Changing the Perception of African Leadership

Corrupt and violent African leaders such as Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) and Omar Bashir (Sudan) are usually the only ones highlighted in the Western press. Focusing on these kinds of leaders can paint a biased and inaccurate picture of African leadership in general. The fact of the matter is that there are several African leaders of which the continent and the world can be proud - maybe they ought to get some press!

Truthdig did an excellent story on Botswana's former President, Festus Gontebanye Mogae. He recently received the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. Here is an excerpt from the story...

Festus Gontebanye Mogae is Botswana’s former president, and he is probably as little known as his country. Botswana, acclaimed as Africa’s brightest star, rose from the ashes of grinding poverty to middle-income status in a generation. Its elections are peaceful, its politicians retire voluntarily, its civil society is vibrant and its natural resources are not a curse but a blessing shared by all.

Mogae recently attracted meager attention when he won the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. The annual prize was established by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and launched in October 2006 as an African initiative “to strengthen governance and affirm the importance of nurturing outstanding leaders on the continent.” The prize aims to encourage leaders like Mogae who dedicate their tenures of office to surmounting the development challenges of their countries, improve the livelihoods and welfare of their people and consolidate the foundation for sustainable development.

The Mo Ibrahim Prize is the world’s largest annually awarded prize. Mogae will receive $5 million over the next 10 years and $200,000 per year thereafter for the rest of his life. Over the coming decade, the foundation may also grant another $200,000 a year to causes of Mogae’s choice.