education

President Mnangagwa: A servant leader’s call for serving with humility explained – The Herald

Tongai Dana

Correspondent

During the recent swearing in ceremony for Cabinet Ministers, President Mnangagwa implored the new Ministers to “serve the people with humility”.

These words echoed so loud in my ears and I hope they echoed the same in the ears of those who had the honour to be appointed to serve the country in the capacity of Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

Why so? because President Mnangagwa is a leader who is out to set a precedent of transformative and good guidance for the now and future generations.

He has kept his word and promise of servant leadership.

In 2018, President Mnangagwa pledged that his leadership philosophy was servant leadership and indeed in the past five years servant leadership is what we saw.

Upon being elected for the second term to continue as President of Zimbabwe, he has expressed the intention to lead with humility and prioritise the needs of the people of Zimbabwe.

However, it is important to note that the perception and assessment of leadership and its alignment with servant leadership principles can vary among different individuals and stakeholders.

Personally, my interpretation of serving with humility is “people centred leadership” guided and drawing from the biblical scripture in Philemon 2:3 which says:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

This is what President Mnangagwa instructed the new Cabinet Ministers when he said “Serve the people with humility”.

President Mnangagwa is not just giving this instruction but he has lived this in the past five years and he knows it can be done.

Some initiatives and actions taken by President Mnangagwa that align with servant leadership principles and his heart to put people first include:

Economic reforms

The President has initiated economic reforms aimed at revitalising Zimbabwe’s economy and improving the livelihoods of its citizens. These reforms have included measures to attract investment, promote business growth, and address issues such as unemployment and poverty. These indeed yielded results.

Engagement with international community

The President has sought to rebuild relationships with the international community and attract foreign investment.

This approach was aimed at improving the country’s standing and fostering economic development and it indeed yielded results.

Anti-corruption efforts

President Mnangagwa has spoken out against corruption and initiated anti-corruption campaigns. He has emphasised the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical behaviour in Government institutions. This is yielding results; Zimbabwe is transforming out of the culture of corruption but hard work.

Empowerment and development programmes

Government has introduced programmes to empower and uplift marginalised communities, including initiatives to support small-scale farmers, promote education, and provide healthcare services.

This is yielding results, those who have benefited can testify. Many will benefit as no one and no place will be left behind.

Having lived and demonstrated the importance of servant leadership, President Mnangagwa has demonstrated to the new leaders that leadership is a responsibility and an opportunity to serve the greater good.

By embodying the principles of servant leadership in our diversity in terms of political affiliations as Zimbabweans we can foster trust, collaboration, and positive change in the political landscape, ultimately working towards a more inclusive and prosperous society.

Servant leadership emphasises the importance of serving others and putting their needs first.

It involves active listening, empathy, collaboration, and a commitment to ethical behaviour.

Serving with humility in political leadership is an approach where leaders prioritise the needs and interests of the people they represent over their personal ambitions or ego.

It involves adopting a mindset of service and a willingness to listen, learn and collaborate with others.

The recently appointed leaders should learn from President Mnangagwa.

Putting the people first

The President and the nation expecting the new Cabinet Ministers to prioritise the well-being and interests of the people they serve above their own.

They are expected to genuinely listen to their constituents, seek to understand their concerns, and make decisions based on the greater good rather than personal gain.

Openness to feedback

The new leaders are expected to be humble leaders who are open to receiving feedback, both positive and negative, and see it as an opportunity for growth.

They are expected to create an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed, and they actively seek input from experts, advisors, and the public.

This will help them make more informed decisions and avoid the pitfalls of arrogance or self-righteousness.

Collaborative approach

The leadership will also perform better if they promote collaborations. Leaders should therefore actively seek partnerships and build coalitions to address complex challenges.

Empowering others

Leaders are expected to create an environment that fosters trust, encourages innovation, and allows others to grow and contribute their unique skills and perspectives for the development of the country as it marches towards becoming an Upper Middle-Income State by 2030.

By empowering their teams and citizens in general, they will build a strong support system and cultivate future leaders.

Practicing empathy and compassion

Servant and humble leaders demonstrate empathy and compassion towards the people they serve. Leaders should make efforts to understand the challenges and struggles of individuals and communities, and work towards policies and initiatives that address those needs.

To achieve this, the new Cabinet Ministers should strive to be accessible, approachable, and genuinely care about the well-being of those they lead.

Leading by example

The new leadership should lead by example, demonstrating integrity, ethical behaviour, and a commitment to serving the public interest.

It is not good for leaders to use their position for personal gain. They should adhere to the same standards and expectations they set for others and their actions should inspire trust, respect from the people they lead.

Serving with humility in political leadership is not a sign of weakness but rather a strength that fosters collaboration, trust, and effective governance. It allows leaders to connect with the people make informed decisions, and work towards the betterment of society as a whole.

education

‘Badly drafted’ PVO Amendment Bill has lapsed says legal think tank, urges govt to scrap it

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By Anna Chibamu

THE Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Amendment Bill has lapsed and will need to be reconsidered, Veritas has said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa referred the bill back to Parliament during the 9^th Parliament for reconsideration.

According to Veritas, the Bill lapsed long before the President had referred it back to Parliament and those Bills that had passed through the National Assembly and the Senate, but had not been signed by the President and published in the Gazette, lapsed when Parliament was dissolved just before polling day in the general election.

“Our reasoning was that, in terms of section 147 of the constitution, ‘On the dissolution of Parliament, all proceedings pending at the time are terminated, and every Bill, motion, petition and other business lapses’.

“A Bill that has passed through the National Assembly and the Senate, but has not been assented to by the President, is still a Bill and seems to be covered by the clear wording of section 147,’’ Veritas said in its publication last week.

