Don’t cling to power – Motlanthe
THE best way to test a man’s true character is to give him power, former president Kgalema Motlanthe told Rhodes University students last night.
He also said that Africa needed progressive governance if it wanted to thrive, with leaders that did not try to cling on to power.
Motlanthe was delivering an Africa Day lecture organised by the Pan African Youth Dialogue in Grahamstown, with the theme “Rethinking 21st Century Pan Africanism”.
Addressing the packed lecture hall, Motlanthe stressed the need for good governance on the continent.
“Progressive governance is founded upon institutions and the notion of the state as distinct from government is critical in this context,” he said.
“We need stable, efficient states with institutions and agencies that are stable, because governments come and go.
“Every five years we go to elections and you may end up with a new government.
“If you have . . . a high turnover of senior managers in a department of a state, you end up with an unstable weak state incapable of delivering,” Motlanthe said.
He singled out Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza as an example of a leader trying to cling on to power. Burundi is on the verge of a civil war as thousands oppose Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term.
Motlanthe said everyone was a democrat until they were put to the test.
“In a country like Burundi, President Nkurunziza is arguing technicalities,” he said.
“First, he tried to amend the constitution to allow him to have a third term and when that did not go through parliament, he turned around and said the first term was a borderline case.
“And now he doesn’t care. People are dying. He plays football once a week with young people. I suppose that’s where he recruits the troopers.”
He said solidarity of the human spirit and understanding the problems was critical for states. “We cannot become prisoners of the past because the past we inherit and the future we create,” Motlanthe said.
“If the view and the attitude is everyone for himself and God for us all, of course the weakest, the most vulnerable, would be gobbled up by the system.
“There would be nowhere to turn to. That is why solidarity is so important.
“It is important to understand the essence of the problem.”
During the era of colonial domination, en- emy lines were clearly drawn, he said. “Race was the defining essence of the struggle.”
He also said the notion of pan Africanism had been taken for granted.
Motlanthe had the crowd in stitches with some examples he used to make a point.
The address was also attended by Rhodes deputy vice-chancellor Dr Peter Clayton, Makana administrator Pam Yako and ANC provincial executive committee member and academic Julia Wells.
Motlanthe also weighed in on the recent xenophobic attacks and the statue debacle.
He said the best way of dealing with the influx of foreigners was to document them.
“We are all foreigners somewhere. We have to treat fellow human beings like human beings and not like they are sub-human beings that can be attacked and killed.”
On the issue of statues, Motlanthe said removing them would not change the historical facts.
He said each generation should fight its own struggles.
“We should not transmit our baggage to you.
“It is the responsibility of each generation to draw lessons from the previous generation to take society to new heights.”
THE commemoration of Africa Day is for many of us a source of pride and an opportunity to celebrate our identity as citizens of this beautiful continent.
But with our rich cultural heritage and diversity comes a painful history which, despite progress made so far, still shapes the state of our nations, our politics, our development and our lives as Africans.
As Africa’s second biggest economy and a champion of democracy, South Africa’s role in the social cohesion and economic development of our continent is massive. To pull it off, we need strong leadership in all spheres.
We need leaders who are frank and honest about the nature and extent of our troubles, yet are able to promote unity and rally the masses behind the vision of an inclusive and equal society.
We need leaders who speak with one voice, a coherent message that protects the rights of all and promotes our collective claim to this continent as our home.
Delivering a speech on Sunday, ahead of Africa Day yesterday, President Jacob Zuma correctly called for Africans to be united.
His message was crucial particularly following recent attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. He reminded us and the world of the sacrifices made by fellow Africans in the fight for South Africa’s democracy.
He further reminded us of the responsibility we all have to build good relations with those who have come to seek refuge in our country.
However, in the same breath Zuma reportedly made disturbing comments regarding how (prior to the colonial era) Africans were fine until “others” came to disturb the peace.
We believe that not only are these comments divisive and unhelpful, they undermine his very message of unity Zuma was trying to convey.
Such comments also disregard efforts by ordinary South Africans of all races who work hard to build social cohesion.
Whatever Zuma personally believes about our collective history, he has a duty to preach and actively promote unity without reservations.