Page 56 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 20

Leadership
Leadership

LEADERSHIP

is responsibikity, not excuses

By: Samuel Phillips

here are many things and tive minds, creators of things and saying that all Afrikan leaders are
many areas in which Af- technologies required for modern “dumb” or let downs, but I am
rikans do not necessarily day expectations. But clearly, we saying we have seen too much of
Tagree. And these may not do have a shortage, if not almost negative outcomes of economic
even be about serious issues, some a lack, of great leadership minds policies, political stand-offs that
times, they like to “fight” and argue who are not puppets in the hands keep showing us that our leaders
about which country in West Afrika of global controllers, or slaves to are not themselves, and that they
makes the best Jollof rice, or even the acquisition of personal wealth do serve the interests of some
argue which countries in Afrika are to the detriment of the nation they shadow entities both within and
producing the best or most popular are supposed to be leading. It has outside the continent. And that is a
music artistes. Sometimes I see these become a very smelly smear on the major issue that needs addressing.
“fights” and arguments online and face of leadership in our continent We lack leaders that know how to
ask myself if something is wrong that almost none of the heads of look into the eyes of responsibility
with the priorities of Afrikans when states of Afrikan nations are doing and take a stand without throwing
they get entangled in such “fights”. their people proud, either by their blame around like Pharisees who
But it is what it is really. Siblings do people-centered policies, or by are so obsessed with their stones of
fight and that’s one way to keep the their economic ideas, to take their blames and accusations.
family from boredom. But one thing people out of poverty. They like
Afrikans don’t seem to fight about to make noise about their unseen A recent event
or disagree with is the fact that we achievements on national and even There was a market fire incident that
really do have leadership issues in international television, but what is happened recently in Ngong’ town
our countries and it’s costing us happening on the ground is clear- of Kajiado county. Kajiado is one
dearly. ly different and that really is what of the counties that makes up the
matters. Nairobi metropolitan area.
In Afrika we do not have limitations The Star Daily newspaper made this
of natural resources, ideas, innova- Do not get me wrong, I am not report:

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