Ethical leadership required for development

AFRICAN leadership is central to the continent’s failure to sustain its own development, despite unfavourable external factors, suggested the executive director of the Namibia Institute of Public Administration Management (NIPAM), Dr Roland Msiska.

The continental leaders would thus have to decide to focus on that which is within its control, he proposed. Addressing the eighth forum of Commonwealth heads of African public service meeting in Windhoek this week, Msiska said African countries are still struggling with the basics of political unity and macro-economic stability despite statements to the contrary. So, for example, he noted, Africa has failed to implement former Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah’s 11-point plan for the continent which was hatched in 1963. And this while the European Union has gone ahead and implemented just that. Nkrumah’s 11-point plan called for a union government of African states, a common economic and industrial programme, a common market and common currency, a continental monetary zone, an African central bank, a continent-wide communications system, common foreign policy and diplomacy, a common defence system and army with an African high demand. The belief was that such Pan-African institutions would accelerate socio-economic development.In the 1960s many African countries showed greater economic growth than East and South Asian countries where the average income per capita was twice as low. But since 1977, the Asian countries’ growth grew exponentially. East Asia’s average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is now 75 per cent higher. Today, said Msiska, Africa attracts only two per cent of foreign direct investment (FDI), despite the fact that it has 10 per cent of the world’s population. Notwithstanding, some countries on the continent show sustained growth, particularly Mauritius, Botswana, and Seychelles. Msiska said the political and administrative leadership in Botswana has shown that rich resource endowment does not need to be a curse. Botswana shows signs of a developmental state model made possible through proper management of presidential succession, a functional and independent parliament and judiciary, and respect for the rule of law. After 42 years of independence, the per capita income in Mauritius has increased from US$260 to US$11 400. But, said Msiska, this cannot be said of Zaire which is the richest in terms of natural resources but is floundering as a ‘predator state’. The main difference between Botswana and Zaire, proposed Msiska, is the post-independence internal leadership. ‘In Botswana starting from a low base the leadership created and sustained institutions that have served the nation well. In Zaire on the other hand the leadership created and sustained institutions that facilitated looting of national wealth,’ said Msiska. Canadian consultant Professor Keith Walker suggested that cultures of ethical leadership in the public service are necessary to achieve national sustainable objectives. Walker said many African states are in a crisis of governance which fuel dilemmas like the legitimacy of governance, institutional competence, and ethics of leadership and management. He said there are still reports of autocratic leaders staying in power despite performance, lack of confidence of citizens or growing political opposition. And corruption on the continent is still endemic. ‘The chaos of conflicting special interests and the mind-boggling messiness of our social institutions are the current contexts for attention to leadership credibility and trustworthiness,’ said Walker. ‘Leaders need real wisdom to manage their diverse communities, multiple constituencies and contending forces. They have to do more than merely ‘mind the store’.’ He contended that public service executives who practice with predetermined ethical commitments and integrate these into their contextual roles would successfully influence communities, cultures and systems that have the highest possible quality of service. Walker maintained that it is not programmes, or codes, or good intentions that result in desired outcomes. Instead, he proposed, it is ‘morally purposed people of passion and promise who perform to embody, enact, and engage with others in the good governance of nations, through their public service roles’.