First ‘honest African leader’ prize given

A prize for good leadership in Africa has been given for the very first time. The winner of the $5 million plus award, set up by the Sudanese telecom tycoon Mo Ibrahim, is Mozambique’s former president Joaquim Chissano. Mr. Chissano will receive a cool half a million dollars every year for ten years and then $200,000 every year for life. Mr. Ibrahim said the prize is to encourage African leaders to be honest and stick to the rules when their time as leader ends. He said he wants to discourage presidents from illegally extending their term of office or turning to corruption. The criteria the judges used in deciding the winner includes being freely elected, leaving their post on time, and making economic and social progress. They seemed to ignore the fact that Mr. Chissano left office amid many allegations of corruption.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan praised Mr. Chissano’s for ending Mozambique’s 16-year civil war and bringing good to his nation. Mr. Annan said: "President Chissano's achievements in bringing peace, reconciliation, stable democracy and economic progress to his country greatly impressed the committee. So too did his decision to step down without seeking the third term the constitution allowed.&