The love to serve sets Madiba apart from other leaders
The world has once again celebrated the legacy and achievements of Nelson Mandela.
Most wish that they could impact the history of humankind like he did. There is a question that needs to be posed by political representatives across all constituencies including the national leadership. This contingent of leaders is a mirror that reflects what should or should not be happening in every nook and cranny of the political theatres of South Africa.
The vexing question is: “How can I take this country one step forward with the little I do and end up transforming the lives of my fellow countrymen?”
For any leader who wants to emulate Madiba, loving and serving the people should be in their blood.
In any position that Madiba had occupied the dominating thought in his mind was to take a step further in transforming the lives of his fellow countrymen. So, all leaders who are itching to be in public positions need to understand this stark reality. They are in these positions to serve their constituencies.
They are there to express their feelings and articulate their sufferings. It is no secret that these days there is scarcity of leaders who serve with love, calling and conscience.
The many problems the country is experiencing including protest marches are as a result of a growing gap between the politicians and the people that they represent and are expected to serve.
These leaders fail to even call for a community meeting to engage with those who voted them into the positions of power. How then can such leaders have the boldness of wanting to emulate Madiba when they fail to do the least that the voters expects of them? Leaders are expected to listen and take initiative.
They are expected to report back to the voters. Regular communication and briefings are the lifeblood of genuine leadership because a day in politics is like a year.
Mandela embraced those who differed with him. Had his colleagues in the ANC noticed what he was doing, we would be far ahead when it comes to genuine reconciliation between black people and white people, as well as between the political parties. When he was president, no one ever thought Madiba would, on several occasions appoint IFP president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi as acting state president.
Former president Thabo Mbeki continued with that trend when he wanted to appoint Buthelezi as deputy president but his colleagues were opposed to the move.
Had that worked this country would be in a better space as far as reconciliation between the ANC and IFP is concerned.
Although the documents which came out of the negotiated settlement 20 years ago are gathering dust, South Africa’s political landscape needs leaders who are brave and willing to work towards building a culture of tolerance and acceptance among all South Africans.
This should be done for the benefit of the future generation of leaders and all South Africans. All those who want to emulate Madiba this is a mission they need to undertake, not for political expediency and correctness but for the benefit of all the people.
Political co-existence is a must for the development of this country and its people. There is no leader nor a party that can have all the solutions to making this country a better place. Unity in diversity is a way to go and all the leaders and the parties must agree to disagree
It is only when political leaders do fundamental things the right way, that they can claim to be on the right track to try to emulate Madiba. There are lessons to be learnt from Madiba’s leadership.