Scarcity of ethical leadership threatens Africa’s dev’t – Queen Nozizwe

By Samuel SAM

Nozizwe Pearl Mulela, Managing Director of Eswatini Bank and consort to  King Misuzulu KaZwelithini of the Zulu Nation, has warned that a lack of ethical leadership poses a serious threat to Africa’s development.

Speaking at the 7th Africa Leadership Lecture held at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, she stated that ethical and servant leadership remains scarce across the continent, undermining progress and good governance.

According to her, many African leaders have failed to use the resources and opportunities available to drive scientific advancement and economic development. She stressed that leaders must prioritise their people’s needs, harness local expertise and develop effective policies to ensure self-sufficiency.

“African leaders can transform their countries and the continent by embracing good leadership, engaging experts from national universities and focusing on development without relying on external support,” she said.

The lecture, themed ‘Redefining Leadership for Africa’s Future: Ethics and Transformation’, brought together academics, traditional leaders, students and development stakeholders. It aims to foster dialogue on leadership and governance to support Africa’s progress.

Queen Nozizwe highlighted the historical struggles African leaders faced during independence, especially in managing high public expectations and external interference from Western powers. She noted that the introduction of multi-party politics brought both opportunities and challenges, with some leaders suppressing opposition due to fears of disunity.

She called on Africa’s youth to begin discussing new leadership models that promote sovereignty, ethics and societal well-being.

“Today’s youth must reflect on the leadership styles of the past and explore better ways to lead their nations,” she advised.

She praised UDS for creating platforms for practical discussions on Africa’s development, comparing the university’s approach to the vision of Kwame Nkrumah’s Ideological Institute.

Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Prof. Seidu Al-Hassan, noted that the Africa Leadership Lecture Series is part of the university’s commitment to leadership development and African renaissance.

He said the initiative aligns with UDS’s mission to provide quality education and community-based research that address national challenges.

Prof. Al-Hassan added that UDS would continue to engage industry experts and leaders to contribute to national development.

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