Africa progressing despite the hiccups

Africa progressing despite the hiccups

Ashley Dobia Mwanza

In spite of the sufferings of most Africans there too has been progress, for more than a decade, much of Africa has been moving forward. Economic growth is rising, poverty is falling and democratic governance is spreading. In terms of natural resources, Africa is the world's richest continent. It has 50% of the world's gold, most of the world's diamonds and chromium, 90% of the cobalt, 40% of the world's potential hydroelectric power, 65% of the manganese, millions of acres of untilled farmland, as for platinum, South Africa and Zimbabwe only have competition from USA, Canada and Russia. There are a multitude of other natural resources such as oil too. But, despite all this natural wealth, Africa is home to the world's most impoverished and abused people.

Questions can still be raised whether African leadership is a travesty to democracy? Just when we thought Niger was getting there, serious questions will now have to be asked. African politics has a long way to go to becoming truly legitimate and respectable. In recent days Mamadou Tandja President of Niger said that the people of Niger want him to stay. Mr. Tandja, 70, dissolved parliament hours after the constitutional court rejected his plan to hold a referendum on extending his time in office.

The dissolution of parliament marks the end of a six-month struggle between the president and parliament over the third term issue. Does not parliament represent the people, so then, which people want Mr. Tandja to stay? It really boggles the mind. It’s simple, the man has been corrupted by power. He has been blinded by what he calls a ‘service’ to the country, rather at this stage it will be a disservice if he fights to remain. Good leadership is all about the service of the nations and the country. Some of these African leaders do not seem to like it when their countries are peaceful.

This decision is no doubt a path to dictatorship in the country. The country’s national assembly will now accuse the President of felony and impeach him. This is going to put the country into political turmoil after a decade of political stability. It's a shame as the President is evidently not putting forward the national interest of the country but his own political agenda. African leaders have played a pivotal role in derailing the economic and political stability of the countries under their stewardships.

The words 'Leader' and 'Leadership' bring to mind images of someone of strong character and ethics, with a charisma about them which draws people to them, bringing out the best in team work, motivation and productivity from any group. Unfortunately for some parts of Africa this is not the case. At best, a good number of African leaders could be considered to be mediocre managers, hence they are NO Leaders! A true leader has the ability see past themselves and strive for the greater good of an organization.

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely, there might be differences in Africa on major issues of importance, but we should be careful with the role of those that we call leaders in the affairs of our countries. Great leaders have to be capable of inspiring others. The continent, however, is full of poor and erratic leaders in spite of this. Is it because they are swayed by the lure of power in making their decisions? And how do they get to be bosses in the first place? Is it because they are successful in ingratiating themselves with the people that do have power? No, no, no. It is through lying, cheating and instilling fear in the general populace.

Failed leader + failed regime = failed state (Professor Alemayehu Gebremariam) this is true for most African states. What is a “failed state”? Over the past couple of decades, various euphemistic neologisms have been invented as descriptors for certain anarchic and dysfunctional “states” in countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, the Sudan, Eritrea, Zimbabwe and others. While there is no single universally accepted definition of a “failed state”, scholars and researchers in political science, sociology, economics, and even international law use the phrase to describe a regime/government that is incapable of meeting the most elementary functions of governance.

While international attention has been understandably focused on events in Darfur, Somalia and Zimbabwe, we can be quick to conclude that Africa is one sad story, but with the glimpses of hope in countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique and Liberia which have been quietly turning around, there is most certainly a better tomorrow. The key to this progress is stronger African leadership and more accountable governance.

Africa is very vast, and diverse. Headline-grabbing instability in one place has little bearing on conditions in a different place. The biggest constraints to investors are mostly mundane: red tape and high costs, poor infrastructure, limited access to capital, poorly paid officials and weak law enforcement, fostering uncertainty and corruption.

I guess the notion of being our brother's (and sister's) keeper has no relevance anymore, since most of the African countries are all running amok. Where is the democracy that these leaders claim? Africa must come together. Africans have suffered for far too long. The UN doctrine of responsibility to protect is continuously questioned as it is revealed to be impotent. From the UN headquarters we get statement after statement, but to no avail, the Un must engage other African states to deal with the persisting African problems.

If these African leaders truly love their people, why can’t they be the patriotic African fathers who will rather starve than see his children suffer deprivation? Why can’t we learn from the few African counties such as Ghana in the transferring of power to another leader that will be able to articulate the vision of the new global economy to his people, Botswana is another example of real democracy.

For one to be an effective leader is not an easy task as it takes vision, flexibility, knowledge, communication, and hard work. But those who have the desire and the determination to sharpen their wits, hone their skills, and accentuate their virtues can pull away and deftly lead the herd to success. Africans need leaders who will show them where to start and what direction to take in reconstructing their shattered nations, sooner rather than later. Africans are longing for plain-spoken leaders with charisma and ideas to create new, politically and economically vibrant nations that are just and autonomous.

"Africa is beyond bemoaning the past for its problems. The task of undoing that past is on the shoulders of African leaders themselves, with the support of those willing to join in a continental renewal. We have a new generation of leaders who know that Africa must take responsibility for its own destiny, that Africa will uplift itself only by its own efforts in partnership with those who wish her well," Nelson Mandela. Maybe if we had more leaders like this man we could be talking of a totally different story of Africa today (cognisant of the all the other good leaders). Can we ever get a breed of leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere who are undoubtedly the most respected African leaders.

Generally African countries are victims of the economic and political instability. The major cause of this instability is the bad leadership in these countries. These leaders have created inflexible conflicts and they misused and abused the power as well. They led their countries to poverty through the violation of the human rights and abuse. By all measures, most African statesmen are failed leaders. Credit to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of Liberia, Africa’s First Woman President. Maybe a few more women leaders would do us good, there is hope.

Many governments are trying to do their part. According to the World Bank, more business-friendly reforms were implemented over the last year than in any previous one. Africa can only finally break the shackles of poverty by following the old business adage, ‘doing well by doing good.’ Much more is possible.