In the beginning of this new year, few things are probably as topical as the different styles, qualities, track records and prospects of the leadership of Thabo Mbeki and the recently elected ANC president, Jacob Zuma. We al have our views, opinions, doubts, hopes and fears with regard to the most powerful leadership position of our country and the possible effects that a new president will have on the future of South Africa. I’ve heard (or read) many people say they definitely are going to leave the country if Zuma becomes the president. Apparently, whilst they are already very unhappy with the crime situation in our country, Mbeki’s leadership in a number of cases and the overall performance of the government, they will loose all faith in South Africa’s future if Jacob Zuma becomes the president. Why? Obviously because of his questionable character after the earlier rape charges and ongoing charges of corruption and fraud.
However, since it became clear that ANC members are frustrated with Mbeki and were starting to place their hope in Zuma to bring the changes the majority wants to see, there suddenly appeared a lot of articles in the media suggesting that Zuma could possibly after all be a better option than Mbeki. Why? Because Zuma according to these accounts has a democratic leadership style, is willing to listen to arguments that challenge the status quo and has proven in the past that he can lead well in situations of conflict. He is a man of the people and will take better care of the issues of the people.
To me, all of the above only indicates how clueless we are in the absence of knowledge of the truth and how dependent we are on the media’s reporting and perspectives to grow our knowledge and insight. It is frustrating because one always suspects, in fact one knows, there is more to the stories than what we read and can understand. This frustration often leads people to stubbornly stick to their perceptions of a person irrespective of new developments or knowledge. Another effect of our frustration is to fall back on general beliefs we might have. Such as a belief that Africa, in any case, is doomed and incapable of getting out of the morass of corruption, poverty, incompetence and poor leadership. Neither Mbeki nor Zuma is able to change that fact.
Perhaps the more intelligent and useful response, rather than having endless debates about our limited perceptions, is to go to our direct area of influence. Firstly to do a self assessment: How trustworthy am I? What is my character and moral strength in perhaps more difficult situations with more temptations than what I am experiencing at the moment? Furthermore, how conscious and aware am I of the quality of relationships with all the stakeholders in my life? How well am I listening to what others are trying to tell me? And what am I really prepared to do about it if I realise that my attitude and behaviour is not what it should be – if I realise there’s a good chance that my poor relationships or ignorance can come back and bite me when I least expect it or can afford it. Lastly, rather than out of frustration, disappointment or fear, threaten every time things go wrong to leave the country, rationally consider when, in what circumstances, will it be the right time for me to make such a drastic change.
Since I asked a question about leadership – who is the better leader? - I would like to point out that an increasingly common position, encountered in both scholarly and popular literature, is that the essence of effective leadership is ethical leadership. Of course, there are many dimensions to ethical and moral leadership. Where transactional leadership is all about the cooperation between leaders and followers on the basis of self-interest in pursuit of mutual gains, transformational leadership seeks to rise people to higher levels of motivation and morality, beyond everyday wants and needs. Transformational leaders aspire to reach more principled levels of judgment in pursuit of end values such as liberty, justice, and self-fulfillment. John Gardner, in The Moral Aspect of Leadership, argues that leaders should "serve the basic needs of their constituents," defend "fundamental moral principles," seek the "fulfillment of human possibilities," and improve the communities of which they are a part. To Gardner, like other contemporary commentators, men such as Hitler and Stalin can be considered rulers but not leaders.
Who is the better leader, Mbeki or Zuma? You be the judge. Fact is that I do not really have a choice in who will be our next president. I can however pray that his strengths, whoever it is, will have the optimum positive effect on our country and that he might overcome his weaknesses. Hopefully we will have a real leader and not merely a ruler. As for myself, I can keep on working on my contributions to a better society and country by demonstrating solid, trustworthy, insightful and ethical leadership.
I truly wish you a fruitful, healthy and peaceful 2008. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet and synergise our efforts to build something significant.
Warm regards
Gerhard
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