Yomi
Odunuga, EMMANUEL IMOH EKEREUWEM
PRESIDENT Joyce Banda of Malawi has linked the continent’s woes to
alleged greed and irresponsible governance style of most of those holding the
mantle of leadership in many countries.
She says many of such rulers do not appreciate the need to be
accountable to the people or be committed to open and transparent government
with a view to reducing poverty in the continent.
Banda, who spoke during an interactive session with journalists in
Abuja, urged those in positions to stop seeing themselves as some kind of gods
but as leaders.
The Malawian President is in Abuja to attend the 7th African First
Ladies Summit.
She said conflicts can be reduced if African leaders become more
open and freely make information available to the people instead of treating
their subjects with disdain.
She noted that the leaders would not only earn the people’s
respect but their trust when they begin to carry them along in governance
issues.
She said: African Leaders must change. We have had rulers for too
long in the continent. Now we need leaders now.
Leaders who can identify with the people and fall in love with
them. When leaders earn the trust of their people, the people will fall in love
with them.
When trust is lacking, there will be suspicions, fighting over
resources and civil unrest.
On how to reduce conflicts in the continent, President Banda
stressed the need to create institutions that would identify
potential issues that could result in conflict with the aim of nipping such in
the bud before they degenerate be created into bigger conflicts.
She also asked African leaders to invest in capacity
building of their citizens so that the continent would be less dependent on
foreign aids.
She said that 40 per cent of her country’s budget comes from
foreign aid, a situation, she said is unsustainable.
Banda noted that many of the countries giving aid to Africa are
themselves facing challenges and may be forced to reduce their support.
She therefore called on African leaders to collaborate with one
another to make the continent self-reliant.
Malawi, she said is seeking partnership with Nigeria in the area
of agriculture to boost food production in Malawi. She said President Goodluck
Jonathan had agreed to help Malawi in this regard.
She was confident that Africa has what it takes to break the jinx
of poverty in the continent.
She called on leaders in the continent to make the education
of the girl child a priority in the continent.
Women should be educated to enable them participate in leadership,
she added.
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