Long May He Live
Finally, and at long last the search for an African leader who could be held up as a paragon of virtue, a national politician of integrity who has the best interests of his country and its population top of mind, has closure. It took several years in a desperate attempt to identify one such leader of whom Africa could be proud, and who could present as a template to the rest of the continent, beset by dictators, tyrants, autocrats, and oppressors.
Now, two years after it was established, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation committee has finally settled on a winner; former Cape Verde president Pedro Pires. Mr. Pires, now 77 years of age, acted in the best interests of his Atlantic Ocean Cape Verde Islands; seeking nothing for himself personally. Under his careful administration his nation grew its gross domestic product at 6% yearly, and per-capita incomes rose by 181%, life expectancy reached 70 years of age, a literacy rate of 80% was achieved.
The search committee for the $5-million prize looked assiduously for a candidate and found one in Mr. Pires. They assessed African states to assess their records with respect to criteria such as rule of law, safety, human rights, social participation, sustainable economics and human development. Under those parameters, Cape Verde came second in Africa after Mauritius, ahead of Botswana, the Seychelles and South Africa.
"President Pires presided over the transition from a single-party state to a multi-party state and stepped down at the end of his second term", explained Salim Ahmed Salim, the chief of the prize committee. Tellingly, the modest Mr. Pires was both surprised and bewildered at having been singled out, when as far as he was obviously concerned, he was doing what he must, for his country.
If the foundation, established by Sudanese-born philanthropist Mo Ibrahim, hopes that this kind of example will inspire other African leaders, he may not have considered deeply enough. For the fact is, leaders like Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe would laugh off a $5-million prize; they are able to embezzle far more than that kind of pocket money, milking their government treasury and monetary assistance received from the international community.
Mr. Pires, along with the $5-million he is now being gifted with in recognition of his superior morality and administrative skills, also will stand to receive $200,000 a year for the rest of his life. At 77 years of age, that may not be too much longer; on the other hand - long may he live.
Now, two years after it was established, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation committee has finally settled on a winner; former Cape Verde president Pedro Pires. Mr. Pires, now 77 years of age, acted in the best interests of his Atlantic Ocean Cape Verde Islands; seeking nothing for himself personally. Under his careful administration his nation grew its gross domestic product at 6% yearly, and per-capita incomes rose by 181%, life expectancy reached 70 years of age, a literacy rate of 80% was achieved.
The search committee for the $5-million prize looked assiduously for a candidate and found one in Mr. Pires. They assessed African states to assess their records with respect to criteria such as rule of law, safety, human rights, social participation, sustainable economics and human development. Under those parameters, Cape Verde came second in Africa after Mauritius, ahead of Botswana, the Seychelles and South Africa.
"President Pires presided over the transition from a single-party state to a multi-party state and stepped down at the end of his second term", explained Salim Ahmed Salim, the chief of the prize committee. Tellingly, the modest Mr. Pires was both surprised and bewildered at having been singled out, when as far as he was obviously concerned, he was doing what he must, for his country.
If the foundation, established by Sudanese-born philanthropist Mo Ibrahim, hopes that this kind of example will inspire other African leaders, he may not have considered deeply enough. For the fact is, leaders like Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe would laugh off a $5-million prize; they are able to embezzle far more than that kind of pocket money, milking their government treasury and monetary assistance received from the international community.
Mr. Pires, along with the $5-million he is now being gifted with in recognition of his superior morality and administrative skills, also will stand to receive $200,000 a year for the rest of his life. At 77 years of age, that may not be too much longer; on the other hand - long may he live.
Labels: Africa, Economy, Education, Human Relations, Justice, Particularities
posted by Pieface @ 6:10 PM
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