Maravi

We need sincerity in political leadership

We need sincerity in political leadership
By The Post
Wed 02 Feb. 2011, 04:00 CAT

Some people find it strange to talk of honesty and sincerity in politics. This is so because politics is mostly perceived as a “dirty game” as a consequence of its being dominated by opportunistic and incompetent politicians. Such politicians disrespect the dignity, rights and freedoms of persons. This does make politics a “dirty game”, fit only for thieves, crooks, liars, hypocrites, hyenas, jackals, scoundrels and so on and so forth!

But politics should be sincere, honest and responsible. It is an effective way of serving others and working for the integral development of one’s country. Political authority must be exercised within the limits of the moral order and must guarantee the conditions for the exercise of freedom.

It is therefore our collective duty as citizens of this country to encourage our politicians to be truly sincere and honest in serving the country. The politics of our country needs people with credibility. In a democracy where leaders are chosen by the people and for the people, such leaders should view themselves as representatives of the people at all levels. These leaders should listen to the people, respect the people and work for the welfare of all the people. They should fight against injustice and abuse of the people; they should devote themselves to the welfare of all. And their authority as leaders is exercised legitimately if it is committed to the common good of society.

A person chosen for political responsibility as a leader must remember that he is simply a servant or steward entrusted to offer humble and honest service to others as opposed to owning power or the people he is serving. The greatest challenge for bringing about justice and peace in our country consists in sincere and honest administration of public affairs in politics and the economy.

We need saintly politicians who profoundly love their own people and wish to sincerely serve rather than to be served.

Edward Chomba, a bishop of the Orthodox Church, has aptly put it: “Zambians should not give up their calls for sincere leaders who will prioritise the interests of the majority poor…the biggest problem we have in our country is lack of sincere leaders.”

For this reason, we encourage competent, sincere and honest citizens to participate in party politics so that they do good in society. Where there is no sincere and honest leadership, the people fall (Proverbs 11:14). Leaders should exercise stewardship and uphold the common good. We say this because the common good is the reason for the existence of political, social and economic institutions. It enables people to express commitment and concern for each other as well as attain the fullness of love. Common good calls upon all persons to contribute and commit themselves responsibly to building a peaceful and just society for all.

This happens when we encourage those with integrity, sincerity and honesty to participate with all their talents and abilities. The best way to fulfil one’s obligations of justice and love is to contribute to the common good. Political power must have as its aim the achievement of the common good. We need, in the political leadership of our country, people who are known for their sincerity, honesty, ability, dedication and concern for the welfare of all. Aristotle, in the Nicomachean Ethics, wrote that sincerity, along with courage, generosity, modesty and other noble character traits is a virtue. Leaders who act sincerely have the ability to avoid duplicity and embrace straightforwardness. To be labelled sincere does not mean you carry your heart on your sleeve, it doesn’t mean you have to intensely stare at other people, and it doesn’t mean you have to beat your chest and tell everyone your secrets. Instead, sincerity is more nuanced and its meaning more broad. Sincerity demands that you act genuinely instead of listing facts. Sincere people reveal their feelings directly and frankly. It’s part honesty and part candidness.

As we choose our leaders in the coming elections, we need to watch for signs of sincerity in the candidates. Sincerity should be a natural extension of one’s personality and, therefore, it’s a unique, individual and inimitable virtue. In other words, people’s sincerity is expressed and perceived in different ways. However, there are a few core components that every sincere leader possesses. It’s hard, maybe impossible, to tell the whole truth all the time in politics. Sincere leaders won’t lie to people or disguise their emotions. That said, it isn’t always as easy as it seems because lying and sugar-coating can pave the quickest escape route. And this reminds us of the lying Dora Siliya, the spokesperson for the ruling MMD, had to engage in yesterday. Not liking the lead story we carried in Monday’s edition of The Post revealing the contents of Lameck Mangani’s letter to the MMD national secretary, Dora claimed the letter was old and therefore irrelevant. How can a letter that was written on January 26, this year be an old issue, be outdated? And this letter was in response to a letter written to Mangani by the MMD national secretary on January 24, this year. Clearly, Dora is not being sincere and honest. She is telling a lie. Is this the type of leadership this country wants or deserves? This is the type of insincere leadership Bishop Chomba is talking about. If Dora had nothing to say on the issue, the best thing would have been to keep quiet. We say this because silence doesn’t necessarily make one insincere.

There is need for straight-talk. George Orwell said, “The great enemy of clear language is insincerity.” We would add that insincerity is also the great enemy of clear conversations. Sincere leaders don’t rely on buzz phrases and “hot” words to communicate a point. They don’t use florid Latin-based words to lay out a plan. Padding conversations and employing verbal misdirection dilutes meaning and leads to insincerity. Sincere leaders should be truthful about their shortcomings or lack of information. In some situations, it’s better for them to define themselves by their inabilities rather than by their abilities. Honest self-assessment will serve time and push things forward – it will also earn them the respect of the people. And sincere leaders don’t think about sincerity. Instead, it is incorporated into the very fabric of their interactions. Leaders can’t fake sincerity. There is a certain irony in the fact that the more sincere one thinks he is, the less sincere one comes off. While sincerity might come off as a loose term that is nuanced with political correctness, more often than not, it is the litmus test that followers put their leaders through. We often hear people saying, ‘I don’t agree with his agenda. I am not convinced that he is taking us in the right direction, but he is sincere.’

That ‘but’ differentiates leaders who can mobilise people and those who have to constantly look over their shoulders. There is no need to tell lies to one’s people; there is no need to hide the truth from the masses of our people. It doesn’t profit one to mask difficulties, mistakes and failures. Leaders should be sincere with their people and truly, as Bishop Chomba has put it, we should never give up on our calls for sincere leaders who will prioritise the common good, especially the interests of the majority poor.

Labels: CORRUPTION, DORA SILIYA

posted by MrK @ 6:15 PM