THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Nov

16

2020

Farewell to a truly fearless, dynamic and driven ethical leader

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

BONANG MOHALE WHATSOEVER thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. – Ecclesiasticus 9:10 It is Walter Payton who reminds us that, “remember, tomorrow is promised to no one.” It was only on Tuesday, 10 November that I was talking to Tata Thembekile “Kimi” Makwetu, congratulating him on yet another global recognition and about the SENS announcement that The Bidvest Group Limited was preparing to release, and seeking his sign off. He had accepted a non-executive director role, which was to…

Nov

15

2020

By The African Mirror

Fear dominates the lives of Nigerians: the consequences are dire

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IS Nigeria a failed state? Former president and would-be elder statesman Olusegun Obasanjo seems to think so… well, almost. On October 1, 2020 – the day Nigeria marked 60 years of independence from colonial rule – the former president claimed Nigeria is fast drifting toward a failed and badly divided state… WILLIAM HANSEN, Professor of Politics, American University of Nigeria Of course, Obasanjo’s statement is self-serving. The political class refuses to accept any responsibility for six decades of venal governance. In blaming President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo conveniently ignores his own eight years as president, during which time civilians inherited the…

Nov

13

2020

By The African Mirror

Saint or sinner: Rawlings was pivotal to Ghana’s political and economic fortunes

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

TWENTY years after he left political office, probably nothing divides Ghanaians more than their opinions regarding Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings who has died. His lingering political influence on Ghana may be second only to Kwame Nkrumah. Some like Rawlings, some hate him. JEFFREY HAYNES, Professor Emeritus of Politics and Coordinator of Governance and International Relations, London Metropolitan University, London Metropolitan University I wrote a PhD on Rawlings and his rule at the end of the 1980s. After four years of intensive study, I was still not sure how to regard Rawlings. Was he a patriot who believed passionately in Ghana…

Oct

22

2020

By The African Mirror

#EndSARS: What it feels like to be in the shoes of a young Nigerian

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

OLUDAYO TADE, Researcher in criminology, victimology, electronic frauds and cybercrime, University of Ibadan FOLLOWING weeks of nationwide protests against police brutality, led by young Nigerians who complain of being targeted by the police, Adejuwon Soyinka asked Oludayo Tade, a sociologist, to help us understand what it feels like being a young Nigerian living in the country today. Why have the protests been driven by young Nigerians? The immediate trigger of the protest has to do with the brutalisation of young Nigerians by the trigger happy and extortionist Special Anti-Robbery Squad, now disbanded. Members of the unit extorted and abused the…

Oct

20

2020

By The African Mirror

The real meaning for Black Wednesday – October 19, 1977

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

MATHATHA TSEDU Mathatha Tsedu THE magnitude of the October 19, 1977 ban by the apartheid government of newspapers and 19 political organisations reflected both the extent of penetration of the Black Consciousness (BC) philosophy into the communities, as well as an understanding by the government at that time that they were faced with something much bigger and complex. Bigger because this was a movement that had within the space of four years been able to nationally galvanise university students in 1972 and four years later, high school students in 1976. Complex because this was not a movement begging for a…

Nov

25

2020

By The African Mirror

Wear a black armband, or ribbon in respect of victims of COVID-19 and gender-based violence and femicide

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

DAVID MABUZA THIS year has been a very difficult year for all of us. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic early this year across the world brought about unprecedented disruptions and anxieties that are significantly impacting our lives and livelihoods. Here at home, we have had to muster our collective efforts and resources to fight the spread, and the negative impacts, of COVID-19. We have had to ensure that our health care system has the capacity to carry the increasing burden of treatment for those infected by COVID-19 to save lives while ensuring that the provision of normal health care…

Nov

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Young Kenyans have their say about politics, corruption and their sense of belonging

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

REFLECTING on the divisions and conflict that arose during Kenya’s contested 2017 elections, President Uhuru Kenyatta recently said: We were not in a good place as a country. ELISABETH KING, Associate Professor of International Education and Politics, New York University DANA BURDE, Associate Professor and Director of International Education, New York University DAPHNA HAREL, Associate Professor of Applied Statistics, New York University JENNIFER HILL, Director of PRIISM; Professor of Applied Statistics, New York University Uhuru and his main opponent in that election, Raila Odinga, closed ranks after the contest with a symbolic handshake and a pledge to reform the political…

Nov

23

2020

By The African Mirror

Growing turbulence in DRC’s ruling coalition points to an early divorce

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE rickety coalition that has governed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for 20 months, forged by President Félix Tshisekedi and his predecessor Joseph Kabila, appears to be falling apart. ALBERT KASANDA, Researcher in Political Philosophy and social sciences, Czech Academy of Sciences In 2019, for lack of a parliamentary majority, Tshisekedi chose to share power with his former rival, Kabila, in a coalition of their respective political platforms – the Cape for Change and the Common Front for the Congo. The Cape for Change is led by Tshisekedi and opposition figure Vital Kamerhe. Rather than put the country on…

Nov

22

2020

By The African Mirror

African Union calls for an inclusive post-COVID-19 world economic recovery, where no country is left behind

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact on human health, on societies and on economies. In the midst of the pandemic – even as we battle rising global infections – we must look towards an inclusive economic recovery, where no country is left behind. It was at the extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit in March this year that members committed to strengthening national, regional and global capacities to respond effectively to future pandemics. As the African continent we are playing our part, including through the establishment of a COVID-19 Response Fund to mobilise resources for a continental…

Nov

20

2020

By The African Mirror

South African judge has refused to step down from corruption probe: this was the right call

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

DEPUTY Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the head of the inquiry into allegations that the South African state was “captured” and repurposed to benefit private interests during former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure (May 2009 to February 2018), has dismissed Zuma’s application for his recusal. The former president, who stands accused of having facilitated grand corruption, had accused the judge of bias. Politics editor Thabo Leshilo asked Cathleen Powell for her insights. CATHLEEN POWELL, Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Cape Town Is the decision correct or not and why? The decision is correct, and it is the only principled decision…