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Towards a United Africa Posted Thu, 03 Mar 2005
Despite being born into privilege, Dr Manu Chandaria
is a social activist. He spends a considerable
amount of his time in projects meant to uplift the
community.
Dr Chandaria runs a business conglomerate spanning 40
countries from his offices in Nairobi. Through the social and
charity work he undertakes, his has intimate knowledge of the
problems that afflict Kenya in particular, and Africa in general.
And he does not shy away from stating forcefully what he considers
to be the source of Africa�s problems.
�Africa needs really strong leadership that understands we
are at the bottom of the pit. If we are not careful, we will not
emerge,� says Dr Chandaria.
He says that turning the continent around will require a lot of
determination by heads of state. He notes that tremendous progress
is being made in some countries like South Africa, Tanzania,
Senegal and Algeria.
This highly decorated businessman is as simple as they
come.
Not for him the huge trappings that his position as head of the
Comcraft Group of companies obviously entitles him. Nor does
he surround himself with a coterie of assistants and aides that
would make him inaccessible.
At 74, however, one would expect him to be slowing down,
but his tempo of activity seems to be increasing. His concern
for development of Africa is a strong motivator. He sees the
New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) as having
a silver lining as it compels all
African nations to make the
changes needed to turn them
around.
He wants to see a group
of leading African presidents
forming a consultative forum
that will set the agenda for
the continent. �We require 10
strong leaders in Africa who
can set the agenda for the continent.
They must think Africa
first and their own countries
second. They must hold meetings
every three months, and
deal with their colleagues who
are not toeing the line,� says
Dr
Chandaria.
He cites leaders such as
Thabo Mbeki (South Africa),
Hosni Mubarak (Egypt), Olesegun
Obasanjo (Nigeria), Yoweri
Museveni (Uganda), Mwai Kibaki (Kenya) and Eduardo dos
Santos (Angola).
He decries the fact that though this process already started
with the launch of the AU, delivery is lagging behind.
Dr Chandaria is emphatic that business has a major role to
play in the renaissance of Africa, and wants to see the creation
of an African Business Council comprising of the continent�s
leading countries. �Politicians cannot do it alone,� he says, adding
that African politicians must change their attitudes towards
businesspeople. �African governments take the private sector as
enemies, yet they (private sector) generate taxes, create wealth
and jobs.� Empowering the private sector will create investments
and employment.
An engineer by profession, Dr Chandaria is no stranger to
leadership. He is the founding chairman of the East
African
Business Council and the first chairman of the Kenya Private
Sector Alliance, an umbrella body for 200 private sector associations.
He is a also past chairman of the Kenya Association of
Manufacturers.
In 1997, he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the
University of Nairobi in recognition of his outstanding achievements
in the industrial, manufacturing and business sectors.
For three consecutive years from 2000, Dr Chandaria was
named the most respected chief executive officer in East Africa
through a survey conducted by PriceWaterhouse Coopers and
the Nation Media Group.
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