Collin Kurana
In the 21st century, leadership has become an important element, capable of responding to the complexities of globalisation and technological advancement.
Northouse in 2019 defined leadership as a process where a person influences a group of people to achieve a common goal.
Leadership is nothing other than influencing people to achieve a common goal.
As John Maxwell puts it, "Everything rises and falls on leadership."
Leadership, as an important undertaking, requires the display of certain virtues or qualities of exceptional behaviour and conduct.
Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, formed the so-called four cardinal virtues of a good life, such as prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice, as guiding principles for a progressive leader. Thomas Aquinas, a philosopher and theologian, incorporated hope, faith and charity into the four cardinal virtues to make them seven.
A leader, therefore, needs to possess these virtues to navigate people through complex situations presented by today’s fast-moving world. A leader acts as a conduit for rescuing people from misery to better destinies through the display of a virtuous character. Nonetheless, there have been leadership commitments to promote rural development globally.
In 2015, the United Nations (UN) introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) after phasing out the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In the SDGs, the UN reaffirmed the world's commitment to making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
The Agenda 2063 blueprint, similarly, reinforced such commitment by promising to transform Africa into the continent we want through promoting rural development initiatives targeted at improving people’s livelihoods.
Namibia, since independence in 1990, has embarked on social reforms targeted at promoting rural development countrywide.
This led to the enactment of the Regional Council Act 22 of 1992 and the Local Authorities Act 23 of 1992, respectively.
The enactment of these laws was carried out by the mandate and functions of the three levels of government (central, regional, and local) and was targeted at decentralising government functions and services to the people.
However, there has been serious leadership concern in the Zambezi region, and Sibbinda constituency in particular, about programmes targeted at promoting rural development.
Sibbinda constituency is one of the rural constituencies in Namibia’s Zambezi region. The constituency has a population of 11 112 people, as per the 2011 census records. However, rural development initiatives in the Sibbinda constituency remain a concern.
Most of the people living in the Sibbinda constituency live in the so-called traditional mud houses. These are houses made up of clay, sand and silt.
These materials are not water-resistant, and over time, rain causes the walls to dissolve, considering that the Zambezi region receives a high amount of rainfall in Namibia per year. After each rainy season, the residents are compelled to replaster their walls.
These houses are not safe and weather-resistant enough to protect people from weather extremes such as cold weather, floods, rain, wildfires or arson. The locals in Sibbinda have been living in these conditions for many years.
They cannot afford decent homes, as there are currently no affordable alternatives.
In 2011, the National Planning Commission published a report titled ‘Poverty Mapping and Deprivation in Namibia’. The report was published to show regions and constituencies with high poverty rates in the country.
Unfortunately, the Sibbinda constituency is among Namibia’s 20 poorest constituencies, with 55%. In the Zambezi region, the Sibbinda constituency is second on the list, with the Kongola constituency occupying the first spot about high poverty and unemployment rates.
Moving forward, I believe that the inhabitants of the constituency have a collective responsibility to transform their rural villages into tangible developments. The political leadership in the constituency (the councillor) and traditional leaders, together with community members, should engage in the way forward for improving their communities.
The political leadership, specifically, can lobby the government and stakeholders, such as the Shack Dweller Federation of Namibia to help with the conceptualization of a housing transformation model.
This is of paramount importance because Namibia is progressively transforming into an industrialised country, and the Sibbinda constituency cannot afford to miss out on such transformation. In addition, traditional leaders and the councillor may engage the government in the exploration of bio-economies such as jatropha and timber, which are some of the promising industries in the constituency.
In summary, the Sibbinda constituency needs a transformational leader who understands the social problems bedevilling the people. Such a leader may help turn around the social conditions restricting the potential of the people.
The constituency is lagging in rural development in the region. The councillor, traditional leaders, and community members need to work together to promote tangible development in the constituency to improve people’s livelihoods.
*Collen Kurana is a DPhil student in Peace Studies at the Durban University of Technology.