The First Gentleman has called on institutions to critically assess their systems and address inefficiencies.

Epaphras Ndaitwah made the call during a public lecture on strategic leadership and management at the International University of Management.

Ndaitwah emphasised that many organisations continue to operate within broken systems simply because they have become normalised over time.

He cautioned that the phrase “this is how things have always been done” often prevents leaders from identifying weaknesses that require urgent intervention.

“Effective leaders must be focused and determined to face turbulence, even when it is perceived as an impossible mission. Visionary and effective leadership demands the acumen of those with experience, skills, knowledge, and creative minds.”

Leadership and management go hand in hand, the first gentleman underscored, requiring both the ability to inspire people and ensure that tasks are effectively executed.

“Policies are effective instruments through which goals and objectives are articulated. However, leadership and management are often faced with the dilemma of how to interpret policies and how to strike a balance between policies and available resources. These are some of the challenges.” 

IUM’s Director for Marketing, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, Gerry Munyama, said strategic leadership is essential in navigating uncertainty and complexity in modern institutions.

“At IUM, we believe that leadership and management are at the heart of sustainable development. As an institution, we are committed to nurturing individuals who are not only academically equipped but are also capable of bringing about meaningful change within communities and beyond.”