Sustainability Beyond the Limelight for Civic Leaders and the Institutions they Serve

Last week, on 19 November 2024, I had the privilege of hosting former ZimRights National Director Mr. Okay Machisa, for a conversation with civic leaders from over 20 civil society organisations in Zimbabwe. The focus of our conversation was sustainability from institutional level as well as personal perspectives.

In civic leaders, how do we plan and execute transitions in a way that does not collapse the organisation as well as ensuring that the wellness and wellbeing of the leaders involved is prioritised. Many organisations struggle with integrating sustainability in transition management. ZimRights is one of the organisations that has witnessed multiple transitions at executive level. Civic Leaders have so much to learn from the ZimRights experience.

My three key takeaways from this conversation are the following:

a.??????? Planning is key to institutional sustainability during and after a transition – Mr. Machisa shared with the group that he started planning his transition from ZimRights in 2017. He did not do this in secret but had a conversation with the National Council. The transition took three year to execute. He was only able to check out in December 2019 after ensuring that there would be a peaceful leadership transition and having worked with the Management Committee to identify his successor. I call this ‘Mindful Transition.’ Boards must be open to having this conversation with senior leaders on their future plans so that they can work out a transition that prioritises the sustainability of the organisation. Leaders themselves too, have the obligation to have this open and transparent conversation with their employers so that they do not simply disappear in the middle of the night. I know a senior leader who resigned via sms at a time when the board was waiting for him to take minutes in the boardroom. That is not good practice for institutions. It is not good practice for the individual involved.

b.??????? Personal welfare and wellness must be prioritised in the transition – Mr. Machisa told the meeting that when he started planning his transition, he knew he needed to survive beyond his employment at ZimRights. He set the foundation for the Institute for Public Policy Analysis and Implementation (IPPAI). He also invested in other livelihoods projects to ensure that he will still be able to meet the economic needs after his time at ZimRights. Many leaders get stuck in positions, not because they want to, but because of economic reasons. As we plan these transitions, as much as we fundraise for the institutions we serve, we must also ensure that the family economics is taken care of so that we do not end up holding on to positions for the wrong reasons. NGOs are not commercial businesses. They will never satisfy all your economic needs. You will need to plan for the sustainability of your family as well.

c.??????? A good dancer knows when to check out. Mr. Machisa began his conversation by reminding the civic leaders in the meeting of the old saying, “A good dancer knows when to leave the dance floor.” He reflected on the good work he did at ZimRights, high impact grassroots mobilisation, advocacy for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), international human rights advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council and the famous Community Human Rights Defenders Awards. But in all this, he said in 2019, the time had come for him to pave way for new blood. He clarified that he was not fired at ZimRights, a position confirmed by the ZimRights National Chairperson who was present. He voluntarily stepped down and continues to relate well with the ZimRights leadership. Many of us indeed want to be reminded of this wisdom regarding a good dancer. I have learnt that a good leader creates other good leaders. This is one of John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, ‘The Law of Empowerment.’ If you lead well in your time, you will not run short of good successors who will carry on your good work into a sustainable future.

I was privileged to host this conversation which was rich in wisdom. I wish every civil leader would learn one or two from this.