A man we can trust: Where shall we find him?
Last week the world watched riveted as one of modern history’s best-managed crises concluded in the sort of happy ending that is normally only found in fairy tales.
The story of the 33 Chilean mine workers who were trapped in a mine shaft for 69 days, captured the imagination and the attention of the world.
And Luis Urzua, their foreman, and the last man to exit the mine, has become everybody’s news everyday hero, having delivered what has been termed “the ultimate in leadership”.
In fact, the lessons in leadership surrounding this story are many, and are represented by many different characters:
from the country’s president to the international rescue team to the friends and families of those trapped, to the miners themselves; so many people showed extreme courage and leadership.
President Sebastian Piñera demonstrated his leadership by inspiring an unwavering belief that the miners would be rescued, and by being on the scene to greet every single one of them as they emerged.
But Urzua retains the title of man-of-the-moment.
He swiftly took charge right at the start of the crisis, mapping out the area where they were trapped, organising his men into three eight-hour shifts and sorting out the rations.
It was his leadership that kept the miners alive.
In President Piñera’s words, “He was the leader . . . he was the last one to exit the mine, like a good leader who loves and respects those who work with him.”
Urzua acquitted himself well, and though he had only been in the job for a couple of months, he turned out to be a man who could be trusted.
What Zimbabwe needs right now is a man (or woman, of course) we can trust.
Someone, who will lead by inspiration and example and challenge us to require more of ourselves and each other.
This problem is not unique to Zimbabwe, but seems to plague the continent as a whole.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, whose mission is to improve governance and nurture leadership in Africa, was founded by Mo Ibrahim, one of Africa’s most successful business entrepreneurs.
The Foundation is committed to supporting great African leadership that will improve the economic and social prospects of the people of Africa.
The Ibrahim prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. It is awarded to a democratically-elected former head of state or government who has served their term of office within the limits set by the country’s constitution and has left office in the last three years.
(www.moibrahimfoundation.org)
Three weeks ago, the Foundation released its African good governance rankings for 2010 and, for the second year in a row, decided not to award its governance prize to anyone.
It was felt there were no deserving candidates for the award, which comes with a $5 million prize.
Theoretically, the prize money ensures that African leaders have the means to continue their role as public servants after leaving office, though the Foundation does not seek to influence any winner in how he or she chooses to use the Ibrahim prize money.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation tries in many ways to highlight the responsibilities that governments have towards their citizens.
“While there have been many improvements in many African countries recently, weaknesses in governance and leadership capacity is central to the issues currently facing the continent.”
I think what they are saying is that Africa is facing a leadership crisis.
I think what they are asking is “Where shall we find a man we can trust?”
While we are on the subject of foundations, former South African president Thabo Mbeki has launched the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, which is intended to promote good governance in Africa.
In an interview published in the Mail & Guardian last week, Mbeki explained that the idea was conceived years ago by African leaders who wanted to know what he would do after he left office.
They had apparently agreed that policy positions for the development and betterment of the continent were long established, but that these lacked implementation.
The paper quotes him saying, “We felt that our weakness is people, we don’t have enough people to implement this programme of the African renewal.
The foundation would, therefore, assist in developing enough people to implement policies.”
I imagine what he meant to say was: “Our weakness is people – we don’t have the right people . . . ” But my question is:
Why?
Why don’t we have enough of the right kind of people?
There is no shortage of ideas, or intellect, or skills, or education, or exposure.
So what really is the problem? Is it courage we lack? Or character?
One of Africa’s most highly-respected leaders is former South African president Nelson Mandela.
In his latest book, Conversations with Myself , he shares his thoughts on leadership and human fallibility.
“One issue that deeply worried me in prison was the false image I unwittingly projected to the outside world; of being a saint.
I never was one, even on the basis of an earthly definition of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
As a prime example of servant leadership Mandela writes of “Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others . . . ” as qualities that are essential and achievable through serious introspection.
It’s difficult to write about leadership in Africa without mentioning American President Barack Obama.
He is not an African exactly, but he is historically significant to Africa and to the rest of the world.
In his foreword to Mandela’s book, we might find something about one of our own to inspire us: “ . . . I could only imagine the courage that led Mandela to occupy that prison cell for so many years.
But his example helped awaken me to the wider world, and the obligation that we all have to stand up for what is right.
Through his choices, Mandela made it clear that we did not have to accept the world as it is, that we could do our part to seek the world as it should be.”
Mandela, at least, turned out to be a man Africa can trust.
