16.05.2012

"No Laziness of Mind"

The students of the international MA course "Diaconic Management", which is organised and led jointly by the Institute for Diaconic Science and Diaconic Management (IDM) of the Protestant University Wuppertal/Bethel and the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), had the fourth module from 10th April this year at the Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo) in Magamba/Tanzania. On the last day of the lectures, they had a prominent lecturer: Hon. Benjamin Mkapa, President of the Republic of Tanzania between 1995 and 2005, gave a lecture on “Visionary Leadership and Efficient Management“. 78 year old Mkapa, who had gone to school in an institution run by Bendictines from Germany in the South of Tanzania, described the public responsibility of the churches in his country and reminded his listeners of the churches’ task, to protect and promote peace and diversity in Tanzania. Tanzania, as all states in East Africa, is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, stated the former president. To sustain peace between the different groups of the population therefore must be counted among the highest priorities for politics. This, according to Mkapa, should be seen as a challenge to the churches as well as to other forces of the civil society.

Asked by students for the secret of the stable peace in Tanzania, surrounded by countries with conflicts and civil wars, Mkapa responded that this peace was not so much caused by a hidden secret, but was rather a result of several practical steps ensuring peace and understanding between the different groups and religions within the Tanzanian society. The first president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, had, at the occasion of his induction into office, reminded him of this task: “Mwalimu advised me to always care diligently for the representation of the different groups of our society in my government”, Mkapa said. The government should, moreover, remain secular in all its insti-tutions, and should not favour one religion. This, according to Mkapa, was of special importance also in the presently ongoing process of a new formulation of the national constitution. Several groups of the civil society of his country fight for this aim, Mkapa underlined.

Here, Mkapa saw a very specific task for Christian and other religious groups. He called the students to resist all attempts to silence the churches. If, for example, the churches are not granted access to the national media in a country – “use your brilliant international connections”, Mkapa said. “The unhindered freedom of speech is your right!”

In the second part of the lecture, Makapa talked on characteristics of efficient management. He reminded the students of their high responsibility for their countries and their churches. Any “laziness of mind” had to be fought and opposed by them, Mkapa stressed.  And: “Leadership must never be confused with pomp” he underlined. Mkapa advised the students to remain awake and curious and to watch their world with high attention. “Only then”, he said, will you find the right approaches for activities!”
 
“Usually, I do not talk that openly”, Mkapa chuckled at the end of the morning. The president was visibly impressed by the richness of the student group’s diversity. He described the exchange with the young women and men as an enriching experience.

During a joint lunch following the lectures, contracts of cooperation between the Institute for Diaconic Science and Diaconic Management (IDM) of the Protestant University Wuppertal/Bethel, the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) and the Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo) were signed in the presence of the former president.