I wrote about the importance of institutions in last weeks column. Successful countries, in development terms for their people, have thrived because of the presence of these institutions.
It is important to note, however, that institutions are run by people. No one can argue against the fact that Zimbabwe had all the institutions in place to guarantee a democratic society.
We had a fully functioning multi-party parliamentary system despite what you will hear, an excellent judiciary and some of the most educated government Ministers, man for man, on the continent ensuring a strong executive.
What went wrong? I want to quote from the book Founding Brothers, a book that looks at the lives and relationships of the revolutionary generation of the United States of America.
The author Joseph J Ellis makes the following conclusion with regard to the debate around the establishment of a republican government versus the aristocracy: therefore, the only kind of political elite permissible was one that repudiated its elite status and claimed to speak for the manyrather than the few.
The Republicans had been the first to grasp this elemental fact of American political culture in the 1790s.
Leadership for institution building for a future Zimbabwe requires, as well, the development of sufficiently patriotic individuals who are able to stand up to leaders who would take the country down to ruin regardless of the reasons.
Managing upwards is an important quality in leadership and the whole country suffers the consequences of a failure in this important facet of leadership.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
In the book Why Nations Fail, the author points out why the Industrial Revolution started and made its biggest strides in England. They point out that this is because of the inclusive political institutions that began to see the light of day in the country.
Central was the political conflict between absolutism and its opponents. The outcome of the conflict not only put a stop to the attempts to creat a renewed and stronger absolutism in England, but also empowered those wishing to fundamentally change the institutions of society.
You see, individuals in that society were able to stand up to an all powerful royalty present their arguments and in so doing helped to lay the foundation to a strong and prosperous country. Standing up to a King was not without dangers.
Of course not but if you wish to lead, you must first serve your country by living the ideals for which you claim to strive and campaign for. This is a non-negotiable for anyone who wishes to help build a sustainable future for the new Zimbabwe.
Joel Netshitenzhe of the ANC wrote an excellent article in the Sunday Times edition of the 17th of June. You would do well to read it. In it, he wrote about how a toxic leadership begets toxic members, some of whom demand financial incentives to vote in particular ways.
You would do well to read it, if you want to see some of the reasons why good people go bad as he put it.
Fellow Zimbabweans, this article and those preceding this one, is about the future. We look to the past for lessons that we may avoid the mistakes we made and then plan for the future by encouraging and nurturing the kind of leader who will restore the great to the name Zimbabwe through inspired leadership.
This leader will surround him or herself with powerful voices that will thoroughly debate decisions before they are finalised for the greater good of the many.
Aung San Suu Kyi addressing the British at Westminster on Thursday pointed out that institution building cannot be a personality led process. She expressed her wish to see a little bit more heckling in the new Burmese parliament and less of the stiff adherence to formal head gear for men.
In the little joke, she was making a profound statement. If you are a leader in parliament who is afraid to heckle your leader either as a back bencher or member of the opposition, you have no business being involved in the building of the future of the country.
Zimbabwe does not need institutions. Correction. Zimbabwe already has in place the institutions that can serve the country well today as they briefly did in the past. We need strong people to reform and lead them, holding dear and protecting the values and aspirations for which they were formed.
Aung San Suu Kyi in her address also said, If basic aspirations remain unfulfilled, there cannot be adequate foundations for sustainable development of any kind.
The basic aspirations of Zimbabweans are fairly obvious: freedom, electricity, running water, jobs, good roads and health facilities that they can take for granted.
The greater aspirations include wealth creation and not just salaries, a fantastic country to live in and why not? We were once the best place to live in Africa. We can have that back again and not via the gravy train but through servant leadership.
Leaders have a duty beyond the COPAC process to lead the country and as Daniel Goleman pointed out, leadership is not domination, but the art of persuading people to work towards a common goal.
That common goal is Zimbabwe and her future. The rest is politics. Light a candle, instead of cursing the darkness.
