa needs.
Thank you for an inspiring article and for highlighting those who are providing effective and worthy examples of leadership
“… been saddled with poor, even malevolent, leadership: predatory kleptocrats, military-installed autocrats, economic illiterates and puffed-up posturers.”
You must be talking about the two presidential terms of George W Bush right? LOL
Before you sing the same old song constantly sung by western media, consider for a minute, the environment created to enable this corruption – the IMF/World Bank, most of NGOs fronting as charities, one-sided trade treaties designed to plunder African resources and enrich the puppet dictators with foreign bank accounts in Switzerland and a host of tax havens around the world.
Let’s hear some more from you, please.
Is it payback time Cedric? Or are you just singing for your supper?
@Chaba, thanks for the feedback. My view is that we need to ensure what is we want and need from our leaders. Critically we need to show leadership of self. Far too often we leave it for the next person to executed. Enough.
@Judith, thank you. We need to support those who do regardless of obstacles. It starts with one and often with self.
@Dave, I hear your view point and I ensure you that Bush or any other “western” leader did not feature long enough in my thoughts to be included in this article. I accept the role that all have played for the continent to find itself in this position but I also accept the fact that the responsibility to get ourselves out of this mess is ours. No use blaming the rest of the world without offering solutions which not only begin to get us out of this mess but also make us more competitive and relevant to the rest of the world.
@MLH, let me know what you would like to hear and I will assess my ability to deliver. Tutu Fellows and the African Leadership Institute do phenomenal work and this is one platform where our thoughts are expressed. Personally, you can follow my ramblings on Twitter @kayeyentumba and many other platforms.
Such a powerful delivery of a simple and true reality. The leadership characteristics that we as citizens expect from our leaders must be defined by ourselves personally, before we go to voting stations and before we are influenced and swayed by propoganda and emotion. It is time that we take FULL responsibility and accountability of our countries and continent. Thank you Cedric.
@ Sipho, please clarify what we should be paying back for? As for singing for my supper, LOL, I do so for the kids in our schools
@Mosa, thank you. Your point is made.
Thanks for inspiring me again! In agreement that, we all need to “….carve out a different path!” Two greatest mistakes people continue to make are; 1. to repeat what fore-leaders 2. to apply leadership methods which failed before while expecting to harvest best!
At the age of 5, I was comfortable shadowed under my parents arms with access to all that I needed, but little did I know that my country DRC was built on sand. In a bloodshed of war, I was forced to flee to Uganda first running alone and later reuniting with my parents in 1997 when I was 6 years old.
In the refugee camp, I got to know how life can be tough not only to the young people but even worse to parents who care for the children but can’t help at all. Everyday, I learnt from my mother that the best thing we can do is to try to make a difference rather than complaining. She always took a lead and sometimes she was able to provide us with a little food.
I grew up learning, from my parents, from the daily challenges in the refugee camp and about the leadership which existed in my home country for decades. And so in few years, I realized that to change my life/ transform community, I needed to CARVE OUT A DIFFERENT PATH, getting education and growing as a responsible leader!
At the age of 14, with other few friends, I found COBURWAS, a youth organization that will transform Africa, http://www.coburwas.org. At 17, I was enabling 100+ childrn to access education. Sky remains the limit…
Powerful thoughts right there Cedric, trully the only way we can move Africa to where it ought to be we need first to be self-aware and then take the courage to demand the same qualities we uphold from the people we place in positions of leadership. Like Ghandi said ” Be the change you want to see”. That way we shall be on the right track to achieve a complete African reinassance
well put Ced!
Something struck a chord with me as I read this, around our definition of good leadership. We have to have a clear definition of of the values we require from all our leaders. We don’t, as a society, think in terms of values. We think in terms of position, title, power, influence, popularity – we struggle to think in terms of genuine values. We may have no control over our history, and the psychological scars its left on people across our continent and around the world, but as a young generation, we certainly have the power and ability to redefine what leadership means to us. And by so doing, authentically demand a different model from our governments. It all begins with us.
Thank you, Cedric, for providing us with a fresh perspective on one of the most critical issues of our time.
@Joseph, Ekii, Isaac and Maruping in a more concise manner you have expressed what I tried to bring across in 1,000 words. Thank you.
The gentleman I refer to in this piece, who bravely made a difference where circumstances were not thought to be optimal for such, is Joseph Munyambanza who has commented above. Keep at it. He is a leader in action.
Dear Cedric
Thank you for your article. It emphazises (basically) the importance of education. Spontaneous or mentored leader, both need NOT a basic education , but a sound edcuation. The effort to achieve high education goes with the sense of effort, work well done,planning, medium and long term objective. No short cut. Afrcia should put an end to the era of leaders without education. Now, listen: When such leaders-with minimal education- have “friends” assisiting them to get into power or to maintian it by all means, what should be your reaction to that?
Leadership is inseparable of education but it should also have crafted or inborn qualities that make people around leaders “moving every morning, faster and faster”…
I am already checking my mail for either your reply or your next piece , or both!
Dr Katumba
Thank you, Cedric,
I am just sharing with you and others another recent article about me in Uganda national newspaper, Daily monitor
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1283270/-/bg80qgz/-/index.html
Hope others can continue to learn about us.
Thank you
Joseph