THE latest recipient of the businessman Mo Ibrahim’s leadership award has been announced: Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
A grant of one million dollars, the award recognizes Archbishop Tutu’s lifelong struggles to get the truth out into the public arena, said Mr. Ibrahim, who personally presented the award to in Dakar, Senegal.
“This Special Award to Archbishop Desmond Tutu is motivated by the desire to make an extraordinary grant to an outstanding African civil society champion,” Ibrahim said in his statement, adding that the Archbishop “is and has throughout his life been one of Africa’s great voices for justice, freedom, democracy and responsible, responsive government.
“In everything he stands for, says, and does, he displays a consistent determination to give a voice to the voiceless and to speak the uncomfortable truth,” he said.
“Whether one always agrees with Archbishop Tutu or not, his contribution to dialogue, to accountability, and to the debate on Africa’s future has been unparalleled,’’ Ibrahim said.
“We hope this Award will inspire the next generation to follow Archbishop Tutu’s example and speak truth to power,’’ Ibrahim said.
According to the philanthropic businessman, the latest award to Archbishop Tutu does not affect his commitment to rewarding African government leaders and heads of state who have not attempted to perpetuate themselves in office or bend the rules of tenure of office to their personal advantage, against constitutional provisions.
“Tutu award is a special one, it does not replace the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, which is awarded to a democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government.
“It Is one-off award, but it’s added to the African leadership achievement award,’’ Ibrahim said.
The actual leadership award will be announced October 15. Established in 2007, Mo Ibrahim’s leadership award has as recipients former South African President Nelson Mandela, Pedro de Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde and Festus Mogae of Botswana.
He said the 2012 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership has not yet been adjudicated, saying that “It will be announced in London on Oct. 15th”.
The Leadership award was established in 2007, and previous winners include Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Joaquim Chissano
of Mozambique, Festus Mogae of Botswana, and Pedro de Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde. Mozambique’s Joaquim Chissano is also a past recipient.