Quality of leaders in Africa has dwindled – Jacob Zuma

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has voiced concerns about the deteriorating quality of leadership across the African continent, warning that it undermines the region’s potential for growth and development.

In an interview on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle, Mr. Zuma described the trend of ineffective governance as a significant barrier to Africa’s progress. He argued that this shortfall in leadership continues to hinder efforts to address critical issues such as poverty, inequality, corruption, and underdevelopment.

Zuma attributed the stagnation in many African nations to the absence of strategic and forward-thinking leadership, which he said prevents these countries from achieving their rightful place on the global stage.

He called on African citizens to take a more active role in demanding accountability and better governance from their leaders.

The former president also highlighted the need for collaborative efforts between governments, civil society, and citizens to foster an environment where effective leadership can thrive, ultimately driving sustainable progress for the continent.

“…We [Africa] became a kind of democracy that people were talking about at the beginning, but something interfered with Africa, as we know. For example, there was a coup d’etat, where the Western countries were actually organising the coup d’etat against us. We tried to come in thereafter once again. And I think Africa was becoming very strong once again. I think they shifted Africa to quite an extent.

“I think if you talk about today in Africa, there are issues that are there which you wonder why. As well as how we gradually began to make Africa no longer articulate about itself as it were. I mean even now there are certain things that are happening in parts of the continent.

“But the continent is more quiet than it would have been during that time. Leaders would be moved immediately. These days leaders are very reluctant, and quiet. Even if things are going wrong, that tells you the standard is no longer the same.”

When asked if there has been a reduction in the quality of leaders, he said, “Yes there has been, there are issues that are happening in Africa now, which if it was still at some point, Africa would be fit to say what it is happening to try to help. It’s no longer the same. It started coming down slowly for some time now.”

“The coming in of the current president proved that Ghana still stands on the side of the people, wanting to move forward all the time. And we’re very happy. We see Ghana articulating what we believe to be the direction to where Africa must go.”

Mr. Zuma praised Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama as an example of the kind of leadership Africa needs.

He commended Mahama’s re-election in 2024, describing it as a step in the right direction for Ghana and a model for the continent.