It added that there was a general rule or convention applicable in countries with a parliamentary system such as Zimbabwe which stipulates that no Parliament should bind its successor, and hence all Bills, including those that are awaiting assent by the Head of State lapse when Parliament is dissolved.

“The PVO Amendment Bill lapsed when Parliament was dissolved on the 22nd August, immediately before polling day in the general election. As a result, there was no longer a Bill for the President to refer back to Parliament.

“The only course for the government to take, if it wants to proceed with the Bill, is for the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to start all over again. The Bill cannot be revived,” said Veritas.

The think tank explained further that although Standing Order 171 of the National Assembly and Standing Order 162 of the Senate allow Bills lapsed at the end of a session to be revived in a subsequent session if the National Assembly or the Senate passes resolutions to that effect but those Standing Orders do not apply to Bills which have lapsed as a result of a dissolution of Parliament.

“The Standing Orders themselves say that the Parliament dissolved before elections was the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. The one that has just been sworn in is the Tenth Parliament of Zimbabwe. It is a different Parliament and, by virtue of section 147 of the Constitution, it cannot be bound by the unfinished business of its predecessor.

“It is a fitting end to the Bill. It was a most unsatisfactory one: vague, badly drafted, and in many respects unconstitutional. The President himself had such serious reservations about it that he referred it back to Parliament. The new Minister should take the opportunity to reconsider it completely, perhaps even to scrap it,” added Veritas.

education

Bulawayo colleges open companies as Education 5.0 bears fruit – The Herald

Bulawayo Bureau

BULAWAYO’S Hillside Teachers’ College and the United College of Education have ventured into full-time industrialisation through establishing and registering new companies in line with the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model.

The development adds impetus to the on-going efforts by the Government to re-industrialise Bulawayo and anchor the country’s economy on increased high-value production with a focus on substituting imports and stimulating export earnings.

UCE, which specialises in primary school teacher training has set up a company called Collinvest (Pvt) Ltd and registered it with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ).

The new company deals with musical instruments and production of protective clothing as well as uniforms.

UCE principal, Dr Adam Luthuli, has said the college, in line with Education 5.0 philosophy on innovation and industrialisation, is now producing goods and services.

“The college’s company, Collinvest (Pvt) Ltd, which is registered with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), is overwhelmed with requests for musical instruments, protective clothing and uniforms. Our company has received orders from Gwanda State University, Manicaland State University. Kusile Rural District Council, Hwange Rural District Council, United Bulawayo Hospitals and Harare Central Hospital,” he said on Friday during the institution’s graduation ceremony.

Dr Luthuli said the company is into production and repair of marimba, mbira and was also running chicken and piggery projects.

He said the company intends to produce assistive devices such as hearing aids, wheelchairs and prostheses or artificial body parts.

Hillside Teachers’ College, which was established in 1956 to train secondary school teachers, has already set up a secondary school as part of efforts to bridge the shortage of schools in the country while pursuing other commercial ventures.

A total of 56 Form One learners are now attending classes from the main campus awaiting the construction of new school premises in Matobo District after the local authority gave the institution a 24-hectare piece of land.

The college is also producing nutritious ‘Madhumbe Crisps’, a product that has been approved by the Government analyst laboratory and is expected to hit the market soon.

One of the female students at the college has also come up with a unique garment design concept to assist breastfeeding mothers and T-shirt, which allows a mother to breastfeed in public without exposing any part of her body.

Hillside Teachers’ College acting principal, Dr Sifelani Jabangwe, said the national agenda of attaining an upper middle-income economy by 2030 was premised on innovation and industrialisation, which puts colleges and universities in the spotlight to lead from the front.

“As we celebrate our ceremony under the theme: ‘Transformative Teacher Education for Accelerated Innovation and Industrialisation’, I would like to underscore the fact that it is imperative for us as a college to have our teacher education bringing innovation and industrialisation into the foreground,” he said.

“Against this backdrop, we have embraced these two concepts as part of our core mandate in line with Education 5.0 and have since embarked on a number of projects, which are reflective of this stance.”

Following the Government’s call for colleges to assist former students to form consortiums and establish schools, Dr Jabangwe said 10 former students approached the college expressing an interest in establishing a high school.

“We were offered 24ha of land in Matobo district about 30 km from Bulawayo. We are ready to start phase one of the construction of the school.”

“I am pleased to inform you that January 2023 saw the college’s commencement of two form-one classes with an enrolment of 56 learners at our newly established practicing school,” he said.

“We have had to create space for those classes within the infrastructure that we have for now. However, as we look to enrol classes in future, our plan is to build the school at our Hillside Teachers’ College 4ha extension stand.

“The college is working closely with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to regularise operations of the school.”

Dr Jabangwe said three college students and a lecturer have initiated a project to produce Madhumbe crisps.

“The project uses the local resource, madhumbe tuber. The product has been tried and tested and has also undergone assessment by Government analyst laboratory,” he said.

“I am actually happy to say that the same product is actually available and is on sale right here on our campus and has been packaged as Hill Madhumbe Crisps advertised as ‘Traditional crispy taste just for you!”.

Dr Jabangwe said the college had also established a recording studio that is set to benefit the institution through recording fees to be paid by local artists although lecturers and students are the immediate beneficiaries.

He said the college was hoping to step up production of breastfeeding dress which was designed by one of the students which allows the mother to breastfeed in public without exposing any part of her body.

The Education 5.0 blue-print prioritises the development of five-main faculties in learners, which include teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation as key pillars driving an innovation-led and knowledge-driven economy.

education

Bulawayo colleges open companies as Education 5.0 bears fruit – The Herald