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.
Culled: The Nation
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