AFRICAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME: Harnessing Capabilities

By David Furlonger

There are plenty of leaders in Africa. But too many of them are leaders only in name, says Reuel Khoza, chairman of the Nepad Business Foundation. That's why the foundation, in association with Wits Business School, has launched the African Leadership Programme.

There is a "paucity" of effective African leadership in both the political and business spheres, he says. "There is no shortage of ability. There are highly educated people across the continent. The amount of intellectual and cerebral power is astonishing. But it is not harnessed. We are breeding self-serving managers rather than leaders. They think of issues but tend to be parochial."

The continent's colonial past did not prepare Africans for modern leadership. As a result, "what is lacking is people who can articulate a clear vision on where the continent should be going and how it should get there. The problem is both blatant and patent."

In politics, he says, only a handful of African countries are governed by true leaders. "Once you go past these iconic figures, a lot of the others are masquerading as leaders. They are not worthy of the term."

There is more leadership depth in business but there, too, encouragement is needed. The African Leadership Programme is not the only one to tackle Africa's leadership shortage but Khoza believes it can set an example to others. "At the moment this is a pilot programme but we believe we can eventually replicate it throughout the continent."

This is no theoretical course. Course modules include leadership, strategic management, human capital development and African development economics. Within these, participants study issues like regulatory frameworks, international security, negotiation skills, development of social policies, corporate governance, and management of HIV/Aids. Participants, who are selected from across Africa to ensure a diverse mix, are encouraged to develop as organisational leaders, and offered individual coaching and guidance.

In order to take the place it wants in the modern world, Africa must live up to its promise. As Khoza says in the course notes: "It is our wish that candidates emerge from the programme with a view of life that predisposes them to prefer delivery over pronouncements, expertise and competence over title and position... characterised at core by great personal integrity."

However, he says African leadership should not set out to ape that of the West. African leaders must reflect their continent's outlook and orientation.

Creation of a new generation of leaders will not happen overnight. "For an effort like this to have a pervasive effect, it will take a generation. But to get there you have to do it in stages. We must set milestones. So while we are looking forward, we are also looking backwards to see what we could have done better."

Source: http://free.financialmail.co.za/report07/wits07/hwits.htm