H.E Shey Jones Yembe is a Servant Leader

One of America's most influential 18th century writer and social critic, John Gardner wrote that “Leaders have a significant role in creating the state of mind that is the society. According to Gardener, leaders can serve as symbols of the moral unity of the society. They  express the values that hold society together. And most importantly, they conceive and articulate goals that lift people out of their petty preoccupations, carry them to where they build society , and unite them in the pursuit of objectives worthy of their best efforts”. John Gardner might have been writing about his 18th century Europe, but the issues he raised then are as urgent today as they were then. Issues of leadership, moral unity, values and principles, and above all, development are as poignant in today’s society as they were in the 18th century. This category of leaders are known as servant leaders. 

Book makers say a servant-leader is servant first given that he/she begins with the natural feeling to serve a community or a people. It was  Robert K. Greenleaf who first discussed the philosophy in an essay called “The Servant as Leader,” which was first published in 1970. Greenleaf was of the opinion that servant leaders  provide the type of support that allows other people to learn and grow through inclusive leadership. 

One leaders whose conscious choice has  brought the population of Donga Mantung Division to aspire to lead, is H.E Shey Jones Yembe. The truth is that whenever I hear the phrase "servant leadership, the first person that comes to mind is Shey Jones Yembe. He is, to say the least one of the greatest statesmen in the history of Donga Mantung Division, yet, by all accounts, he is a servant leader and a man who embraces simplicity. On March 12, 2023, he made a statement that captured the admiration of everyone. He said the CPDM is Social Gathering in Donga Mantung Division, and that we have gone passed the level of doing politics for politics. "Politics is for development", he reminded everyone.Humility is one of the hallmarks of H.E. Shey Jones Yembe. And some of us have had to get the first impression through a handshake! Servant leaders are described as people who have a sense of stewardship over the people and they are responsible for. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "stewardship" as, "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."Servant leaders don't care about the credit. They care about making things better. Renowned leadership researchers Hodgson and White believe that the best form of leadership is one that finds the perfect balance between behaviors, needs, and context. H.E Shey Jones Yembe falls within this category of leaders. " I am going to ask everybody from Donga Mantung that wherever you were before, the CPDM's door is open. There is democracy in the CPDM that will permit everyone to find his/her feet. We not considering the CPDM as a political party, we consider the CPDM as a social gathering of sons and daughter of Donga Mantung Division".  This is exemplary leadership, this statement does not only portrays his leadership qualities but one can be able to evaluate the need to follow his words and call.  In summary, if the contingency theory suggests that great leadership is a combination simplicity, service to others and community, Shey Jones Yembe's position as Permanent Coordinator of the CPDM for Donga Mantung Division is a well-deserved position.