Masire’s quality rare in Africa

Let’s face it; good leaders of government in Africa are as rare as hen’s teeth.

That state of affairs is the main reason many countries on the continent are under-developed despite having been independent from colonial masters for more than 50 years.

It’s the reason hundreds of thousands of Africans take to dangerous, leaky boats every year to cross the sea in search of a better life in Europe.

Among the rare breed of selfless, servant leaders on our continent was the former president of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire, who passed away last week.

A successor to the first president of independent Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama, Masire is rightly credited with the sustained economic growth of his country, which he assiduously oversaw over a period of close to two decades. When Botswana’s revenues got a massive injection from diamond mining in his country, Masire’s government did not recklessly open the spending taps.

They prudently managed the public purse in the interest of their citizens in a manner that’s been exemplary in a continent blighted by political leaders who see taxpayers money as theirs to spend on their personal comforts as they wish. Masire can also be credited for Botswana’s sustained political stability and peace.

Again, one only has to look at scores of countries on the continent which were beset by coups and civil wars during his time in office to appreciate Botswana’s achievement under Masire and Khama.

Masire also did something rare on the continent. He voluntarily stepped down from government, a selfless act which is unfortunately rare in Africa. Botswana’s neighbour Zimbabwe, for example, has had Robert Mugabe, now well into his 90s, as head of state for more than three decades.

Just last week, President Jacob Zuma, himself no paragon of virtue, hosted Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila, whose term of office ended months ago but who refuses to give up political power. These are just some of the many bad African leaders who have held our continent’s development back.

Botswana was blessed to have a leader of Masire’s calibre. It is our hope his exemplary public life will be emulated on our continent