Chief Mohlomi: A Model of African Intellectualism in Enhancing Administrative Development and Leadership for Future Administrative Leaders and Professionals

As a film about administrative leadership in the management of public affairs, The Last King of Scotland (2006) is arguably one of the best history film lessons about the challenges of administrative power how to administer power ethically in Africa and elsewhere. It undoubtedly makes unsettling viewing for any sober mind concerned about the litany of abuses of administrative power around the globe by administrative leaders (particularly in Africa) in the management of public affairs today. It leads one deep into the heart of the role of African intelligentsias in administrative development and social change in modem Africa and for engaging administrative leaders in socio-analytical dialogue on the critical issues of Africa's future. One of the obvious issues for such dialogue includes: the role of administrative leadership what is the moral responsibility of the African administrative leaders and professionals in the management of public affairs in modem Africa? Drawing lessons largely from the past rich intellectual history of Basotho of Lesothoin the 18th Century southern Africa, the paper presents Chief Mohlomi (1720 -1815) as an aide-memoire to contemporary African intelligentsias that independent thought in socio-analytical dialogue is the foundation of administrative intellectualism, development and leadership in the management of public affairs. In fact, Mohlomi remains a very prominent figure in southern Africa's intellectual role-modelling history to the study of leadership, of social and of political behavior for administrative leaders or professionals. Because of his wisdom and philosophies in the management of public affairs during his time, he is regarded as one of the best examples of the brilliance of pre-colonial southern Africa role-modelling to the enterprise of knowledge production in administrative intellectualism, development and leadership ever-lived and walked this part of the world.