IMF post: A challenge to African leaders

analyses and criticism of players and coaches leaving one to wonder why these “experts” are mere spectators.
The terrace spectator syndrome continues to hound Africa at the global arena where the continent continues to shout what the players on the field ought to do without opting to take part in the game. The fact is illustrated not better by the vacancy to head the International Monetary Fund created by the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Within hours of Strauss-Kahn’s resignation following his indictment for sexual assault offences at a New York hotel of a chamber maid, the European leadership came out in numbers to emphatically state that the replacement should be a European.
The predictable reaction from Africa was simply that the next head of arguably the most influential financial institution should not be from Europe without necessarily declaring where that person should come from.
While Europe has been putting forward arguments for why a European should replace Strauss-Kahn, the argument from Africa, and indeed the rest of the world, has only been putting forward the reasons why it should not be from Europe.
The whole EU block has already accepted French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde as a credible candidate yet Africa is still crying that it should not be a European. The argument against a European taking over which has been coming from Africa is as usual compelling in its strength and full of reasoning but lacking in alternatives. The argument exhibits a typical football terrace spectator analysis.
Africa’s problem is not Europe, America, China and the rest of the economic zones not giving it a chance. The problem is Africa not taking the chances when they come along.
The leadership position of the IMF is one good chance, which Africans should have looked to seize, but unfortunately as usually has been overtaken by political rhetoric.
It was Africa Day on May 25 and Africa’s leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The IMF succession issue was a glaring omission on the agenda, which focused on conflict in Libya among other desires of unity within the continent.
The day Africa wakes up to the reality that whoever controls the purse controls one’s destiny is the day the continent will move forward. No amount of “proud to be black” sloganeering and analytical criticism of the Western world will bring meaningful economic progress. It all centres on the need to have Africa’s hands on top posts at organisations such as the IMF.
It really is a question of leadership more than anything else. Leaders are instructed with people’s destinies and ought to know how to get there. The IMF post is of more importance to Africa than Europe. Heading the IMF will mean so much for Africa.
This is seen even in the question of Libya. Protesting the presence of Nato without offering possible intervention solutions will not make sense. Rhetoric has to end in Africa and African leadership at all levels has to start positioning the continent for the better. Africans should act in ways that reflect its awareness of the impact such organisations like the IMF has on the continent. There are many people with capacity for that post in Africa.
The European argument that a non-European will not be able to understand the economies of countries like Portugal and others is empty. The IMF is not there for such economies alone but for the whole world and the position that a European will understand Africa economies is not valid. It is on these issues that African leaders should step up.
Leadership is not about being reactive, but responsive. The global status quo remains unfair, the voting rights in the UN Security Council remain unfair on Africa but we can’t blame the Europeans, they have positioned themselves in the global arena and we are still struggling.
African unity remains a key and this is not about political parties or politics but it’s about the destiny of a continent that has been vulnerable to social, political and economic ills for a long time. African leaders have to always ask themselves what really is the African agenda. There are times that you see the whole of Europe speaking with one voice even against a close ally like America.
There has to be a point where all of Africa converges especially when it comes to foreign policy and relations with other continents. The problems of Africa are somewhat uniform and the solutions are possibly the same whether you are in Cape or in Egypt. Karl Marx perceives laws not to be fair and believed that they are made to protect the interests of the rich and powerful.
These are people and nations that craft laws to protect own interests. The struggle for a fair world order remains a true concern for African leaders present and those to come. The challenges we are in are of our own making as leaders and a people and to get out of them we need a new mindset. Africa remains the richest continent by resource and the poorest, why? It’s all to do with leadership, there is need for a paradigm shift with regards to how we see our people, how we see and use our resources, how we govern the continent and about the future we want to leave.
The land and resources we enjoy today we got them from the past and borrowed them to the future and we lead not just our generation, but try to achieve the aspirations of the past leaders and protect the future and inheritance of the coming generations. Our position in the globe determines our level of success in these and our satisfaction of both past, present and future generations.
Hope you were inspired. This article is definitely targeted at our leaders across the African life, in our politics, in our families, in our churches and businesses. Most importantly, it is geared to open up the mindsets of future leaders I believe are already among us, in our schools, universities, organisations and our political structures.
May they change their mindsets and create the responsive Africa that competes at the global arena, not a crying Africa, a complaining Africa, and an Africa that shifts blame and not take responsibility for where it is.
See you next week and become the best leader you know.
l Pascal Nyasha is a motivational speaker and leadership coach. He is the author of the inspirational book, “Reaching New Horizons”, and founder of The Leadership Clinic. Call: 0773 003 912 or email: [email protected]. Connect with Pascal on Facebook.