Thembe Sachikonye writes in her personal capacity. Readers’ responses can be sent to localdrummer@newsday.co.zw
And Luis Urzua, their foreman, and the last man to exit the mine, has become everybody’s news everyday hero, having delivered what has been termed “the ultimate in leadership”.
In fact, the lessons in leadership surrounding this story are many, and are represented by many different characters:
from the country’s president to the international rescue team to the friends and families of those trapped, to the miners themselves; so many people showed extreme courage and leadership.
President Sebastian Piñera demonstrated his leadership by inspiring an unwavering belief that the miners would be rescued, and by being on the scene to greet every single one of them as they emerged.
But Urzua retains the title of man-of-the-moment.
He swiftly took charge right at the start of the crisis, mapping out the area where they were trapped, organising his men into three eight-hour shifts and sorting out the rations.
It was his leadership that kept the miners alive.
In President Piñera’s words, “He was the leader . . . he was the last one to exit the mine, like a good leader who loves and respects those who work with him.”
Urzua acquitted himself well, and though he had only been in the job for a couple of months, he turned out to be a man who could be trusted.
What Zimbabwe needs right now is a man (or woman, of course) we can trust.
Someone, who will lead by inspiration and example and challenge us to require more of ourselves and each other.
This problem is not unique to Zimbabwe, but seems to plague the continent as a whole.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, whose mission is to improve governance and nurture leadership in Africa, was founded by Mo Ibrahim, one of Africa’s most successful business entrepreneurs.
The Foundation is committed to supporting great African leadership that will improve the economic and social prospects of the people of Africa.
The Ibrahim prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. It is awarded to a democratically-elected former head of state or government who has served their term of office within the limits set by the country’s constitution and has left office in the last three years.
(www.moibrahimfoundation.org)
Three weeks ago, the Foundation released its African good governance rankings for 2010 and, for the second year in a row, decided not to award its governance prize to anyone.
It was felt there were no deserving candidates for the award, which comes with a $5 million prize.
Theoretically, the prize money ensures that African leaders have the means to continue their role as public servants after leaving office, though the Foundation does not seek to influence any winner in how he or she chooses to use the Ibrahim prize money.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation tries in many ways to highlight the responsibilities that governments have towards their citizens.
“While there have been many improvements in many African countries recently, weaknesses in governance and leadership capacity is central to the issues currently facing the continent.”
I think what they are saying is that Africa is facing a leadership crisis.
I think what they are asking is “Where shall we find a man we can trust?”
While we are on the subject of foundations, former South African president Thabo Mbeki has launched the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, which is intended to promote good governance in Africa.
In an interview published in the Mail & Guardian last week, Mbeki explained that the idea was conceived years ago by African leaders who wanted to know what he would do after he left office.
They had apparently agreed that policy positions for the development and betterment of the continent were long established, but that these lacked implementation.
The paper quotes him saying, “We felt that our weakness is people, we don’t have enough people to implement this programme of the African renewal.
The foundation would, therefore, assist in developing enough people to implement policies.”
I imagine what he meant to say was: “Our weakness is people – we don’t have the right people . . . ” But my question is:
Why?
Why don’t we have enough of the right kind of people?
There is no shortage of ideas, or intellect, or skills, or education, or exposure.
So what really is the problem? Is it courage we lack? Or character?
One of Africa’s most highly-respected leaders is former South African president Nelson Mandela.
In his latest book, Conversations with Myself , he shares his thoughts on leadership and human fallibility.
“One issue that deeply worried me in prison was the false image I unwittingly projected to the outside world; of being a saint.
I never was one, even on the basis of an earthly definition of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
As a prime example of servant leadership Mandela writes of “Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others . . . ” as qualities that are essential and achievable through serious introspection.
It’s difficult to write about leadership in Africa without mentioning American President Barack Obama.
He is not an African exactly, but he is historically significant to Africa and to the rest of the world.
In his foreword to Mandela’s book, we might find something about one of our own to inspire us: “ . . . I could only imagine the courage that led Mandela to occupy that prison cell for so many years.
But his example helped awaken me to the wider world, and the obligation that we all have to stand up for what is right.
Through his choices, Mandela made it clear that we did not have to accept the world as it is, that we could do our part to seek the world as it should be.”
Mandela, at least, turned out to be a man Africa can trust.
Thembe Sachikonye writes in her personal capacity. Readers’ responses can be sent to localdrummer@newsday.co.zw
