The easiest way to walk out of a problem is to “point fingers and pin the blame for these problems on others”, said President Obama of USA in a speech to Ghana Parliament a few months ago. This is so true for 
our nation. Recently, in our Parliament the Minister of Information put blame on the Catholic Church for the problem of MMD cadres’ violence against journalists.
Political leaders receive their mandate from the people to overseeing the nation and providing direction to the ruled. Leaders are to be good stewards over the nation’s resources and relationships. Therefore when the Minister of Information was confronted with the problem of his political party’s acts of violence against the journalists he should have taken a stand. Unfortunately, he chose to mismanage his responsibility by not denouncing the actions of violent cadres, no matter how influential or strategic they might seem. He also mismanaged an opportunity to demonstrate his skills of leadership by overpowering patronage instinct to reveal the identity of the true patriot.
Finger pointing does not solve problems. What it does is damage relationships and ultimately devastates the entire community and nation. In the bible we read that Adam refused to take responsibility for his sin. When God confronted him, he blamed Eve: “The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” Sadly many political leaders continue to follow Adam’s example of finger pointing. This blunder has been one of the root causes of poverty and violent conflicts in Africa.
How do you confront problems? Do problems paralyze you? Or do you say I know a solution exist? We are in great need of leaders who are willing to take responsibility. Are you developing church leaders in your church? Jesus defines leadership as service. The leadership that Jesus defines is concerned primarily with the welfare of others, not with his own comfort and prestige. Oswald Sanders says that true leader, “shows sympathy for the problems of others, but his sympathy fortifies and stimulates; it does not soften and make weak… He sees in each emergency a new opportunity for helpfulness.” Adam refused to take responsibility as leader and today we are experiencing the consequences. Finger pointing does not let problem go away. Taking responsibility opens opportunities to finding solution. That is what Jesus did. He took responsibility as leader and today by grace some of us have been redeemed.
Lawrence Temfwe
