“Principles and Practices of Papua New Guinea
Leadership” is certainly Musawe Sinebare’s most aspiring undertaking yet, and it eventually opens out into a rousing episode
of the writer’s experience and observations on leadership issues in our
beautiful country.
The author, Dr. Musawe
Sinebare has held many key administrative positions in the past,
as a senior bureaucrat and academic, including as deputy director with the
National Research Institute. He was under suspension as Secretary for Education in 2012, where
he put his energy into completing this book. Instead of being antagonistic about the decision of some covetous politicians, the writer redirected the negative energy into a positive and unstoppable motion. And it’s a special message for Papua New Guineans, if you have a passion for this country, write about it.
This recent book
by Musawe is a collection of essays about the theory and practice of
leadership. It contains reflections by the writer, where
he used to be a regular contributor to a column with the Sunday Chronicle. These write ups were in time transformed into 17 chapters,
and 176 pages
of practical and theoretical examples of principles and practices of leadership,
as experienced by the author.
As an emissary of PNG
Vision 2050 and advocator of good governance, Musawe’s genre of writings is both
thought-provoking and charismatic, and this book is his personal milestone. His other books “Melanesian School Mathematics Dictionary”, “Path to Success”, “Papua New
Guinea: Developmental Strategy for Socio-Economic Empowerment”, and “Vision 2050” which will be published
this year, and out next year, are written in a similar fashion, to inspire and
enthuse PNG citizens to participate evocatively in national development.
This book is scripted
in an unassuming style, informal, simple, and packed with fluent encounters. The writing has a little bit of
everything - humour, wit and satire. Apart from its key messages, it also
contains plain illustrations,
photos and cartoons to enhance the storyline.
In every chapter the writer uses explanation
and analysis to present a subject, or clarify an idea. Though the texts in some
graphics may be a bit blurry, the moral and dept of the story are added to
every chapter.
The foreword to this book is written by Sir Paulias Matane, the eight
Governor General of PNG. It seems fitting to receive an accolade especially
from a prominent writer and senior States-man in Sir Paulias:
“I am happy to find that Dr. Musawe Sinebare, who has vast experiences
in administration, has attempted a book Principles and Practices of Papua New
Guinea Leadership explaining his own experience in language within the
comprehension of a reader with average calibre. He has provided in this book a
bird’s eye view of the principles and practices of Papua New Guinea leadership
experiences that had acquired and experienced in his career in leadership roles
spanning many years in academic and public administration.” pg. v
And it’s atypical for PNG
administrators and managers in leadership positions to record testimonies, as
the writer has done; piecing together knowledge and experience, more like an
artwork. Even past events can be built into as a probable guide to the present
and the unborn generation. Most of our past and present leaders have challenges
and testimonies that are worthy of being printed, and distributed to our youths
of today, however remain unwritten.
According to critics
the last 10 or 20 years were lost years in PNG, and largely due to corruption
and poor leadership. As this book relates to, there is no school that can simply
turn out an effective leader that this country needs. So the last decades of MV
PNG were actually driven by young and potential captains, however their view of
the skyline was ambiguous and maybe churned up. Those aspiring national and
provincial leaders were misguided. The consequence is that erroneous decisions were
made and today we can tell poor social indicators from regrettable state of
affairs in the yesteryears.
Though the lost
years are by gone, most of the lessons in this book sing a perkier tone today, as
amusedly written about in chapter nine – “The
Lessons from the Titanic” and chapter 10 – “Lessons from the Noah’s Ark”.
Chapter one – “The Arithmetic of the land cruiser” explains
a typical decision making faced by senior managers and administrators –
Decision that benefits the majority, verses decision that’s not lined up with
the Medium Term Development Plan, or benefits only an interest group. Here the writer
analyses the responsibility of a leader. The scenario, common in most PNG
electorates is this: You either buy a land cruiser with K100, 000, which is also
beyond the reach of many Papua New Guineas, or spend it on a need. The writer imagined
how such an amount can be effectively used in society if it was wisely spent on
medical care instead:
“A six-tablet Panadol packet costs K6.50 at a local
super market. Most of the Aid Posts or Health Centres do not have these tables.
For the money spent on the land cruiser, Aid Posts or Health Centres could be
supplied with 15, 384 six-tablet packets of Panadol” pg.2
The example about Panadol draws a parallel with recently
completed ANU/NRI survey; phenomenally, the writer knew nothing about the
survey at time of writing. The survey results were presented in September this
year confirmed that the availability of medical supplies has declined in the last
10 years (2002-2012).
Coincidently in 2002 -
89 percent of Panadol were available in surveyed aid posts, in 2012 - 75
percent, so a declivity of 14 percent, how staggering! It could be more lost
years according to many rural dwellers. And how effective leadership and
accountability could change all that, in those years!
So in chapter
nine, the writer while trying to make a difference to his people and help
change the social dynamics, was unsuccessful in the 2007 national election for Sina-Sina/Yongumugl
seat. One clear message from this chapter is to make a difference, where ever
we are or whatever we are doing, it is the impact that we can bring in a shorter
span of time that is indispensible, to our character and also self-esteem.
Chapter 15 “Good Governance for Vision 2050” makes
reference to leadership as one of the enablers of Vision 2050. This chapter
will also be the title of yet
another book written by Musawe to
come out next year.
In general, even
though book chapters are stand alone, the advantage for readers is that they may
press on or reflect on any chapters as they choose. Each chapter is gleaned
from wider sources and provides a rich source of information, as the author states
in the preface:
“By attempting this book, I only wish to share my
experience with the people at large so that they should be able to take a
pragmatic view while dealing with leaders in their life to come.” pg. vii
The photo shown on
the book cover is momentous, baring Hon. Albert Kaiabe former Komo-Magarima MP
in traditional attire. The Hela wig-man is grasped speaking in PNG Parliament House
with all the past and present MPs like Lady Carol Kidu, Bart Philemon and Sir
Michel Somare. The writer has his reasons for putting up this photo then, it does
speak volumes of our present leaders.
The book is published by Rajan
Jain in India. It has a colourful and glossy front and back end, and currently on
sale at the UPNG bookshop. Its ISBN number is 978-9980-87-031-5
As a textbook it’s ideal for
students who want to study “PNG leadership”, or as reference collection for Members
of Parliaments, bureaucrats or anyone interested about “PNG Leadership and Management”.
At end of each chapter there are
questions for personal reflection and discourse. I was enlightened after
reading through, and am sure you will too.
