06 May 2018

A South African High Court Judge Justice Dunstan Mlambo has squarely blamed African leaders for untold sufferings, gross human rights violations and rampant looting of their countries’ wealth while the majority of the population remain and live in despicable situation.

Justice Mlambo was giving a keynote address at the 9th edition of Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation (SKMF) Annual Fundraising Dinner in Gaborone on May 4  which was also attended by President Mokgweetsi Masisi and First Lady Neo Masisi.

Justice Mlambo who is Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa did not mince words in his 30 minutes speech saying lack of good governance was currently rocking the African continent.

He said it was disappointing that African leaders failed to call each other to account when they derailed from the course.

He said they often forget to remember that they had been elected to that position on the hope that they would better the lives of their people instead of bringing pain and suffering.

He noted that he was happy as a proud African jurist that the SKMF primary focus was on peace and good governance, children’s welfare and innovation and alternatives in agriculture, features which he said were lacking and have been lacking in Africa.

He said this was because most African leaders were only there to enrich themselves and were not ashamed to change their constitutions to cling to power.

He said sadly the continental body, African Union, (AU) was also failing on its mandate as leaders failed to address pertinent issues affecting their people despite numerous glamorous charters and agendas they always sign committing to better the lives of their people.
In the same breadth, Justice Mlambo noted that the very same leaders at times chose dictators to lead regional and continental bodies, something which he said made one wonder whether African leaders would ever rise to the occasion and learn that the continent was behind.

Coming closer to the region he said SADC leaders failed Zimbabwe when former President Robert Mugabe reined terror on his people and killed 20 000 civils including forcefully taking the land of the white farmers.

He said as if it was not enough the very same leaders despite advice rendered the Windhoek based SADC tribunal toothless.

Justice Mlambo praised the late Sir Ketumile Masire for his recent posthumous award of the Order of the Companion of OR Tambo in Gold, noting that President Masire was in power when the region was engulfed by instabilities and apartheid South Africa but managed through good governance coupled with good vison which led to him creating National Vision 2016.
 Speaking at the sane occasion, Ms Matshidiso Masire who is the executive director of SKMF noted that the foundation was keen on building the youth as future leaders to be accountable and take pride in the development of their lives and the economy of the country.

She however thanked their sponsors for enabling them to carry on their mission. Ends