There are times in the lifespan of any nation when some citizens deserve honourable commendation for their selflessness, patriotism, forthrightness, leadership acumen and inspirational humility – a time when a citizen lights up a nation with humble words or noble deeds.
At this point in time, one Namibian by the name of Dr Bernard Haufiku deserves such accolades. Never in anyone’s wildest dreams would one have thought that a new cabinet minister could ever suggest the imposition of term limits for ministers. This is a first for Namibia, and until research shows otherwise, a first for Africa.
The suggestion made by Dr Haufiku, the incumbent Minister of Health and Social Services, that cabinet ministers should only serve a term of 10 to 15 years to make way for an infusion of fresh and progressive leaders is commendable and deserves some serious interrogation and consideration.
Undoubtedly, Haufiku’s forthright suggestion has ruffled some feathers, not only in the corridors of political power, but also opens up a window of discussion in the field of the study on leadership, primarily because only someone with leadership acumen would suggest something that could negatively impact on his or her career.
Some may agree or disagree with Dr Haufiku’s views on term limits for ministers, but Haufiku should take heart from the wise words of James Humes, who teaches us that: “Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership.”
Surely in the last 26 years anyone of our current and past leaders could have made a similar suggestion. But no one did. Why? What sets the health minister apart from his fellow cabinet ministers?
Obviously the matter does not bother the incumbents, some of whom routinely dissolve Boards, change CEOs at a whim (sometimes for personal and deep-seated vendettas), exhibit tendencies that are not in tandem with the traits of national leadership, while delivering next to nothing for the nation – apart from rhetoric and empty promises.
On the other hand, Haufiku has qualified the old adage that says: “One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognise a problem before it becomes an emergency.”
Does anyone wonder why we have a plethora of emergencies everywhere – housing, land, health, education and equitable socio-economic development? And the list goes on… It is one crisis, one emergency after another.
Even parastatals are on life support systems, bailed out every year because they perpetually operate in emergency mode. The growth and development of any nation is measured by the highest calling of leadership. Leadership vacuums breed these national emergencies.
Haufiku’s suggestion obliges us to pause and ponder the age-old argument whether leaders are born or made. Some leadership scholars argue that effective leaders are born to some extent with genetic and dispositional tendencies that are a “good fit” for the role.
Others argue that leaders are made through life experience and formal developmental efforts. Both agree, however, that successful leadership means effective decision-making and priority setting in uncertain environments, even in the face of economic and technological change – all this while balancing a myriad of often conflicting demands from those they serve and lead.
A distinction has to be made between true leaders and quack leaders. True leaders know that they are born for a purpose. Society is their laboratory. They experiment and display various leadership skills, which benefit society as a whole.
There are also true leaders who are a bane to society. They mask themselves as autocrats, dictators and demagogues. Aren’t they born leaders? Hitler is a case in point. He whipped German society into accepting and carrying out his nefarious activities unto the world. The world nearly came to a standstill watching his atrocities.
Autocrats and dictators, who have complete sway, consider society as their playground. Citizens are pawns in a great game – the “chess of life”. They use one pawn against another to silence opposition, or kill foes. The majority are ‘slaves’ or compliant individuals ever ready to do their bidding. Disgruntled and dismayed individuals express their disenchantment and anger only in private.
A true leader is possessed with originality of thought. Thoughts that create more benefits to society; thoughts that inspire and teach others to do the same; thoughts that jolt others to rethink their usefulness.
Most of all, a born leader is imbued with unbounded courage to stick to his views and actions decisively. The hard truth is that nobody really knows how and why leaders behave as they do. There are no scientific explanations for discovering and choosing a true leader.
At best, only patterns of behavioural tendencies exhibited by leaders are established over time. True leaders spring from every nook and cranny of society. There is no set model to determine which direction they are coming from. Who thought we would be analysing the humble words of Haufiku today.
* Dr Charles Mubita holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southern California.