Tanzanian Presidential candidate and 2013 Tutu classmember, January Makamba gives his thoughts on leadership and an optimistic future for Africa in this interview. He would like to see an Africa that is dynamic, self-reliant and proud, and respected as such on the international stage. He emphasises that the role young Africans and, in particular, young African leaders play in shaping this future of Africa will be vital.
January ran a very professional and successful campaign to try to gain the CCM (ruling party) nomination for the Tanzanian Presidential elections to be held in October this year. Being noticeably the youngest candidate, he had to find ways of countering the cultural perception of his youthful inexperience and also break into the influential networks within the party. His professional, modern campaign, which captured the attention of the country’s bulging youth population, showed an excellent grasp of the issues facing this emerging nation. Inspired by his experience on the Tutu Fellowship programme, he also emphasised the importance of values and ethics in leadership.
January was selected to a short list of five candidates for consideration by the party’s national congress and was the youngest of the candidates by 14 years. Sadly he did not make the final choice, and CCM’s Presidential candidate will be Minister of Works, John Magafuli, 55. Undoubtedly January is a man for the future, and his time will come.
In his interview he highlights the influence that the Tutu Fellowship Programme has had on his leadership, and particularly the value of being part of the family of Tutu Fellows – Africa’s emerging leaders.
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