I had an opportunity to review a brilliantly written book about the late President Levy Mwanawasa by Amos Malupenga last year. My only criticism of the text was that it was rather one sided except for the comments by Akashambatwa Lewanika.
Another book on Mwanawasa has been released authored by Martin Kalungu-Banda. I have not had a chance to read the book yet but below is a summary of Martin's Motivation for writing this book..
As we search for the right leadership, some of the questions that we have to grapple with include: How can you tell which person is likely to provide quality leadership? Can academic credentials alone prove suitability for leadership? Is the ability to speak eloquently a sign of leadership capacity? To what extent does a person’s external appearance or presentation help to show what kind of leader he or she would make? How can we pierce through the façade of a person in order to know who they truly are and what leadership they are capable of providing?The passing on of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, Zambia’s third President, on 19 August 2008 reignited these and other similar reflections in many people’s minds. Thinking about President Mwanawasa led me to ponder on his leadership. I couldn’t find a better way of sharing these reflections than by writing down some of the stories that capture a side of his leadership that rarely came through in his public appearances. I am also convinced that we do teach one another as we share our stories. The ones in this book show how I saw him relate to other people and myself, and I hope that these tales will give an insight into the source of President Mwanawasa’s leadership style that he displayed in the seven years he led the Zambian nation. I use the term ‘source’ to refer to that deep-seated intention from which one’s values and actions spring. Otto Scharmer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management says we can trace our life source by finding answers to these two questions: What is my ‘highest self, the self that transcends pettiness and signifies [my] best future possibility?’ and what is my purpose – what am I here on earth to do?The first question implies that I have so much potential that I can choose to be better than I am now – I can definitely choose to rise above being small-minded and I can create a vision in my head of the best that I can be. The second question reminds me that I am unique and must surely have a special role or roles that suit me best, and I can try to find them.
If have read the book, please let us know your views.
The PANEL
Another book on Mwanawasa has been released authored by Martin Kalungu-Banda. I have not had a chance to read the book yet but below is a summary of Martin's Motivation for writing this book..
As we search for the right leadership, some of the questions that we have to grapple with include: How can you tell which person is likely to provide quality leadership? Can academic credentials alone prove suitability for leadership? Is the ability to speak eloquently a sign of leadership capacity? To what extent does a person’s external appearance or presentation help to show what kind of leader he or she would make? How can we pierce through the façade of a person in order to know who they truly are and what leadership they are capable of providing?The passing on of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, Zambia’s third President, on 19 August 2008 reignited these and other similar reflections in many people’s minds. Thinking about President Mwanawasa led me to ponder on his leadership. I couldn’t find a better way of sharing these reflections than by writing down some of the stories that capture a side of his leadership that rarely came through in his public appearances. I am also convinced that we do teach one another as we share our stories. The ones in this book show how I saw him relate to other people and myself, and I hope that these tales will give an insight into the source of President Mwanawasa’s leadership style that he displayed in the seven years he led the Zambian nation. I use the term ‘source’ to refer to that deep-seated intention from which one’s values and actions spring. Otto Scharmer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management says we can trace our life source by finding answers to these two questions: What is my ‘highest self, the self that transcends pettiness and signifies [my] best future possibility?’ and what is my purpose – what am I here on earth to do?The first question implies that I have so much potential that I can choose to be better than I am now – I can definitely choose to rise above being small-minded and I can create a vision in my head of the best that I can be. The second question reminds me that I am unique and must surely have a special role or roles that suit me best, and I can try to find them.
If have read the book, please let us know your views.
The PANEL
