There is no excuse for belittling ethical leadership, social justice

It’s sad that all these concepts – and many more – have been subjected to so many decades of intense deliberations and analysis that they are now often taken for granted.

This takes us back to the “social justice and leadership ethics” forum for eastern and southern Africa youth held in Dar es Salaam in late August 2009.

The keynote speaker, former president Jakaya Kikwete, elaborated on what he saw as a thread linking the three concepts with democracy and the institutionalisation of good governance.

He went on to express hope that the African continent was “witnessing the emergence of a new breed of leaders throughout the continent who are committed to change and the fight against corruption”.

Whether he too has indeed witnessed enough of the change he had in mind is best known to himself, although corruption remains one of the daunting challenges giving African countries a hard time – and a bad name.       

However, as noted by the former president, we would be doing Africa in general and individual African countries much good by fighting to make them grow into oases of hope and not places of despair and lamentations.

Indeed, we need to recognise our weaknesses, appreciate our achievements and face our challenges while working towards greater prosperity.

We need to soberly and realistically evaluate the ground we have covered as we sought realise the three principal pillars supporting social justice: economic prosperity, democracy and human rights.

We need to appreciate the need for our people to have access to a fair chance to engage in gainful income-generation activities for their own benefit and for the good of the country’s social and economic development.

It is also of fundamental importance for respect for basic human rights to have pride of place in everything we do, and nothing should be allowed to stand in our way on this cardinal principle. Development is of little use and relevance in the absence of dignity.

This is consonance with the remarks President Samia Suluhu Hassan made as she graced the climax of Law Day celebrations in Dodoma city on Wednesday.

In her particular case, she underlined the need for the country’s judicial system to dispense justice unconditionally – that is, including desisting from allowing corruption to lead courts of law to deprive the poor of a fair deal.

Unfortunately, these things are so often taken for granted that at times even the most blatant of violations of basic human rights go unnoticed.

With our rich and diverse experience, it will be purely by choice that we will be found wanting in efforts to promote ethical leadership and enhance social justice in our country.