Dear elders, please write!
By Gwamaka Kifukwe Something very sad is happening across Africa. There is a generational transition as most of the ‘Liberation Generation’ – that is, those who participated in the various independence movements and struggles of the 60s onwards – are dying. Each year another round heroes, veterans, and icons takes their final, and well-deserved rest. […]
African Leaders must champion continental initiatives if they are to succeed
By Gwamaka Kifukwe It is a commonly-repeated maxim, that ‘African has good plans, policies, and frameworks, but what is lacking is implementation’. Invariably, this is treated as evidence that there is a lack of ‘commitment, of ‘political will’, and of ‘leadership’. ‘Gone are the days’, the argument goes, when African leaders mobilised the continent, as […]
Minister Jafo officiates leadership programme for DCs and LGA Directors
On 29 January, 2018, the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Hon. Selemani Said Jafo (MP), officiated a five-day leadership programme for District Commissioners (DCs) and Local Government Authority (LGA) Directors from six regions of Tanzania Mainland (Tanga, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Pwani, Lindi and Mtwara), in Dodoma. In his speech, Hon. […]
Africa needs both “strong-men” and “strong institutions”
By Gwamaka Kifukwe On 11 July, 2009, the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, on his first visit to Africa, addressed the Parliament of Ghana and boldly stated: “Africa doesn’t need strong men, it needs strong institutions” He was only partially correct. Africa needs both. That African institutions are weak and need to […]
Regional forum in Ghana tackles value addition in the extractive sector
Nearly 100 key stakeholders from all over Africa met in Accra, Ghana from 4 – 5 December, 2017 to deliberate on how the continent can enhance value addition in the extractive sector. Value addition is one of the methods resource-rich countries are adopting to increase the benefits from resource extraction to their economies; promoting opportunities […]
An inconvenient truth about leadership: loneliness
By Gwamaka Kifukwe While filming an episode of UONGOZI Institute’s flagship TV show (Meet the Leader), an interesting epiphany occurred. The interview turned from reflecting the guest’s understanding and experience of leadership, to learning about the guest as a person. A simple, yet direct question was asked – “We have heard about you, as the […]
Connecting people abstractly and intellectually is not enough: Time for an ‘interrail’ for East Africa?
By Gwamaka Kifukwe With a visit to the East African Community (EAC) headquarters or browsing of their materials you will quickly encounter the EAC’s ambitious slogan; ‘One People, One Destiny’. The motto encapsulates the essence of integration – the increased interlinking and interdependence of economies, communities, and (most importantly of all) people. Since its re-establishment […]
“Tailored approach needed for gender equality and budgeting,” Lagarde
Over 100 stakeholders in gender development from different parts of Africa and the world gathered in Kigali from 2 – 4 November, 2017, for the Peer Learning Conference on Gender Equality. The three-day conference was organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), UN Women and the UONGOZI […]
Will Industrialisation mean the end of ‘African-ness’?
By Gwamaka Kifukwe One of the core characteristics of what we know as ‘African-ness’ or ‘being African’, is how we relate to our families. In sociology, anthropology and ethnography, this is broadly captured in the concept called ‘Kinship’. It describes a set of relationships within a broader appreciation of who is, and who is not […]
Hon. Angellah Kairuki (MP): Strengthening leadership capacities critical to the success of development plans
A critical component for the success of national and continental development plans will be the ability of leadership to provide guidance through the transitions that have to be made, said Hon. Angellah Kairuki (MP), Minister of State for the President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance. Hon. Kairuki made the statement at the launch […]