Thabo Mbeki on the Leadership for the Africa we Want

Talks by politicians rarely move me. From the sublime to the ridiculous, political speeches and discussions often appear to me to be talking past the underlying issues. With this in mind, I must confess, the clip below of Mr. Thabo Mbeki and Mr. Benjamin Mkapa inspired me and filled me with admiration for the truth of the words they spoke.

From everything I know of leadership and the conditions under which groups succeed or fail, I know that former president Mr. Thabo Mbeki has cut right to the heart of the issues facing the African continent. I am inspired to see how our own former president truly understands the significance of strong, upright leadership, what it means to lead and truly wants to see all African leaders hold each other accountable on those crucial qualities of leadership that are desperately needed for the African continent to flourish.

“We want the promise of a leadership that thinks more about service than being served.” These are the words of Benjamin Mkapa and in it lies the heart of the leadership problem. For Africa to flourish we need African leaders to Care for their people and lay the foundations in which their people Grow as human beings and develop their human potential, not as consumers, but as beings willing and able to contribute to those around them and the rest of the world beyond the continent.