WE NEED COMMITTED LEADERSHIP

Arusha. Africa needs dynamic and value-driven leaders capable of propelling the continent through challenges brought about by the fast-changing and globalised world, it was suggested here on Tuesday.

“The new set of leaders must demonstrate commitment to serve the citizens and channel some of their resources to others beyond their families,” said Mr Ali Mufuruki, the founder and chairman of the African Leadership Iniative (ALI) East Africa Foundation, an organisation formed a decade ago to seek relevant leadership that could reduce problems facing the world’s poorest continent.

He told The Citizen ahead of the organisation’s fourth class seminar, which kicked off at the Serena Mountain Village outside Arusha, that the continent should specifically aim to nurture a young generation of leaders “imbued with a sense of responsibility.”

He admitted that Africa was facing a leadership crisis and that this had contributed to a myriad of challenges haunting the continent and that a relevant model of leadership was needed to bring to the fore the priorities of development.

Africa, explained Mr Mufuruki who is the executive chairman of Infotech Group of Companies, must now have new leaders “with a highly focussed set of objectives to make our continent a better placed part of the world for improved livelihoods.”

Members of the ALI EAF started meeting here on Tuesday as a continuation of the Initiative’s Fellowship programme in East Africa which, according to Mr Mufuruki, is now in its eleventh year.

The programme in Arusha is designed to capture the energy, talent and resolve of the emerging generation of leaders in Africa and inspire them to move from success to significance by engaging in the foremost challenges facing their communities in an effective, value-based and enlightened manner.

“We are proud to send this group of exceptionally talented men and women on a journey of discovery and reflection, a journey we hope will help them discover their true talents...,” he added.