Gertrude Kitongo: Africa Deserves Better Leadership (PERSPECTIVE)

by Gertrude  Kitongo

HUM youth contributors Gertrude Kitongo and Pokuaa Busumru-Banson were chosen to speak on a panel by The Elders at the Fortune Summit in Cape Town. It included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Graca Machel and Mary Robinson. Gertrude is a Kenyan national studying in Johannesburg. These are her thoughts on African leadership, as presented, in part, to the panel.

(HN, October 14, 2010) - According to Vince Lombardi, - leaders are not born. They are made through hard work. That's the price we have to pay to achieve that goal. If this is true - and I believe it is - then all of us have the potential to lead. And yet - looking at the world around us - and Africa in particular, it is disheartening to imagine that leadership is responsible for the miseries, violence and poverty that is so endemic. 

As Africans the choices we make are what determine the legacy we leave behind. And Africa deserves better. Year by year, universities produce intelligent graduates with a good education; many governments have the ideals of good governance and in some instances, like in South African, we have a constitution in place that is the envy of the rest of the world; many countries aspire to live in unity and the people fly their flags with pride. So, where, when why and how, have we gone wrong?

When leaders are able to separate themselves from greed of self enrichment and begin focusing on people, only then have they found true purpose. Most leaders seem to have lost that. We need more people-centered leaders who are not only willing to give their time and energy to deliver on responsibilities and duty,  but who also draw on the strengths of those around them and allow them to develop their own leadership potential. Leaders must earn there success based on service to others, and not at the expense of others. Authentic leaders are those whose word you can take to the bank, and whose leadership is based on justice and a generosity of spirit.

 The mentoring of the next generation by the leadership of today is essential. And they need to be taught that leadership is all about service before self, and where the first priority is realizing that in order to get somewhere you have to have a map – a vision of a destination that looks different from the place where we are now.  

I believe that it is only when humanity begins to look past its own poverty stricken mentality of blaming others for its woes that it will begin to fully grasp the truth that our present challenges need not be the realities of tomorrow. Hard work, humility and a sense of Ubuntu is the doctor’s prescription to effective governance.

Africa is generally poor, but for the first time there is a real sense of economic growth and improved governance in many parts of the continent.  The turning point calls upon leaders to show the way for a new dawn into the light, so that all citizens will share in a positive vision and optimism and our nations can become demographic dividends and not a demographic burdens. 

I am the next generation of leaders and totally agree that many are called and few are chosen.

How I got selected to attend the 2010 Fortune Global Forum

The journey began in May when Mr. Lekaota, a former CIDA student working with its Marketing Department, invited me to write a one page motivational piece to The Elders about Africa's main problem. I took to the challenge, and in less than 50 words, singled out poor leadership and greed.Richard Stengal, Managing Editor TIME Magazine (Far L), Spencer J Horne, Africa Leadership Academy (2nd L), Pokuaa Busumru-Banson, Wits University (3rd L), Graca Machel, President Foundation for Community Developments (C), Gertrude Kitongo, Cida City (3rd R), Archbishop Desmond Tutu Chair The Elders Foundation (2nd R) and Mary Robinson, President Realizing Rights (Far R) attend the TIME/FORTUNE/CNN Global Forum in Cape Town.

I was one of the 10 CIDA students selected. Each of us was assigned to a different Elders member and I got the privilege of sharing a table with the Reverend Desmond Tutu. The theme of the night was 'How to Make Africa a Winning Continent.'

We were graced by the presence of eight distinct elders namely: Sir Richard Branson, Kofi Annan, Graca Machel, Mary Robinson, Jimmy Carter, Ela Bhatt - to mention but a few. And 10 students from the African Leadership Academy, University of Witwatersrand, CIDA City campus, the Science Technology, The Branson School of Entrepreneurship, the Oprah Winfrey Girls Leadership Academy and many more were represented among the 80 in total.

During the discussion, each table had to pick one representative to give a presentation; I was selected by my table. I have been quoted as saying that the traditional view is for the young to listen to their elders - but this time The Elders were listening to me. That ubuntu spirit is how we would make Africa a winning continent. Yes we can!

I used to volunteer at the Marketing Department and my boss, Nissan Chetty received the an email from The Elders confirming my selection to represent the youth in Africa at the Fortune Global Forum in Cape Town. This is how the whole journey began.

I was accompanied by Pokuaa - a Wits Law student from Ghana, and Spencer, a former African Leadership Academy student. We spoke on a panel with Ms Machel, the Reverend Tutu and Mary Robinson, with Richard Stengel of Time as our commentator.

We were asked what we were passionate about and what we would do if we were Elders. I said that I would grasp the opportunity to open up channels for education to everyone - regardless of their financial background. This is something I am quite keen on spearheading after graduation.

Since then I have been selected as one of the '100 Brightest Young Minds' in South Africa and am working hard to make Africa a winning continent.