The Mo Ibrahim Prize update.

So it was hardly a surprise! Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique, has been given his prize and hopefully he will use the $5,000,000 wisely and put it to good use in his country.  Many of us who have lived and worked in Africa and have family and relatives in our case in Zimbabwe, have become rather cynical  of African politicians who become rulers. As we stated in the previous post too many African leaders have looted the resources of their countries and stashed money away in Swiss banks etc. We hope sufficient research was undertaken to ensure the happy recipient has not also stashed money into banks. We remain sceptical of the wisdom of such a prize but would suggest that recipients be encouraged not to put the prize money to personal use.

The Mo Ibrahim Prize.

Anyone proposing a prize ($5,000,000 ) for a former African head of state for “their excellence in leadership” is faced with a momunental challenge. Mo Irahim is a Sudanese mobile telephone millionaire who believes his idea will promote wisdom in government. Apparently there are 13 posssible candidates. Good governance in Africa is about as rare as rain in some parts of the continent.

The favourite appears to be Joachim Chissano ex President of Mozambique. A panel of four headed by former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan; former Irish President, Mary Robinson; and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari; Salim Ahmed Salim former Tanzanian Prime Minister and former Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity; Aïcha Bah Diallo, former Minister of Education in Guinea and Special Adviser to the Director general of UNESCO; Ngozi Ojonko Iweala former Foreign and Finance Minister of Nigeria.

I’m not sure this is a good idea, Mo Ibrahim thought this might help to contribute a gradual move from foreign aid and promote good governance. Surely, any winner would donate the prize to promote education. On the other hand we know full well how African leaders have been quite good at stashing away funds in Swiss banks. I think there needs to be transparency and and some confirmation of how clean some candidates are.